With how busy life gets, even the most meaningful among us don’t get to services as much as we’d like to. Rabbis around the country have noticed, with many turning to technology and trends to help get their message out. One way they’ve found success is podcasting.
That’s exactly the idea behind “Living Jewishly Out Loud,” a new podcast from Congregation Temple Israel. This monthly series puts listeners front row for the voices and vision of Rabbis Amy Feder and Michael Alper—without needing to be in the sanctuary. The goal? Make Judaism more accessible, personal and portable.
“This podcast is our service to our community,” said Erin Wolfman May, director of communications at Temple Israel. “It’s a way to project our voices and values, ensuring that everyone has access and allowing us to reach members where they are, both physically and emotionally.”
The show launched with two sermons that don’t hold back. The first episode, originally delivered by Alper on Oct. 3, 2024, dives into a topic that many Jewish communities have been grappling with: the growing disconnect between younger generations and both organized Judaism and Israel. Episode two, recorded just days after the 2024 election, leans into an ancient midrash about Abraham and a birah doleket—a palace either on fire or lit up.
So why start a podcast now?
“The creation of ‘Living Jewishly Out Loud’ was inspired by a desire to more broadly share our rabbis’ sermons,” said Wolfman May. “They put their best into the creation and delivery each Friday night. Those messages, relevant and emotionally resonant, embody the values and beliefs of our community, yet we recognize that attendance at our services—whether in person or online—only reaches a portion of our 850+ households.”
And so far, the community response has been exactly what Temple Israel hoped for.
“We notified the community of the launch via text message right before the morning commute and immediately received responses,” said Wolfman May. “We had a member share that she and her teenage son listened on the way to his school, and he put his phone down and completely engaged. When they pulled in for drop-off, he asked his mom to park so that he could finish listening.”
That kind of engagement is what drives the project forward. While there’s no set publishing schedule, the current plan is to drop a new episode about once a month. The sermons are carefully curated by the rabbis to reflect what’s most relevant in the moment—whether that’s responding to a news event, digging deeper into a Torah portion, or offering something the community might not hear on a typical Shabbat.
The podcast is also just the beginning.
“We’re starting with sermons and thinking through other ways to use this platform as we build a following,” said Wolfman May. “We’re considering interviews, adult education, personal messages and check-ins from the rabbis to our community throughout the year, and much more.”
You can listen to “Living Jewishly Out Loud” on all major podcast platforms, including:
Apple
Spotify
Podbean
Amazon Music
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