Send us a text In case you missed it or wanted to share, Chief Advancement Officer and Development Director Amanda Beitman's Shabbat sermon at Beth El Congregation in Baltimore. (August 2, 2025)By Beth El Congregation of Baltimore

Send us a text In case you missed it or wanted to share, Rabbi Steven Schwartz's Shabbat sermon at Beth El Congregation in Baltimore. (July 27, 2025)By Beth El Congregation of Baltimore

Send us a text In case you missed it or wanted to share, Rabbi Dana Saroken's Shabbat sermon at Beth El Congregation in Baltimore. (July 19, 2025)By Beth El Congregation of Baltimore

Send us a text In case you missed it or wanted to share, Ritual Director Ben Kreshtol's Shabbat sermon at Beth El Congregation in Baltimore. (July 12, 2025)By Beth El Congregation of Baltimore

Send us a text In case you missed it or wanted to share, Rabbi Dana Saroken's Shabbat sermon at Beth El Congregation in Baltimore. (June 28, 2025)By Beth El Congregation of Baltimore

Send us a text In case you missed it or wanted to share, Rabbi Steve Schwartz's Shabbat sermon at Beth El Congregation in Baltimore. (June 21, 2025)By Beth El Congregation of Baltimore

Send us a text In case you missed it or wanted to share, Rabbi Dana Saroken's Shabbat sermon at Beth El Congregation in Baltimore. (June 14, 2025)By Beth El Congregation of Baltimore

Send us a text In case you missed it or wanted to share, Rabbi Steve Schwartz's Shabbat sermon at Beth El Congregation in Baltimore. (June 7, 2025)By Beth El Congregation of Baltimore

Send us a text As the sun sets on Season 2, your favorite Havdalah crew wraps things up with a sweet twist—an Oreo cookie taste test! From classic to questionable flavors, we put our taste buds to work and maybe start a cookie controversy or two. We also reflect on highlights from the season, share some laughs (and crumbs), and close things out wit…

Send us a text In case you missed it or wanted to share, Rabbi Steve Schwartz's Shabbat sermon at Beth El Congregation in Baltimore. (May 31, 2025)By Beth El Congregation of Baltimore

Send us a text This week on Havdalah Happy Hour, we share stories from an incredible 36 hours of non-stop graduation festivities, recap our school’s epic trip to New York City and we preview the upcoming holiday of Shavuot—a celebration of Torah, cheesecake, and staying up way past your bedtime. Available now on the Beth El Podcast Network—wherever…

Send us a text In case you missed it or want to share, here is Rabbi Dana Saroken's Shabbat Sermon at Beth El Congreagation in Baltimore. (May 24, 2025)By Beth El Congregation of Baltimore

Send us a text This week, Rabbi Schwartz and Rabbi Saroken dive into Parshat Behar-Bechukotai as we continue in the Book of Leviticus. We begin with a fun peek into Rabbi Schwartz’s hat collection, setting the stage for a deeper conversation about the spiritual themes of the week. We reflect on the Torah’s powerful reminder of the need to rest and …

Send us a text In case you missed it or wanted to share, Rabbi Steve Schwartz's Shabbat sermon at Beth El Congregation in Baltimore. (May 17, 2025)By Beth El Congregation of Baltimore

Send us a text In case you missed it or wanted to share, Rabbi Steve Schwartz's Shabbat sermon at Beth El Congregation in Baltimore. (May 10, 2025)By Beth El Congregation of Baltimore

Send us a text This week, Rabbi Schwartz and Ben Kreshtool dive into Parshat Acharei-Kedoshim as we continue in the Book of Leviticus. Rabbi Schwartz and Ben discuss the deeper meaning of holiness, personal responsibility, and how your actions ripple through your family and community. They also reflect on the themes of reward and punishment—and wha…

Send us a text In case you missed it or wanted to share, here is Rabbi Dana Saroken's Shabbat sermon at Beth El Congregation in Baltimore. (May 3, 2025)By Beth El Congregation of Baltimore

Send us a text This week on Havdalah Happy Hour, we're recapping the recent "Yoms"— and unpacking what they mean for us today. Then, in true Havdalah Happy Hour fashion, we veer wildly off course and find ourselves talking about the intersection of sports fandom and... prison rodeos? (Yes, really.) Finally, we wrap things up with everyone's favorit…

Send us a text Our favorite moms are back to dive into the sticky, stylish, and sometimes cringeworthy chaos of everyday life. From parenting hacks that actually work (yes, really!) to a disastrous run-in with Gorilla Glue (spoiler: it wasn't on purpose), we’re sharing it all. And let’s not forget the segment you didn’t know you needed: “Embarrassi…

Send us a text This week, Rabbi Saroken and Ben Kreshtool dive into Parshat Tazria-Metzora as we continue in the Book of Leviticus. The good, the bad, the easy, and the hard—all of it is a gift from God and should never be taken for granted. Judaism keeps an open door, grounded in the belief that people can change—and no matter the journey, they wi…

Send us a text In case you missed it or want to share, here is the Shabbat Sermon with Rabbi Dana Saroken at Beth El Congregation in Baltimore. (April 26, 2025)By Beth El Congregation of Baltimore

Send us a text Pull up a chair, pour yourself a glass of something good, and unwind with this week’s Havdalah Happy Hour! Tonight we’re joined by Amanda from Kvetch & Co for a post-Shabbat conversation full of laughs. We kick things off with a (heated) debate: matzah pizza vs. regular pizza — which one reigns supreme? From there, we give you a snea…

Send us a text This week, Ben Kreshtool and Cantor Emily Ellentuck dive into Parshat Shemini as we continue in the Book of Leviticus. What sets the Jewish people apart from others? And more importantly—what does it mean to be holy in our everyday lives? From the food we eat to the prayers we say, holiness isn’t a once-a-week event—it’s a daily choi…

Send us a text In case you missed it or want to share, here is this weeks Shabbat Sermon with Rabbi Steve Schwartz, at Beth El Congregation in Baltimore. (April 19, 2025)By Beth El Congregation of Baltimore

Send us a text This week on The Havdalah Happy Hour, we’re joined by the one and only Ben Suffel! We kick things off with a very special feature: 90 seconds of frozen video thanks to a technical glitch. (Don't worry — we recover faster than Jeremy and Jill will be eating pizza after Passover ends.) Once we’re back in action, we recap Passover. Tune…

Send us a text In case you missed it or want to share, here is Torah Talk with Rabbi Steve Schwartz, Rabbi Dana Saroken, and Ritual Director Ben Kreshtol at Beth El Congregation in Baltimore. (April 12, 2025)By Beth El Congregation of Baltimore

Send us a text This week, Rabbi Schwartz and Rabbi Saroken dive into Parshat Tzav as we continue in the Book of Leviticus. Rituals offer us a sense of comfort and stability, reminding us that even in the midst of chaos, Shabbat arrives each week without fail. We also explore the joy of gift-giving, the power of kind words, take-home bags from resta…

Send us a text In case you missed it or want to share, here is Rabbi Steve Schwartz's Shabbat Sermon at Beth El Congregation in Baltimore. (April 5, 2025)By Beth El Congregation of Baltimore

Send us a text On this week’s Havdalah Happy Hour, we’re deep in the heart of Passover prep—cleaning, planning, and debating just how many boxes of matzah we really need. And of course, we wrap up with our Shonda of the Week—because what’s a good conversation without a little kvetching?By Beth El Congregation of Baltimore

Send us a text This week, Ben Kreshtool and Cantor Emily Ellentuck dive into Parshat Vayikra as we begin the Book of Leviticus. From barbecue to sacrifices and the weight of consequences, we dive into the deeper meanings behind these ancient practices. Plus, a reminder of the privilege we have in bringing mitzvot into our daily lives.…

Send us a text The moms are back! This episode of Kvetch & Co. is all about surviving winter—because, honestly, it was a lot. We’re talking about navigating the flu (and every other ailment that made its way through our homes), recapping recent family travels (because traveling with kids is always an adventure), and even what happens when our pets …

Send us a text In case you missed it or want to share, here is Rabbi Steve Schwartz's Shabbat Sermon at Beth El Congreagation in Baltimore. (March 29, 2025)By Beth El Congregation of Baltimore

Send us a text Havdalah Happy Hour is back on the Beth El Podcast Network! In this episode, we recap all the festive fun from Purim at Beth El Congregation — costumes, groggers, and maybe even a hamantaschen or two. Then, we look ahead to Passover, sharing our favorite treats and debating the age-old Passover question: Rice — kosher or not kosher?…

Send us a text This week, Rabbi Schwartz and Rabbi Saroken dive into Parashat Pekudei as we reach the end of the Book of Exodus.By Beth El Congregation of Baltimore

Send us a text In case you missed it or wanted to share, here is Rabbi Dana Saroken's Shabbat Sermon at Beth El Congregation of Baltimore. (March 22, 2025)By Beth El Congregation of Baltimore

Send us a text In case you missed it or wanted to share, here is Rabbi Steven Schwartz and Ben Kreshtol's Torah Talk at Beth El Congregation of Baltimore. (March 15, 2025)By Beth El Congregation of Baltimore

Send us a text This week, Rabbi Schwartz and Rabbi Saroken dive into Parashat Ki Tisa as we journey through the Book of Exodus. Building community. Holding traditions. Finding forgiveness. What brings you through the door? And speaking of big moments—Purim starts tonight! Can’t wait to celebrate with you at Beth El!…

Send us a text During Friday night’s sermon, Rabbi Dana Saroken shared some very powerful insights from her time at the ADL’s “Never Is Now” Conference in NYC.By Beth El Congregation of Baltimore

Send us a text On this episode of Havdalah Happy Hour, we’re diving into all things Purim with our special guest, Rachel Rudo! We’re talking hamantaschen, our favorite Disney movies (because every Purim spiel needs a little extra magic), and giving you an exclusive preview of Beth El’s upcoming Purim spiel. And, of course, we wrap it all up with ou…

Send us a text This week, Rabbi Schwartz and Ben Kreshtool dive into Parashat Tetzaveh as we journey through the Book of Exodus. Do the clothes make the man? Are sequels to movies better than the original? We also discuss olive oil and cooking. Tune in.By Beth El Congregation of Baltimore

Send us a text ​This Shabbat, we were joined by rabbinical intern, Bennett Decker to provide the Shabbat Sermon at Beth El Congregation of Baltimore. (March 1, 2025)By Beth El Congregation of Baltimore

Send us a text Spring is just around the corner, and with it comes warmer weather, longer days, and—of course—baseball season! This week, we’re diving into the joys (and occasional miseries) of springtime. But wait—ever tried lamb, rabbit, or other “delicacies” that might make you hesitate? We’re breaking down some bold food choices and debating wh…

Send us a text This week, Ben Kreshtool and Cantor Emily Ellentuck dive into Parashat Terumah as we journey through the Book of Exodus. Why does God need a place to dwell? And what’s up with dolphin skin in the desert? Plus, a bonus chat about menorah designs… and a dad joke that might need its own atonement.…

Send us a text On this episode of Havdalah Happy Hour, we’re going off-book—literally! We kick things off by discussing the art of davening without a siddur. Can you wing it? Are water bottles the new fad? From Stanley cups to emotional-support Hydro Flasks, we dive into the hydration craze. Speaking of fads, we take a nostalgic detour to reminisce…

Send us a text In case you missed it or wanted to share, here is Rabbi Dana Saroken's and Ben Kreshtool's Shabbat Sermon at Beth El Congregation of Baltimore. (February 22, 2025)By Beth El Congregation of Baltimore

Send us a text On this episode of Havdalah Happy Hour, we’re diving into the big questions—like why meteorologists get so much hate (seriously, they’re just trying to help), whether sushi cakes are a culinary masterpiece or a mistake, and how Ben survived his recent battle with the flu. Plus, we break down a recent controversial AI-generated video,…

Send us a text In case you missed it or wanted to share, here is Rabbi Dana Saroken's Shabbat Sermon at Beth El Congregation of Baltimore. (February 15, 2025)By Beth El Congregation of Baltimore

Send us a text This week, Rabbis Schwartz and Saroken dive into Parashat Yitro as we continue through the Book of Exodus. From Jethro’s unexpected visit to the challenge of juggling personal and professional life. Plus, what’s the most important of the Ten Commandments? We’ve got thoughts. Oh, and yes, we’re talking about emojis. Join us this Satur…

Send us a text In case you missed it or wanted to share, here is Rabbi Naomi Zaslow's Shabbat Sermon at Beth El Congregation of Baltimore. (February 8, 2025)By Beth El Congregation of Baltimore

Send us a text This week, Rabbis Schwartz and Saroken dive into Parashat Beshalach as we continue through the Book of Exodus. From the splitting of the sea to the everyday struggles of parallel parking, we explore the tension between waiting for miracles and taking action in a chaotic world. How have your prayers changed since October 7? What value…