Beth Shalom Bloomington: A University Town Synagogue with Rabbi Noach Lawrence

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Welcome to the podcast of Congregation Beth Shalom of Bloomington, IN, home of Indiana University. We share our Rabbi Noach Lawrence's divrei Torah (sermons), songs, prayers, and more here so we can connect anytime, anywhere, with Jewish tradition's wisdom for our moment. Special thanks to our volunteer Ethan Rosenbaum and Administrative Assistant Chuck Roldan for their tech and AV work to bring this podcast to life.

  1. Episode 1

    Talmudic wisdom for “a weird time to be Jewish” | Rosh Hashanah 2026 • 5787

    Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! Rabbi Noach's Rosh Hashanah D'var Torah (sermon) for 2026 • 5787.

    Talmudic wisdom for “a weird time to be Jewish” | Rosh Hashanah 2026 • 5787

  2. Episode 2

    On the 25th anniversary of 9/11 and Rosh Hashanah, Part 1: Before Mourner's Kaddish

    Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! Rabbi Noach's words at Rosh Hashanah Day 1 evening services.

    On the 25th anniversary of 9/11 and Rosh Hashanah, Part 1: Before Mourner's Kaddish

  3. Episode 3

    On the 25th anniversary of 9/11 and Rosh Hashanah, Part 2: Before Unetaneh Tokef

    Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! Rabbi Noach's words at Rosh Hashanah Day 1 morning services.

    On the 25th anniversary of 9/11 and Rosh Hashanah, Part 2: Before Unetaneh Tokef

  4. Episode 4

    Moses, meaning, and the non-pursuit of happiness | Yom Kippur 2026 • 5787

    Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! Rabbi Noach's Yom Kippur D’var Torah (sermon) for 2026 • 5787.

    Moses, meaning, and the non-pursuit of happiness | Yom Kippur 2026 • 5787

  5. Episode 5

    Kol Nidrei on the Cello, Prof. Susan Moses Bloom | Yom Kippur 2026 • 5787

    Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! From the Kol Nidrei service of Congregation Beth Shalom of Bloomington, the hometown of Indiana University, with Rabbi Noach Lawrence. Piano accompanist: Haruko Murphy. To learn more about Prof. Susan Moses Bloom, click here: https://susanmosesvioloncellist.wordpress.com/

    Kol Nidrei on the Cello, Prof. Susan Moses Bloom | Yom Kippur 2026 • 5787

  6. Episode 6

    Chanting Kol Nidrei, HUC Provost Judah Cohen & Clergy Intern Nava Teller | Yom Kippur 2026 • 5787

    Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! From the Kol Nidrei service of Congregation Beth Shalom of Bloomington, the hometown of Indiana University, with Rabbi Noach Lawrence.

    Chanting Kol Nidrei, HUC Provost Judah Cohen & Clergy Intern Nava Teller | Yom Kippur 2026 • 5787

  7. Episode 7

    Hineni: Clergy Intern Nava Teller's d'var Torah and chanting the Yom Kippur service leader's prayer

    Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! Clergy Intern Nava's d'var Torah on the service leader's personal prayer and the experience of being a college senior on the cusp of graduation, followed by her chanting this iconic prayer. From Yom Kippur 2026 • 5787 with Congregation Beth Shalom of Bloomington, the hometown of Indiana University, and Rabbi Noach Lawrence.

    Hineni: Clergy Intern Nava Teller's d'var Torah and chanting the Yom Kippur service leader's prayer

  8. Episode 8

    Israel's soul reckoning, cheshbon nefesh, this Elul (Republishing from August 15, 2025)

    Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! As we approach the 1-year anniversary tomorrow of the cease-fire and hostage-release deal between Israel and Hamas on October 13, 2025, and as we continue to reckon with all the suffering and loss that has befallen both Israelis and Palestinians on and after October 7, we are republishing Rabbi Noach's d'var Torah (sermon) on Gaza from the lead-up to the High Holy Days last year. Rabbi Noach explores how as we grapple with the distinctly, profoundly troubling phase of the Israel-Gaza war in 2025, we can find guidance in Judaism's framework of cheshbon nefesh, "reckoning of the soul," and teshuvah, “repentance” and literally "return," in dialogue with the values of the Israeli Declaration of Independence. The d'var Torah is followed by all of us singing "Achat Sha'alti," from Psalm 27, the Penitential Psalm for Elul, the month of introspection leading up to the High Holy Days, pouring out our yearning "to sense the sweetness of the Eternal One [Adonai]," according to what this means for each of us.

    Israel's soul reckoning, cheshbon nefesh, this Elul (Republishing from August 15, 2025)

  9. Episode 9

    Marking together the hostage-release and cease-fire agreement (Republishing from October 10, 2025)

    Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! As we approach the 1-year anniversary tomorrow of the cease-fire and hostage-release deal between Israel and Hamas on October 13, 2025, and as we continue to reckon with all the suffering and loss that has befallen both Israelis and Palestinians on and after October 7, we are republishing Rabbi Noach's words marking this agreement and profoundly emotional moment last year. Rabbi Noach describes the emotions beyond words felt by Israelis and especially families of the hostages, for example in the way Israeli President Isaac Herzog quoted from the prophet Jeremiah to describe this moment, and expresses hopes for healing for both sides and the return of displaced Palestinians to northern Gaza. Rabbi Noach draws on the classic modern Hebrew song, "Ani Ma'amin (Sachki, Sachki)," whose lines, such as, “Their iron fetters removed… they shall see light,” resonate with the experiences of the hostages, and epitomize the founding Zionist vision of freedom for the Jewish people and for all peoples. We conclude by all singing "Ani Ma'amin" together.

    Marking together the hostage-release and cease-fire agreement (Republishing from October 10, 2025)
See All Season 2 (9)

About

Welcome to the podcast of Congregation Beth Shalom of Bloomington, IN, home of Indiana University. We share our Rabbi Noach Lawrence's divrei Torah (sermons), songs, prayers, and more here so we can connect anytime, anywhere, with Jewish tradition's wisdom for our moment. Special thanks to our volunteer Ethan Rosenbaum and Administrative Assistant Chuck Roldan for their tech and AV work to bring this podcast to life.

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