The Kehillah RVA Podcast
By: KehillahRVA.org
Language: en-us
Categories: Religion, Spirituality, Judaism, Society, Culture, Philosophy
Where community becomes conversation, and Judaism comes alive.This podcast is your front door to Kehillah—Richmond, Virginia’s independent, progressive Jewish community. Through stories, spiritual insights, and moments of real connection, you’ll get to know what makes Kehillah different: we’re not just a synagogue—we’re the Jewish home you always wanted.Hosted by Rabbi Patrick Beaulier, each episode features reflections on Jewish wisdom, creative contributions from Kehillah members, and updates on how this radically welcoming community is inspiring people spiritually, intellectually, and socially.🌐 Website: kehillahrva.org 📲 Instagram: instagram.com/kehillahrva 📘 Facebook: facebook.com/kehillahrva 💛 Support the community: kehillahrva.o
Episodes
Meet Kehillah Members Ashton and Nick (and Their Existential Crises)
Jan 11, 2026From Ashton’s experiences working with children with special needs and navigating higher education, to Nick’s path through mechanics, military service, and spiritual reflection, explore with our Kehillah friends in this podcast takeover how their backgrounds, passions, and personalities shape the way they approach life.
Along the way, they reflect on leadership, responsibility, and integrity—asking how confidence and humility coexist, how trust is built, and how personal growth happens through challenges. The conversation is honest, relatable, and sprinkled with humor, giving listeners a window into who Ashton and Nick are, what drives them, and how their...
Duration: 01:08:02Two Things Can Be True At Once (Venezuela, Israel + Those You Love)
Jan 05, 2026Are you tired of being forced to "pick a side"? In a world that feels increasingly polarized—Red vs. Blue, Us vs. Them—we often feel trapped in a binary that doesn’t actually fit our reality. In this episode of the Kehillah RVA podcast, we explore the life-changing power of believing that when two things are true at once, a third way is needed.
🧵 The "Third Way" of Thinking
Drawing on the wisdom of Jewish legends and Carl Jung, we dive into why the "tension" between two oppos...
Duration: 00:30:01Hanukkah Is Not What You Think It Is
Dec 13, 2025In this podcast, we challenge both the Americanized “Hanukkah as Jewish Christmas” approach and the backlash against it...Because Hanukkah’s story is far more complicated than either side admits.
Hanukkah is ultimately a blend of civil war memory, Temple rededication, rabbinic theology, and ancient seasonal tradition. That mix is what makes it meaningful.
So while we respect concerns about “Christmas-ifying” Hanukkah, we also accept that living in America means cultural blending. As long as we keep the story and rituals alive, we say: enjoy the aesthetics, light the menorah, and Hanukkah...
Duration: 00:16:20Rabbi Elisha Paul | RTA - Richmond Hebrew Day School
Dec 08, 2025If Seinfeld was a show about nothing, then this episode is a podcast about nothing.
That's because in this episode of the Kehillah RVA podcast, we get to listen in on a an unedited conversation between Rabbi Elisha Paul, Head of School at RTA - Richmond Hebrew Day School and Rabbi Patrick Beaulier from Kehillah.
The conversation goes into every kind of topic -- from demographic shifts in Israel to the Jewish landscape in Richmond, what it means to be religiously observant (or not), the challenges that come with building community that's all over the...
Duration: 01:09:30Dating Jewish In Richmond, Virginia
Nov 30, 2025Want some dad advice from Rabbi Patrick on dating Jewish in Richmond, VA? Well...you're getting it!
In this episode, Rabbi Patrick takes the collective observations of Kehillah's singles and offers up spiritual wisdom around places having energies, about Jewish matchmaking, love, companionship, and finding a sense of home where you are and who you are with.
Upcoming Events:
Latke Making with Brittney: Tuesday, December 9Shabbat Dinner & Service: Friday, December 12Shabbat Morning Torah Study: Saturday, December 13Hanukkah at Art Factory: Saturday, December 20RSVP: https://kehillahrva.org/calendar/
...
Duration: 00:39:05Shawn Harris on the Creative Process & Bizarro Torah (INTERVIEW)
Nov 14, 2025Get to know Kehillah member Shawn Harris as we discuss the life of a creative person, her big moves from the west back to Richmond, the power of imagination, storytelling and world building.
Learn more about her project Bizarro Torah: https://bizarrotorah.wordpress.com/
This is part of a series of interviews with Kehillah members including Lori Levy and her parents, Arianna Rose, and Rebbetzin Stefanie. Want to be interviewed? Send us fan mail.
Got questions? Send us a text and we'll read it on the show
Support the show
<... Duration: 00:39:14Arianna Rose on Music, Judaism & Neurodivergence (INTERVIEW)
Nov 14, 2025Get to know Kehillah member Arianna who you've likely seen around, but have not had a chance to chat with one-on-one. In this episode we discuss growing up as a teen in West Virginia, her move to RVA, a shared love of music, and what it's like for her as a neurodivergent person (and what she needs your brutal help with).
Got questions? Send us a text and we'll read it on the show
Support the show
🕯️ Learn more about Kehillah: kehillahrva.org
💛 Support Kehillah: kehillahrva.org/donate
📲 Follow us on Instagram...
A Synagogue For Tired People Like Us
Oct 27, 2025Tired? Burned out? We get it. Kehillah is perfect for you.
This episode starts with talking about tents and biblical translations, introversion, the crisis of people flaking out on plans, and tells a private story about Rabbi Patrick being cordially un-invited to something (and it was HIS FAULT!)
Join us as we explore being a congregation who's tired...and made for each other.
Got questions? Send us a text and we'll read it on the show
Support the show
🕯️ Learn more about Kehillah: kehillahrva.org
💛 Support Kehillah: kehillahrva.org/dona...
America's Crisis of Meaning
Oct 22, 2025Across America, more and more people are asking the same question: What’s the point? Faith has faded, connection feels shallow, and the old ways of belonging don’t seem to fit anymore. But in the Jewish tradition, a crisis is never the end — it’s a birth.
So let's get into it.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
Rebbetzin’s Jewish Prayer Bootcamp (Midlothian): Thursday, November 6 @ 6PMShabbat Dinner and Service at Ellen and Ross’s (Short Pump): Friday, November 7 @ 6PMBagels + Torah Study at Rabbi’s (Midlothian): Saturday... Duration: 00:24:19Meet Lori Levy's Parents | INTERVIEW
Oct 16, 2025Meet Kehillah members Sandra and Benjamin, otherwise known as Lori Levy’s parents
In this episode, we’ll hear from the eighty-plus year old couple about everything from chicken soup to civil rights, the Black and Jewish experiences in the south and more. Recorded a few days before Rosh Hashanah.
Want to be on the Kehillah RVA podcast? It’s not hard! Reach out to rabbi@rabbipatrick.com.
About Sandra and Benjamin
Sandra Ungar was born in 1940 in Wilkes-Barre, PA to orthodox Hungarian immigrant parents. She pursued her degree in educa...
Duration: 01:00:32Make Judaism Weird Again | Sukkot
Oct 06, 2025Recovering from Yom Kippur with this kavanah (intention) to Make Judaism Weird Again! Because we can’t just hand people bagels and lox and expect commitment.
A few requests:
We need Metro RVA homes for Home Hosted Shabbat. If you have some space November 7 in the evening or November 8 in the morning, we’d appreciate the locationIf you’re interested in adult education, reach out to rabbi@rabbipatrick.com to help create those opportunitiesIf you’d like to see us record on a more regular schedule, consider supporting us. Until then, you get what you get.And of...
Duration: 00:23:48Rosh Hashanah Sermon | House of Prayer, Study & Assembly
Sep 15, 2025What is the point of a synagogue? A few words for Rosh Hashanah.
Event tickets: https://kehillahrva.org/calendar/
Free tickets & support: https://kehillahrva.org/kehillah-cares/
Got questions? Send us a text and we'll read it on the show
Support the show
🕯️ Learn more about Kehillah: kehillahrva.org
💛 Support Kehillah: kehillahrva.org/donate
📲 Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/kehillahrva
📘 Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/kehillahrva
🔁 Share this episode with a friend and help build something sacred together.
What Is God & Why Do Bad Things Happen? (Part II)
Sep 02, 2025This episode contains content that may be alarming to some listeners.
Difficult times lead us to ask: what is God and why do bad things happen?
In this two part podcast, Rabbi Patrick gives us some ideas from Jewish tradition about the nature of the Divine. In part one, we talk about the many, varied and unusual ways God is understood to exist in this world.
In part two, we get into the hard stuff: what would God want from us, and why do bad things happen?
Readings/sources...
Duration: 00:44:36What Is God & Why Do Bad Things Happen? (Part I)
Sep 02, 2025Difficult times lead us to ask: what is God and why do bad things happen?
In this two part podcast, Rabbi Patrick gives us some ideas from Jewish tradition about the nature of the Divine. In part one, we talk about the many, varied and unusual ways God is understood to exist in this world.
In part two, we get into the hard stuff: what would God want from us, and why do bad things happen?
Readings/sources for this podcast found on Sefaria: https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/156492?lang=bi
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Duration: 00:31:21Returning to Kehillah (You Can Come Back!)
Aug 25, 2025Did you know 10% of congregants (of all religions in the USA) will LEAVE their community at some point? That's normal!
But if you are someone who left, and you feel that tug at your heart to come back, and you're not sure how -- then this podcast episode is for you.
YOU CAN COME BACK! Inspired by the story of Joseph and some practical wisdom about the weirdness, awkwardness and emotionally tricky nature of going-then-coming-back, this podcast episode hopes to make you feel comfortable returning to your Jewish community.
🍏🍎 HIGH...
Duration: 00:29:41Sneak Preview of High Holidays (FREE EVENTS + MORE)
Aug 19, 2025Sneak preview of all our High Holidays events, details on free tickets and more.
TICKETS AT KEHILLAHRVA.ORG
Rosh Hashanah Evening Service | Sept 22 - 6:30PMRosh Hashanah Day Service | Sept 23 - 9:30AMShabbat Shuvah Dinner at Rabbi’s | Sept 26 - 6PMShabbat at VA Pridefest | Sept 27 - Noon-8PMHigh Holidays Kids Event at Art Factory | Sept 28 - 5:30PMKol Nidre Evening Service | October 1 - 7PMYom Kippur Day Service | Oct 2 - 10AMYom Kippur Yizkor/Neilah Service & Break Fast | Oct 2 - 6PMThank you to Rebbetzin Stefanie (tefillah), Robin, Sophia, Matt, Austin and Avi (service leadership and support), Pam (food and be...
Duration: 00:24:47Rebbetzin Stefanie INTERVIEW
Aug 04, 2025Live from the tiki room, it's Rebbetzin Stefanie! Stefanie discusses why she likes running a synagogue out of her house (although she wishes she had more Star Wars themed furniture), the value of community building, and shares some stories from the early days of dating Rabbi Patrick.
Get to know your rebbetzin with this very special episode.
QUESTION: are you more of a Halloween or Thanksgiving person? Make sure to answer the questions using Fan Mail! Stefanie wants to know.
DONATIONS: we could use them! This podcast...
Duration: 00:44:49Loving Your Neighbor, When You DON'T EVEN LIKE THEM
Jul 28, 2025“Love your neighbor as yourself” is one of the most famous verses in the Torah. But what if your neighbor drives you crazy? What if you disagree about politics, values — or even reality?
In this episode, Rabbi Patrick explores what the Torah actually means by “love,” drawing on Leviticus 19, teachings from Rabbi Akiva, and wisdom from Pirkei Avot. You’ll learn how ancient Jewish values—like honoring others, subduing the ego, and treating the stranger as equal—can guide us through the fractured relationships of our time.
We also get practical: using Jedi-level communication tools like mirroring...
Duration: 00:39:01We Need To Talk About Corruption
Jul 21, 2025Corruption isn’t just a political problem — it’s a human one.
Drawing on texts about bribery, justice, and moral courage, Rabbi Patrick helps us explore how unchecked corruption corrodes not only institutions but relationships and communities, and what it really takes to live a life of integrity, and to pursue justice the right way.
Because doing the right thing is never easy — but it’s always worth it.
Show notes can be found on Sefaria: https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/519905?lang=bi
UPCOMING EVENTS
Adult Le... Duration: 00:47:11You CAN Make Friends as an Adult
Jul 14, 2025How do people make friends as adults?
In this episode of the Kehillah RVA Podcast, Rabbi Patrick explores why true, lasting friendships are so rare — and so essential — in our adult lives.
We’ll talk about:
Why adult friendships feel impossible sometimesHow to tell the difference between a true friend and a “frenemy”What Balak and Balaam teach us about blessings and cursesHow showing up for others creates more than connection — it creates lifeDrawing on Parshat Balak (Numbers 22:2-25:9), he reflects on what it means to be a friend who delights in o...
Duration: 00:35:22Your Jewish and Kehillah Questions Answered
Jul 07, 2025You have questions—we have answers.
In this episode of the Kehillah RVA Podcast, Rabbi Patrick tackles some of the most thoughtful, funny, and heartfelt questions sent in by listeners. From what’s changed at Kehillah over the years, to how to build a Jewish library, to the best bagel in Richmond, no topic is too big—or too small.
We also talk about living in an interfaith family, what it means to be a secular Jew, how to stay open and kind in a demanding role, and how different generations connect (or don’t...
Duration: 00:49:57Jewish Anxiety
Jun 30, 2025Being Jewish comes with beauty, belonging—and fear.
In this episode of the Kehillah Podcast, we explore the quiet ways Jewish anxiety shows up in everyday life. From wondering whether to hang a mezuzah to deciding how (and when) to prepare our children for hate, Rabbi Patrick offers a reflection on what it means to be visibly Jewish in a world that doesn’t always welcome us.
With wisdom from Midrash, the Book of Ruth, and community voices, this episode is about more than fear—it’s about resilience, complexity, and the deeply spiritua...
Duration: 00:23:12Rabbi Patrick Is FAR OUT (of the Office)
Jun 16, 2025Rabbi's out of town, but here are a few important announcements:
Want to be on the podcast? Reach out: Rabbi@KehillahRVA.orgKavaClub hosting our Ask A Rabbi Anything on Sunday, June 29thPlease donate to support this podcastSee you soon!
Got questions? Send us a text and we'll read it on the show
Support the show
🕯️ Learn more about Kehillah: kehillahrva.org
💛 Support Kehillah: kehillahrva.org/donate
📲 Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/kehillahrva
📘 Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/kehillahrva
🔁 Share this episode with a friend and help build so...
Converting to Judaism
Jun 09, 2025Want to become Jewish? Rabbi Patrick explores the meaning of conversion in Kehillah and Progressive streams of Judaism—everything from Jewish identity, practice, bet din, mikvah, and ultimately belonging. Whether you're on the path or just curious, this episode (hopefully) brings clarity, compassion, and insight.
📚 Follow along with Rabbi Patrick's show notes on Sefaria.
Got questions? Send us a text and we'll read it on the show
Support the show
🕯️ Learn more about Kehillah: kehillahrva.org
💛 Support Kehillah: kehillahrva.org/donate
📲 Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/kehillahrva
...
The Conspiracy For Your Soul 👁️🗨️ Exodus 31:16-17
Jun 09, 2025Stressed out? Overworked? This can help.
We live in a world that’s constantly demanding more—more hustle, more speed, more screens. But Shabbat offers a sacred pause, and one ancient word changes everything: vayinafash.
In this episode, Rabbi Patrick unpacks the spiritual, linguistic, and revolutionary depth of Exodus 31:16–17, asking: What does it really mean to rest like God?
What did it mean for God to “catch His breath”? And what would it mean for us to do the same?
From the wisdom of Rashi to the modern...
Duration: 00:29:31What Is Progressive Judaism?
Jun 01, 2025We aren't lazy Jews.
Progressive Judaism isn’t a trend—it’s a centuries-long conversation between tradition and modernity. In this episode, Rabbi Patrick explores the foundational document of Reform Judaism, and uses it as a doorway into what it means to live a Judaism that changes without breaking.
From the radical roots of Classical Reform, to the spiritual boldness of Jewish Renewal, to the thoughtful middle ground of Conservative and Reconstructionist movements, this episode reflects on what it means to belong to a Judaism that e...
Duration: 00:28:54Some Thoughts on Suffering | Genesis 1:1–5
May 26, 2025In memory of Sarah Milgram and Yaron Lischinsky, who were killed outside of the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, DC, on Wednesday, May 21st. May their memory be a blessing, and may their families be comforted among the mourners of Zion and Yerushalayim.
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God didn’t create a perfect world—God created a complex one. And in that complexity, we become creators, too: of meaning, of art, of relationships, and of kindness.
Suffering is real. But so is strength. So is human solidarity. And so a...
The Big Picture 🖼️ Shehecheyanu
May 19, 2025Life. Sustained. Place. Time. Gratitude in the Moment.
In this episode of the Kehillah Podcast, we zoom out—and then way in. Through the lens of Shehecheyanu, Rabbi Patrick shares a deeply personal reflection about his late father Art Beaulier (of blessed memory), the fragility of existence, and the spiritual practice of saying: "We’ve arrived. We survived. We are here now."
With a nod to Lisa Plotkin and PJ Library, and a reflection on the power of metaphors made physical, this episode explores the transcendent and the...
Duration: 00:21:01Significant Change Requires Significant Relationships
May 13, 2025When we show up for one another, something sacred happens.
In this first episode of the Kehillah Podcast, we explore the meaning of Ecclesiastes 4:9–10, the power of Kehillah (community), and the idea that you matter—spiritually, intellectually, and socially. Rabbi Patrick reflects on the divine presence that’s made real through relationships, and how being part of a community fills the “God-sized hole” the universe leaves when we live in isolation.
This episode is about more than Torah—it’s about connection, vulnerability, and why no one should have to...
Duration: 00:24:03The Kehillah Podcast ✡︎ Official Trailer
May 12, 2025This is the story of Kehillah—the bold, independent Jewish community in Richmond, VA. Hosted by Rabbi Patrick Beaulier, each episode explores the spirit behind Kehillah’s gatherings, social action, holidays, spiritual moments, and the people who make it all real.
From meaningful Shabbat dinners to mystical holidays at kava bars, Kehillah is about connection that inspires spiritually, intellectually, and socially.
✡︎ You Matter ✡︎
Got questions? Send us a text and we'll read it on the show
Support the show
🕯️ Learn more about Kehillah: kehillahrva.org
💛 Support Kehillah: kehillahrv...