The Voices of Emanu El Podcast
The Voices of Emanu El is the podcast from Congregation Emanu El in Houston, Texas. Each week, you’ll hear sermons and reflections from our clergy team, and engaging conversations that explore our faith, traditions, community and the music of Emanu El. Whether you’re joining us for the first time or you’ve been part of our community for years, these are the voices of Emanu El.
Episodes
On this Mother’s Day Shabbat, Rabbi Pam Silk reflects on the many faces of motherhood: joy and exhaustion, gratitude and grief, presence and absence. Drawing on Torah, contemporary stories, and the language of Jewish blessing, she honors mothers, grandmothers, caregivers, and all who “mother” in less conventional ways, while making space for those who find this day complicated or painful. This heartfelt sermon invites listeners to ...
In this searing Shabbat sermon, Rabbi Pam Silk departs from her planned d’var Torah on the Jubilee year to confront the anguish unleashed by the murders of two young Jews, Sarah Milgram and Yaron Lishinsky, in Washington, DC. She names their killings as an act of terrorism fueled by anti-semitism, exposes how contemporary anti-zionism often masks and amplifies Jew-hatred, and reflects on the chilling reality of Jews being targeted ...
Rabbi Pam Silk begins with a childhood memory of being told to “turn off the lights,” then turns to Parashat Baha’alotecha to explore the menorah, the divine cloud, and the fire that guided our ancestors through the wilderness. She reflects on how intentional light — both physical and spiritual — can orient us when we feel stuck under “cloud cover,” craving certainty yet unsure where to go next. This uplifting sermon calls listener...
Starting with a love letter to The Container Store, Rabbi Oren Hayon moves from color‑coded bins and lucite organizers to Parashat Bamidbar and the wild revelation of Shavuot. He contrasts the Torah’s obsession with census, structure, and perfectly ordered camps with the thunder, fire, and uncontainable holiness of Sinai, asking what it means to seek both spiritual scaffolding and sacred spontaneity. Rabbi Hayon invites listeners t...
In this Pride Month teaching, Rabbi Josh Fixler and Cantor Rollin Simmons revisit the rebellion of Korach to explore what happens when voices are silenced and belonging is denied. Drawing connections between the Torah’s challenge to authority and today’s struggles for LGBTQ+ dignity and inclusion, they ask how Jewish communities can honor holy dissent, expand compassion, and create space for every soul to stand proudly at Sinai. Li...
Rabbi Josh Fixler explores the spiritual weight of names: how Torah names reveal destiny and how the labels we use today can wound or heal. Through stories from Jewish text and modern life, he considers what it means to misname, rename, or courageously claim one’s true name in a world that often flattens identity. Listeners are encouraged to reflect on how language shapes relationships and how choosing names with care can become an...
L'Cha Dodi welcomes Shabbat and the Shabbat Bride; this jazzy, moving version from Cantor Rollin Simmons during Emanu El's Warehouse Shabbat service, kicking off the month of Elul, is based on Mumford & Son's "Awake My Soul."
In this special High Holy Day episode of Voices of Emanu El, Rabbi Oren Hayon leads a Kever Avot service from the quiet grounds of Congregation Emanu El’s cemetery, Emanu El Memorial Park, in the “sacred valley of time” between Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur. Drawing on Geraldine Brooks’ memoir Memorial Days, the Hebrew poetry of Psalm 118, and the teaching that “grief is praise,” Rabbi Hayon reflects on love, loss, and the honest, u...
Join Rabbi Oren Hayon for a moving exploration of heritage, legacy, and spiritual inheritance. In this Heritage Shabbat sermon, Rabbi Hayon draws from the Torah to reveal how we, like Isaac, are called to uncover the wells of Jewish wisdom left by our ancestors and keep them flowing freely for future generations. Using the metaphor of Isaac's work to reopen the wells his father Abraham had dug — only to have them sabotaged — Rabbi ...
In a world full of brokenness, how do we keep going? Sometimes we’re asked to carry heavy things — brokenness, regret, hope. This week’s teaching from Rabbi Josh Fixler explores moral distress, moral residue, and the power of moral resilience, from the story of Moses to the struggles of today’s caregivers.
Cantor Becky Mann joined us in November for a weekend as our Music at Emanu El Artist in Residence. In this shabbat message, she explores the powerful message of lifting our eyes to find hope, healing, and divine presence even in our most challenging moments. Through the stories of our ancestors — Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob — we're reminded that God is often found in the moments we least expect.
Key themes explored:
✨ The power of p...
What does it mean to be “made for” something, and how do we find our way there? In this episode, Rabbi Oren Hayon weaves together a therapy dog named Obie, the spectacle of the Houston World Series of Dog Shows, and the quiet, powerful moments when humans, like well-trained dogs, seem to slip effortlessly into what they were born to do....
In this episode of The Voices of Emanu El, Rabbi Pam Silk explores Parashat Vayeishev and the paradox of “settling” in a world that rarely feels settled. Drawing on the story of Joseph, we reflect on what it means to remain grounded and present even when life feels turbulent and unpredictable.
Rabbi Silk weaves together Joseph’s journey from the pit to leadership with the courage of the Maccabees, who lit the menorah in a desecrate...
One week after devastating flooding in Central Texas, Rabbi Pam Silk reflects on how the 23rd Psalm can so powerfully capture and express the experience of struggle, grief, and bereavement. She captures the necessity of soul restoration, being with others, and celebrating Shabbat together.
Did you know Superman's story is deeply rooted in Jewish culture? Discover how two Jewish teenagers created an iconic hero who embodies immigrant struggles and Jewish values. This fascinating insight from Rabbi Josh Fixler connects superhero lore with real history, sparking curiosity and pride. Perfect for history buffs and comic fans alike; share this hidden story!
Join Rabbi Oren Hayon for an inspiring reflection on the deep significance of the Sh’ma — the six Hebrew words that form the backbone of Jewish faith and peoplehood. Discover how the Sh’ma weaves through every stage of the Jewish lifespan, grounding us in tradition and community, and fueling acts of justice and repair. Through ancient legend, Torah teachings, and the wisdom of modern theologians, we explore how the Sh’ma is both a ...
Join Rabbi Oren Hayon for an inspiring reflection on the deep significance of the Sh’ma — the six Hebrew words that form the backbone of Jewish faith and peoplehood. Discover how the Sh’ma weaves through every stage of the Jewish lifespan, grounding us in tradition and community, and fueling acts of justice and repair. Through ancient legend, Torah teachings, and the wisdom of modern theologians, we explore how the Sh’ma is both a ...
Dropping your child off at college? Grappling with change and those bittersweet, proud parent moments? In this heartfelt reflection, Rabbi Pam Silk connects the milestone of sending a child off to school with this week’s Torah portion, Parashat Re’eh. Explore the journey from day-to-day parenting to long-distance love, the mixed emotions of letting go, and the wisdom the Torah offers when facing major life transitions. Learn how Mo...
Ever judged a “bad driver” — or anyone — for cutting corners and then wondered about your own reactions? This week, Rabbi Oren Hayon shares a powerful take on justice, mercy, and how we judge each other. In this time of Elul, discover how the Torah calls us to temper our judgments with compassion — for each other and for ourselves.
Through a compelling story of loss, memory, and the hidden meaning behind everyday objects, Rabbi Pam Silk explores why returning lost property, helping those in need, and remaining engaged—no matter how difficult—are core to Jewish tradition and universal ethics. Drawing on wisdom from Rabbi Menachem ben Benjamin Recanati, classic rabbinic tales, and contemporary teaching, this sermon asks: What does it mean to not remain indiffer...
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