You 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) to Jewish life. And yes, we even dig into movies and shows that get Judaism right… and wrong.

Consider this your guide to Jewish questions that everyone’s thinking—but not everyone’s asking.

And don’t forget: RSVP now for the next Home-Hosted Shabbat at Brittney and Austin’s in Midlothian on July 11 at 6 PM. Tickets are on sale now—kids are free, and you don’t need to bring a thing! And there are free tickets through Kehillah Cares. Email ineedhelp@kehillahrva.org for FREE tickets.

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July 7th is your last chance to order kosher meat from our friends at Hiddr Meats VA. Place your order on their website.

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Being 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 spiritual act of showing up as ourselves, especially when it isn’t easy.

Links to content inspiring this week's episode:

https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/513882?lang=bi

https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/474052?lang=bi

Note: this episode was recorded at the start of the 12 Day War and has not been updated.

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Rabbi's out of town, but here are a few important announcements:

• Want to be on the podcast? Reach out: Rabbi@KehillahRVA.org
• KavaClub hosting our Ask A Rabbi Anything on Sunday, June 29th
• Please donate to support this podcast

See you soon!

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Want 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.

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Stressed 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 research of Johann Hari, this episode weaves together Torah, neuroscience, burnout culture, and the idea that rest isn’t a luxury—it’s a birthright. Welcome to the Vayinafash Revolution.

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We 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 embraces egalitarianism, modern ethics, and a love of community over conformity.

You’ll also hear reflections on the paradox of mitzvot as chosen sacred acts and how Humanistic and cultural Judaism are shaping the next generation

✨ Thank you to Penn Markham for suggesting this topic.

💬 Got an idea for a future episode? Email: rabbi@kehillahrva.org

Just in time for Shavuot! If you like this podcast, please donate via https://kehillahrva.org/donate

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In 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 are we.

Rabbi Patrick explores Genesis 1:1–5 and how the Torah’s opening verses aren’t just about creation, but about transformation. With a nod to astrophysicist Sara Imari Walker's Assembly Theory and artist Justin Curfman (Feedings Fingers), we reflect on the role of imagination in a universe that moves from darkness to light—not once, but always.

🙏 Shout out to the Curfman family in Napoli, Italy
🎧 Topic suggested by Penn Markham. Thanks, Penn!

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Life. 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 concrete: from the near-impossibility of the universe to framed antique paintings to what it really means to be present.

Because sometimes, just being here is the miracle.

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