Senior Rabbi Amy Bernstein
Co-Host of Kehillat Israel Podcasts
Rabbi Bernstein became our Senior Rabbi in July 2014, after serving four years as Associate Rabbi. An Atlanta native, Rabbi Bernstein has a bachelor’s degree in English Literature and Cultural Anthropology from Northwestern University, where she also earned a certificate in Women’s Studies. She is also an alumna of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College in Philadelphia. Her rabbinic training included one year as a visiting graduate student at Ben Gurion University of the Negev in Israel.
Before coming to KI, Rabbi Bernstein was the rabbi of Temple Israel in Duluth, Minnesota for 14 years. As the only rabbi for several hours in either direction, she represented the Jewish community in the Greater Northland region. She served two terms as president of the Arrowhead Interfaith Council and six years on the Board of Trustees of the College of St. Scholastica, where she was also on the founding board of the Oreck/Alpern Inter-religious Forum. She was a scholar-in-residence for the Jewish Chautauqua Society and lectured widely throughout the Northland.
Outside of her rabbinical work, Rabbi Bernstein performs as a member of Three Altos, a vocal trio.
Rabbi Bernstein is President of the Board of Rabbis of Southern California.
Rabbi Bernstein makes her home in Pacific Palisades with her partner, Judy Griffith, her daughter, Eliana, and their rescue Chihuahua, Olivia.
Senior Rabbi Amy Bernstein has hosted 541 Episodes.
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Rabbi Amy Bernstein's Kol Nidre Sermon 2020
September 28th, 2020 | 26 mins 50 secs
Kehaillat Israel High Holy Days 5781
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Haazinu: Can We Accept It Today?
September 25th, 2020 | 59 mins 57 secs
Rabbi Amy Bernstein's weekly Torah study class via Zoom - Deuteronomy 32:1-52 - September 25, 2020.
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Rabbi Amy Bernstein's Rosh Hashanah Sermon 2020
September 19th, 2020 | 16 mins 8 secs
Kehaillat Israel High Holy Days 5781
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Rabbi Amy Bernstein's Erev Rosh Hashanah Sermon 2020
September 19th, 2020 | 14 mins 28 secs
Kehaillat Israel High Holy Days 5781
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Nitzavim I: Standing Together - Then and Now
September 11th, 2020 | 54 mins 21 secs
Rabbi Amy Bernstein's weekly Torah study class via Zoom - Deuteronomy 29:9-30:11 - September 11, 2020.
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Ki Tavo I: What Is Our Social Responsibility?
September 4th, 2020 | 52 mins 6 secs
Rabbi Amy Bernstein's weekly Torah study class via Zoom - Deuteronomy 26:1-27:10 - September 4, 2020.
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KI Tetze I: Finding The Treasure Within
August 28th, 2020 | 51 mins 16 secs
Rabbi Amy Bernstein's weekly Torah study class via Zoom - Deuteronomy Chapter 22 - August 28, 2020.
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Shoftim I: A Democratic Revolution in Politics
August 21st, 2020 | 49 mins 33 secs
Rabbi Amy Bernstein's weekly Torah study class via Zoom - Deuteronomy 16:18-18:5 - August 21, 2020.
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Spiritual Sustenance in a Time of Crisis
August 18th, 2020 | 1 hr 11 mins
Rabbi Amy Bernstein discusses a Hartman Institute talk by Melila Hellner-Eshed which explored Jewish tradition for what it means to find faith while sitting in the darkness.
Melila Hellner-Eshed, Ph.D., is a Research Fellow of the Kogod Research Center at Shalom Hartman Institute and the Director of Maskilot, an intensive two-year program for female doctoral candidates. She has been a professor of Jewish mysticism and Zohar in the Department of Jewish Studies at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem for over two decades.
Rabbi Bernstein's conducted the discussion via Zoom on August 18, 2020.
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Reeh I: Sacrifice, Ritual and Morality
August 14th, 2020 | 1 hr 4 mins
Rabbi Amy Bernstein's weekly Torah study class via Zoom - Deuteronomy 11:16-12:28 - August 14, 2020.
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Ekev I: Gratitude - When Is Enough Enough?
August 7th, 2020 | 56 mins 40 secs
Rabbi Amy Bernstein's weekly Torah study class via Zoom - Deuteronomy 7:12-9:3 - August 7, 2020.
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Vaetchanan I: Moses, Leadership and the Law
July 31st, 2020 | 56 mins 53 secs
Rabbi Amy Bernstein's weekly Torah study class - Deuteronomy 3:23-5:18 - July 31, 2020.
Due to the current coronavirus crisis and the guidelines of the State of California and the City of Los Angeles, it was not possible for the class to meet with Rabbi Bernstein at Kehillat Israel. So she conducted the class on the internet via Zoom with the students paticipating from their homes. Rabbi Bernstein will continue to conduct the class via Zoom until it is possible to once again get together in person.
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The Challenge Of Empathy In Times Of Crisis: Four Jewish Philosophical Reflections
July 30th, 2020 | 1 hr 15 mins
Rabbi Amy Bernstein discusses the ideas of Dr. Micah Goodman via Zoom on July 30, 2020. Dr. Goodman is a Research Fellow of the Kogod Research Center at Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem.
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Devarim I: Reading Deuteronomy Through A Different Lens
July 24th, 2020 | 59 mins 34 secs
Rabbi Amy Bernstein's weekly Torah study class - Deuteronomy 1:1-2:1 - July 24, 2020.
Due to the current coronavirus crisis and the guidelines of the State of California and the City of Los Angeles, it was not possible for the class to meet with Rabbi Bernstein at Kehillat Israel. So she conducted the class on the internet via Zoom with the students paticipating from their homes. Rabbi Bernstein will continue to conduct the class via Zoom until it is possible to once again get together in person.
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Matot I: Vows, Gender and Responsibility
July 17th, 2020 | 53 mins 44 secs
Rabbi Amy Bernstein's weekly Torah study class - Numbers 30:2-31:54 - July 17, 2020.
Due to the current coronavirus crisis and the guidelines of the State of California and the City of Los Angeles, it was not possible for the class to meet with Rabbi Bernstein at Kehillat Israel. So she conducted the class on the internet via Zoom with the students paticipating from their homes. Rabbi Bernstein will continue to conduct the class via Zoom until it is possible to once again get together in person.
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Pinchas I: The Fascinating Story of Serach, A Woman You Probably Never Heard Of
July 10th, 2020 | 1 hr 10 secs
Rabbi Amy Bernstein's weekly Torah study class - Numbers 25:10-26:51 - July 10, 2020.
Due to the current coronavirus crisis and the guidelines of the State of California and the City of Los Angeles, it was not possible for the class to meet with Rabbi Bernstein at Kehillat Israel. So she conducted the class on the internet via Zoom with the students paticipating from their homes. Rabbi Bernstein will continue to conduct the class via Zoom until it is possible to once again get together in person.