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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Chukat I: Personal Responsibility And The Community
July 1st, 2020 | 54 mins 48 secs
Rabbi Amy Bernstein's weekly Torah study class - Numbers 19:1-21:20 - July 3, 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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Korach I: Leadership and Rebellion
June 26th, 2020 | 1 hr 5 mins
Rabbi Amy Bernstein's weekly Torah study class - Numbers 16:1-17:15 - June 26, 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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Shelach Lecha I: The Spies - Sight, Perception and Fear
June 19th, 2020 | 1 hr 1 min
Rabbi Amy Bernstein's weekly Torah study class - Numbers 13:1-14:7 - June 19, 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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Beha'aloteha I: Our Responsibility To Light The Lights
June 12th, 2020 | 52 mins 5 secs
Rabbi Amy Bernstein's weekly Torah study class - Numbers 8:1-9:14 - June 12, 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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Naso: What Is Your Job During These Troubled Times?
June 5th, 2020 | 54 mins 20 secs
Rabbi Amy Bernstein's weekly Torah study class - Numbers 4:21-7:89 - June 5, 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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Bamidbar I: We All Count
May 22nd, 2020 | 57 mins 26 secs
Rabbi Amy Bernstein's weekly Torah study class - Numbers 1:1-54 - May 22, 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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Behar I: Is Anything Ours?
May 15th, 2020 | 51 mins 42 secs
Rabbi Amy Bernstein's weekly Torah study class - Leviticus 25:1-38 - May 15, 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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Hartman Study Class 5: Thoughts on the Jewish Community - Together Apart And Alone In Our Time
May 13th, 2020 | 59 mins 46 secs
Rabbi Amy Bernstein shares more insights from her study as part of the Rabbinic Leadership Initiative at The Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem. This class is based on a recent lecture by Rabbi Dr. Donniel Hartman President of the Shalom Hartman Institute.
Due to the current coronavirus crisis and the guidelines of the State of California, 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 her classes via Zoom until it is possible to once again get together in person. She conducted this class on May 13, 2020.
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Emor I: Finding Fire On The Altar Of The Heart
May 8th, 2020 | 54 mins 36 secs
Rabbi Amy Bernstein's weekly Torah study class - Leviticus 21:1-22:16 - May 8, 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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Acharei Mot I: The Roots of Yom Kippur - Can We Start Over?
May 1st, 2020 | 1 hr 10 mins
Rabbi Amy Bernstein's weekly Torah study class - Leviticus 16:1-17:7 - May 1, 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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Hartman Study Class 4: How Firm are Truth's Legs?
April 30th, 2020 | 1 hr 11 mins
Rabbi Amy Bernstein shares more insights from her study as part of the Rabbinic Leadership Initiative at The Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem. This class is based on a lecture by Rabbi Gordon Tucker in which he discussed the nature of truth in the Jewish tradition and how it relates to our situation today.
Due to the current coronavirus crisis and the guidelines of the State of California, 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 her classes via Zoom until it is possible to once again get together in person. She conducted this class on April 29, 2020.
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Tazria I: The Torah And Today's Quarantine
April 24th, 2020 | 56 mins 27 secs
Rabbi Amy Bernstein's weekly Torah study class - Leviticus 12:1-13:39 - April 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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Shemini I: Pushing The Boundaries Of Intimacy With The Divine
April 17th, 2020 | 1 hr 1 min
Rabbi Amy Bernstein's weekly Torah study class - Leviticus 9:1-10:11 - April 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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Pesach 2020: Moses Seeks God's Presence
April 10th, 2020 | 49 mins 56 secs
Rabbi Amy Bernstein's weekly Torah study class - Exodus 33:12-34:26 - April 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.
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Passover In Quarantine - Then And Now
April 5th, 2020 | 1 hr 9 mins
Rabbi Amy Bernstein teaches about the very first Passover as recounted in the Torah. It took place the night before liberation from Egypt. Just like today, Jews were in quarantine. Rabbi Bernstein asks: how can our history inform and deepen our Passover experience at this difficult time?
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 classes via Zoom until it is possible to once again get together in person. The class took place on April 1, 2020.
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Tzav I: Keeping The Fire Burning
April 3rd, 2020 | 1 hr 1 min
Rabbi Amy Bernstein's weekly Torah study class - Leviticus 6:1-7:10 - April 3, 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.