Senior Rabbi Amy Bernstein
Co-Host of Kehillat Israel Podcasts
Rabbi Bernstein is Senior Rabbi of Kehillat Israel. Prior to serving at KI she was the Rabbi of Temple Israel in Duluth, Minnesota. She graduated from the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College which awarded her an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree, in 2022, for her 25 years of rabbinic service.
An Atlanta native, Rabbi Bernstein holds 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 an alumna of the Institute for Jewish Spirituality two year rabbinic intensive, is a Senior Rabbinic Fellow of the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem, and is Past President of the Southern California Board of Rabbis. In 2023, Rabbi Bernstein was awarded the prestigious Woman of the Year Award by Assemblymember Jaqui Irwin's office.
Rabbi Bernstein is passionate about bringing the deep wisdom of the Jewish tradition to meet the challenges and opportunities of the current moment. She is a warm and engaging presence known for her energy, insight, humor, and compassion.
Senior Rabbi Amy Bernstein has hosted 568 Episodes.
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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.
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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.