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 562 Episodes.
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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.
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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.