The Kehillah RVA Podcast
Where community becomes conversation, and Judaism comes alive.
This podcast is your front door to Kehillah—Richmond, Virginia’s independent, progressive Jewish community. Through stories, spiritual insights, and moments of real connection, you’ll get to know what makes Kehillah different: we’re not just a synagogue—we’re the Jewish home you always wanted.
Hosted by Rabbi Patrick Beaulier, each episode features reflections on Jewish wisdom, creative contributions from Kehillah members, and updates on how this radically welcoming community is inspiring people spiritually, intellectually, and socially.
🌐 Website: kehillahrva.org
📲 Instagram: instagram.com/kehillahrva
📘 Facebook: facebook.com/kehillahrva
💛 Support the community: kehillahrva.org/donate
Episodes
48 episodes
Survey Results + We Need Your Help
The results of our community survey are in, and there are many ways you can make Kehillah MORE of what you need it to be. Yes -- this podcast episode has a lot of asks in it. But they are all fun.Wish Kehillah was closer to you? ...
Radical Pragmatism: A Jewish Gift for America's 250th Birthday
As America celebrates its 250th birthday, Rabbi Patrick explores a different path through our nation's political and cultural divisions: Radical Pragmatism. Drawing on the wisdom of Yitro's advice to Moses, and the daughters of Zelopheha...
False Nostalgia — Why We Sometimes Want to Go Back
Why do people return to unhealthy relationships, destructive habits, or situations they worked so hard to escape? And why does Rabbi Patrick watch Halloween commercials from 1988?In this episode of the Kehillah Podcast, Rabbi Patrick exp...
We've Got Some Announcements | Shabbat | Commonwealth Autism | High Holy Days
This is an announcement 📣 a lot of great opportunities to connect, to volunteer and to donate to your Jewish community. Details in the episode. Links below: ...
Judaism, Depression, and Recovering Our Humanity
In this episode, Rabbi Patrick explores a provocative question: What do we owe ourselves? Drawing from the Book of Genesis and Johann Hari’s book Lost Connections, we explore whether many of our struggles stem from something deeper tha...
Conversion To Judaism Part II: The Unspoken Stuff
Repeat after me: converting to Judaism is not joining a religion.(Or at least, it’s MORE than joining a religion.)Judaism is a peoplehood, and becoming Jewish is about being brought into that peoplehood. And the peoplehood,...
Ask the Rabbi Anything | Shavuot | Jewish Jokes | Chronic Illness
Shavuot starts this Thursday evening, and in the spirit of all night Jewish learning, we thought we’d offer something unique — a kind of Ask the Rabbi Anything. Questions include:The theology behind Jewish humor (HE HAD A H...
Who Gets Second Chances? | Lev. 21-4; Numbers 9
What happens when life gets in the way of doing the right thing at the right time? And what happens when “second chances” go too far?From ancient ritual law to modern community life, this episode unpacks a core tension: responsibility vs...
The Power of Language
For ancient people, words had material power. Today, communication is the greatest form of world currency. Let's tie all that together, along with a beginners guide to arguing the holiest way possible.Follow along here:
Six Sources I Trust on Israel & Palestine
Tiktok is garbage and influencers are just that...influence peddlers. How about we trust people we actually can know, especially about Israeli and Palestinian issues?Here are six people Rabbi Patrick trusts -- including three locals -- b...
Your Kehillah Questions Answered (Part II)
Another round of Kehillah questions answered, inspired by the 80 people (!!!) we had for Passover and the questions I was asked before or during seder. This includes, but is not limited to:Why does God kill the Angel of Death in Cha...
Passover For Normal People
DOUBLE CHAI! Episode 36 has Rabbi Patrick rambling about Passover...How to kasher a kitchen when your family members have multiple, competing opinions about what is kosher or notThe pro/con on going to a community seder or ...
A Day in the Life of Rabbi Patrick Beaulier
Get the inside secrets on what it's REALLY like to be a rabbi.• What “work” means when your job is community • Coffee with the rabbi as pastoral care and first contact • Protecting lunch time, health, and sustainable ...
Avi Remetz of Jewish Community Federation of Richmond Next Gen | INTERVIEW
Avi Remetz is the Director of Philanthropy and Engagement for Next Gen, the Jewish Community Federation of Richmond’s initiative for young adults to connect, lead, and make an impact. They bring together individuals in their 20s, 30s, and early...
Purim is the Inglourious Basterds of the Bible
“Who knows? Perhaps you have come to royal position for just such a time as this.” (Esther 4:14)What if where you are right now isn’t accidental? What if this moment — complicated, uncomfortable, demanding — is precisely the one you’re m...
We Need To Talk About Corruption (Part II)
In this episode, Rabbi Patrick speaks directly to those who feel hurt, betrayed, or disillusioned by famous Jewish men in the news — whether in politics, philanthropy, or Jewish communal life. The rise of antisemitism online is, in some part, c...
Javon: the Rabbi’s Son Who’s Healing the World | Interview
Regretfully the audio from this recording was messed up. We chose to publish it anyway, because this interview is just too fun. If you'd like to help us, we could really use someone who likes audio and video production. Volunteer by emailin...
Tu Bishvat: When Nature is Your Sanctuary
Take a journey through the inner world of your soul and the outer world of the earth. Welcome to Tu Bishvat -- an obscure holiday made living through kabbalistic teaching.In this episode, Rabbi Patrick guides you through one (of many) ap...
Meet Kehillah Members Ashton and Nick (and Their Existential Crises)
From Ashton’s experiences working with children with special needs and navigating higher education, to Nick’s path through mechanics, military service, and spiritual reflection, explore with our Kehillah friends in this podcast takeover how the...
Two Things Can Be True At Once (Venezuela, Israel + Those You Love)
Are you tired of being forced to "pick a side"? In a world that feels increasingly polarized—Red vs. Blue, Us vs. Them—we often feel trapped in a binary that doesn’t actually fit our reality. In this episode of the Kehillah RVA podcast, ...
Hanukkah Is Not What You Think It Is
In this podcast, we challenge both the Americanized “Hanukkah as Jewish Christmas” approach and the backlash against it...Because Hanukkah’s story is far more complicated than either side admits.Hanukkah is ultimately a ble...
Rabbi Elisha Paul | RTA - Richmond Hebrew Day School
If Seinfeld was a show about nothing, then this episode is a podcast about nothing.That's because in this episode of the Kehillah RVA podcast, we get to listen in on a an unedited conversation between Rabbi Elisha Paul, Head of School at...
Dating Jewish In Richmond, Virginia
Want some dad advice from Rabbi Patrick on dating Jewish in Richmond, VA? Well...you're getting it! In this episode, Rabbi Patrick takes the collective observations of Kehillah's singles and offers up spiritual wisdom around places ...
Shawn Harris on the Creative Process & Bizarro Torah (INTERVIEW)
Get to know Kehillah member Shawn Harris as we discuss the life of a creative person, her big moves from the west back to Richmond, the power of imagination, storytelling and world building.Learn more about her project Bizarro Torah:
Arianna Rose on Music, Judaism & Neurodivergence (INTERVIEW)
Get to know Kehillah member Arianna who you've likely seen around, but have not had a chance to chat with one-on-one. In this episode we discuss growing up as a teen in West Virginia, her move to RVA, a shared love of music, and what it's like ...