Sermons are provided by Rabbi Zemel for the personal use of congregants. They are not for reproduction or other use (including quotation) without his permission and attribution.

Video Sermons

Audio Sermons

Subscribe to podcast or download individual podcasts below:

• Sat., April 20, 2013.  "What are the Most Important Things in Judaism (in 10 minutes)?"
• Sat., April 13, 2013.  "What is God's Role in the World?"
• Sat., Dec. 8, 2012 - "Is the experience of being Jewish an ethnic identity or a spiritual religion?"
• Sat., Dec. 1, 2012 - "What is Religion?"
• Sat., Jun. 2, 2012 - "What Does It Mean To Be Blessed and What Do Blessings in Judaism Really Mean?"
•  Sat., May 5, 2012 - "If we are created in the image of God, is God somewhat Like a Human?"
•  Sat., Jan. 28, 2012 - "If You Are Jewish, Do You Have to Believe in God?"
•  Sat., Jan. 7, 2012 - "Does Judaism Change and How?"
•  Sat., April 30, 2011 - "Answers to Adult B'nai Torah Questions"
•  Sat., Sept. 18, 2010 - "Ask the Rabbis"
• Sat., Oct. 17, 2009 - "The Connection Between Science Fiction and Judaism"

• Sun., Mar. 9, 2008 - "What Reform Jews Believe (Adult Education Series)"

• Fri,, Jun. 15, 2007 - "Sabbatical Reflections"

• Sun, Oct. 1, 2006 - "Yom Kippur Eve, 2006"

• Fri., Sep. 8, 2006 - "Thinking About Israel"
• Sat., Jan. 28, 2006 - "My Favorite Torah Verses"
  

• Sat., Jan. 7, 2006 - "Why is Judah the Namesake of Jews?"
  

Instructions for MP3

You should be able to click the link and have the file start to download and play. If not, just download it to your machine and then play it with iTunes, QuickTime or RealPlayer or whatever program you choose to play mp3 audio files. And you can move it into your iTunes library and it will be downloaded to your iPod. (if you don't own an iPod - what's wrong with you :-) - substitute whatever mp3 player you use.)

Instructions for Podcast

Click on and copy the link. Then in iTunes (or whatever podcast aggregator software you use such as iPodder or HappyFish), select Podcasts in the left column and then from the menu, choose Advanced/Subscribe to Podcast. Then paste in the link you just copied. From now on, you'll automatically download new sermons into your Podcast folder whenever you launch iTunes! And, from there they will be downloaded to your iPod automatically.

Text Sermons

Is the experience of being Jewish an ethnic identity or a spiritual religion?, Shabbat Morning, Dec. 8, 2012.

What is Religion?, Shabbat Morning, Dec. 1, 2012.

Temple Micah: Sacred Community, Sep. Erev Yom Kippur, Sep. 25, 2012.

Thirty Years at Micah and Five Verses of Torah, Erev Rosh Hashanah, Sep. 16, 2012.

Does Judaism Change and How?, Shabbat Morning, Jan. 7, 2012.

Yom Kippur in a Time of Uncertainty, Kol Nidre, Oct. 7, 2011.

Self, Faith and the Challenge of Modernity, Erev Rosh Hashannah, Sep. 28, 2011.

The Basic Minimums of a Jewish Life, Shabbat Morning, June 4, 2011.

Answers to Adult B'nai Torah Questions, Shabbat Morning, April 30, 2011.

Faith: A World of Poetic Possibilities, Erev Rosh Hashanah, Sep. 8, 2010

What Does Jewish Mean?, Shabbat Morning, Dec. 5, 2009

Is Science Fiction Jewish, Shabbat Morning, Oct. 17, 2009

Israel: Renewing Our Vows, Kol Nidre, Sep. 27, 2009

Beyond Madoff, Erev Rosh Hashanah, Sep. 18. 2009 (fast pdf download)

Beyond Madoff, Erev Rosh Hashanah, Sep. 18. 2009 (pages version with music clip as played on Sept. 18)

Beyond Madoff, Erev Rosh Hashanah, Sep. 18. 2009 (word version with music clip as played on Sept. 18)

Why Did God Create Non Kosher Animals? Shabbat Morning, April 18, 2009

Science and Religion, Shabbat Morning, Feb. 21, 2009

Idolatry and the Torah, Shabbat Morning, Dec. 6, 2008

Saving Grace, Erev Yom Kippur, Oct. 9, 2008

Seeking a Jewish Hero, Erev Rosh Hashanah 5769, Sept. 29, 2008

Prayer and Repetition , Shabbat Morning, Jan. 5, 2008

Kol Nidre, Myth, Narrative, and Faith, Sep. 21, 2007

Sabbatical Sermon 2 - Jewish Education, continued,June 8, 2007.

Sabbatical Sermon 1 - Jewish Education , June 1, 2007.

Adult B'nai Torah Class - 3 Questions. Shabbat Morning, May 26, 2007.

Rabbi Manewith's answers to the same questions.

Israel: Three Empty Chairs, Dedicated to Gilad, Ehud, and Eldad. Erev Rosh Hashanah, Sep. 22, 2006.

Why I Became a RabbiShabbat morning, Mar. 4, 2006.

Judaism and Intelligent Design Shabbat morning, Dec. 10, 2005

Israel - A Test of the Relevance of Judaism in This Millenium. Yom Kippur Morning, Oct. 13, 2005.

Introduction to Liz Lerman, "I Am Jewish" service. Yom Kippur Afternoon, Oct. 13, 2005.

Abraham's and Sarah's Souls. Erev Rosh Hashanah Oct. 3, 2005.

What Does Judaism Tell Us About Reward and Punishment? Shabbat morning, Sep.24, 2005.

Torah's Guidance for How Modern Israel Deals With War, Suicide Bombings, and Other Acts of Violence. Shabbat morning, Sep. 10, 2005.

Sermon for the Bnai Torah Class: Wresting with an Ancient Text - Making Our Community Stronger. Shabbat morning, May 7, 2005.

Why Is Observing Shabbat One of the 10 Commandments?, Shabbat morning, Mar. 5, 2005

What Meaning Can We Derive From the Holocaust, Shabbat morning, Feb. 5, 2005.

Has Israel Pursued a Moral Path with the Palestinians in the Past Four Years? Shabbat morning, Jan. 15, 2005.

Micah Mitzvah Mission II. Israel at 56 - My Loving Impressions. Shabbat evening, May 14, 2004.

Special Passover Sermon. "...I believe that the Passover Seder we celebrate in our homes really is critically important and powerfully symbolic of the very essence of Judaism. ...", from Shabbat Ha-gadol, Apr. 3, 2004