Samuel Stern, at The Blogs

Samuel Stern

Rabbi in the heartland of the USA

Feb 8, 2025, 1:27 AM

What Israel’s ‘Greatest Generation’ could teach our kids

Israeli volunteers collect, cook and deliverכםר for the thousands of reserve soldiers stationed in the Golan Heights, Oct. 10, 2023. (Michael Giladi)

Western teens should meet their Israeli peers who have shown that patriotism is about committing to something larger than oneself

Oct 20, 2023, 8:22 PM

The World Was Filled With Hamas

Israelis protest the judicial overhaul in New York City's Times Square as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visits the city to meet with world leaders at the UN's General Assembly, September 19, 2023. (Luke Tress/Times of Israel)

After last week’s service, I got a comment: “You normally seem so calm on the bimah, but last week you seemed pissed off!” I understand that comment. Grief is hard. I am grieving right now for the over 1,400...

Oct 19, 2023, 7:43 PM

What INN and JVP Have Forgotten

October 7th was supposed to be a day of great rejoicing for Jewish people around the world. It was the holiday of Simchat Torah, the last holiday in our season of major holidays and festivals. What occurred in Israel...

Sep 25, 2023, 10:58 PM

In 5784, May Our Unity Increase Our Joy

All Jews are responsible for one another, the Talmud teaches us. After all, we are one people. It has never been true that every Jew practiced Judaism the same way or lived in the same country or spoke the...

Sep 22, 2023, 10:26 PM

A Sermon on Israel from the Heart of the USA

Delivered in Topeka, Kansas, at Temple Beth Sholom, the closest synagogue to the geographic center of the United States, on Erev Rosh Hashanah 5784: There are people who believe the age of miracles has long passed. That miracles no longer...

Dec 17, 2022, 5:40 PM

Topeka United: A Movement for Peace

Rabbi Sam Stern spoke at the annual Topeka United holiday event; below is his speech delivered on 12/14/22: Hello, my name is Rabbi Samuel Stern of Temple Beth Sholom of Topeka, and I am honored to join Topeka United this...

Dec 3, 2022, 10:31 AM

Our Journey to Haran

I know some who don’t like the idea that cars drive themselves. Giving a computer that much trust has been hard for people, and in media is a longstanding trope (think Terminator 3). I grow more wary of the...

Nov 19, 2022, 11:10 AM

Interfaith Address on ‘Creation Stories’

NOTE: This address was delivered by Rabbi Stern at the Topeka, Kansas Interfaith Thanksgiving Service, 11/20/22 Good evening, I am Rabbi Samuel Stern of Temple Beth Sholom here in Topeka, and I have been asked to talk about creation stories...

Jun 27, 2022, 6:47 AM

A Rabbinic Response to Reversing Roe

When I began my rabbinate at Temple Beth Sholom in Topeka, Kansas a year ago, one of the things I was committed to was being a unifying figure. I have always believed, and still believe, that the role of...

Mar 4, 2022, 10:42 PM

The Servant of The People

A post was going around again recently on social media, based on a thought many have had in recent days, weeks, and years. It said some variation of: “I’d really like to live in some precedented times.” Be strong,...

About Me

Samuel Stern is the rabbi of Temple Beth Sholom of Topeka, Kansas. Ordained by HUC-JIR in Los Angeles in 2021, Rabbi Stern has participated in numerous fellowships, including with AIPAC, the One America Movement, and the Shalom Hartman Institute, and has been published in the quarterly journal of the Central Conference of American Rabbis.