Kolot: Voices from The Ark Synagogue

The Ark Synagogue

Welcome to Kolot, the podcast of The Ark Synagogue, a bold, experiential and caring Progressive Jewish community in Northwood, London.

Through sermons, reflections and conversations from across our community, Kolot explores Jewish life, learning and values in the world we live in today. Rooted in tradition and open to new perspectives, these episodes bring together voices that inspire thought, connection and belonging.

Whether you are Jewish, exploring Judaism, or simply looking for meaningful reflection, you are warmly welcome.

To learn more about The Ark Synagogue, visit arksynagogue.org.

Play

Open in

30 episodes
Avg 10 min
English

Support the show

Goes straight to the publisher. podnod takes nothing.

Support this podcast

Episodes 30

Newest Oldest Longest

All20 Unplayed20 In progress0 Played0

Counted on this page — what you have heard stays on this device, so it is not something the list can be paged by.

September 11 · 13 min
The Knife in Our Hearts
In this sermon Rabbi Andrea Kulikovsky explores how the wound of Isaac’s near‑sacrifice lives on as intergenerational trauma, and how the Hebrew verb nasa (“to lift, bear, carry”) offers a way to bear that legacy differently. Listeners will hear a vivid reading of the binding of Isaac, reflections on the silence of Sarah, and a call to remember without letting memory become a prison, weaving together grief, forgiveness, and the hopeful lift of each new year. ★ Support this podcast ★
- Transcript
September 10 · 16 min
The Eclipse of God
In this moving sermon Rabbi Lea Mühlstein reflects on the lingering question ‘where is God?’ raised by 9/11 and other tragedies, exploring the concept of hester panim – the hidden face of God. She draws on Martin Buber’s eclipse metaphor and a Hasidic tale to argue that our task is not to explain suffering but to keep seeking the divine in acts of compassion, justice, and human connection. Listeners will leave with a concrete invitation to look for God’s presence even when the world feels eclipsed, especially during the High Holy Days season. ★ Support this podcast ★
- Transcript
September 5 · 11 min
A Time for Turning
In this sermon Rabbi Lea Mühlstein explores t’shuvah as a turning‑to‑God and a return to our truest selves, arguing that repentance is less a reset button and more a spiral that moves us forward. She weaves biblical language, poetry, and personal teaching to show how radical honesty and choosing a new direction can reshape our lives even when the past cannot be undone. Listeners will come away with a concrete image of t’shuvah as a purposeful shift rather than a simple circle, and a sense of agency for the coming Aseret Y’mei Teshuvah. ★ Support this podcast ★
- Transcript
September 3 · 5 min
Standing Here, All of Us
In this sermon Rabbi Andrea Kulikovsky shows how Parashat Nitzavim embodies the heart of Progressive Judaism: everyone stands in the covenant, Torah belongs to all, and we are called to choose life. She weaves the declaration "Atem nitzavim hayom kulchem" with the principle "Lo bashamayim hi" and the call "Uvacharta bachayim" to argue that each of us must claim the Torah, add our voice, and shape our own future, inspired by feminist trailblazers like Gloria Steinem and Judith Plaskow. ★ Support this podcast ★
- Transcript
August 28 · 15 min
This Day
Rabbi Aaron Goldstein reflects on the phrase “this day” in Deuteronomy 26:16, showing how each daily ritual can be a fresh encounter with the Divine. Drawing on Lea Goldberg’s secular poetry, the Compelling Commitments of Rabbi Elli Tikvah Sarah, and the mysticism of the Gerer Rebbe, he argues that ordinary practice and special moments are united by a responsibility to seek meaning. Listeners will leave with a concrete way to view everyday mitzvot as opportunities for renewal and a deeper sense of purpose. ★ Support this podcast ★
- Transcript
August 21 · 7 min
I Live in Me and in You
In this talk Rabbi Aaron Goldstein explores Abraham Joshua Heschel’s poem that blurs the line between self, other, and the divine, arguing that every human being carries a spark of holiness. He connects that vision to the power of prayer, the moral weight of everyday mitzvot, and the restorative rhythm of Shabbat, while also reflecting on the recent loss of a veteran member of the Ark community. Listeners will come away with a deeper sense of how sacredness can be found in both contemplation and concrete action. ★ Support this podcast ★
- Transcript
August 20 · 8 min
One Year...
Rabbi Andrea Kulikovsky looks back on her first year at The Ark, using the parashah Ki Tetze to explore the weight of vows and the call to never remain indifferent. She shares how Elul’s season of review and the upcoming Kol Nidrei invite both personal accountability and the possibility of release, and she renews her promise to the congregation with a heartfelt "Lo tuchal lehit'alem." Listeners will leave with a concrete sense of how Jewish teachings on nedarim can shape everyday commitment and forgiveness. ★ Support this podcast ★
- Transcript
August 14 · 11 min
Wise and Simple Things
Rabbi Aaron Goldstein explores the Torah command not to cut down fruit-bearing trees during war, linking it to the broader principle of bal tashchit and contemporary issues of settler violence in the West Bank. He shows how caring for trees becomes a moral lens for evaluating destruction, terrorism, and the ethics of war, and invites listeners to consider how Jewish law can inform ecological and social justice today. ★ Support this podcast ★
- Transcript
August 8 · 10 min
Clues
In this talk Rabbi Andrea Kulikovsky likens the laws of Parashat Re’eh to clues in a mystery game, showing how each commandment points to active choice, responsibility, and compassion. She argues that progressive Judaism interprets Torah through justice, human dignity, and the covenant of chosenness, urging listeners to open their hands to the needy and continually work toward tikkun olam. You’ll leave with a concrete framework for turning the Torah’s “blessing or curse” invitation into everyday ethical action. ★ Support this podcast ★
- Transcript
August 6 · 9 min
When Law Meets Life
In this talk Rabbi Lea Mühlstein explores how the Torah’s warning of blessing and curse in Re'eh can inform our response to the new Equality and Human Rights Commission Code on single‑sex services. She outlines three halachic approaches—le‑chatchilah vs. b’diavad, sha’at ha‑dechak ke‑di’avad dami, and puk chazi mai amma devar—and shows how they help balance legal obligations with lived compassion for trans community members. Listeners will leave with concrete ways to apply Jewish law thoughtfully in contemporary gender‑related challenges. ★ Support this podcast ★
- Transcript
August 1 · 9 min
Learning to Love
In this episode the speaker explores how love in Judaism is a commanded act of noticing and protecting the other, using a chance encounter with Layla on the Tube to illustrate the Torah’s call to love the stranger. Listeners will hear connections between the Tu b’Av festival, the biblical injunction to love the ger, and the Talmudic story of love emerging after mourning, and will be invited to consider how compassion can replace indifference in everyday life. ★ Support this podcast ★
- Transcript
July 24 · 8 min
Finding Comfort in the In-Between
Rabbi Aaron Goldstein guides listeners through the in‑between days of Av, exploring how Tisha B'Av’s mourning can open space for memory, prayer, and the hope of Shabbat Nachamu. He draws on biblical verses, historic prayers, and the Adrabah prayer to show how seeing the good in others and listening to the Divine’s voice can transform grief into comfort. The sermon invites you to pause, reflect, and practice honest, kind communication as a path toward personal and communal repair. ★ Support this podcast ★
- Transcript
July 24 · 8 min
Do Not Add — Except That We Always Have
In this talk the speaker explores Deuteronomy 4:2’s warning against adding or subtracting from the commandments, arguing that the real demand is humility and honesty about our interpretive work. Drawing on Rashi, Maimonides, and the Talmudic image of Torah as a living plant, the sermon shows how progressive Judaism can expand the tradition while staying rooted in its core. Listeners will leave with a clearer sense of how new rituals and inclusive voices can be faithful acts of interpretation rather than betrayals. ★ Support this podcast ★
- Transcript
July 18 · 10 min
Moments in the Wilderness
In this heartfelt sermon, the speaker draws on Moses' final moments in the desert to show how remembering our story can quiet fear when we stand on the brink of a new beginning. Listeners will learn to use the wilderness—both literal and metaphorical—as a place for pause, reflection, and hearing God’s voice, and to carry the Torah, memory, and community forward for themselves and the next generation. ★ Support this podcast ★
- Transcript
July 11 · 12 min
Does Her Word Count?
Rabbi Lea Mühlstein explores a contemporary midrash by Rivka Lubitch that asks whether a woman's word is worth less than a man's, unpacking the biblical law that lets fathers or husbands annul a woman's vow. She contrasts this legal history with a mystical reading that sees the vow as the soul's promise, urging listeners to examine both societal structures and inner fears that silence commitments. The sermon challenges us to envision a world where every vow—whether spoken by a woman or felt in the neshamah—carries equal weight and consequence. ★ Support this podcast ★
- Transcript
July 4 · 10 min
The Still Whisper: Elijah, Weariness and Finding Our Purpose
In this talk the speaker explores the deep fatigue of the prophet Elijah as reflected in Anna Kamienska’s poem and the haftarah narrative. Listeners will grapple with questions of purpose, the "kol demamah dakah" – the still, small voice – and how quiet moments can reveal our true spirit. The sermon connects poetry, prayer, and the challenge of listening to the divine whisper amid life’s storms. ★ Support this podcast ★
- Transcript
June 27 · 11 min
The Danger of the One Who Alone Knows the Way
In this sermon the speaker links Gabriella’s Bat Mitzvah to the story of Pinchas in Parashat Balak, warning against the temptation of single‑person saviors. Listeners will hear how the rabbis contain Pinchas’s zeal, valuing debate, humility, and collective decision‑making as the true hallmarks of Jewish maturity and responsible leadership. The talk also connects these ancient lessons to today’s political moment, urging us to seek leaders who listen and include diverse voices. ★ Support this podcast ★
- Transcript
June 20 · 9 min
The Hidden Wells That Sustain Us
This sermon by Rabbi Lea Mühlstein invites listeners to reflect on the often-overlooked contributions of individuals who sustain communities and make a difference in quiet, unassuming ways. Using the story of Miriam from the Torah, Rabbi Mühlstein explores the theme of recognising and appreciating the 'hidden wells' that provide sustenance and support in our lives. The sermon encourages listeners to notice and honour those whose presence and labour are often taken for granted. ★ Support this podcast ★
- Transcript
June 19 · 11 min
When Words Fall Against Stone
In this sermon, Rabbi Lea Mühlstein explores a pivotal moment in Moses' leadership journey from Parashat Chukat. When tasked by God to speak to a rock to bring forth water, Moses instead strikes it with his staff, resulting in his disqualification from leading the people into the Promised Land. The rabbi examines the complexities of Moses' actions and the consequences, reflecting on the power of words, the difficulty of leadership, and the balance between action and compassion in the pursuit of justice. ★ Support this podcast ★
- Transcript
June 13 · 13 min
Who Would Need Fences?
This sermon explores the themes of community, volunteering, and Tikkun Olam (restitution of the world) through the lens of Parashat Korach and a Talmudic story known as the Oven of Achnai. The speaker discusses the importance of community and the impact of volunteering, highlighting that in a community bound by love and shared values, individualism is no match for the efficacy of collective action. The sermon also celebrates the volunteers and carers in the community, acknowledging their vital role in making the community function. ★ Support this podcast ★
- Transcript

Showing 1–20 of 30 episodes