Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch of Stephen Wise Free Synagogue

Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch

Podcast of sermons by Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch, senior rabbi at Stephen Wise Free Synagogue in New York City. Rabbi Hirsch is recognized internationally for his leadership in Jewish affairs and was named by the New York Observer among “New York’s Most Influential Religious Leaders.” The coauthor of the acclaimed One People Two Worlds: A Reform Rabbi and an Orthodox Rabbi Explore the Issues that Divide Them, he previously served as executive director of the Association of Reform Zionists of America.

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20 episodes
Updated June 19

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Episodes20

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June 19
Of Revolutions and Rebellions
Today, June 19th, marks the day emancipation finally reached the slaves of Galveston, Texas. It wasn’t the exact day they were freed, a descendant of the slaves recalled, “but that’s
May 27
Re-CHARGING Reform Judaism: Clarity, Courage and Moral Leadership
“We are the leaders. We must lead. We must be proactive. It is harder now. These are times that try our souls and test our convictions,” said Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch
May 15
Finding Happiness in the Wilderness of Life
Rabbi Hirsch points out, “Judaism teaches that God placed us in a world of unending challenges. Over and over our tradition reminded us – that – for one reason or
April 24
Roald Dahl on Broadway
The new Broadway play about acclaimed children’s author Roald Dahl struck our Rabbi Ammi Hirsch as exceedingly relevant to our times. The same language and arguments Dahl used against Israel
April 10
The Week That Was
“These are critical and fateful times” says Rabbi Ammi Hirsch. “Even a hundred years from now, historians will write about these very days.” Despite this sentiment, Rabbi Hirsch is steadfast
March 21
Life in Death Valley
The sight of wildflowers blooming in Death Valley is a symbol of our times, beautifully articulated by Rabbi Rifkin, who expresses that, “these Death Valley wildflowers gave me pause. Not
March 13
Seconds From Carnage
“We gather today because it is Shabbat. On some level, to be a Jew is itself an act of defiance,” says Rabbi Ammi Hirsch, who expressed relief — and immense
March 7
On the Iran War
Rabbi Hirsch says emphatically that, “the Iranian threat is not only military, economic, and political. It is also ideological. We must grapple seriously with the ramifications of allowing this radical
February 20
Skin in the Game
Most people think Exodus is about “slavery, the ten plagues, the splitting of the Sea, and the Ten Commandments,” says Rabbi Ammi Hirsch. But “a full third is about the
February 7
The Era of American Vertigo
Rabbi Ammi Hirsch sees New York’s icy streets as a good metaphor for America today. “The stability under our feet that we have always taken for granted seems much less
January 24
On Life in America Today
As America has faced crisis after crisis — with attacks on the Federal Reserve and the courts, and masked, heavily armed federal agents patrolling the streets — Rabbi Ammi Hirsch
Dec 20, 2025
Bondi Beach
“When we kindle the last light of the menorah, the sun will be at its peak down under. But for our people, even the glow of the full menorah will
Dec 6, 2025
Pay Attention
“Our tendency — like the frog in the pot — is not to notice changes until events reach a boiling point,” says Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch. One overlooked verse in this
Nov 21, 2025
The Good, The Bad and The Ugly
“I recall the many learned and optimistic thought pieces in the early days of social media that proclaimed the dawn of a new and better world. We now understand that
Nov 8, 2025
On the Election of Zohran Mamdani
Rabbi Ammi Hirsch congratulates New York City Mayor-elect Zohran K. Mamdani and applauds the democratic process while reiterating his deep concern over the future mayor’s commitment to anti-Zionism that could
Oct 2, 2025
Our Three Names: A Message to the Young Jews of America
On Yom Kippur, Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch addresses young Jews directly, urging them to embrace the burden and privilege of carrying Jewish life forward: “You are our future… my generation will
Oct 2, 2025
Hopefully
On Erev Yom Kippur, Rabbi Ammi Hirsch ponders the nature of hope in these dark times and urges us to reject “syrupy saccharine” optimism and instead embrace the active, Jewish
Sep 23, 2025
Two Years On
On Rosh Hashanah, Rabbi Ammi Hirsch reflects on the lasting wounds of October 7 and the burden of living with both power and vulnerability. He urges us to be, as
Sep 5, 2025
The Tug-of-War Inside Ourselves
Underneath the Torah’s rules of war lies a deeper message about how we should wage our own internal struggles, says Rabbi Ammi Hirsch. “We are who we are in part
Jun 13, 2025
Believe Them
Jews have often wondered how the Holocaust was even possible. “October 7 is how it happens. A nuclear-armed Iran is how it happens,” said Rabbi Ammi Hirsch, commenting on Israel’s