Turning Toward One Another with Rabbi Sharon Brous

At a time when so many of us feel brokenhearted by the ongoing pain, uncertainty and polarization in our world, Rabbi Sharon Brous has been a grounding force and a guiding light for me and so many.

She is the senior rabbi and founder of IKAR, a leading-edge Jewish community based in Los Angeles, known for weaving together soulful spirituality, social justice, and deep belonging. A graduate of Columbia University for both her undergraduate and then her M.A. in Human Rights and ordained by the Jewish Theological Seminary, she is widely recognized as one of the most influential rabbis in America. Her work has been featured in The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, and The Washington Post, and her 2016  TED talk, “Reclaiming Religion,” has been viewed by more than 1.5 million people. Most recently, she has made an impact with her book The Amen Effect: Ancient Wisdom to Mend Our Broken Hearts and World, which offers a powerful roadmap for healing through presence, connection, and care.

I first learned about Rabbi Brous from my podcast guest, Valerie Kaur, author of See No Stranger, whose Revolutionary Love Project is deeply aligned with Rabbi Brous’ message of compassion and collective responsibility. Since then, I’ve turned again and again to Rabbi Brous’ sermons—words that name difficult truths and pathways forward with honesty, courage, and humanity. Often, it felt as though her messages came just before the headlines—as if she were speaking directly into the emotional moment that was about to unfold.

When I reached out to see if she might be open to a conversation, I was surprised and deeply grateful when she said yes. In this conversation, Rabbi Brous shares about her unexpected path to becoming a rabbi, how her mother’s love shaped her, how faith became a foundation for her activism, and why the call to build Beloved Community starts with the people right around us.

We explore the Loneliness Epidemic, the necessity of joy, and how we can hold multiple truths at once, even in a time of deep polarization. We also speak about the extraordinary power of small acts of courage—like two bereaved fathers—one Israeli and one Palestinian—who found connection in shared grief and chose to build something healing from that pain.

Again and again, Rabbi Brous reminds us that even in the face of heartbreak, we are not powerless. She invites us to begin simply—by noticing when we want to pull away, and choosing instead to turn toward. To offer compassion instead of judgment. To show up, even when we don’t have the perfect words. And to remember that healing begins not in sweeping solutions, but in small, courageous acts of connection. I hope this episode meets you where you are, acknowledges your pain and then also, as it did me, renews a sense of purpose and hope.

Topics Discussed in this Episode:

• Rabbi Brous’ unexpected path to becoming a rabbi

• The power of showing up: why small acts of presence matter

• Joy as a spiritual necessity, not a luxury

• Engaging children in honest conversations and sharing our sadness

• The Loneliness Epidemic and how to reconnect with our communities

• Holding space for both Jewish and Palestinian grief

• We don’t have to choose sides—being pro-humanity vs. pro-conflict

• How to have difficult conversations with people who think differently

• The importance of Sabbath rest and reclaiming time for ourselves

• A simple practice to build connection: greeting your neighbors

• Why turning toward one another—with compassion, curiosity, and care—is a radical act

Practices Shared in the Episode

• Just Show Up: Whether it's a funeral, a phone call, or dropping off food—presence is powerful.
  
  

• Joy Breaks: 18 minutes a day of joy (music, dancing, walking, cake) as a