Moral Courage: From the Study of Rabbi Harold M. Schulweis

Rabbi Becky Hoffman offers a candid look at how the rabbinate has transformed in the age of AI, social media, and shifting expectations. Tracing her path from a Bat Mitzvah blessing to leading a congregation through turbulent times, she explores embracing technology, entrepreneurship, and personal branding while preserving the deeply relational heart of spiritual leadership. From COVID’s disruptions to the rise of the entrepreneurial rabbi, she shows how tools like ChatGPT are reshaping sermons, pastoral care, and community engagement.
Rabbi Becky shares practical strategies for balancing accessibility with healthy boundaries—think cell phone ownership, redefining the rabbi’s spouse role, and building multiple income streams. With an emphasis on self-awareness, longevity, and legacy, she highlights mentorship, community, and passing on values as the true measures of success. Ideal for rabbis, Jewish educators, and anyone navigating rapid change, this conversation delivers clear lessons in resilience, innovation, and staying true to core purpose in a digital age.

What is Moral Courage: From the Study of Rabbi Harold M. Schulweis?

“Moral Courage” shares Jewish ideas and conversations — inspired by the works of Rabbi Harold M. Schulweis — that make Jewish wisdom more accessible, inclusive and relevant to today’s complicated world. Rabbi Schulweis was a longtime pulpit rabbi at Valley Beth Shalom in Encino, California, from 1970 until his passing in 2014, who made Judaism approachable and accessible. He believed that humanity could do divine work in the world, trying to make it a better place. He was a cofounder of the anti-genocide program Jewish World Watch, and said that Jews have a moral responsibility to help those who are suffering, wherever they are. He was also the founding Chair of the Jewish Foundation for the Righteous, recognizing Christians who saved Jews from the Holocaust. His is a voice that we need now—to give us direction and hope, in an otherwise troubled time. Executive Produced by Sad Clown Productions and Mayim Bialik. Hosted by Rabbi Ari Averbach.