Rabbi Samantha Natov's Sermons

August 12, 2022

“Can we still be open to loving and nurturing ourselves when we feel we are missing the mark?” asks Rabbi Samantha Natov. “It is a Jewish value to judge others favorably, to judge others with the assumption that they are people of merit. So why is it difficult at times to do the same for ourselves?”

July 15, 2022

During this time of division and anger, “how can find our way back to one another?” asks Rabbi Samantha Natov. “We’ll have to ask difficult questions — and open ourselves to other points of view,” she says. “Our shared life experiences far outweigh our differences, even though they can seem impossible to bridge.”

July 8, 2022

At the end of his life, Moses didn’t get to enter the Promised Land, the Torah tells us in this week’s parasha. “Most of us will never fully complete, never fully accomplish, never fully achieve all we set out for ourselves,” says Rabbi Samantha Natov. But, she reminds us, our legacies don’t end with us: “Our hopes and dreams are carried forward.”

July 1, 2022

“In this time when we especially need a vacation,” says Rabbi Sam Natov, “even just to strengthen ourselves to go back and do the critical work of helping to repair this broken world, Jewish practices will carry us forward. They will strengthen and uplift us, so that we can strengthen and uplift others.”

June 10, 2022

“Our sages teach that deceiving others deliberately is like ‘stealing people’s minds,’” says Rabbi Sam Natov. “When you lie, you steal someone’s right to the truth. You take away their ability to function in the real world. Your lie forces them to relate to something that is untrue, that never happened — and that changes reality.”

June 3, 2022

“In these days of crisis, as we still reel from one massacre, another one has already taken place,” says Rabbi Samantha Natov. “When our fears get the best of us, we may be tempted to retreat. It takes courage to stay invested, aligned and active — and that is at the heart of what it means to be a Jew.”

May 20, 2022

“The notion of a deliberate reset is an ancient Jewish concept, radical in its time, and still radical today,” says Rabbi Sam Natov. “In a city that never sleeps, movement is often our goal. When we pause, we can gain new insights about the meaning of our lives – we make space for a spiritual awakening.”

May 13, 2022

“Have you noticed that we are all feeling a little edgy right now?” asks Rabbi Samantha Natov. “We’re tense, prickly and irritable, as if walking with elbows out wherever we go. This is why the Jewish value of community is so important — it connects us in a circle of faith, trust and ultimately: love.”

April 15, 2022

As part of the Passover Seder, we break the matzah. “There is always one bigger and one smaller side, a jagged edge with messy and crumbling pieces,” say Rabbi Samantha Natov. “Just like life: things can be fine and then, chaos, brokenness, unevenness and uncertainty all at once. The Seder forces us to recognize that, though we were redeemed, our world is still broken.”

March 25, 2022

“We are often stripping a person down to one piece of themselves — one word, one act, one meme. So many of us are too quick to judge and we do not do enough to bring people back into the fold,” says Rabbi Samantha Natov. “Judaism gives us a mechanism to share our lives with others: to see the fullness of the person in front of us, and for them to see us.”

March 18, 2022

“How can we celebrate while our brothers and sisters in Ukraine are fighting for survival?” asks Rabbi Samantha Natov. “This week, I saw photos of Ukrainian Jews making hamantaschen, singing and reading the Megillah. It’s nothing short of a statement of resistance. They’re saying: ‘We are still here.’”

March 11, 2022

“With the war raging in Ukraine, we are increasingly aware of how quickly things can change and how vulnerable we always are,” says Rabbi Samantha Natov. We tell each other stories to cope — and to avoid repeating history. “On this Shabbat of Remembrance, we are told to both ‘remember’ and to ‘not forget.’”

March 4, 2022

“The Ukrainian people are saying ‘hineini’ — ‘here I am,’” says Rabbi Sam Natov. “People in neighboring countries are saying ‘hineini’ as they welcome refugees. Abraham, Jacob and Moses all said ‘hineini.’ And we, too, say ‘hineini’ by raising donations, joining together to rally, supporting Ukrainian businesses, and bearing witness to the experiences of the Ukrainian people.”

February 11, 2022

Just as the Olympic athletes take us away from everyday limitations, in this week’s parasha, we remember that “in their time, the priests were a source of great inspiration — yet they were just as human as anyone else,” says Rabbi Samantha Natov. “When you feel depleted or uninspired, remember that you have great strength within you — that the impossible is possible.”

January 28, 2022

“This week’s Torah portion begins with a long list of laws,” says Rabbi Samantha Natov. “Laws can seem abstract, but rulings respond to how our lives unfold. As Jews, we are constantly in conversation with the Torah’s vision of how to create a moral society.”

January 14, 2022

The ancient Israelites wandered the wilderness for 40 years, carrying the Holy Ark from place to place. “But it was not a burden,” says Rabbi Samantha Natov, “for the Ark carries those who carry it.” On this weekend of service, “may we, too, feel elevated and carried by the energy embodied in that moment of chesed.”

December 31, 2021

“As we begin the secular new year, we find ourselves asking: Who should I be?” says Rabbi Samantha Natov. “Instead of asking who should I be in the coming year, we could ask: How can I better be with myself?” she continues, “The self I am now. Not the one I want to be. But who I am in each moment.”

December 24, 2021

“We all have struggles, large and small, public or hidden, that we go through throughout our lifetimes. No one gets through life without tremendous loss,” says Rabbi Sam Natov as the COVID-19 cases have increased. “Yet we have the capacity for reaching inward for strength – even when it feels like we won’t have anything left.”

November 26, 2021

“On this Shabbat of Thanksgiving, we are grateful for our blessings and acknowledge the challenges that have made us who we are,” says Rabbi Samantha Natov. “Just as water carves rock over time, the adversities we face shape us.”

November 5, 2021

“There are moments in life that feel so intensely awful that it seems as if they will go on forever,” says Rabbi Samantha Natov. It’s in times like these when we may not see the whole picture. “Faith is not the belief that everything is going to be okay. Rather, faith is the belief that we, in every moment, can access a kernel of strength, of hope, of continuity.”

October 8, 2021

Mere weeks after Yom Kippur, many of us have already transgressed. “The midrash tells us that God created and destroyed 974 worlds before creating the world we know,” says Rabbi Samantha Natov. “Just like Noah, we must leave things behind to start anew. But even wickedness survived the flood…”

September 17, 2021

“In the wake of Yom Kippur, we have cleared out the clutter of regret,” says Rabbi Samantha Natov. “Sukkot gives us an opportunity to tap into joy” that we should be sure not to miss out on.

September 6, 2021

“There is a kind of myth that we can hold onto balance for even more than a short time, but to be alive is to be in motion,” says Rabbi Samantha Natov this Erev Rosh Hashanah. “In prayer, we call to something infinite that unifies us beyond time and space. Tonight, we get to start again.”

September 3, 2021

“What does a life of blessing look like? It’s easy to see that it’s the people in our lives who really matter,” says Rabbi Samantha Natov. “This week’s Torah portion reminds us that we have the power to choose blessing — to let people into our lives.”

August 27, 2021

In the wake of an earthquake in Haiti and the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan, Rabbi Samantha Natov reflects on our duty to our fellow human beings: “We may be separated by our places of birth, and by the context of our life circumstances, but what connects us is far stronger. When we see a fellow human being suffering, and we are in a position of strength, the Jewish response is clear: we must help.” Give to our humanitarian aid fund by visiting swfs.org/aid.

August 13, 2021

“The Torah places heavy restrictions on people in positions of power to provide desperately needed checks and balances,” says Rabbi Samantha Natov. “In order to really take the pursuit of justice seriously, we need to internalize the fact that we are no more important than any other person. As we approach the High Holy Days, let us be honest with ourselves and use our power wisely.”

July 30, 2021

“Why do bad things happen to good people? Or good things to bad people?” asks Rabbi Samantha Natov. “Ultimately, we are born into circumstances that are not of our making. The Torah teaches that it is only through the grace of God that we experience good things.”

July 9, 2021

“I almost never make a promise. When I do, it’s only with absolute confidence that I can keep my word,” says Rabbi Samantha Natov, reflecting on this week’s parashah, in which Moses discusses the laws governing vows. “God said, ‘Let there be light…’ Words shape our world; may we weigh them with care.”

July 2, 2021

“The census in week’s parasha, Pinchas, is noteworthy because it mentions the names of people who would’ve been counted, but their actions disqualified them,” says Rabbi Samantha Natov. “Whom do we leave out of our stories? Whom do we name and then discount? Who is forgotten?”

June 25, 2021

“Sometimes things are right in front of us, but we don’t see them. It takes something to help us change our perspective,” says Rabbi Sam Natov. In this week’s Torah portion, an angel helps Balaam see what’s hidden from his view. “What personal ‘angel’ can we call upon for clarity, for honesty, for presence in the moment?”

May 28, 2021

“In the past days I have been hearing from people of all ages who are distraught at the barrage of ugly words written about Israel and Jews,” says Rabbi Samantha Natov. “How do we not collaborate with evil? By refusing to engage in a dialogue of hate. May we react as Moses did — not confronting hate with hate, but seeing it for what it is and working towards healing.”

April 30, 2021

“Pressure to be perfect is not new. It’s biblical; it’s biblical. The priests and even their sacrifices had to be perfect,” says Rabbi Samantha Natov. With all that pressure, “there are aspects of ourselves we learn to tuck away. But sometimes we need to stop hiding — and be found.”

April 16, 2021

This week’s Torah portion deals with leprosy — “and the quest to understand why people became afflicted,” says Rabbi Sam Natov. “In the face of uncertainty, how can we gain a sense of control? But a much better question is: what will do now that we know that we can be struck at any moment — how will we live?”

April 3, 2021

“What would you need to move forward from mitzrayim — which means ‘narrowness,’ and is our word for Egypt?” asks Rabbi Samantha Natov on this Shabbat and the last day of Passover. “Working on ourselves means we’ll be able to put our very best out into the world.”

April 2, 2021

As we live through Passover in a plague of our own, Rabbi Samantha Natov says: “I think it’s more important than ever to ask the theological and existential questions we often push to the backs of our minds — and open ourselves to the wonder we ignore. May this season offer you spiritual nourishment.”

March 26, 2021

“I think about moments in Jewish history of reemergence. The greatest of which is when the Israelites were freed from slavery,” says Rabbi Samantha Natov. Going from slavery to freedom is a process, so our ancestors “had to shift their perception in order to find true liberation. All we can do is put one foot in front of the other towards that which tugs at our heart.”

March 12, 2021

During the Israelites’ 40-year journey through the desert “it’s the moment of becoming: of potential, of life unfolding,” says Rabbi Samantha Natov. “Liminal space is where change happens. For us, perhaps this difficult time gives us an opportunity to contemplate how to create a new narrative. We can’t go back to where we were or who we were.”

November 20, 2020

“I am haunted by the moment when Esau learns of all that transpired behind his back,” says Rabbi Samantha Natov. “This cry of Esau is heartbreaking. Because it is not just his cry. It’s all of us who have been taken advantage of, or are not seen,” but Jewish history teaches us about resilience when we’re faced with inequality and injustice when we act as God’s partner in tikkun olam.

October 23, 2020

“When I think about this current historical moment and these two biblical narratives of destruction, the story of the Tower of Babel feels particularly relevant,” says Rabbi Samantha Natov. “So many in positions of power are spending their time aggressively building their own towers, only looking at others for what they can do for them. So what comes next?”

October 2, 2020

“We are told that Sukkot is z’man simchateinu — the time of our joy. But in many ways, this does not feel like a joyful time… So how do we stay hopeful and maybe even find joy in this time?” Rabbi Samantha Natov investigates how our sources can shed light on finding joy, wholeness and a sense of wellbeing.

September 25, 2020

“This Shabbat Shuva is named for the words of the prophet Hosea: ‘Return, O Israel, to Adonai your God,’” says Rabbi Samantha Natov. “Between last Yom Kippur and now, some of us have been spiritually asleep. Together, this year, may we find our inner path that aligns with our deepest truths.”

September 18, 2020

“We’d like to start fresh, but that is impossible,” says Rabbi Samantha Natov. “During these High Holy Days, we can learn from our mistakes and rebuild out of regret. Our regrets give us raw material to start with as we move towards a sense of wholeness.”

September 11, 2020

“Today marks 19 years since 9/11 and, in ways, the pandemic has brought us closer to the memories of how we felt back in 2001,” says Rabbi Samantha Natov. “Above all, the Torah teaches that we are in partnership with God and God remembers us. May we use this time to forgive others, ask for forgiveness, and forgive ourselves.”

August 14, 2020

“Time takes on a boundary of before and after COVID,” says Rabbi Samantha Natov. “We read in Psalm 90: ‘Teach us to number our days, that we may have a heart of wisdom.’ When we number our days, we reflect upon and absorb the significance of our experiences.”

July 31, 2020

“How will you tell your story of this time?” asks Rabbi Samantha Natov. “Recounting our stories is no small affair. Although its general trajectory may not change, the act of retelling allows us to reshape its meaning, uncover new understandings — and look forward to the next chapter with a sense of hope.”

July 17, 2020

“Our homes have become our gyms, schools, offices, theaters, restaurants and more,” says Rabbi Samantha Natov. “Judaism teaches that now, at this moment of unprecedented chaos, is when we most need to get organized. When we put our thoughts in order, we gain a sense of composure. Ultimately, this work is spiritual as well.”

July 10, 2020

“Elijah found God in a quiet moment after destruction and chaos,” says Rabbi Samantha Natov. “Jewish history and Jewish beliefs compel us to not allow ourselves to become shrouded in despair. Rather, to persevere — to remain open, as our ancestors had — to walk through dark times holding up a torch of hope.”

June 12, 2020

In this week’s parashah, God rejects Miriam and Aaron’s bias against Moses’ dark-skinned Cushite wife. “The message is clear,” says Rabbi Samantha Natov. “We are equal before God, regardless of the color of our skin. We need to recognize our own racial biases and start the work of change.

June 7, 2020

Rabbi Natov explores how we can offer the ancient blessings of our ancestors to each other — and act upon them to help restore balance to the world in a time of chaos and violence.

May 23, 2020

As we begin the Book of Numbers this week, Rabbi Samantha Natov explores how we redefine who we are in this liminal space and how this moment in time offers a chance for growth and renewal.

May 2, 2020

Rabbi Samantha Natov explores Judaism’s take on blame, delving into this week’s parashah and the episode of the scapegoat, over whom Aaron confessed all the Israelites’ iniquities before casting it away into the wilderness.

April 25, 2020

Rabbi Samantha Natov explores Judaism’s views on compassion: how to be there for others without becoming overwhelmed ourselves.

April 11, 2020

On Shabbat morning during Passover, Rabbi Samantha Natov discussed Moses’ crisis of faith which paralleled that of the Israelites’, leading them to create the Golden Calf. “The first thing Moses says to God is: ‘Oh, please, let me behold Your presence.'” God lets Moses see His back as He passes by — a perfect metaphor for the experience of faith.

April 9, 2020

On the morning of Passover and with spring in the air, Rabbi Samantha Natov spoke about how our history and practicing gratitude for even the smallest things helps us to be resilient in tough times like these.

February 11, 2020

“May we begin this season for renewal with the inner strength to make the changes we need to.” Rabbi Samantha Natov inspires us to direct energy from Tisha B’Av, a time of communal mourning, towards meaningful personal growth.

January 17, 2020

Rabbi Samantha Natov recounts a particularly good day made so by cheerful people around her. “Our surroundings are the context within which we operate,” she says. “Imagine how your day-to-day interactions would change if you tried to let love and compassion lead.”

December 13, 2019

Outraged after the latest attack on Jews at a kosher marketplace in Jersey City this week, Rabbi Samantha Natov asks and answers: “What can we do about the rise in anti-Semitism? We need to fight it – on every level, in every place and with everything we have.”

November 8, 2019

“What would a magazine article say about my worth?” asks Rabbi Samantha Natov. “Are we only as valuable as the amount of money we have?”

October 25, 2019

“It may be that it is near impossible to agree on truth,” says Rabbi Samantha Natov, who challenges us: if truth is subjective, then why is it important for us to prioritize honesty?

October 11, 2019

Rabbi Samantha Natov tells the story of a woman who imagined grandiose plans for a bright future and urges us to push ourselves to start taking the first steps toward change. “While our blueprint for change that we imagined over the High Holy Days can be a touchstone we return to for inspiration, strength and direction, we cannot simply reflect upon these plans; we need to put them into action.”

September 29, 2019

Before we are born, we contain the knowledge of everything in the world,” says Rabbi Samantha Natov this Erev Rosh Hashanah. “Life, then, is a process of remembering. The best we can do is to strive to bring holiness into this dance of life as we heed the ancient call home. Let’s take these High Holy Days to remember who we once were and who we want to be.

September 27, 2019

Rabbi Samantha Natov reminds us of our collective responsibility laid out in the Torah to take care of our planet for future generations. “We are visitors who inherit what is given us for a short time and then we pass it on. And, as such, we are called to be responsible wardens of the earth, which belongs to God.”

September 20, 2019

Jewish sages refer to a constant battle between the yetzer hatov and the yetzer hara – our good and bad impulses. Rabbi Samantha Natov urges us to channel our more destructive drives during this season of renewal – while the gates of repentance are open.

August 16, 2019

Rabbi Samantha Natov discusses the importance of giving love and approaching life with a generous heart. “When we let love lead, we open the potential for deepening our connections with one another. By letting love guide our actions, we bring more holiness into the world.”

July 26, 2019

“Sometimes problems seem too big, and we don’t think we can make a difference,” says Rabbi Samantha Natov. “But we have stories that can inspire us and guide us.” When the Israelites were approaching the Promised Land, a group of sisters challenged the system of how the land would be divided – and their efforts paid off. “They found a way to effect change, and so can we.”

July 19, 2019

“Being surrounded by clutter and chaos is not good for us,” says Rabbi Samantha Natov. “The rabbis teach that an orderly home can expand a person’s heart. When we get rid of the clutter, we make room for the holy.”

July 12, 2019

Rabbi Samantha Natov explores the human desire for happiness and fulfillment, and examines Judaism’s take on what it means to feel “spiritually whole” and “connected.” She reminds us to be mindful and present and to practice gratitude, and demonstrates how fulfilling mitzvot can give us a sense of purpose.

July 5, 2019

This week a congregant and I were talking about reports of the heart breaking situation at holding camps for migrant children. She expressed how furious she was when she first heard about the separated families. Like many of us, she expressed her outrage by signing petitions, marching in rallies, contributing to various aid organizations and writing to her local representatives.  She yelled on Facebook and Twitter “How could this be happening? How in our country, in America, which holds family ties as sacred?”

June 28, 2019

“Because there are so few righteous individuals, God intentionally spreads them out,” explains Rabbi Samantha Natov while discussing righteous acts described in the Torah. “Miracles happen every time a small act of kindness leads others to participate in that kindness and multiply the deed – and every moment presents an opportunity to make a choice that brings goodness into the world.”

May 2, 2019

On Friday after Memorial Day and a recent personal loss, Rabbi Samantha Natov recalled the story of Yodea, the Angel of Losses, who spends all of his time digging for what we lose in our lives. “He reminds us that we’re all still in a relationship with a loved one who is no longer with us. As we search, with the light of our souls, we find strands left behind — and bind up their memories so they may live on through us.”

March 29, 2019

In this week’s parasha, the sons of Aaron, Avihu and Nadav, are killed without warning after making an offering of fire to God. “It has puzzled scholars for millennia,” says Rabbi Samantha Natov. “But maybe this story is supposed to function similarly to a modern horror film and allow us to ponder the transience of life and possibility of arbitrary violence from a safe distance.”

February 15, 2019

“What does it mean for us to notice, without trying to erase or block out our imperfections?” asks Rabbi Samantha Natov, while inspiring us to embrace our most complete selves.

December 21, 2018

Ahead of 2019, Rabbi Samantha Natov encourages us to build habits to better ourselves, and use Shabbat as a way to periodically check on our spiritual progress.

September 21, 2018

In her sermon this Shabbat, Rabbi Samantha Natov reminds us to keep working towards spiritual growth after the High Holy Days:

“What happens the day after Yom Kippur? It’s as if we have a clean slate… Until a few hours, days, or weeks later. In some ways what happens between Yom Kippur and Rosh Hashanah is even more important. May we keep moving ahead towards our ideals with humility and compassion for ourselves and others.”

September 14, 2018

“Think about how it feels to be in touch with our deepest truths. How does it feel to earnestly express feeling sorry, or to take in another’s heartfelt apology?” During the High Holy Days, Rabbi Samantha Natov encourages us to acknowledge our vulnerability and find meaning together as a community.

August 31, 2018

July 6, 2018

“In order to work towards meaningful change, we must be able to subdue our more destructive impulses.” Rabbi Samantha Natov explains: “Judaism teaches us to look at incorporating change into our lives as a personal practice. It is a process.”

June 8, 2018

Rabbi Samantha Natov looks to teachings from the Torah, Talmud, and midrash for to limit fear’s role in guiding important choices.

May 25, 2018

“Memory is anything but static.” As Memorial Day approaches, Rabbi Samantha Natov celebrates the Jewish practice of active remembrance.

January 12, 2018

Rabbi Samantha Natov encourages us to face our insecurities and have faith that “others will care about us and see the good in what we have to offer.”

December 22, 2017

Rabbi Samantha Natov inspires us to be more compassionate to others and ourselves this holiday season.

October 13, 2017

Rabbi Samantha Natov shares lessons from Judaism on implementing lasting change in our lives. “We need to believe in the future in order to build the future.”

September 22, 2017

Rabbi Samantha Natov reminds us that “the High Holy Days are opportunities for renewed clarity and strength of purpose for all of the days that follow.”

August 25, 2017

The act of reflecting inwardly is woven into the very fabric of Jewish observance during this time of the year.” Rabbi Samantha Natov inspires us to look inward in the days leading up to the High Holy Days.

August 11, 2017

“Shame has more power in our lives than many of us realize,” says Rabbi Samantha Natov. When we understand shame as vulnerability, “it becomes about being brave and courageous, rather than timid and intimidated.”

July 21, 2017

Rabbi Samantha Natov asks: What do we do with a narrative that does not resonate with our values? “If we skip over what is most violent, painful, or repulsive to us, we are denying the truth of human experience.”

June 30, 2017

Rabbi Samantha Natov calls on us to “exercise hope” by embracing the Jewish values of community, positive thinking, and social justice.

June 23, 2017

Rabbi Samantha Natov asks us core questions for self-reflection. “When we move from one season to another, there is an organic opportunity to look inward, recalibrate, and take stock.”

May 26, 2017

Showcasing our men’s shelter, Rabbi Samantha Natov considers the Jewish mandate to help those in need and shares comments from recent shelter volunteers, including: “It’s the easiest volunteer job ever with the most impact: all I’m doing is sleeping, and yet I am enabling the shelter to stay open.”

March 2, 2017

“What privilege do we have that we can leverage on behalf of the persecuted and downtrodden?”

Rabbi Samantha Natov looks to our biblical forbearers and the comedy of Louis C.K. as she challenges our congregation to continue the Jewish tradition of doing good deeds.

February 17, 2017

“In these times of ‘alternative facts’ and fake news, we have the Torah, which offers us a pathway for ethical and moral coexistence,” Rabbi Samantha Natov says in this sermon.

December 23, 2016

This Hanukkah, Rabbi Samantha Natov reminds us that we each have the potential bring light into the world.

August 19, 2016

July 29, 2016

July 8, 2016

May 27, 2016

January 1, 2016