Don’t Tell Me It’s Hopeless

Rabbi Sharon Brous joins Liz Hirsh Naftali for a deeply personal conversation about leadership, grief, curiosity, and the urgent need to rehumanize one another. Rabbi Brous reflects on growing up in New Jersey, discovering Jewish learning later in life, falling in love with Talmud, and why community is built through presence—not agreement. Together, Liz and Sharon explore loneliness, loss, unlikely allies, and what it truly means to show up for one another in moments of pain.

Architect Barbara Bestor sat down with Rabbi Brous to talk about what The IKAR Center is actually going to be: a place designed for awe and intimacy. Flexible, fluid, alive — a space that holds Shabbat mornings and Kab Shab, ECC drop-offs and evening organizing meetings, and affordable housing. A space that is a physical manifestation of our values. They talked about a building that is radically welcoming, awe-inspiring, and intimate. We are officially launching the community phase of our capital campaign, and the goal is simple and audacious: 100% participation from every IKAR household. This isn’t about the size of your gift. It’s about every single one of us saying: I’m in. This is ours. We’re building this together. Here’s how to get involved right now: → [Sign up to attend a house party →] These gatherings are where the real magic of this campaign happens — intimate conversations in living rooms across LA about what we’re building and why. → [Make your pledge →] Every household. Every gift. This is how we do it.

2025 Charles Bronfman Prize Recipient, Gideon Maltz (CEO, Tent Partnership for Refugees) and Rabbi Sharon Brous (Senior and Founding Rabbi, ikar) will be in discussion. Learn more about Mr. Maltz’s work and about the prize here.

Rabbi Morris Panitz’s sermon from 2.21.2026