Authenticity, Attention & the Messiness of Life
- Dec 11, 2025
- 1 min read
Join Rabbi Will Hall at Temple Beth Shalom for a thoughtful Rosh Hashanah sermon about authentic presence, human connection, and the power of attention.
Rabbi Hall reflects on a personal story about high school reunions, social media, and our obsession with visibility. He reminds us that:
-Profiles aren’t people—photos and posts can’t capture the full story of a life.
-Judaism embraces the messy, the imperfect, and the uncurated—from creation to our ancestors’ stories, holiness often lives in everyday moments.
-Attention is a form of love—truly listening, noticing, and connecting with others is sacred.
-The Torah teaches that life’s value isn’t measured by appearances but by actions and authenticity.
This sermon encourages us to resist the sirens of distraction, be present, and live fully as our unpolished selves, as we enter a new year of Rosh Hashanah.
📍 Recorded at Temple Beth Shalom, Austin, TX
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