Healing words from a spiritual leader — amid fires, COVID, 9/11 anniversary

“When we remove certain things from our lives, it leaves some very beautiful things behind. And it creates the room, the vacuum for beautiful things to emerge,” says Rabbi Steve Leder. Photo credit: Ngo Minh Tuan/CC 2.0, via Pixabay

The U.S. death toll from COVID-19 approaches 200,000. An upcoming presidential election lays bare Americans’ ugliest partisan divides and tribal impulses. Also, the 9/11 attacks took place 19 years ago today. Everything feels overwhelming right now. KCRW checks in with someone who’s been a calming and reassuring presence throughout these and other crises: Rabbi Steve Leder of Wilshire Boulevard Temple.