Around the Calendar with Drisha

Every generation of Jews must see themselves as if they were slaves in Egypt and God took them out with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. While it may be comforting to think that Egypt is long gone and Pharaohs are a thing of the past, we would be foolish to believe this. The Exodus from Egypt retains such great power in the Jewish imagination because its themes constantly make their presence...

Every generation of Jews must see themselves as if they were slaves in Egypt and God took them out with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. While it may be comforting to think that Egypt is long gone and Pharaohs are a thing of the past, we would be foolish to believe this. The Exodus from Egypt retains such great power in the Jewish imagination because its themes constantly make their presence...

Every generation of Jews must see themselves as if they were slaves in Egypt and God took them out with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. While it may be comforting to think that Egypt is long gone and Pharaohs are a thing of the past, we would be foolish to believe this. The Exodus from Egypt retains such great power in the Jewish imagination because its themes constantly make their presence...

Every generation of Jews must see themselves as if they were slaves in Egypt and God took them out with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. While it may be comforting to think that Egypt is long gone and Pharaohs are a thing of the past, we would be foolish to believe this. The Exodus from Egypt retains such great power in the Jewish imagination because its themes constantly make their presence...

Every generation of Jews must see themselves as if they were slaves in Egypt and God took them out with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. While it may be comforting to think that Egypt is long gone and Pharaohs are a thing of the past, we would be foolish to believe this. The Exodus from Egypt retains such great power in the Jewish imagination because its themes constantly make their presence...

Every generation of Jews must see themselves as if they were slaves in Egypt and God took them out with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. While it may be comforting to think that Egypt is long gone and Pharaohs are a thing of the past, we would be foolish to believe this. The Exodus from Egypt retains such great power in the Jewish imagination because its themes constantly make their presence...

If Purim celebrates a historical moment of salvation and redemption, why don’t we recite Hallel (a sequence of Psalms recited during most holidays) during it? Answering this question requires investigating the very nature of this rather unique holiday itself. In preparation for this year’s celebration of Purim, join Dr. Shana Strauch Schick, R. Joe Wolfson, and Dr. Jon Kelsen for a roundtable conv...

In honor of Eid al Banat (women’s celebration on Rosh Hodesh Tevet/Hannukah), we will explore the incredible life and work of Farha Sassoon, an Iraqi philanthropist known for her scholarship and piety.

In this shiur, we will utilize halachic sources together with a teaching of Rabbi Yehuda Leib Alter, the Sefas Emes, to explore the unique nature of the obligation to recite full Hallel on Hanukkah.

In this session, we’ll examine some surprising features of Maimonides‘ masterful Laws of Hanukkah, paying especially close attention to its structure and his description of the miracle which stands at the center of the holiday.

This series considers a few distinct directions in which Avodat Yom ha-Kippurim is re-lived today, through rituals and liturgies: Rituals relating to atonement, specifically Kapparot and Tashlikh. 3 Amitz Koach and other Piyyutim about the Temple service itself. Pleas for atonement that correlate with aspects of the Yom Kippur Temple service, including Selihot and Vidduy.

This series considers a few distinct directions in which Avodat Yom ha-Kippurim is re-lived today, through rituals and liturgies: Rituals relating to atonement, specifically Kapparot and Tashlikh. 3 Amitz Koach and other Piyyutim about the Temple service itself. Pleas for atonement that correlate with aspects of the Yom Kippur Temple service, including Selihot and Vidduy.

This series considers a few distinct directions in which Avodat Yom ha-Kippurim is re-lived today, through rituals and liturgies: Rituals relating to atonement, specifically Kapparot and Tashlikh. 3 Amitz Koach and other Piyyutim about the Temple service itself. Pleas for atonement that correlate with aspects of the Yom Kippur Temple service, including Selihot and Vidduy.

We often think of the liturgy for the Yamim Noraim as static words confined to the pages of the machzor. However, these prayers draw from the rich tapestry of the Tanakh. In the first part of this two-part series, we’ll explore the biblical inspiration that breathes life into Psalm 27, sometimes called “L’David Hashem.” Many have the practice of adding this psalm to their daily prayers during Elul...

We often think of the liturgy for the Yamim Noraim as static words confined to the pages of the machzor. However, these prayers draw from the rich tapestry of the Tanakh. In the first part of this two-part series, we’ll explore the biblical inspiration that breathes life into Psalm 27, sometimes called “L’David Hashem.” Many have the practice of adding this psalm to their daily prayers during Elul...

Yom Kippur is a dramatic day, but that drama is often compounded by additional circumstances. We will learn aggadot and halakhic literature about various Yom Kippurs throughout history, from biblical and rabbinic times, through observance of the fast during a cholera epidemic, and up to the Yom Kippur war.

Yom Kippur is a dramatic day, but that drama is often compounded by additional circumstances. We will learn aggadot and halakhic literature about various Yom Kippurs throughout history, from biblical and rabbinic times, through observance of the fast during a cholera epidemic, and up to the Yom Kippur war.

In this series, we will reflect together on several chapters of Psalms which are associated by their content and tradition with the Yamim Noraim season. For those who would like to follow along independently, sources are available here: https://www.sefaria.org/Psalms.51?lang=bi https://www.sefaria.org/II_Samuel.11?lang=bi https://www.sefaria.org/II_Samuel.12?lang=bi

In this series, we will reflect together on several chapters of Psalms which are associated by their content and tradition with the Yamim Noraim season. For those who would like to follow along independently, sources are available here: https://www.sefaria.org/Psalms.51?lang=bi https://www.sefaria.org/II_Samuel.11?lang=bi https://www.sefaria.org/II_Samuel.12?lang=bi

In this series, we will reflect together on several chapters of Psalms which are associated by their content and tradition with the Yamim Noraim season. For those who would like to follow along independently, sources are available here: https://www.sefaria.org/Psalms.51?lang=bi https://www.sefaria.org/II_Samuel.11?lang=bi https://www.sefaria.org/II_Samuel.12?lang=bi

In this 3-part course, we will explore key ideas about teshuvah, repentance, in Rabbi Joseph Soloveitchik’s theology. Taking his lectures in On Repentance as our jumping off point, we will weave them together with texts from across his writings to see the full picture of his ideas. Class 1: Be Your Own Messiah: Teshuvah as Self-Creation and Self-Redemption Teshuvah = Freedom. But how? And why? Thi...

In this 3-part course, we will explore key ideas about teshuvah, repentance, in Rabbi Joseph Soloveitchik’s theology. Taking his lectures in On Repentance as our jumping off point, we will weave them together with texts from across his writings to see the full picture of his ideas. Class 1: Be Your Own Messiah: Teshuvah as Self-Creation and Self-Redemption Teshuvah = Freedom. But how? And why? Thi...

In this 3-part course, we will explore key ideas about teshuvah, repentance, in Rabbi Joseph Soloveitchik’s theology. Taking his lectures in On Repentance as our jumping off point, we will weave them together with texts from across his writings to see the full picture of his ideas. Class 1: Be Your Own Messiah: Teshuvah as Self-Creation and Self-Redemption Teshuvah = Freedom. But how? And why? Thi...

Teshuvah seems to require both that we transform ourselves into someone new and that we return to who we once were and really are. Looking to a range of classical and modern rabbinic texts, we’ll explore this tension and the ways in which genuine and effectively transformative teshuva requires embracing who we’ve been and who we are in the present. We’ll consider these questions with respect to in...

Teshuvah seems to require both that we transform ourselves into someone new and that we return to who we once were and really are. Looking to a range of classical and modern rabbinic texts, we’ll explore this tension and the ways in which genuine and effectively transformative teshuva requires embracing who we’ve been and who we are in the present. We’ll consider these questions with respect to in...