Drisha Institute

Around the Calendar with Drisha

Religion EN ↓ 315 episodes

Over the years, Drisha has offered Torah classes on the many observances that mark out the timeline of the Jewish yearly cycle. Around the Calendar brings you all our holiday- and observance-focused classes, from our back catalog of recordings and continuing through our contemporary shiurim and lectures.

Be sure to visit the podcast's website and support the creator: 5784.drisha.org

Author

Drisha Institute

Episodes

Chanukkah 5777: ”“It is forbidden to light with an old candle” – Chanukah and the Oral Torah” with Miriam Gedwiser 13.12.2023 1:44:47

What does it mean for Chanukah to be the only major holiday invented in the post-biblical era? Through hassidic sources, we will explore Chanukah’s message regarding novelty and creativity in our Torah and in our lives.

Chanukkah 5777: ”What Did Chanukkah Stand For in Ancient Times?” with Dr. Malka Z. Simkovich 13.12.2023 1:15:16

We will explore the earliest sources that retold the dramatic story of Chanuka, and will consider how ancient retellings of Chanuka changed over time – and why.

Chanukkah 5777: ”Maccabees and Martyrdom” with Dr. Aaron Koller 13.12.2023 2:01:51

Dying for a cause is considered by many the most noble form of death, and dying for one’s faith has a long and complicated history. The first Jewish martyrdom stories are from the books of Maccabees, and we will look at how this idea is used in that context, and then how it evolved and developed over the following centuries, in early Christianity and into rabbinic Judaism.

Chanukkah 5777: ”The Jews of Diaspora in the Hasmonean Period” with Dr. Malka Z. Simkovich 13.12.2023 2:07:08

When the Hasmoneans ruled Judea in the second and first centuries BCE, hundreds of thousands of pious Jews were comfortably settled in Egypt – with no plans to return to their homeland. We will discuss what these Jews practiced, how they related to the land of Israel and the Jerusalem Temple, and what it meant to assimilate into the Greco-Roman world and still identify as a Jew.

Chanukkah 5777: ”Darkness Envelops Me” with Dr. Devora Steinmetz 13.12.2023 1:07:02

The Talmud tells about the origins of Chanukah in a way that closely parallels a talmudic legend about Adam’s first encounter with darkness. As Chanukah begins, we will study these talmudic texts to illuminate our own encounter with the darkness and with the holiday of Chanukah.

Chanukkah 5777: ”Chanukkah and Sukkot” with Rabbi David Silber 13.12.2023 1:01:20

We will conduct a detailed analysis of the significance of the commonalities the festivals of Chanuka and Sukkot.

High Holidays 5777: ”Countdown to the Yamim Noraim: Yom Kippur — 13 Middot” (6/6) with Rabbi David Silber 13.12.2023 9:32

Every morning from September 23 until erev Yom Kippur, Drisha will be releasing a brief podcast in which Rabbi David Silber teaches about core themes of the tefillot of the Yamim Noraim. Yom Kippur, part 6: 13 Middot: Today's podcast analyzes the context and content of the 13 Middot and reflects on the placement of Yom Kippur in the cycle of the Jewish calendar.

High Holidays 5777: ”Countdown to the Yamim Noraim: Yom Kippur— Neilah” (5/6) with Rabbi David SIlber 13.12.2023 16:41

Every morning from September 23 until erev Yom Kippur, Drisha will be releasing a brief podcast in which Rabbi David Silber teaches about core themes of the tefillot of the Yamim Noraim. Yom Kippur, part 5: Neilah: Today's podcast explores the tefilla of Neilah and its role as the culmination of the Yom Kippur service.

High Holidays 5777: ”Countdown to the Yamim Noraim: Yom Kippur — Avodah” (4/6) with Rabbi David Silber 13.12.2023 20:35

Every morning from September 23 until erev Yom Kippur, Drisha will be releasing a brief podcast in which Rabbi David Silber teaches about core themes of the tefillot of the Yamim Noraim. Yom Kippur, part 4: Avodah: Today's podcast explores the structure and themes of the avodah service, and its vivid description of the sacrificial ritual in the Bet Hamikdash.

High Holidays 5777: ”Countdown to the Yamim Noraim: Yom Kippur — Torah Reading” (3/6) with Rabbi David Silber 13.12.2023 21:22

Every morning from September 23 until erev Yom Kippur, Drisha will be releasing a brief podcast in which Rabbi David Silber teaches about core themes of the tefillot of the Yamim Noraim. Yom Kippur, part 3: Torah Reading of Yom Kippur: Today's podcast explores the Torah and Haftarah readings of Yom Kippur.

High Holidays 5777: ”Countdown to the Yamim Noraim: Yom Kippur— Mussaf” (2/6) with Rabbi David Silber 13.12.2023 15:18

Every morning from September 23 until erev Yom Kippur, Drisha will be releasing a brief podcast in which Rabbi David Silber teaches about core themes of the tefillot of the Yamim Noraim. Yom Kippur, part 2: Structure of Mussaf: Today's podcast explores the structure of the Yom Kippur mussaf.

High Holidays 5777: ”Countdown to the Yamim Noraim: Yom Kippur— Kol Nidrei” (1/6) with Rabbi David Silber 13.12.2023 20:28

Every morning from September 23 until erev Yom Kippur, Drisha will be releasing a brief podcast in which Rabbi David Silber teaches about core themes of the tefillot of the Yamim Noraim. Yom Kippur, part 1: Understanding Kol Nidrei: Today's podcast explores the power of the individual to engage in self-transformation.

High Hollidays 5777: ”Countdown to the Yamim Noraim: Rosh Hashanah — Akeidat Yitzchak” (6/6) with Rabbi David Silber 13.12.2023 15:35

Every morning from September 23 until erev Yom Kippur, Drisha will be releasing a brief podcast in which Rabbi David Silber teaches about core themes of the tefillot of the Yamim Noraim. Rosh Hashanah, part 6: Kriat haTorah: Today's podcast discusses the narratives of Genesis chapters 21 and 22, and explores the idea of God intervening in human affairs.

High Holidays 5777: ”Countdown to the Yamim Noraim: Rosh Hashanah— Shofar” (5/6) with Rabbi David Silber 13.12.2023 21:00

Every morning from September 23 until erev Yom Kippur, Drisha will be releasing a brief podcast in which Rabbi David Silber teaches about core themes of the tefillot of the Yamim Noraim. Rosh Hashanah 5: The Duality of the Shofar: In today's podcast, two different aspects of shofar are explored; the joy that accompanies proclaiming God as king and the hesitations and doubts that are an inherent pa...

High Holidays 5777: ”Countdown to the Yamim Noraim: Rosh Hashanah— Blessings of the Shofarot” (4/6) with Rabbi David Silber 13.12.2023 16:17

Every morning from September 23 until erev Yom Kippur, Drisha will be releasing a brief podcast in which Rabbi David Silber teaches about core themes of the tefillot of the Yamim Noraim. Rosh Hashanah, part 4: Revelation and Transformation: Today's podcast discusses the blessing of Shofarot and the symbolism and transformation of the shofar as it moves from the past to the present and future.

High Holidays 5777: ”Countdown to the Yamim Noraim: Rosh Hashanah— Zichronot” (3/6) with Rabbi David Silber 13.12.2023 13:45

Every morning from September 23 until erev Yom Kippur, Drisha will be releasing a brief podcast in which Rabbi David Silber teaches about core themes of the tefillot of the Yamim Noraim. osh Hashanah, part 3: Providence and Covenant, Remembering the Binding of Isaac: Today's podcast discusses the second part of the blessing of Zichronot with covenant as its dominant theme. In this section, the acc...

High Holidays 5777: ”Countdown to the Yamim Noraim: Rosh Hashanah— Malchuyot and Zichronot” (2/6) with Rabbi David Silber 13.12.2023 20:56

Every morning from September 23 until erev Yom Kippur, Drisha will be releasing a brief podcast in which Rabbi David Silber teaches about core themes of the tefillot of the Yamim Noraim. Rosh Hashanah, part 2: Judgment and Accountability: Today's podcast discusses the first part of the blessing of Zichronot and explores the motif of God as judge who engages in both collective and individual judgme...

High Holidays 5777: ”Countdown to the Yamim Noraim: Rosh Hashanah — Malchuyot” (1/6) with Rabbi David Silber 13.12.2023 10:59

Every morning from September 23 until erev Yom Kippur, Drisha will be releasing a brief podcast in which Rabbi David Silber teaches about core themes of the tefillot of the Yamim Noraim. Rosh Hashanah, part 1: Rosh Hashanah and the Coronation of God: Today's podcast explores the blessing of Malchuyot and its connection to the nature of Rosh Hashanah as a day designated for God.

High Holidays 5777: ”Countdown to the Yamim Noraim: Selichot” (2/2) with Rabbi David Silber 13.12.2023 17:55

The structure of selichot and the Ashkenazi practice of starting selichot on a Saturday night–BeMotza’ei Menucha Selichot, part 2: El Erech Apayim–the Long Suffering God and El Melech Yoshev Al Kisei Rachamim–God Who Sits on a Throne of Mercy: Today’s podcast discusses the Thirteen Attributes of Mercy in the story of the Golden Calf and in the story of the spies, as contexts to understand the natu...

High Holidays 5777: ”Countdown to the Yamim Noraim: Selichot” (1/2) with Rabbi David Silber 13.12.2023 17:01

The structure of selichot and the Ashkenazi practice of starting selichot on a Saturday night–BeMotza’ei Menucha Selichot, part 1: Lishmoa El HaRina VeEl HaTefilla–Supplication and Prayer: Today’s podcast explores the structure and timing of selichot and analyzes BeMotza’ei Menucha, the piyut recited on the first night of selichot.

Yom Kippur 5777: ”Fasting and Animal-Sacrifice” with Rabbi Dr. Sam Lebens 13.12.2023 1:14:02

Why does God command us to kill animals when we’ve done something wrong? What does this have to do with atonement, Yom Kippur, and the Binding of Isaac? Are you ready to transform yourself into a living sacrifice, and is that what we do on Yom Kippur?

Rosh HaShanah 5777: ”Zichronot: Memory, Judgement and Covenant, Understanding the Central Prayer of Rosh Hashana” with Rabbi David Silber 13.12.2023 1:26:32

In this session, we will look at the themes of memory, judgement, and covenant in Zichronot (verses of remembrance), one of the three blessings we add to musaf on Rosh Hashana.

Rosh HaShanah 5777: ”Imagining a Different World: The Prayer of Chana” with Rabbi David Silber 13.12.2023 1:28:33

In this session, we will look at the haftarah of the first day of Rosh Hashana (I Samuel 1:1-2:10) and use it to gain a better understanding of the holiday.

Shavuot 5776: ”Thoughts on Shavuot” with Rabbi Dr. Sam Lebens 13.12.2023 7:15

Sam Lebens shares his thoughts on Shavuot.

Pesach 5776: ”Go Forth and Learn: Thoughts on the Haggadah” (2/2) with Rabbi David Silber 13.12.2023 1:24:04

David Silber shares his thoughts on the Passover haggadah.