Jewish Ideas to Change the World

Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowtiz (President & Dean of Valley Beit Midrash) explores social justice in the weekly parsha (Torah portion). This podcast series is now available as its own podcast channel titled "Social Justice in the Parsha." Make sure to subscribe!       Stay Connected with Valley Beit Midrash:  •  Website:   https://www.valleybeitmidrash.org  •  Donate:   https://www.valleybeitmidra...

A virtual event presentation by Dr. Noam Weissman ABOUT THE EVENT: This session will explore the age old question about the ontological nature of the Jewish people. Are the Jewish people separate and apart from the rest of the world? Is Balaam’s prophecy a promise, a description or a prescription? In looking at modern Jewish history, how do we explore this question and what does it mean for us tod...

Enjoy the thirty eighth session of Valley Beit Midrash's "The 40 Greatest Debates in Jewish History!" series. (1 per week for 40 weeks). Topic - Is Humor A Value? Jokes vs. Seriousness In this class, we will explore the 40 greatest debates in Jewish history. We will study texts, reflect on the historical contexts, and discuss the values involved. Rabbi Shmuly Yanklowitz will present for about 20-3...

Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowtiz (President & Dean of Valley Beit Midrash) explores social justice in the weekly parsha (Torah portion). This podcast series is now available as its own podcast channel titled "Social Justice in the Parsha." Make sure to subscribe!       Stay Connected with Valley Beit Midrash:  •  Website:   https://www.valleybeitmidrash.org  •  Donate:   https://www.valleybeitmidra...

A virtual event presentation by Professor Christine Hayes ABOUT THE EVENT: What is the best way to engage with those who appear to us to be ignorant or wicked? What can biblical and rabbinic debates over the duty, utility, and virtue of answering a fool teach us about the possibilities and limitations of the disappearing art of civil discourse. ABOUT THE SPEAKER: Christine Hayes, Weis Professor of...

Enjoy the thirty sixth session of Valley Beit Midrash's "The 40 Greatest Debates in Jewish History!" series. (1 per week for 40 weeks). Topic - Is Life about Struggle or Peace? In this class, we will explore the 40 greatest debates in Jewish history. We will study texts, reflect on the historical contexts, and discuss the values involved. Rabbi Shmuly Yanklowitz will present for about 20-30 minute...

A virtual event presentation by Rabbi Hanan Schlesinger ABOUT THE EVENT: One of the founders of Roots/Shorashim/Judur, the Israeli Palestinian grassroots initiative for understanding, nonviolence and transformation, Rabbi Hanan Schlesinger has spent the last 8 years meeting Palestinians and building bridges of trust and mutual recognition between Palestinians and Israelis, by and large religious I...

A virtual event presentation by Rabbi Avi Strausberg ABOUT THE EVENT: Just chapters after the flood that nearly destroyed the world, we see that humankind has quickly rebounded and all of the peoples have joined together to build a tower that nearly scrapes the sky. But, how did we get from there to here? What was it like to step out of the ark and begin again? In this session, we’ll revisit the f...

Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowtiz (President & Dean of Valley Beit Midrash) explores social justice in the weekly parsha (Torah portion). This podcast series is now available as its own podcast channel titled "Social Justice in the Parsha." Make sure to subscribe!       Stay Connected with Valley Beit Midrash:  •  Website:   https://www.valleybeitmidrash.org  •  Donate:   https://www.valleybeitmidra...

Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowitz, President and Dean of Valley Beit Midrash, interviews ADL's CEO Jonathan Greenblatt ★ Support this podcast ★

Enjoy the thirty sixth session of Valley Beit Midrash's "The 40 Greatest Debates in Jewish History!" series. (1 per week for 40 weeks). Topic - Is Life about Struggle or Peace? In this class, we will explore the 40 greatest debates in Jewish history. We will study texts, reflect on the historical contexts, and discuss the values involved. Rabbi Shmuly Yanklowitz will present for about 20-30 minute...

Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowtiz (President & Dean of Valley Beit Midrash) explores social justice in the weekly parsha (Torah portion). This podcast series is now available as its own podcast channel titled "Social Justice in the Parsha." Make sure to subscribe!       Stay Connected with Valley Beit Midrash:  •  Website:   https://www.valleybeitmidrash.org  •  Donate:   https://www.valleybeitmidra...

A virtual event presentation by Rabbi Adina Lewittes ABOUT THE EVENT: How does Jewish law, a system based on such binaries as muttar (permitted) and assur (prohibited) and hayav (obligated) and patur (exempt), inform our contemporary understanding of gender which is increasingly shaped by fluidity and in some cases hybridity? In this particular case, would a trans woman who has not had gender conf...

A virtual event presentation by Rabbi Chaim Seidler Feller ABOUT THE EVENT: A virtual tour of the Seidler-Feller collection of objects of Jewish material culture from Alsace and Iran, from India and Italy and from the US and Israel. Items include an 18th Century embroidered Italian tallit, a Yemenite wedding headdress, ketubot from across the globe and contemporary Israeli silver. The tour will in...

Enjoy the thirty fifth session of Valley Beit Midrash's "The 40 Greatest Debates in Jewish History!" series. (1 per week for 40 weeks). Topic - On The Unity of God In this class, we will explore the 40 greatest debates in Jewish history. We will study texts, reflect on the historical contexts, and discuss the values involved. Rabbi Shmuly Yanklowitz will present for about 20-30 minutes and then th...

Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowtiz (President & Dean of Valley Beit Midrash) explores social justice in the weekly parsha (Torah portion). This podcast series is now available as its own podcast channel titled "Social Justice in the Parsha." Make sure to subscribe!       Stay Connected with Valley Beit Midrash:  •  Website:   https://www.valleybeitmidrash.org  •  Donate:   https://www.valleybeitmidra...

A virtual event presentation by Rabbi Barry Block ABOUT THE EVENT: An interview between Rabbi Shmuly Yanklowitz and Rabbi Barry Block on his new book “The Social Justice Torah Commentary”. Book description and where to purchase featured below. What does the Torah have to say about social justice? As the contributors to The Social Justice Torah Commentary demonstrate, a great deal. A diverse array...

Enjoy the thirty fourth session of Valley Beit Midrash's "The 40 Greatest Debates in Jewish History!" series. (1 per week for 40 weeks). Topic - The Value of the Individual vs. the Collective In this class, we will explore the 40 greatest debates in Jewish history. We will study texts, reflect on the historical contexts, and discuss the values involved. Rabbi Shmuly Yanklowitz will present for abo...

Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowtiz (President & Dean of Valley Beit Midrash) explores social justice in the weekly parsha (Torah portion). This podcast series is now available as its own podcast channel titled "Social Justice in the Parsha." Make sure to subscribe!       Stay Connected with Valley Beit Midrash:  •  Website:   https://www.valleybeitmidrash.org  •  Donate:   https://www.valleybeitmidra...

Enjoy the thirty third session of Valley Beit Midrash's "The 40 Greatest Debates in Jewish History!" series. (1 per week for 40 weeks). Topic - Care for the Vulnerable vs. Education: What does every community need? In this class, we will explore the 40 greatest debates in Jewish history. We will study texts, reflect on the historical contexts, and discuss the values involved. Rabbi Shmuly Yanklowi...

Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowtiz (President & Dean of Valley Beit Midrash) explores social justice in the weekly parsha (Torah portion). This podcast series is now available as its own podcast channel titled "Social Justice in the Parsha." Make sure to subscribe!       Stay Connected with Valley Beit Midrash:  •  Website:   https://www.valleybeitmidrash.org  •  Donate:   https://www.valleybeitmidra...

Enjoy the thirty second session of Valley Beit Midrash's "The 40 Greatest Debates in Jewish History!" series. (1 per week for 40 weeks). Topic - Zealousness vs. Tolerance In this class, we will explore the 40 greatest debates in Jewish history. We will study texts, reflect on the historical contexts, and discuss the values involved. Rabbi Shmuly Yanklowitz will present for about 20-30 minutes and...

Enjoy the thirty first session of Valley Beit Midrash's "The 40 Greatest Debates in Jewish History!" series. (1 per week for 40 weeks). Topic - Halacha vs. State: What's the Vehicle for Progress In this class, we will explore the 40 greatest debates in Jewish history. We will study texts, reflect on the historical contexts, and discuss the values involved. Rabbi Shmuly Yanklowitz will present for...

Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowtiz (President & Dean of Valley Beit Midrash) explores social justice in the weekly parsha (Torah portion). This podcast series is now available as its own podcast channel titled "Social Justice in the Parsha." Make sure to subscribe!       Stay Connected with Valley Beit Midrash:  •  Website:   https://www.valleybeitmidrash.org  •  Donate:   https://www.valleybeitmidra...

A virtual event presentation by Rabbi Yoni Rosensweig ABOUT THE EVENT: When we don’t feel well, we usually go and see the doctor. But do we have to? Can I let my health slip? Is there an obligation to stay healthy? Come and learn the basic sources behind this question and the meaning behind this technical discussion. ABOUT THE SPEAKER: Rav Yoni Rosensweig is the Rabbi of the Netzach Menashe commun...