Jewish Ideas to Change the World

ABOUT THIS EVENT: Rabbi Arthur Kurzweil will explore 15 of the many profound and fundamental ideas of Jewish theology to be found in the contemporary classic, The Thirteen Petalled Rose, written by Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz. ABOUT THE SPEAKER: "Arthur Kurzweil is a writer, publisher, editor and magician. He is the author of several books including On the Road with Rabbi Steinsaltz, Pebbles of Wisdom f...

Enjoy the eighth session of Valley Beit Midrash's "The 40 Greatest Debates in Jewish History!" series. (1 per week for 40 weeks). Topic: Tamar Ross vs. Judith Plaskow 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...

Join Professor David Weitzner for a Zoom discussion on how Jewish can transform Capitalism. ★ Support this podcast ★

Join Rabbi Avi Herzog for a Zoom webinar on Halachic decision-making in modern times. ★ Support this podcast ★

Join Rabbi Micha Odenheimer in collaboration for a conversation on the history of the global south. ★ Support this podcast ★

ABOUT THIS CLASS: Mitzvot are oftentimes understood as outward-facing actions, but doing the internal work to develop one’s middot, or character traits, is equally a mitzvah we are called to fulfill. The Torah, both in law and narrative, has much to teach us about cultivating a healthy personality of Humility, Patience, Gratitude, Order, and more. In this series – inspired by the works of Rabbi Da...

Enjoy the seventh session of Valley Beit Midrash's "The 40 Greatest Debates in Jewish History!" series. (1 per week for 40 weeks). Topic: Abraham vs. 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 the remainin...

ABOUT THIS CLASS: Mitzvot are oftentimes understood as outward-facing actions, but doing the internal work to develop one’s middot, or character traits, is equally a mitzvah we are called to fulfill. The Torah, both in law and narrative, has much to teach us about cultivating a healthy personality of Humility, Patience, Gratitude, Order, and more. In this series – inspired by the works of Rabbi Da...

ABOUT THIS EVENT: Join Valley Beit Midrash’s President & Dean, Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowitz, for the first of a three-part series about the Jewish conception of the afterlife. ABOUT THE SPEAKER: Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowitz has twice been named one of America’s Top Rabbis by Newsweek and has been named by The Forward as one of the 50 most influential Jews and one of The Most Inspiring Rabbis in...

ABOUT THE SPEAKER: Rabbi Aviva Richman is a Rosh Yeshiva at Hadar, and has been on the faculty since 2010. A graduate of Oberlin College, she was ordained by Rabbi Danny Landes and completed a doctorate in Talmud at NYU. Interests included Talmud, Halakhah, Midrash and gender, and also a healthy dose of niggunim. ★ Support this podcast ★

ABOUT THIS CLASS: Mitzvot are oftentimes understood as outward-facing actions, but doing the internal work to develop one’s middot, or character traits, is equally a mitzvah we are called to fulfill. The Torah, both in law and narrative, has much to teach us about cultivating a healthy personality of Humility, Patience, Gratitude, Order, and more. In this series – inspired by the works of Rabbi Da...

ABOUT THIS EVENT: Join Valley Beit Midrash’s President & Dean, Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowitz, for the first of a three-part series about the Jewish conception of the afterlife. ABOUT THE SPEAKER: Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowitz has twice been named one of America’s Top Rabbis by Newsweek and has been named by The Forward as one of the 50 most influential Jews and one of The Most Inspiring Rabbis in...

ABOUT THE SPEAKER: Michelle Cohen Farber is the founder of Hadran, whose mission is to advance Talmud study for all women. She is also the founder and teacher of Daf Yomi for Women, the first women's online shiur on daf yomi. Michelle spearheaded the first international Siyum HaShas for Women. Michelle and her husband, Seth, founded and lead Kehillat Netivot in Ra'anana where they live with their...

A virtual community event to celebrate Rabbi Mari Chernow! Speakers *Rabbi Dr. David Ellenson (Chancellor Emeritus – HUC-JIR/New York) – KEYNOTE SPEAKER *Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowitz (President & Dean of Valley Beit Midrash *Stan Hammerman (Founding Board Chair at Valley Beit Midrash) *Rabbi Darren Kleinberg (Founding Executive Director of Valley Beit Midrash) *Rabbi Elana Kanter (The Women’s J...

Enjoy the sixth session of Valley Beit Midrash's "The 40 Greatest Debates in Jewish History!" series. (1 per week for 40 weeks). Topic: Einstein, Freud & Marx vs The Sages 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...

A new VBM interview! Adam Lehman (President of Hillel International) interviewed by Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowtiz. About the Speaker: Adam Lehman serves as Hillel International’s President and CEO. After beginning his career in Mergers and Acquisitions at Skadden, Arps, Lehman spent two decades developing and growing a variety of new technology, marketing and media ventures, including as a Senior Vi...

ABOUT THIS CLASS: Mitzvot are oftentimes understood as outward-facing actions, but doing the internal work to develop one’s middot, or character traits, is equally a mitzvah we are called to fulfill. The Torah, both in law and narrative, has much to teach us about cultivating a healthy personality of Humility, Patience, Gratitude, Order, and more. In this series – inspired by the works of Rabbi Da...

ABOUT THIS EVENT: Join Valley Beit Midrash’s President & Dean, Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowitz, for the third and final part of a three-part series about the Jewish conception of the afterlife. ABOUT THE SPEAKER: Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowitz has twice been named one of America’s Top Rabbis by Newsweek and has been named by The Forward as one of the 50 most influential Jews and one of The Most Inspi...

Join Valley Beit Midrash for this virtual panel! ABOUT THIS PANEL: What can the last decade of American Jewish life teach us about what is most urgent about the next decade? PANELISTS: Professor Stan Mirvis, Rabbi Herschel "Brodie" Aberson, Rabbi Nitzan Stein Kokin. DONATE: http://www.bit.ly/1NmpbsP​​​​​​​ For podcasts of VBM lectures, GO HERE: https://www.valleybeitmidrash.org/learning-library/ h...

Enjoy the fifth session of Valley Beit Midrash's "The 40 Greatest Debates in Jewish History!" series. (1 per week for 40 weeks). Topic: Reform Judaism vs. Orthodox Judaism 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...

ABOUT THIS CLASS: Mitzvot are oftentimes understood as outward-facing actions, but doing the internal work to develop one’s middot, or character traits, is equally a mitzvah we are called to fulfill. The Torah, both in law and narrative, has much to teach us about cultivating a healthy personality of Humility, Patience, Gratitude, Order, and more. In this series – inspired by the works of Rabbi Da...

Enjoy the fourth session of Valley Beit Midrash's "The 40 Greatest Debates in Jewish History!" series. (1 per week for 40 weeks). Topic: Rambam vs. Ra'avad 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 the remain...

ABOUT THIS CLASS: Recently, the nascent field of social neuroscience has provided research evidence concerning processes contributing to empathy and compassion. The talk will explore this body of research and examine its relationship to traditions that endeavor to cultivate compassion. ABOUT THE SPEAKER: Dr. Kaszniak is Professor of Psychology, Neurology, and Psychiatry and is currently Director o...

ABOUT THIS EVENT: Despite our best efforts, we’re all vulnerable to believing things without using logic or having proper evidence—and it doesn’t matter how educated or well read we are. But there is a method for avoiding such pitfalls of human nature, and it’s called skepticism. By using rational inquiry and seeing subjects from a scientific perspective, we can approach even the most sensitive cl...

ABOUT THIS CLASS: Mitzvot are oftentimes understood as outward-facing actions, but doing the internal work to develop one’s middot, or character traits, is equally a mitzvah we are called to fulfill. The Torah, both in law and narrative, has much to teach us about cultivating a healthy personality of Humility, Patience, Gratitude, Order, and more. In this series – inspired by the works of Rabbi Da...