Jewish Ideas to Change the World

ABOUT THE SPEAKER: Professor Steven Pinker, Ph. D., is the Johnstone Family Professor in the Department of Psychology at Harvard University. He is the author of multiple bestselling books on cognitive science and psycholinguistics, including Enlightenment Now, The Better Angels of Our Nature, and Rationality (forthcoming). He has also been named one of Time Magazine’s “100 Most Influential People...

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

ABOUT THIS EVENT: In this time of pandemic and social disruption, is it wise or naive for us to trust? We’ll explore the experience of trust by looking at the writings of Etty Hillesum, a Dutch woman in her late twenties living in Nazi-occupied Amsterdam. Etty’s journals and letters have been called “the most spiritually significant documents of our age.” Who was this young woman and what is the i...

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 second session of Valley Beit Midrash's "The 40 Greatest Debates in Jewish History!" series. (1 per week for 40 weeks). Topic: Yitz Greenberg vs. Meir Kahane 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 the...

ABOUT THIS EVENT: This will be an hour long discussion with attendees on how Jewish wisdom can inspire a paradigm shift with renewed leadership. ABOUT THIS SPEAKER: Rabbi Yehuda Sarna serves as the University Chaplain and Executive Director at the Bronfman Center for Jewish Student Life at New York University. He is a Senior Fellow at the Of Many Institute for Multifaith Leadership at NYU, where h...

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 THE SPEAKER: Janet R. Kirchheimer is a Clal Teaching Fellow, Assistant to the Presidents, and LEAP Program Manager. A poet, essayist, creative writing teacher, and filmmaker, she is the author of How to Spot One of Us (2007, Clal). Nominated for a Pushcart Prize, her work has appeared in numerous journals, anthologies, and on-line publications. Janet has taught and given talks and readings a...

ABOUT THIS EVENT: What goes into creating Torah scrolls and other sacred writing? Participants will get an inside peek into the materials used, including parchment and writing instruments, as well as the process of writing, such as letter formation and spiritual intention. ABOUT THIS SPEAKER: Julie Seltzer is a Torah Scribe and Educator living in the Hudson Valley, NY. She was trained by Jen Taylo...

Hitaloot HaOlam-The Elevation of Existence Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak HaCohen Kook TZ’L (1865- 1935) is considered by many to be the preeminent teacher of the Torah’s full illumination for our epoch. He was the Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem and the Land of Israel from 1920-1935. The close circle of extraordinary students around him came to the conclusion that he was experiencing prophecy. He was the first...

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

Hitaloot HaOlam-The Elevation of Existence Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak HaCohen Kook TZ’L (1865- 1935) is considered by many to be the preeminent teacher of the Torah’s full illumination for our epoch. He was the Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem and the Land of Israel from 1920-1935. The close circle of extraordinary students around him came to the conclusion that he was experiencing prophecy. He was the first...

Enjoy the thirty-eigth session of Valley Beit Midrash's "39 Ways to Repair the World" series. In celebration of Rabbi Shmuly’s 39th birthday, he is going to teach the 39 melachot over the coming year (1 per week for 39 weeks). He’ll teach the 39 Shabbat Channels from philosophical & theological perspectives. Each of the 39 can move us toward a deeper realization of these 39 dimensions of Shabb...

Join Eddie Chavez Calderon as we honor and share the impact Mexican diplomat Gilberto bosques Saldivar had on the Jewish community during WWII and helped save hundreds of Jews. DONATE: www.bit.ly/1NmpbsP​​​​​​ LEARNING MATERIALS: www.valleybeitmidrash.org/wp-content/u…-MOSHE-1.pdf For podcasts of VBM lectures, GO HERE: www.valleybeitmidrash.org/learning-library www.facebook.com/valleybeitmidrash B...

ABOUT THIS CLASS: The dynamics of individuality and community within Jewish settings ABOUT THE SPEAKER: Rabbi Aberson, who prefers to be addressed as ‘Rabbi Brodie’, received his ordination from the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies. His degrees include an MA in Middle Eastern Studies from Ben Gurion University of the Negev and a Certificate in Education from the American Jewish University. He al...

Hitaloot HaOlam-The Elevation of Existence Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak HaCohen Kook TZ’L (1865- 1935) is considered by many to be the preeminent teacher of the Torah’s full illumination for our epoch. He was the Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem and the Land of Israel from 1920-1935. The close circle of extraordinary students around him came to the conclusion that he was experiencing prophecy. He was the first...

Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowitz and Rev. William Barber, II discuss Voter Suppression, Raising the Minimum, Wage & Spiritual Resilience! ★ Support this podcast ★

Hitaloot HaOlam-The Elevation of Existence Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak HaCohen Kook TZ’L (1865- 1935) is considered by many to be the preeminent teacher of the Torah’s full illumination for our epoch. He was the Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem and the Land of Israel from 1920-1935. The close circle of extraordinary students around him came to the conclusion that he was experiencing prophecy. He was the first...

Enjoy the thirty-eighth session of Valley Beit Midrash's "39 Ways to Repair the World" series. In celebration of Rabbi Shmuly’s 39th birthday, he is going to teach the 39 melachot over the coming year (1 per week for 39 weeks). He’ll teach the 39 Shabbat Channels from philosophical & theological perspectives. Each of the 39 can move us toward a deeper realization of these 39 dimensions of Shab...

ABOUT THIS EVENT: We will study traditional texts that explore the role of questions and questioning at the Passover Seder and in life. Are some questions more legitimate than others? What are “fake questions,” and can they also help us tell our stories? ABOUT THIS SPEAKER: Channa Lockshin Bob is a Ra”M at Midreshet Amudim in Modiin and the Director of Education at Edu-Together, an online academy....

ABOUT THIS EVENT: The commandment to remember the Exodus serves as both a theological and ethical principle which has accompanied the Jewish people throughout our history. Rather than being a static and unchanging perspective on the past, however, this mitzvah has given voice to the responsibilities and hopes of Jews for liberation in different times and varying circumstances of persecution. This...

ABOUT THIS EVENT: In this session, we will explore together the centrality of speech and storytelling to the Seder night. How do our biblical, rabbinic, and mystical texts understand the connection between speech and freedom? And how can we harness their wisdom to use our own speech to bring greater freedom to ourselves, and to our world? ABOUT THIS SPEAKER: Daniel Raphael Silverstein is a rabbi,...

Shmuly Yanklowitz - 39 Ways to Repair the World - Class 37: Mav'ir by Valley Beit Midrash ★ Support this podcast ★

Dr. Jennifer Wiseman is an astrophysicist, and the Director of the Dialogue on Science, Ethics, and Religion (DoSER) program of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). She studies the process of star and planet formation in our galaxy using radio, optical, and infrared telescopes. She is also interested in national science policy and public science engagement and served as...

A virtual presentation by Dr. David Shyovitz. “The family that prays together,” the famous adage goes, “stays together.” Indeed, many people of faith take for granted that religious observance strengthens spousal, parental, and inter-generational relationships. But to pre-modern Jewish theologians, it was far from obvious that the family was a religiously meaningful institution. Biblical interpret...