Jewish Quest

Send us Fan Mail Dr Jason Rogoff discusses the confusing descriptions of the biblical skin afflictions and their prescience in light of the recent global pandemic.  Dr. Rogoff is the academic director of Israel Programs and assistant professor of Talmud and Rabbinics at JTS’s Jerusalem campus, located at the Schocken Institute. An integral part of JTS’s presence in Israel, he is responsible for th...

Send us Fan Mail Rabbi Shai Held discusses the the death of Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu, who brought “strange fire” to the Lord and died for their pains. In discussion with Simon Eder, they chart possible parallels with this tragic and enigmatic episode.  Rabbi Shai Held–theologian, scholar, and educator–is President and Dean at Hadar. He has taught both theology and Halakhah at the Jewish Theolo...

Send us Fan Mail Rabbi Yehuda Sarna in conversation with Simon Eder discusses the concept of holiness in the parsha and how it relates to the founding of Jewish community in the UAE. 

Send us Fan Mail Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg discusses the concept of holiness, sacrifice and the power of memory and how they might be applied in a world with such tragic events today.  Rabbi Wittenberg is the Senior Rabbi of Masorti Judaism UK. He is a leading writer and thinker on Judaism. He is Rabbi of the New North London Synagogue, with ovr 3,000 members. He is also a member of the Elijah Int...

Send us Fan Mail Rabbi Dr David Frankel did his doctorate at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. His publications include The Murmuring Stories of the Priestly School , The Land of Canaan and the Destiny of Israel, and many scholarly articles. He teaches Hebrew Bible to Israeli M.A. and Rabbinical students at the Schechter Institute in Jerusalem. Simon Eder is Editorial Director of Jewish Quest. H...

Send us Fan Mail Dr Alex Sinclair argues that that the more radical you are theologically, the more conservative you should be liturgically, in this exploration of Vayakhel. -- Dr Alex Sinclair is the Chief Content Officer for Educating for Impact. Alex grew up in London, England, and received an M.A., (Oxon) in Hebrew Studies from Balliol College, University of Oxford and a Ph. D. in Jewish Educa...

Send us Fan Mail Dr Eitan Fishbane investigates the mystical undercurrents surrounding the story of Moses smashing the two tablets. In conversation with Simon Eder. -- Dr Eitan Fishbane is Associate Professor of Jewish Thought at The Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS), where he teaches students in all five graduate and undergraduate schools. Fishbane earned his Ph. D. and B.A., summa cum laude , fr...

Send us Fan Mail Why are garments so symbolically important in Jewish thought, asks Rabbi Herzl Hefter, as he explores Parashat Tetzaveh.  In conversation with Simon Eder.  -- Rabbi Herzl Hefter is the founder and Rosh Beit Midrash Har’el in memory of Belda Kaufman Lindenbaum, in Jerusalem. It is a beit midrash for advanced rabbinic studies for men and women. He is a graduate of Yeshiva University...

Send us Fan Mail The juxtaposition of the description of the building of the Mishkan, the Tabernacle, with the story of the Golden Calf, in Parashat Terumah, raises intriguing questions, says Prof Rav Rachel Adelman.  -- Prof. Rav Rachel Adelman is Associate Professor of Hebrew Bible at Boston’s Hebrew College. She holds a Ph. D. in Hebrew Literature from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and is...

Send us Fan Mail Rabbi Dr Meesh Hammer-Kossoy argues that the medium is the message in Parashat Mishpatim, the message being the centrality of law in building a just society. --  Rabbi Dr Meesh Hammer-Kossoy teaches Talmud, directs the Social Justice Track, and serves on the Senior Staff at the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem, an open, co-ed and non-denominational Jewish learning c...

Send us Fan Mail Professor Benjamin Sommer explores the ambiguities in the telling of the giving of the Ten Commandments, in parashat Yitro. In conversation with Simon Eder.  -- Benjamin Sommer is a Professor of Bible at the Jewish Theological Seminary. He is also a Senior Fellow of the Kogod Research Center at the Shalom Hartman Institute of North America. Previously he taught at Northwestern Uni...

Send us Fan Mail It’s time for Miriam’s role and reputation to be re-evaluated, says Professor Carol Meyers, as she explores the Song of the Sea in Parashat Beshalach. In conversation with Simon Eder.  -- Professor Carol Meyers , the Mary Grace Wilson Professor Emerita of Religious Studies at Duke University, specialises in biblical studies, archaeology, and gender in the biblical world. A prolifi...

Send us Fan Mail Through the themes of Parashat Bo, Rabbi Samuel Klein explores the power and the centrality of questions and questioning in Jewish life. In conversation with Simon Eder. -- Rabbi Samuel Klein is Director of Jewish Engagement for the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle. Samuel was Chief Jewish Officer of the Jewish Community Center San Francisco and Executive Director of the Bronf...

Send us Fan Mail We understate the importance of the Egyptian-ness of Moses, says Rabbi Adam Zagoria-Moffat, as we begin the Exodus story. In conversation with Simon Eder. -- Adam Zagoria-Moffet is the rabbi of St. Albans Masorti Synagogue. He was ordained from the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York where he also received an MA in Jewish Thought, studying the political philosophy of Rabbi Yeh...

Send us Fan Mail Through the prism of the Burning Bush, Prof Rav Rachel Adelman asks, what is the nature of sacred space and how is it determined? --  Prof. Rav Rachel Adelman is Associate Professor of Hebrew Bible at Boston’s Hebrew College. She holds a Ph. D. in Hebrew Literature from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and is the author of The Return of the Repressed: Pirqe de-Rabbi Eliezer and...

Send us Fan Mail Rabbi Roni Tabick asks, why do werewolves appear so frequently in mediaeval Jewish texts, and what is their relevance to this week’s parasha? Sources: https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/367788.1?lang=bi --  Rabbi Roni Tabick is rabbi of New Stoke Newington Shul. He was ordained at the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York. With a Masters in Ancient Judaism, Rabbi Tabick specialises...

Send us Fan Mail Professor Meira Polliack explores how the trauma of Joseph’s experiences informs his actions, as the Joseph story reaches its climax. In conversation with Simon Eder. -- Prof Meira Polliack is Professor of Bible at Tel Aviv University and chair of the Department of Biblical Studies (2016-17). She holds a Ph. D. and M.Phil from Cambridge University and a B.A. from the Hebrew Univer...

Send us Fan Mail Rabbi Joel Levy explores the role of awakenings in Jewish mythology, through the prism of this part of the Joseph story in parashat Miketz.  -- Rabbi Joel Levy is Rosh Yeshiva of the Conservative Yeshiva in Israel & Rabbi of Kol Nefesh Synagogue in the UK.  Rabbi Levy studied Natural Sciences at Cambridge University, was chair of programming at Limmud conference and is an ex-d...

Send us Fan Mail Prof. Rabbi Pamela Barmash offers a highly original view of the Joseph story through a legal and literary lens. In conversation with Simon Eder. --  Prof. Rabbi Pamela Barmash is Professor of Hebrew Bible and Biblical Hebrew at Washington University in St. Louis. She holds a Ph. D. from Harvard University, a B.A. from Yale University, and rabbinic ordination from the Jewish Theolo...

Send us Fan Mail What was really going on with Jacob’s showdown/reconciliation with Esau? Prof. Rabbi Marty Lockshin offers an alternative view. In conversation with Simon Eder. -- Prof. Rabbi Marty Lockshin is Professor Emeritus at York University and lives in Jerusalem. He received his Ph. D. in Near Eastern and Judaic Studies from Brandeis University and his rabbinic ordination in Israel while...

Send us Fan Mail Professor Shawna Dolansky explores the story of Jacob’s return to Canaan and how it played a formative role in the identity of the people of Israel. In conversation with Simon Eder. -- Professor Shawna Dolansky is Associate Professor of Religion and Humanities at Carleton University, in Ottawa, Canada. She specialises in Biblical Studies, with a focus on the history and religions...

Send us Fan Mail Rabbi Dr David Frankel revisits the story of Jacob’s deception of Isaac, and wonders whether it’s all that it seems. In conversation with Simon Eder. Rabbi Dr. David Frankel did his doctorate at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. His publications include The Murmuring Stories of the Priestly School, The Land of Canaan and the Destiny of Israel, and many scholarly articles. He tea...

Send us Fan Mail In his exploration of parashat Chayei Sarah, Rabbi Dr David Frankel questions the story of the cave of Machpelah and considers its ramifications. In conversation with Simon Eder.   Rabbi Dr. David Frankel did his doctorate at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. His publications include The Murmuring Stories of the Priestly School , The Land of Canaan and the Destiny of Israel, and...

Send us Fan Mail Rabbi Jeremy Gordon explores parashat Vayera, including negotiating with God at Sodom and Gomorrah, a unique critique of Abraham and a look at the role that angels play in the Torah. In conversation with Simon Eder.  -- Rabbi Jeremy Gordon is Rabbi of New London Synagogue. He has a first class honours degree in Law from Cambridge and, following five years working for the BBC and o...

Send us Fan Mail Professor Everett Fox examines parshat Lech Lecha for clues to the mythic role that Abraham plays in three religions.