Rabbi Avi Novis-Deutsch, delves into Korach’s message. What is wrong with saying that everyone is holy? Couldn’t Korach actually be advocating for equality and human rights?
Where Are the Women in Jewish Thought?
Dr. Einat Ramon, talks about the place of women in this important field. Political and spiritual leaders like Ada Fishman Maimon and Yemima Avital brought new perspectives to theological writing.
Stick or Carrot? The Giving of the Torah
When it comes to educating students, teacher often ask which is more persuasive: the carrot or the stick? Was the the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai really frightening or a was it a loving moment?
Forging our Future: Dr. David Frankel on Parashat Bamidbar
Is Parashat Bamidbar a period of rebellion and complaints or is it, as stated in Jeremiah, God and Israel’s honeymoon period? Dr. David Frankel, Senior Lecturer in Bible at The Schechter Institutes, suggests that the parasha and the entire book of Bamidbar (Numbers), with its depictions of the Israelites in the wilderness, teaches us an important lesson. We are not entrapped by our past memory and history. We can forge our destiny by by deciding how we want to see our future.
Everyone has Value: Reb Mimi Feigelson on Parashat Bechukotai
Rabbi Dr. Reb Mimi Feigelson, suggests that although Parashat Bechukotai challenges our sense of fairness we can find ways of reading the text that understand that everyone has value.
Paul Shrell-Fox on Brotherly Kinship
Rabbi Dr. Paul Shrell-Fox, points out that the Torah tells us something that seems very obvious to us: take care of your brother. But is it really that obvious?
The Disqualified Kohen
Dr. Gila Vachman, lecturer in Midrash and Aggadah, sheds light on this sensitive issue. The Kohanim who were physically “blemished,” actually received symbolic tasks within the temple rituals.
The Challenge of “V’ahavta; And You Shall Love.”
Rabbi Avi Novis-Deutsch, delves into the relationship between two verses of ‘Veahavta’ in Parshat Kedoshim Which one of them is easier? Loving people close to us or loving strangers? What can we learn about ourselves, others and love from these verses?
Revisit the story of Exodus
Now that we have celebrated the first days of Passover, let’s revisit the story of Exodus with Rabbi Dr. Paul Shrell-Fox, Looking at the events of the Exodus and our knowledge of Egyptian deities, God’s role as described in the Haggadah and around the seder table takes on new meaning.
Seder or Symposium: Rabbi Prof Golinkin On Seder Origins
Rabbi Professor David Golinkin, discusses the connection between the rituals of the ancient Greek symposium and many of the Seder rituals. Jewish communities throughout the generations did not live in vacuums; they absorbed much from their surroundings. generations did not live in vacuums; they absorbed much from their surroundings. Yet they did not absorb other people’s traditions indiscriminately. What can we learn from all these parallels?
