Tu Be’Av: The Little-Known Jewish Summer Love Festival
David & Rachel Biale
On Tu Be’Av (the fifteenth of Av), “the daughters of Jerusalem would go out and dance in the vineyards. And what would they say? ‘Young man, lift up your eyes and see—whom would you choose.'” (Talmud, Ta’anit). Learn about the holiday and dip into romantic love stories from the Bible and Midrash.
Smiling through Tears? Jewish Humor in Antiquity, part 4
Prof. Erich Gruen
This program considers a number of texts composed by Jews dwelling under imperial rule in antiquity in order to understand how the humor in those texts reflects the experience and attitudes of a subordinate people. The topic of this lecture is “Jonah: Prophecy or Parody?”
The Bible on the Couch: A Rabbi and Psychiatrist Analyze Sacred Texts, part 1
Rabbi Judy Shanks & Dr. James Gracer
The presenters join forces to bring a psychological lens to our Biblical ancestors. We explore hidden motivations, possible diagnoses, and complicated relationships between siblings, spouses, G-d, and humans. Teachings draw on midrashic texts and modern psychological theories.
Smiling through Tears? Jewish Humor in Antiquity, part 3
Prof. Erich Gruen
This program considers a number of texts composed by Jews dwelling under imperial rule in antiquity in order to understand how the humor in those texts reflects the experience and attitudes of a subordinate people. The topic of this lecture is “Jonah: Prophecy or Parody?”
Ruth: A Literary Masterpiece, a Lesson in Kindness
Shalhevet Robinson
The Book of Ruth is an extraordinary novella with a simple but profound goal: to take us from the alienation of grief into a healed society. Where does it fit in the tapestry of the Hebrew bible?
Smiling through Tears? Jewish Humor in Antiquity, part 2
Prof. Erich Gruen
This program considers a number of texts composed by Jews dwelling under imperial rule in antiquity in order to understand how the humor in those texts reflects the experience and attitudes of a subordinate people. The topic of this lecture is “Judith and Susanna: Feminist Heroines?”
Smiling through Tears? Jewish Humor in Antiquity, part 1
Prof. Erich Gruen
This program considers a number of texts composed by Jews dwelling under imperial rule in antiquity in order to understand how the humor in those texts reflects the experience and attitudes of a subordinate people. The topic of this lecture is “Esther: Triumph or Travesty?”
Mind, Body and Soul: Maimonides’ Eight Chapters, part 2
Rabbi Peretz Wolf-Prusan
Maimonides’ “The Eight Chapters” just might be the best introduction to his philosophy, and perhaps to all medieval Jewish philosophy. It is a prescription to you, his beloved reader, for a healthy mind, body and soul.
Mind, Body and Soul: Maimonides’ Eight Chapters, part 1
Rabbi Peretz Wolf-Prusan
Maimonides’ “The Eight Chapters” just might be the best introduction to his philosophy, and perhaps to all medieval Jewish philosophy. It is a prescription to you, his beloved reader, for a healthy mind, body and soul.
Qohelet (Ecclesiastes), part 4
Robert Alter & Ron Hendel
We explore the poetry and philosophy of Qohelet (or Kohellet, Ecclesiastes) in the context of biblical and ancient Near Eastern wisdom literature.
Qohelet (Ecclesiastes), part 3
Robert Alter & Ron Hendel
An exploration of the poetry and philosophy of Qohelet (or Kohellet, Ecclesiastes) in the context of biblical and ancient Near Eastern wisdom literature
Qohelet (Ecclesiastes), part 2
Robert Alter & Ron Hendel
An exploration of the poetry and philosophy of Qohelet (or Kohellet, Ecclesiastes) in the context of biblical and ancient Near Eastern wisdom literature
Qohelet (Ecclesiastes), part 1
Robert Alter & Ron Hendel
An exploration of the poetry and philosophy of Qohelet (or Kohellet, Ecclesiastes) in the context of biblical and ancient Near Eastern wisdom literature.
Talmud for Beginners, part 4
Prof. Daniel Boyarin
The Talmud has been compared to an ocean. Prof. Boyarin offers “beginners’ floaties” so you can start swimming in this expansive, complex, and often enigmatic foundational text of Jewish culture.
Talmud for Beginners, part 3
Prof. Daniel Boyarin
The Talmud has been compared to an ocean. Prof. Boyarin offers “beginners’ floaties” so you can start swimming in this expansive, complex, and often enigmatic foundational text of Jewish culture.
Talmud for Beginners, part 2
Prof. Daniel Boyarin
The Talmud has been compared to an ocean. Prof. Boyarin offers “beginners’ floaties” so you can start swimming in this expansive, complex, and often enigmatic foundational text of Jewish culture.
Talmud for Beginners, part 1
Prof. Daniel Boyarin
The Talmud has been compared to an ocean. Prof. Boyarin offers “beginners’ floaties” so you can start swimming in this expansive, complex, and often enigmatic foundational text of Jewish culture.
Divinity and Infinity: Exploring the Infinite in Mathematics and Judaism
Dr. Larry Lesser
Explore—in a lively, interactive way—how math concepts can help illuminate some big ideas in Judaism, including the value of life, the value of commandments, and the coexistence divine transcendence and immanence.
Torah From the Bedroom, part 1
David and Rachel Biale
Sexuality in the Jewish tradition
People of the Book, but What Book? The Confrontation between Torah &...
Ron Reissberg
Apparently uncomfortable with various portions of the Torah, the rabbis provide interpretations that tend to neutralize the troubling aspects of those texts.
People of the Book, but What Book? The Confrontation Between Torah &...
Ron Reissberg
Apparently uncomfortable with various portions of the Torah, the rabbis provide interpretations that tend to neutralize the troubling aspects of those texts.
Am Yisrael High: Jews and Cannabis
Eddy Portnoy
This talk details the long history of Jews and cannabis, and will delve into aspects that range from religious texts to medieval manuscripts to contemporary artifacts, all of which reveal deep Jewish involvement in the science, the marketing, the legalization, and the usage of cannabis.
People of the Book, but What Book? The Confrontation Between Torah &...
Ron Reissberg
Apparently uncomfortable with various portions of the Torah, the rabbis provide interpretations that tend to neutralize the troubling aspects of those texts.
Bible, Midrash, Art: The Richness of Bible Narratives, part 4
Jody Hirsh
Examine stories as they are presented in the Bible, dive into traditional Midrash (Rabbinic interpretations that are themselves stories) and examine how artists of all types have interpreted these stories.
Bible, Midrash, Art: The Richness of Bible Narratives, part 2
Jody Hirsh
Examine stories as they are presented in the Bible, dive into traditional Midrash (Rabbinic interpretations that are themselves stories) and examine how artists of all types have interpreted these stories.
Bible, Midrash, Art: The Richness of Bible Narratives, part 1
Jody Hirsh
Examine stories as they are presented in the Bible, dive into traditional Midrash (Rabbinic interpretations that are themselves stories) and examine how artists of all types have interpreted these stories.
Not Your Grandparents’ Judaism: Exploring Personal Jewish Spiritual Growth,...
Rabbi Lavey Derby
This course is an invitation to explore our own personal, ongoing spiritual formation as we examine how Reb Zalman Schachter-Shalomi z’l, Rabbi Arthur Green, and others have responded to the spiritual challenges of our age.
Illuminated Medieval Passover Haggadahs
Rabbi Yoel Kahn
Medieval Jews created marvelously illustrated Haggadahs. The pictures in these 14th–16th century books can tell us about how their illustrators and viewers imagined the Biblical story, and about their own day.
Becoming Elijah: Prophet of Transformation
Daniel Matt
Explore Elijah’s development from the Bible to Rabbinic Judaism, Kabbalah, and Jewish ritual, culminating in the Hasidic notion that within each of us lies hidden a beḥinat Eliyyahu (an aspect of Elijah).
Not Your Grandparents’ Judaism: Exploring Personal Jewish Spiritual Growth,...
Rabbi Lavey Derby
This course is an invitation to explore our own personal, ongoing spiritual formation as we examine how Reb Zalman Schachter-Shalomi z’l, Rabbi Arthur Green, and others have responded to the spiritual challenges of our age.
Not Your Grandparents’ Judaism: Exploring Personal Jewish Spiritual Growth,...
Rabbi Lavey Derby
This course is an invitation to explore our own personal, ongoing spiritual formation as we examine how Reb Zalman Schachter-Shalomi z’l, Rabbi Arthur Green, and others have responded to the spiritual challenges of our age.
Care to Make It Interesting? Seinfeld, Jewish Culture, and the Talmud, part 2
Ron Reissberg
Uncover a more general characteristic of Seinfeld’s humor, namely the tendency to argue endlessly about everything and nothing. In all cases, it’s the principle that counts. We will study Talmudic passages through the lens of the Seinfeld-Talmud connection.
Not Your Grandparents’ Judaism: Exploring Personal Jewish Spiritual Growth,...
Rabbi Lavey Derby
This course is an invitation to explore our own personal, ongoing spiritual formation as we examine how Reb Zalman Schachter-Shalomi z’l, Rabbi Arthur Green, and others have responded to the spiritual challenges of our age.
Care to Make It Interesting? Seinfeld, Jewish Culture, and the Talmud, part 1
Ron Reissberg
Uncover a more general characteristic of Seinfeld’s humor, namely the tendency to argue endlessly about everything and nothing. In all cases, it’s the principle that counts. We will study Talmudic passages through the lens of the Seinfeld- Talmud connection.
Not Your Grandparents’ Judaism: Exploring Personal Jewish Spiritual Growth,...
Rabbi Lavey Derby
This course is an invitation to explore our own personal, ongoing spiritual formation as we examine how Reb Zalman Schachter-Shalomi z’l, Rabbi Arthur Green, and others have responded to the spiritual challenges of our age.
The Middle East Crisis…1180 BCE, part 2
Jehon Grist
While an era of seemingly endless chaos, 1180 BCE marks the birth moment of cultural features that thrive to this day.
The Middle East Crisis…1180 BCE, part 1
Jehon Grist
While an era of seemingly endless chaos, 1180 BCE marks the birth moment of cultural features that thrive to this day.
Torah from the Bedroom, part 4
David and Rachel Biale
Sexuality in the Jewish tradition
Session 4: Mysticism & Hasidism
Torah from the Bedroom, part 3
David and Rachel Biale
Sexuality in the Jewish tradition
The Bible Now, part 4
Professors Robert Alter and Ron Hendel present historical and literary readings of the Bible.
Conclusion
Torah from the Bedroom, part 2
David and Rachel Biale
Sexuality in the Jewish tradition
Session 2: Onah and homosexuality
The Bible Now, part 3
Professors Robert Alter and Ron Hendel present historical and literary readings of the Bible.
The David Stories
The Song of Songs
The Bible Now, part 2
Professors Robert Alter and Ron Hendel present historical and literary readings of the Bible.
Myth and Narrative: Genesis 1 -11
The Bible Now, part 1
Professors Robert Alter and Ron Hendel present historical and literary readings of the Bible.
The David Stories