Podcasts about pardes institute

What does it really mean to go "beyond the letter of the law"? In this episode, Rabbi Marc Katz sits down with scholar Deborah Barer to discuss her book Going Off Script: Improvisational Judgment in the Talmud, which offers a surprising new interpretation of one of the Talmud's most enduring ethical concepts: lifnim mi-shurat ha-din. For generations, lifnim mi-shurat ha-din has been understood to mean acting "beyond the letter of the law"—choosing generosity or compassion over strict legal obligation. Barer challenges that assumption. Through a close reading of classical rabbinic texts, she argues that the Talmud originally used the phrase not to describe a particular kind of moral act, but a particular way of making decisions. Rather than rigidly following established rules, rabbis sometimes improvised, departing from expected patterns in pursuit of the right outcome for a unique case. By tracing how this idea developed from in the Talmud, Barer uncovers how one phrase evolved into a cornerstone of Jewish ethical thought. Her work invites readers to rethink the relationship between law and morality, showing that creativity and flexibility have always been part of the rabbinic legal tradition. Together, Barer and Katz explore why improvisation matters in Jewish law, how the Talmud balances consistency with compassion, and what this ancient model of decision-making can teach us about navigating difficult moral questions today. Deborah Barer is Senior Faculty with the Shalom Hartman Institute of North America. She holds a PhD in Religious Studies from the University of Virginia, with an emphasis on rabbinic literature and Jewish ethics. Previously, she was Associate Professor of Religious Studies at Towson University, and she has also taught at Oberlin College and for the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies (North America). She served as the editor of the Journal of Textual Reasoning. Rabbi Marc Katz is the senior Rabbi at Temple Ner Tamid in Bloomfield, NJ. He is the author of Yochanan's Gamble: Judaism's Pragmatic Approach to Life (JPS) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

What does it really mean to go "beyond the letter of the law"? In this episode, Rabbi Marc Katz sits down with scholar Deborah Barer to discuss her book Going Off Script: Improvisational Judgment in the Talmud, which offers a surprising new interpretation of one of the Talmud's most enduring ethical concepts: lifnim mi-shurat ha-din. For generations, lifnim mi-shurat ha-din has been understood to mean acting "beyond the letter of the law"—choosing generosity or compassion over strict legal obligation. Barer challenges that assumption. Through a close reading of classical rabbinic texts, she argues that the Talmud originally used the phrase not to describe a particular kind of moral act, but a particular way of making decisions. Rather than rigidly following established rules, rabbis sometimes improvised, departing from expected patterns in pursuit of the right outcome for a unique case. By tracing how this idea developed from in the Talmud, Barer uncovers how one phrase evolved into a cornerstone of Jewish ethical thought. Her work invites readers to rethink the relationship between law and morality, showing that creativity and flexibility have always been part of the rabbinic legal tradition. Together, Barer and Katz explore why improvisation matters in Jewish law, how the Talmud balances consistency with compassion, and what this ancient model of decision-making can teach us about navigating difficult moral questions today. Deborah Barer is Senior Faculty with the Shalom Hartman Institute of North America. She holds a PhD in Religious Studies from the University of Virginia, with an emphasis on rabbinic literature and Jewish ethics. Previously, she was Associate Professor of Religious Studies at Towson University, and she has also taught at Oberlin College and for the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies (North America). She served as the editor of the Journal of Textual Reasoning. Rabbi Marc Katz is the senior Rabbi at Temple Ner Tamid in Bloomfield, NJ. He is the author of Yochanan's Gamble: Judaism's Pragmatic Approach to Life (JPS) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/jewish-studies

What does it really mean to go "beyond the letter of the law"? In this episode, Rabbi Marc Katz sits down with scholar Deborah Barer to discuss her book Going Off Script: Improvisational Judgment in the Talmud, which offers a surprising new interpretation of one of the Talmud's most enduring ethical concepts: lifnim mi-shurat ha-din. For generations, lifnim mi-shurat ha-din has been understood to mean acting "beyond the letter of the law"—choosing generosity or compassion over strict legal obligation. Barer challenges that assumption. Through a close reading of classical rabbinic texts, she argues that the Talmud originally used the phrase not to describe a particular kind of moral act, but a particular way of making decisions. Rather than rigidly following established rules, rabbis sometimes improvised, departing from expected patterns in pursuit of the right outcome for a unique case. By tracing how this idea developed from in the Talmud, Barer uncovers how one phrase evolved into a cornerstone of Jewish ethical thought. Her work invites readers to rethink the relationship between law and morality, showing that creativity and flexibility have always been part of the rabbinic legal tradition. Together, Barer and Katz explore why improvisation matters in Jewish law, how the Talmud balances consistency with compassion, and what this ancient model of decision-making can teach us about navigating difficult moral questions today. Deborah Barer is Senior Faculty with the Shalom Hartman Institute of North America. She holds a PhD in Religious Studies from the University of Virginia, with an emphasis on rabbinic literature and Jewish ethics. Previously, she was Associate Professor of Religious Studies at Towson University, and she has also taught at Oberlin College and for the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies (North America). She served as the editor of the Journal of Textual Reasoning. Rabbi Marc Katz is the senior Rabbi at Temple Ner Tamid in Bloomfield, NJ. He is the author of Yochanan's Gamble: Judaism's Pragmatic Approach to Life (JPS) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/critical-theory

What does it really mean to go "beyond the letter of the law"? In this episode, Rabbi Marc Katz sits down with scholar Deborah Barer to discuss her book Going Off Script: Improvisational Judgment in the Talmud, which offers a surprising new interpretation of one of the Talmud's most enduring ethical concepts: lifnim mi-shurat ha-din. For generations, lifnim mi-shurat ha-din has been understood to mean acting "beyond the letter of the law"—choosing generosity or compassion over strict legal obligation. Barer challenges that assumption. Through a close reading of classical rabbinic texts, she argues that the Talmud originally used the phrase not to describe a particular kind of moral act, but a particular way of making decisions. Rather than rigidly following established rules, rabbis sometimes improvised, departing from expected patterns in pursuit of the right outcome for a unique case. By tracing how this idea developed from in the Talmud, Barer uncovers how one phrase evolved into a cornerstone of Jewish ethical thought. Her work invites readers to rethink the relationship between law and morality, showing that creativity and flexibility have always been part of the rabbinic legal tradition. Together, Barer and Katz explore why improvisation matters in Jewish law, how the Talmud balances consistency with compassion, and what this ancient model of decision-making can teach us about navigating difficult moral questions today. Deborah Barer is Senior Faculty with the Shalom Hartman Institute of North America. She holds a PhD in Religious Studies from the University of Virginia, with an emphasis on rabbinic literature and Jewish ethics. Previously, she was Associate Professor of Religious Studies at Towson University, and she has also taught at Oberlin College and for the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies (North America). She served as the editor of the Journal of Textual Reasoning. Rabbi Marc Katz is the senior Rabbi at Temple Ner Tamid in Bloomfield, NJ. He is the author of Yochanan's Gamble: Judaism's Pragmatic Approach to Life (JPS) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/religion

What does it really mean to go "beyond the letter of the law"? In this episode, Rabbi Marc Katz sits down with scholar Deborah Barer to discuss her book Going Off Script: Improvisational Judgment in the Talmud, which offers a surprising new interpretation of one of the Talmud's most enduring ethical concepts: lifnim mi-shurat ha-din. For generations, lifnim mi-shurat ha-din has been understood to mean acting "beyond the letter of the law"—choosing generosity or compassion over strict legal obligation. Barer challenges that assumption. Through a close reading of classical rabbinic texts, she argues that the Talmud originally used the phrase not to describe a particular kind of moral act, but a particular way of making decisions. Rather than rigidly following established rules, rabbis sometimes improvised, departing from expected patterns in pursuit of the right outcome for a unique case. By tracing how this idea developed from in the Talmud, Barer uncovers how one phrase evolved into a cornerstone of Jewish ethical thought. Her work invites readers to rethink the relationship between law and morality, showing that creativity and flexibility have always been part of the rabbinic legal tradition. Together, Barer and Katz explore why improvisation matters in Jewish law, how the Talmud balances consistency with compassion, and what this ancient model of decision-making can teach us about navigating difficult moral questions today. Deborah Barer is Senior Faculty with the Shalom Hartman Institute of North America. She holds a PhD in Religious Studies from the University of Virginia, with an emphasis on rabbinic literature and Jewish ethics. Previously, she was Associate Professor of Religious Studies at Towson University, and she has also taught at Oberlin College and for the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies (North America). She served as the editor of the Journal of Textual Reasoning. Rabbi Marc Katz is the senior Rabbi at Temple Ner Tamid in Bloomfield, NJ. He is the author of Yochanan's Gamble: Judaism's Pragmatic Approach to Life (JPS)

Rabbi Leon Morris, President of Pardes Institute, on the new America's 250th "Talmud of America"

Rabbi Alex Matthews asks what the perpetual altar fire symbolises. Rabbi Alex Matthews has been part of the Congregation Ahavas Achim in Newburyport since 2015 and has been serving as its congregational leader since 2019. Rabbi Matthews was ordained at Hebrew College in June 2023. He serves part-time as a staff chaplain at Beverly Hospital. He completed the 18 Doors Rukin Rabbinic Fellowship focused on interfaith engagement, as well as the Pardes Institute for Jewish Studies Machloket Matters fellowship, focused on working toward and through constructive disagreement.

Rabbi Alex Matthews asks how we should understand the sin of the golden calf. Rabbi Alex Matthews has been part of the Congregation Ahavas Achim in Newburyport since 2015 and has been serving as its congregational leader since 2019.  Rabbi Matthews was ordained at Hebrew College in June 2023. He serves part-time as a staff chaplain at Beverly Hospital. He completed the 18 Doors Rukin Rabbinic Fellowship focused on interfaith engagement, as well as the Pardes Institute for Jewish Studies Machloket Matters fellowship, focused on working toward and through constructive disagreement.

Rabbi Alex Matthews has been part of the Congregation Ahavas Achim in Newburyport since 2015 and has been serving as its congregational leader since 2019.  Rabbi Matthews was ordained at Hebrew College in June 2023. He serves part-time as a staff chaplain at Beverly Hospital. He completed the 18 Doors Rukin Rabbinic Fellowship focused on interfaith engagement, as well as the Pardes Institute for Jewish Studies Machloket Matters fellowship, focused on working toward and through constructive disagreement.

Shabbat Teaching with Scholar-In-Residence, Yiscah Smith, in discussion with Rabbi Rebecca Schatz, at Temple Beth Am, Los Angeles, November 22, 2025. "Thought Leader - Spiritual Activist - Educator at the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem & Applied Jewish Spirituality Online - Addressing the Spiritual Practice of Encountering the Divine Presence Within and Beyond." Learn more at https://www.yiscahsmith.com/ (Youtube/Zoom) Special Guest: Yiscah Smith.

Scholar-In-Residence Yischa Smith's Shabbat Sermon at Temple Beth Am, Los Angeles, November 22, 2025. "Thought Leader - Spiritual Activist - Educator at the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem & Applied Jewish Spirituality Online - Addressing the Spiritual Practice of Encountering the Divine Presence Within and Beyond." Learn more at https://www.yiscahsmith.com/ (Youtube) Special Guest: Yiscah Smith.

In this episode I am joined by a dear friend, artist, poet, philosopher, and all around magical human being Matthew John Betzalel Bivalacqua. In this episode we discuss his deeply personal art process and its relationship to memory, emotion, and spiritual experience. His works explores a fresh approach to still life and the power of personal symbols encased in memory. ------------------Matthew John Betzalel Bivalacqua was born in Metairie LA, 1981. In 2015 he received his undergraduate degrees from the University of New Orleans, in Fine Arts and Philosophy. In 2018 Matthew John received his Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of New Orleans. After converting to Judaism, in 2021, Matthew John was awarded an artist fellowship from Pardes Institute of Jewish Learning, in Jerusalem, where he held poetry workshops.Matthew John's process draws subject matter from his narrative, to express a sentiment, a historical relation, or convey an identity beyond an object's or environment's manufactured function. The surfaces he creates are technical manipulations of traditional practices for applying mediums. Some of his influences are Van Gogh's still lifes and David Hockney's joiner photographs.WebsiteInstagram Follow Martin Benson for more insights:*To stay updated on the podcast and related content, check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠my Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠*To support the show and access exclusive content, consider subscribing for $0.99/month on Instagram (link above).Credits: Special thanks to Matthew Blankenship of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Sometimes Island⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for our podcast theme music!Support this podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/martin-l-benson/support

Rabbi Alex Matthews discusses Rivkah's moment of existential and physical crisis. Rabbi Alex Matthews has been part of the Congregation Ahavas Achim in Newburyport since 2015 and has been serving as its congregational leader since 2019. Rabbi Matthews was ordained at Hebrew College in June 2023. He serves part-time as a staff chaplain at Beverly Hospital. Rabbi Matthews completed the 18 Doors Rukin Rabbinic Fellowship focused on interfaith engagement, as well as the Pardes Institute for Jewish Studies Machloket Matters fellowship, focused on working toward and through constructive disagreement. 

This podcast is powered by LSJS. Visit lsjs.ac.uk to learn about our Jewish learning journeys & find something that suits you. I'm delighted to be joined by Rabbanit Nechama Goldman Barash, one of the most refreshing and challenging voices in contemporary Jewish learning. Based in Jerusalem, Nechama teaches Talmud and halachah at the Pardes Institute and Matan, where she's known for tackling some of the most complex questions around gender and relationships with honesty, warmth and depth. Her recently published book, Uncovered: Women's Roles, Mitzvot, and Sexuality in Jewish Law, offers a fearless, richly sourced exploration of women's ritual obligations, religious identity and sexuality in Jewish law. Nechama's teaching combines rigorous text study with a rare sensitivity to lived experience. Link to the book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Uncovered-Womens-Mitzvot-Sexuality-Jewish/dp/9655243753

This is a special podcast miniseries produced by Matan and hosted by Dr. Yosefa Fogel Wruble. The series will comprise seven episodes to be aired during the seven weeks of the Omer counting between the holidays of Pesach and Shavuot. Each week we will be re-reading iconic biblical texts in light of the changing Israeli, Jewish, and world realities. This first episode is a conversation with Judy Klitsner about the nature of successful and failed resilience in the stories of Noah and Jonah. Judy is a senior educator at Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies and the author of Subversive Sequels in the Bible: How Biblical Stories Mine and Undermine Each Other, which received a National Jewish book award.

How does Genesis lay the foundation for humanity's covenantal relationship with God? Rabbi Dr. Zvi Grumet joins us to share insights from his groundbreaking book Genesis: From Creation to Covenant. Together, we explore how the Torah portrays the patriarchs—Avraham, Yitzhak, Yaakov, and Yosef—as central figures in this process, with the recurring use of the word 'toldot' weaving a cohesive narrative of covenantal development. Rabbi Dr. Grumet outlines his unique threefold understanding of history in Genesis and explains how it informs the patriarchal narratives. He also shares how he balances critical analysis with reverence for the text, navigating the distinction between peshat and derash. We discuss the foundational Garden of Eden story in light of the covenantal theme, Avraham's evolving challenges from Lekh Lekha to Va'era, and Yitzchak's role as a transitional figure in the covenant. The conversation also delves into Yaakov's personal and relational struggles, the pivotal role Rachel plays in shaping the covenantal legacy, and the reconciliation of Yosef and his brothers as a powerful culmination of Genesis. Through this discussion, Rabbi Dr. Grumet brings new depth to the familiar stories of Genesis, showing how they chart the unfolding of God's covenant with humanity and the enduring lessons they hold for us today. --- • Bio: Rabbi Dr. Zvi Grumet is a master Bible teacher who lectures widely across the English-speaking world. Having earned his rabbinic ordination and Ed.D. at Yeshiva University, Rabbi Grumet dedicated the first eighteen years of his career to teaching Torah and leading educational institutions in the US. Today, he teaches at Yeshivat Eretz Hatzvi, the Pardes Institute, and Hebrew College in Boston. He is also a senior staff member at The Lookstein Center for Jewish Education, where he is editor of Jewish Educational Leadership and generates initiatives to help advance Jewish education on four continents. --- • Get his book here: https://www.amazon.com/Genesis-Creation-Covenant-Zvi-Grumet/dp/1592644775 --- • Welcome to JUDAISM DEMYSTIFIED: A PODCAST FOR THE PERPLEXED | Co-hosted by Benjy & Benzi | Thank you to...Super Patron: Jordan Karmily, Platinum Patron: Craig Gordon, Gold Patrons: Dovidchai Abramchayev, Lazer Cohen, Travis Krueger, Vasili Volkoff, Rod Ilian, Silver Patrons: Ellen Fleischer, Daniel Maksumov, Rabbi Pinny Rosenthal, Fred & Antonio, Jeffrey Wasserman, and Jacob Winston! Please SUBSCRIBE to this YouTube Channel and hit the BELL so you can get alerted whenever new clips get posted, thank you for your support!

On this week's episode of The Jerusalem Post Podcast, Tal Spungin and Aaron Reich speak with Rabbi David Fine of the Barkai Center for Practical Rabbinics and Rabbi Meesh Hammer-Kossoy of the Pardes Institute for Jewish Studies to discuss breaking out of echo chambers amid polarization, the celebration of Sukkot and Simchat Torah during wartime, and the role of rabbis in the post-Oct. 7 world.

In this special episode of the Z3 Podcast, host Rabbi Amitai Fraiman is joined by two guests involved with Jewish life at UC Berkeley: Rav Maya Zinkow, Campus Rabbi, and Dr. Masua Sagiv, Koret Visiting Assistant Professor of Jewish and Israel Studies and Senior Faculty member at the Shalom Hartman Institute. In this roundtable discussion, all three reflect on their recent visits and experiences in Israel and explore the emotional and political divide between the realities on the ground in Israel and the discourse in the U.S., particularly on college campuses. The conversation dives into the challenges Jewish students face navigating campus life, where progressive movements often clash with Zionism during a time where social media amplifies misinformation and extremist narratives, complicating conversations about Israel, and leaving students caught between popular opinion and their Jewish identity. Rav Maya and Dr. Sagiv discuss the delicate balance of providing pastoral care to students while also encouraging critical thinking on complex issues like Israel, Zionism, and Jewish identity. This episode offers a thoughtful discussion on the intersection of Jewish education, campus activism, and the future of Jewish identity in both Israel and the diaspora. About our guests: Rav Maya Zinkow Rabbi Maya Zinkow is the Campus Rabbi at UC Berkeley Hillel. She received rabbinic ordination and a Master's in Jewish Women and Gender Studies at the Jewish Theological Seminary as a Wexner Graduate Fellow. While studying at JTS, Maya served as a rabbinic intern at the Columbia/Barnard Hillel and at Romemu on the Upper West Side. Before starting her rabbinic studies, Maya graduated from Barnard College with a degree in English literature and creative writing, and followed her love of text to the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies, where she learned Torah for two years and now serves as summer faculty. You can follow her on instagram at @ravmayaz Dr. Masua Sagiv Dr. Masua Sagiv is the Koret Visiting Assistant Professor of Jewish and Israel Studies at the Helen Diller Institute at U.C. Berkeley School of Law, and a Senior Faculty member of the Shalom Hartman Institute based in the San Francisco Bay Area. She writes and teaches on questions of law and nationality, religion and state, anti-Semitism, Jewish peoplehood, and dynamics of change in Israeli society. Prior to moving to the Bay Area, Masua was the Academic Director of the Menomadin Center for Jewish and Democratic Law at Bar-Ilan University, and taught at the Schools of Law at Bar-Ilan University and Tel-Aviv University. To hear more from Dr. Sagiv, listen to Episode 5 of the Z3 Project Podcast.

GOOD EVENING: THE SHOW BEGINS IN LEBANON, WITH ISRAEL REJECTING THE CEASEFIRE GAMBIT BY NASRALLAH... 1950 LEBANON CBS EYE ON THE WORLD WITH JOHN BATCHELOR FIRST HOUR 9:00-9:15 1/2: #ISRAEL: Defeating Hezbollah & What is to be done? Guest: Cliff May, FDD 9:15-9:30 2/2: #ISRAEL: Defeating Hezbollah & What is to be done? Guest: Cliff May, FDD 9:30-9:45 GEN Z: ScalaReport: Quiet quitting followed by Noisy Firing Guest: Chris Riegel, Scala.com #STRATACACHE 9:45-10:00 #PRC: The regime is predatory, imperial illegitimate Guest: Bradley Thayer, author, "EMBRACING CHINA: America's Greatest Strategic Mistake" SECOND HOUR 10:00-10:15 #LEBANON: BRINK Guest: Hanin Ghaddar, Friedmann Senior Fellow, The Washington Institute's Linda and Tony Rubin Program on Arab Politics @GORDONGCHANG, GATESTONE, NEWSWEEK, THE HILL https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/will-hezbollah-choose-keep-its-word-or-its-arsenal 10:15-10:30 #BBC: Unrelieved anti-Israel prejudice Guest: Trevor Asserson, leading lawyer and founder of Asserson Law Offices https://asserson.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/asserson-summary.pdf 10:30-10:45 #HOUTHIS Guest: Edmund Fitton-Brown, senior advisor to the Counter Extremism Projecthttps://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2024/09/analysis-the-houthis-have-challenged-the-rules-based-international-system-and-must-be-defeated.php 10:45-11:00 #TALMUD Guest: Gila Fine, author "THE MADWOMAN IN THE RABBI'S ATTIC", lecturer at Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies THIRD HOUR 11:00-11:15 #JAPAN: The battle with the Axis Powers is East and West at the same time Guest: Josh Rogin, Washington Post 11:15-11:30 #CANADA: TRUDEAU: EMBARGOING ISRAEL VIA THE USA Guest: CONRAD BLACK, NATIONAL POST 11:30-11:45 1/2: #HOTEL MARS: Russian tests of the Sarmat and operations of MS-Soyuz and development of PTK Ortel crewed vehicle Guest: Anatoly Zak, RussianSpaceWeb.com 11:45-12:00 2/2: #HOTEL MARS: Russian tests of the Sarmat and operations of MS-Soyuz and development of PTK Ortel crewed vehicle Guest: Anatoly Zak, RussianSpaceWeb.com FOURTH HOUR 12:00-12:15 1/2: #UKRAINE: ZELENSKY'S VICTOR PLAN Guest: ANATOL LIEVEN, QUINCY INSTITUTE 12:15-12:30 2/2: #UKRAINE: ZELENSKY'S VICTOR PLAN Guest: ANATOL LIEVEN, QUINCY INSTITUTE 12:30-12:45 1/2: #ENERGY: The undeveloped renewable land use on Native Reservations & What is to be done? Guest: Nick Parker, Hoover Institution 12:45-1:00 am 2/2: #ENERGY: The undeveloped renewable land use on Native Reservations & What is to be done? Guest: Nick Parker, Hoover Institution

#TALMUD: LITERATURE: Gila Fine,  author THE MADWOMAN IN THE RABBI'S ATTIC, is a lecturer of rabbinic literature at the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies. https://www.amazon.com/Madwoman-Rabbis-Attic-Rereading-Talmud/dp/1592646735 Women in the Talmud are generally marginal and almost always anonymous - the daughters, sisters, and wives of prominent rabbis. The Madwoman in the Rabbi's Attic explores the stories of the exceptions, the six named heroines of the Talmud: Yalta the shrew, Homa the femme fatale, Marta the prima donna, Heruta the madonna/whore, Beruria the overreacherix, and Ima Shalom the angel in the house.As their epithets suggest, every one of these women appears to embody an antifeminist archetype. Yet in each case, a careful rereading reveals that there is a lot more to the story than initially meets the eye; that the heroine is far more complex than she first seems; and that the rabbis had rather surprising - so as not to say proto-feminist - views of marriage, sex, childbirth, and what it means to be a woman in the world. In presenting us with archetypes that systematically break down, the Talmud imparts profound moral teachings about how to read the characters of a text and, ultimately, how to regard the people in our lives." 1850-1900 Jerusalem

TRADITION's recent Summer 2024 issue contained expanded book review coverage including a review by Yitzhak Blau on Gila Fine's new “The Madwoman in the Rabbi's Attic: Rereading the Women of the Talmud” (Maggid Books & Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies). Blau says this book carries the rare distinction of breaking new ground in two very different fields: the rabbinic view of women and the tools of aggadic interpretation. While some scholars see Hazal as holding an almost uniformly negative attitude toward women, and others fail to acknowledge any conflicts between the rabbinic tradition and contemporary sensibilities, Blau suggests Fine presents a more balanced outlook. We thought it would be instructive to bring the author and the reviewer (himself an accomplished interpreter of rabbinic aggada) together for a conversation. They discuss the book and touch on the relationship between Biblical and Talmudic narrative and teaching values through aggada. Read Yitzchak Blau's review of “The Madwoman in the Rabbi's Attic“. Gila Fine lectures in a variety of settings including Pardes Institute and Midreshet Amudim, exploring the tales of the Talmud through philosophy, literary criticism, psychoanalysis, and culture (both high and pop). Her published work has been featured in many platforms including our own pages of TRADITION. Yitzchak Blau, associate editor of TRADITION, is Rosh Yeshivat Orayta in Jerusalem. Watch a video recording of this conversation.

Episode 74. Rabbi David Levin-Kruss is a Jerusalem-based life coach, educator, and community organizer. David sees himself as a bridge between Jewish wisdom and those who want to utilize this wisdom to live more meaningful lives. In this conversation, we talk about his coaching practice often using a text to explore issues in the client's life. David has held educational and leadership positions at the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies, Melitz Centers for Jewish Zionist Education and at Stanmore Synagogue in north-west London.Highlights:·       Basics of coaching: forward-looking, strength-based, and problem-solving approach·       Coaching as a mechanism and the client already having the answers within them·       Rabbi Jonathan Sacks' view on coaching and contemporary problems·       Technique of reframing negative texts or songs into positive messages·       Emphasis on peace over absolute truth or justice in a Jewish law court·       Differences between education and coaching, emphasizing the role of the teacher in drawing out understanding within the student·       Value of interreligious dialogue and listening to people teach their own faith's textsSocial Media links for David:Article about David's methodology – https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/the-tinkertoy-kid-2/Social Media links for Méli:Talking with God Project LinkedIn – Meli SolomonFacebook – Meli Solomon Transcript:  Follow the podcast!The Living Our Beliefs podcast offers a place to learn about other religions and faith practices. When you hear about how observant Christians, Jews and Muslims live their faith, new ideas and questions arise:  Is your way similar or different?  Is there an idea or practice that you want to explore?  Understanding how other people live opens your mind and heart to new people you meet. Comments?  Questions? Email  Méli at – info@talkingwithgodproject.org The Living Our Beliefs podcast is part of the Talking with God Project – https://www.talkingwithgodproject.org/

Rabbi Dr James Jacobsen-Maisels shares the connection between the heart and the Mishkan. Rabbi James Jacobsen-Maisels leads and directs the vision of Or HaLev.Ordained by Rav Daniel Landes, with a doctorate in Jewish Studies from the University of Chicago, he has been studying and teaching meditation and Jewish spirituality for over twenty five years.He was the founding Rosh Yeshiva of Romemu Yeshiva and has taught and innovated programs in Jewish thought, mysticism, spiritual practices and meditation at the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies, Haifa University, Yeshivat Hadar and in a variety of settings around the world.

Elisha Ancselovits is a rabbi, teacher, and researcher at the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies, Yeshivat Maale Gilboa, and Yeshivat haHakshava.His most recent book is "When Jews Argue: Between the University and the Beit Midrash", which he edited with Prof. Ethan B. Katz and Prof. Sergey Dolgopolski. Along with Uri Farber, he hosts the podcast "Common Sense Halakha".

In this interview, I have the rare privilege of interviewing one of my meditationteachers. His teachings and retreats have had a powerful impact on my practice.Towards the end of this interview, Rabbi James takes us on a short meditation, please pull over for the end of this interview.Rabbi James Jacobson-Maisels Ph.D. is the founder and executive director of Or HaLev: Center for Jewish Spirituality and Meditation (http://orhalev.org/).He has been studying and teaching meditation and Jewish spirituality for more than twenty-five years. He received his Ph.D. in Jewish Studies from the University of Chicago and rabbinic ordination from Rabbi Daniel Landes, the Rosh Yeshivah of Pardes, and from the Beit Midrash for an Israeli Rabbinate, a pluralistic ordination for Jewish leaders in Israel. He was the founding Rosh Yeshiva of Romemu Yeshiva and has taught and innovated programs in Jewish thought, mysticism, spiritual practices and meditation at the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies, Haifa University,Yeshivat Hadar and in a variety of settings around the world. He strives to integrate his study and practice and to help teach and live Judaism as a spiritual discipline.Here are some upcoming program offerings from Or Halev1. Preparing our Hearts for Yom Kippur Virtual Meditation Retreat. September 20-22pm2. Under a Roof of Stars: A Sukkot Journey. 30 minute meditations delivered to your inbox throughout Sukkot3. Sacred Action: Bringing Contemplative Practice to Justice Work starting October 2.Thank you for subscribing and please do drop a review, we appreciate you !Click here to make your tax-deductible donation to The Holy Sparks Podcastit helps keep us in production and get the word out about all these amazingpeople - click here - to support http://igfn.us/form/haHSSQ

Rabbi Danny Landes' special presentation at Temple Beth Am, Los Angeles, September 10, 2023. Rav Daniel Landes, born and raised in Chicago, attended the Jewish schools founded by his grandfather, Rav Menachem Sacks – The Menachem Tziyon. Following ordination from Rav J. B. Soloveitchik at Yeshiva University, he was a founding faculty member both at Yeshiva of Los Angeles teaching Talmud, as well as at its sister institution, The Simon Wiesenthal Center, as Director of Educational Projects. At the same time, he became Associate Professor of Jewish Law at Loyola Law School and Rabbi of the B'nai David Congregation, which he developed into a center for Orthodox halakhic innovation, social action, and spirituality. He made Aliyah with his family in 1995 to head the Pardes Institute, which he brought to a level of prominence through instituting its Educators Program, Kollel, and Seminars for lay people. After bestowing Orthodox Semikhah (ordination) to a number of outstanding men and women in 2016, he founded Yashrut in 2018. Yashrut offers Semikhah , as well as its Classic Talmud Program. Rabbi Landes is introduced by Rabbi Elliot Dorff. (Zoom) Special Guest: Rabbi Danny Landis.

Can you point to Hashem? Is he up? Down? Left? Right? All of those directions are correct. We've heard that G-d is everywhere. So if he, or it, is everywhere and we can't see it, how can we believe it? Where's the proof? A majority of studies led by top scientists have pointed to G-d not existing. The religious leadership of our world attempts to disprove science's theory... but isn't doing particularly well. What are we supposed to believe? An even bigger question to ask: If G-d exists but doesn't do anything to enforce consequences, then why should I be expected to connect with him? Spiritual activist, Yiscah Smith, calls in from Jerusalem to confront these big questions and give context to the history. What seems simple is met with a nuanced response stemming from the holistic view of the movements within the Ashkenazi and Sephardic traditions. Now coming in for her second appearance on Bad Jew, Smith teach Chaz Volk, host of Bad Jew, a few things about connection, awareness, soul, and Torah. About Yiscah Smith: Yiscah is a thought leader, spiritual activist and agent of change who addresses the spiritual practice of encountering the Divine spark within --- the foundation of authentic living. In fact, Yiscah views Judaism as a spiritual practice. She relies on Jewish spiritual teachings to inform and uplift her students and audiences, acting as a compass, gently guiding them to their unique inner selves. As a spiritual trailblazer, Yiscah exemplifies what it means to carve one's own path, as she has grappled with the entanglements at the intersection of her spirituality, Jewish tradition and passionate desire to live a life of authenticity. Encouraging, ennobling and empowering others to carve their own paths and to cultivate the integrity to remain faithful to their unique paths is indeed her passion and inner calling.  You can hear her podcasts teachings at: https://www.yiscahsmith.com/podcast-library. Yiscah teaches Jewish contemplative practice and spiritual texts at the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies - http://www.pardes.org.il/ and at Applied Jewish Spirituality - https://www.appliedjewishspirituality.org/. She has also founded and directs Conscious Community Nachlaot, an organization in Jerusalem that hosts Shabbat in-person spiritual gatherings, virtual guided meditation sits and spiritual text classes. In addition Yiscah works with individuals in her private spiritual mentoring practice. Yiscah has earned a reputation as a sought-after inspiring international public speaker. Connect with Yiscah Smith: Website: https://www.yiscahsmith.com/mentoring Podcast: https://www.yiscahsmith.com/podcast-library Connect with Bad Jew: Join our online community HERE: https://linktr.ee/badjew BadJewPod@gmail.com Ig @BadJewPod TikTok @BadJewPod

Episode 43 of What Gives? the Jewish philanthropy podcast from Jewish Funders Network. Rabbi Leon Morris, President of the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies, talks to JFN President and CEO Andres Spokoiny about his essay in Sources, "In Defense of Surrender in Liberal Jewish Life." Morris argues that a Jewish response to individual agency having eclipsed every other important value is necessary, and can be done through a sense of surrender (of our defenses, our time, and our notion of isolated individualism) to community, rather than submission to authority. Leon talks about what he finds exciting about pluralistic spaces, how thoroughly modern Jews are having trouble finding places for Jewishness in their lives, the enormous relevance that traditional texts still have for our modern time, and what gives him hope for the Jewish future. Works referenced in this episode: In Defense of Surrender in a Liberal Jewish Life Kaddish, Leon Wieseltier (1998) Judaism in a Digital Age, Danny Schiff (2023)

Why do we do what we do as Jews? What is a mitzvah? Is it a nice thing to do, a commandment, or a cultural folkway of the Jewish people? If we don't believe in a commanding God, can we believe in commandment? If not, how can Judaism make any demands upon us? And if we do not allow our faith to make demands upon us, is it too thin and weak to be of consequence?   These were the questions that came up in last week's class about the essay by Elliot Cosgrove entitled "A Choosing People" published in Sources (Spring 2023). Rabbi Cosgrove diagnosed the problem: "The Jews I serve are not halakhic Jews living lives bound by Jewish law." p. 11. What to do about this reality remains elusive.   Enter the very next article in Sources written by Rabbi Leon A. Morris, President of the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem (and son in love to our own Joel Berkowitz), entitled "In Defense of Surrender in Liberal Jewish Life." This is a fascinating piece conveying an important distinction that was new to me--and potentially very useful to us.   Citing the work of psychoanalyst Emmanuel Ghent, Rabbi Morris distinguishes between surrender and submission:    Ghent defined surrender as "a quality of liberation and expansion of the self as a corollary to the letting down of defensive barriers." Rather than abandoning or rejecting the self, surrender's "ultimate direction is the discovery of one's identity, one's sense of self, one's sense of wholeness, even one's sense of unity with other living beings."   Ghent defines submission in sharp contrast to the notion of surrender. Submission allows a person to be controlled by another's power while one's own distinct sense of identity is weakened... What we really desire is to be able to surrender our lives to a larger force, not to be controlled by someone else. p. 22   Rabbi Morris shows how we surrender to larger forces all the time in order to fulfill our deepest purposes. Parents surrender to the needs of their children. Children surrender to the needs of their elderly parents. Architects and artists surrender to the "boundaries, borders and limits" of their fields to produce their designs and their art. p. 28.cHow might this concept of surrender (familiar to us in these other contexts) intersect with our quest for a thick and rich Judaism that imposes boundaries, borders and limits on our lives, and in so doing, creates beauty, meaning, community, and deep relationship? 

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Samuel Lebens—a philosophy professor, rabbi, and Jewish educator—about the nature of consciousness.At a time when artificial intelligence can make us question what it even is that makes humans unique, we look deeply into our ability to have personal experiences and turn them into new ideas. In this episode, we discuss with Sam: Why do we each have a subjective consciousness?What is the relationship between prayer and our lives?What is the “Turing test,” and how does it relate to prayer?Tune in to hear a conversation about how consciousness gives us the ability to transform words into prayer, to “sing a new song.”Interview begins at 31:28.Rabbi Dr. Samuel Lebens is an associate professor in the philosophy department at the University of Haifa, as well as a rabbi and Jewish educator. Samuel holds a PhD in philosophy from Birkbeck College (University of London), and his academic interests cover the philosophy of religion, metaphysics, epistemology, and the philosophy of language. Samuel teaches at the Drisha Institute for Jewish Education and the Pardes Institute for Jewish Studies. Samuel's most recent book, of several, is A Guide for the Jewish Undecided, groundbreaking work has an engaging style that makes it accessible to all readers, while not losing the clarity and rigor characteristic of analytic philosophy. Samuel's first book was a study of Bertrand Russell's dynamic theories about the nature of meaning. Samuel previously joined us to talk about rationality and mysticism.References:Gödel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid by Douglas R. HofstadterGalileo's Error: Foundations for a New Science of Consciousness by Philip Goff“Perpetual Prophecy: An Intellectual Tribute to Reb Zadok Ha-Kohen of Lublin on His 110th Yahrzeit” by David BashevkinBeing John MalkovichEternal Sunshine of the Spotless MindAnomalisaNetivot Olam by the Maharal of PragueWaking Up: A Guide to Spirituality Without Religion by Sam HarrisRupture and Reconstruction: The Transformation of Contemporary Orthodoxy by Haym Soloveitchik“God and his imaginary friends: a Hassidic metaphysics” by Samuel Lebens2001: A Space Odyssey“A Conversation With Bing's Chatbot Left Me Deeply Unsettled” by Kevin RooseThe Most Human Human: What Talking with Computers Teaches Us About What It Means to Be Alive by Brian ChristianShemot Rabbah

Daniel is a rabbi, educator, meditation teacher and MC/poet. He lives in Israel with his family, where he directs Applied Jewish Spirituality, an online portal which makes the transformative spiritual wisdom of our tradition accessible to all who seek it (https://www.appliedjewishspirituality.org/). He is also a faculty member at Romemu Yeshiva and the Conservative Yeshiva. Daniel received semikha from YCT and spent three years in Israel, studying at Yeshivot Ein Tzurim, Shvilei HaTorah, and Maale Gilboa. His recent teaching clients include My Jewish Learning, the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies, Nishmat, IDC Herzliya and the Orthodox Union. Daniel was born and raised in London, and he received a BA from the University of Cambridge and an MA from Warwick University. He has performed and facilitated all over the world as a spoken word artist, MC, and creative educator, and the Jewish Week selected him as one of their “36 Under 36” young innovators reshaping the Jewish community. Daniel is a cofounder of Lines of Faith, a Muslim-Jewish hip hop and poetry collective that uses performances and workshops to challenge prejudice, and build meaningful bonds between communities. He is an accredited teacher of Jewish Mindfulness Meditation and regularly teaches classes and retreats. He has served as Director of the Hillel Culanu Center for Jewish Life in Cambridge, UK and Director of Jewish Life and Learning for Hillel of Stanford University in Palo Alto, CA.

Yiscah Smith is a religious leader based in Jerusalem, Israel. After living in such a pivotal time, studying Judaism changes and personal pathways became her calling. Yiscah jumps onto the Bad Jew podcast to remind you that you are not a bad Jew for independently discovering yourself while doing what makes sense for you Jewishly. Don't just do Jewish. BE Jewish. BIO: Yiscah is a spiritual activist, educator, mentor, and meditation guide, who addresses the spiritual practice of encountering the Divine spark within and beyond. She relies on Jewish spiritual teachings to inspire her students, acting as a compass, gently guiding them to their unique inner selves. As a spiritual trailblazer, Yiscah exemplifies what it means to carve one's own path, as she has grappled with the entanglements at the intersection of her spirituality, Jewish tradition and passionate desire to live a life of truth and integrity. She encourages, empowers and ennobles others to remain faithful to their unique spiritual paths. Yiscah teaches Jewish contemplative practice and spiritual texts at the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies and at Applied Jewish Spirituality. She has also founded Conscious Community Nachlaot, an organization in Jerusalem that hosts Shabbat spiritual gatherings. In addition, Yiscah works with individuals in her private spiritual mentoring practice. Connect with Yiscah Smith: Website: https://www.yiscahsmith.com/mentoring Podcast: https://www.yiscahsmith.com/podcast-library Connect with Bad Jew: Join our online community HERE: https://linktr.ee/badjew BadJewPod@gmail.com Ig @BadJewPod TikTok @BadJewPod

Rabbi Marc Baker is the President and CEO of Combined Jewish Philanthropies (CJP), a Jewish non-profit organization in Massachusetts. Having spent most of his life in Greater Boston's Jewish community, Rabbi Marc has served as Head of School at Gann Academy, Greater Boston's pluralistic Jewish high school, for over a decade. He has also served as scholar-in-residence for CJP's Cynthia and Leon Shulman Acharai Leadership Program from 2013 to 2018. Rabbi Marc has also spent 4 years in Jerusalem studying at Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies and The Hebrew University. He attended Phillips Academy Andover and received his bachelor's degree in religious studies at Yale University. Currently, Rabbi Marc resides in Brookline, Massachusetts with his wife and four children. Rabbi Marc joins me today to share his perspective on what it means to be human. He describes the CJP mission to bring people together and how the organization's mission aligns with his perspective on humanity. He explains why he believes being human is not merely an individual journey, but an inter-connected one and how the modern world has lost that deep sense of interconnection. We discuss how the coronavirus pandemic has encouraged people's sense of excessive individuality and inequality and how we can use this experience as a way to realize our individual and collective humanity as an effective guide toward a better future generation. We also discuss how moments of micro and macro fear provide us with unique opportunities of choice and the importance of getting comfortable with the complexities of being courageous. “We are, fundamentally - in our DNA - inter-connected with one another.” - Rabbi Marc Baker This week on Insert:Human●     How CJP's mission aligns with what Rabbi Marc believes the definition of ‘being human' truly is●     Why Rabbi Marc believes the human journey is not, fundamentally, an individual one●     Unpacking the term ‘individuality' and how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted people's sense of excessive individuality and inequality●     The COVID Paradox of Intimacy and what Rabbi Marc believes our greatest obstacle for us to realize is our individual and collective humanity●     Confronting moments of macro and micro fear and how it's an opportunity to choose whether to embrace fear or embrace courage●     Getting comfortable with the complexity and spectrum of being courageous●     The Circles of Trust concept and the two fundamental challenges of building cultural community●     How the Jewish community is contributing to a better world Our Favorite Quotes:●     “Choosing hope over fear does not mean denying that we feel fear.” - Rabbi Marc Baker●     “It's very hard to make decisions when you acknowledge there might be more than one right way.” - Rabbi Marc Baker●     “It's continuity in the name of transformation. It's knowing where you come from because it has something to say to where you're going.” - Rabbi Marc Baker Resources Mentioned:●     Book: Healing the Heart of Democracy: The Courage to Create a Politics Worthy of the Human Spirit by Parker J. Palmer Connect with Rabbi Marc Baker:●     Combined Jewish Philanthropies●     Combined Jewish Philanthropies on LinkedIn●     Combined Jewish Philanthropies on Instagram●     Combined Jewish Philanthropies on Facebook●     Combined Jewish Philanthropies on Twitter●     Rabbi Marc Baker on LinkedIn Insert:Human - For a Better Life & Better World Thanks for tuning into this week's episode of Insert:Human. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.  Apple Podcasts | TuneIn | GooglePlay | Stitcher | Spotify Be sure to share your favorite episodes on social media to help me reach more seekers and problem-solvers, like you.  Join me on Twitter, Instagram, and Linkedin. For more exclusive content and to claim your free copy of the first chapter of my upcoming book, Technology is Dead, visit my website.

Our guest this week is the wonderful Shoshana Gottlieb. She is a writer, thinker, educator and the brains behind the instagram page: Jewish Memes Only. If you have instagram and you're not following her, do yourself a favour. You'll get the white-hot memes you never knew you needed. Jewish memes only - Instagram Midrash reference Pardes Institute - where Shoshana studied What's a Dybbuk? On needing to be reminded of the right course of action again and again, found in the Introduction to Mesilat Yesharim On the Inner Spark found in all living beings referred to in the Tanya, a foundational text from Hasidic philosophy: “Hashem gives it the physical world existence and animates it by the vitality and light which He causes to flow and shine forth unto it— a light that is clothed, hidden and concealed within the numerous and powerful garments, which hide and screen the light and vitality, so that no light or vitality whatever is visibly revealed, but only corporeal and physical things that appear lifeless. Yet they contain light and vitality which constantly give them existence ex nihilo, that they shall not revert and become nothing and nought as they had been.” Credits: Made possible by the Erdi Foundation Hosted by Joel Lazar Produced by Elinor Hassenfratz Music by Lloyd Richards

Kristin is talking with with Rabbi Leah Jordan and Pam Grossman — writer, curator, and teacher of magical practice and history — to dig deep into Willow's Jewishness, her witchy-ness, and how those two identities are in conversation with each other (or how we *wish* they would have been!) across seven seasons of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.This episode contains spoilers through the end of Season 7 of Buffy!LOCATE YOUR HOSTS UPON THE INTERNETRabbi Leah Jordan: @leah_solo; Kehillah North LondonPam Grossman: @phantasmaphile; pamgrossman.comKristin Russo: @kristinnoeline; kristinnoeline.comMORE ON OUR GUESTSLeah Jordan is Rabbi of Kehillah North LondonShe received semicha from the Leo Baeck College in London and has lived and worked for over a decade in Britain. Leah is co-coordinator of Azara-Opening the Beit Midrash (www.asra.org.uk), a new initiative creating Jewish text learning for everyone in the UK, and they are a current and founding member of Na'amod: British Jews Against Occupation (@NaamodUK), a movement of British Jews dedicated to ending our community's support for the Occupation. Leah has spent three years of their adult life in Jerusalem, learning Torah and on-the-ground organising, as a Fellow at both the Conservative Yeshiva and the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies, as well as doing a yearlong Fellowship at Yeshivat Hadar in New York City. Leah also holds an MA in Jewish Studies from King's College London, and a BA in English Literature from the University of Kansas, with concentrations in Modern European History and French language studies at the Alliance Française in Paris.Leah is from a ‘country,' as Bob Dylan wrote, ‘called the Midwest.' They especially love teaching Torah & Jewish text study, youth work, building community, and organising for change. They also love travel & the universe, both this actual one, as well as fictional universes and stories. They live in London with their partner, Benji Stanley, also a rabbi. She/TheyPam Grossman is the creator and host of internationally beloved podcast, The Witch Wave ("The Terry Gross of witches" - Vulture), the author of the critically acclaimed books, Waking the Witch: Reflections on Women, Magic, and Power  (Gallery Books) and What is a Witch (Tin Can Forest Press), and the co-editor of the WITCHCRAFT volume of Taschen's Library of Esoterica series. Her writing has appeared in such outlets as The New York Times, The Atlantic, Time, and Ms. Magazine. She is cofounder of the Occult Humanities Conference at NYU, and her art exhibitions and magical projects have been featured in such publications as Artforum, Art in America, and The New Yorker. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband and their two feline familiars. You can find her at PamGrossman.com and @Phantasmaphile, and support her work at The Witch Wave Patreon!+++Links from Leah:how Antisemitism and white supremacy are intertwinedScholar Matthew Pateman on Willow's "disappearing Jewishness"great summary of representations of anti-Jewish archetypes in media, with scholar Jonathan BranfmanConcepts in Jewish Tradition: Demons & Demonology, Is There a Jewish Afterlife?, Teshuva, or Repentance, Kabbalah and Mysticism 101, Tikkun Olam: Repairing the World, Maimonides (Rambam) and His Texts, Lilith: Lady Flying in the DarknessGenesis, chapter 4, verse 7: "Surely, if you try to do right, There is uplift. But if you do not do right Sin crouches at the door; Its urge is toward you, Yet you can be overcome it.”SVARA: a traditionally radical yeshiva, a queer yeshivaNonbinary Hebrew ProjectAND kids now are doing Willow Rosenberg-themed b'nei mitzvah!Links from Pam:Ezra RoseKey of SolomonThe Lesser Key of Solomon (Goetia)Incantation bowlsHamsaMezuzahDori MidnightRebekah ErevKohonet Hebrew Priestess InstituteAshkenazi Herbalism by Adam Siegel and Deatra CohenMargaret MurrayWitch-cult hypothesisGerald GardnerWiccaStarhawkZsuzsanna BudapestMargot AdlerHermetic Order of the Golden DawnAleister CrowleyDion FortuneTree of Life/Sefirot (Kabbalah)Kabbalah v. Cabala v. QabalahShedim (or sheydim)Golemopshprekherin+++Buffering the Vampire Slayer: @bufferingcast on twitter, facebook, and instagramLearn more about our team at bufferingthevampireslayer.com/our-team Produced by: Kristin Russo, Pam Grossman, and Leah JordanWith support from Alba Daza and Mackenzie MacDadeEdited by: John Mark Nelson & Kristin RussoLogo: Kristine Thune+++SUPPORT US ON PATREON!Advance Music, Bonus Episodes, Live Concerts, Book Clubs, wheeeee!!patreon.com/bufferingcastSCOOP SOME MERCHSmash the Patriarchy with Buffering T-Shirts, Hoodies, Sweatpants, Pins!bufferingthevampireslayer.com/shop+++We acknowledge that we and our team are occupying unceded and stolen lands and territories. Kristin occupies the Lenape territories of the Esopus Lenape Peoples. Jenny occupies the Wabanahkik territory of the Abenaki and Pennacook Peoples. Alba occupies Tiohtià:ke of the Kanien'kehá:ka Nation. Mack, LaToya, Morgan, and John Mark occupy the lands of the Kizh Peoples.Learn more about Land Acknowledgments + our continued anti-racist efforts atbufferingthevampireslayer.com/justkeepfightingJust Keep Fighting - Community Events Calendar:https://www.bufferingthevampireslayer.com/just-keep-fighting-spotlight-on-community-anti-racism

“As I get older, Esther, for me, continuously changes… In many ways, she is a fascinating example of making lemonades out of lemons, with a lot of different layers to that.”— Nechama Goldman BarashPurim may be a joyful time of feasting, imbibing, and gift-giving, but the history behind the holiday as told in the Book of Esther deserves closer examination.Known as the Festival of Lots, Purim commemorates the foiling of a genocidal plot against the Jewish people, orchestrated by Haman, the royal vizier to King Achashverosh. It celebrates the story of a strong and determined woman, one who appears unsummoned before the King in order to save her people, although it is forbidden and punishable by death. When Achashverosh's new wife, an orphan named Esther, reveals her Jewishness to her husband just before the date set for the annihilation, he has the vizier executed as punishment. Unable to reverse his own decree authorizing the slaughter, he grants the Jewish people permission to defend themselves and they ably defeat their would-be killers.Each year, we celebrate this victory and the bold initiative of Esther herself… yet many unsavory aspects of this tale are glossed over or softened in Jewish education, including sex trafficking, kidnapping, rape, and patriarchal exploitation. This is an inarguably dark text for women, despite its celebrated ending.This episode of Living Jewishly is an instalment of What Would You Do?, a podcast about ethics in the modern world. In this episode, Dr. Elliot Malamet speaks with Nechama Goldman Barash, who teaches contemporary halakha and Talmud at Matan and the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies and is a qualified sex educator, about consent, agency, sexualization, and coercion in the story of Esther… and beyond. “How should we think about Megillat Esther in the age of #MeToo?”— Dr. Elliot MalametThis‌ ‌episode discusses:‌ ‌Questions regarding Esther's level of agency in her marriage to AchashveroshConsent, yes culture, and the environment of the college campus   How religious and secular communities navigate sexuality, age, and expectations ‌  Highlights:‌ ‌00:50  Intro02:43  Nechama Goldman Barash & agency04:47  Growth & maturing06:10  Consent & education15:35  Jewish sexual ethic23:47  Age & sexuality30:05  Sexualization & beauty36:59  VashtiLinks:‌ ‌ Nechama Goldman Barashhttps://www.pardes.org.il/faculty/nechama-goldman-barash Sexual Citizens https://www.sexualcitizens.comBoys & Sex, Girls & Sexhttps://www.peggyorenstein.com To get in contact or learn more about Living Jewishly:  Visit‌ ‌our ‌website: https://livingjewishly.org  Follow us on Instagram: @living.jewishly  Watch us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCO2YEegjapKpQeXG6zh6tzw   or send us an email at hello@livingjewishly.org.    Shalom!

A virtual event presentation by Rabbi Hanan Schlesinger ABOUT THE EVENT: One of the founders of Roots/Shorashim/Judur, the Israeli Palestinian grassroots initiative for understanding, nonviolence and transformation, Rabbi Hanan Schlesinger has spent the last 8 years meeting Palestinians and building bridges of trust and mutual recognition between Palestinians and Israelis, by and large religious Israeli living in the West Bank/Judea and Samaria. In this presentation he will discuss some of his insights concerning the core of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and the hurdles to be overcome in moving towards a lasting solution. Some of the concepts he will be discussing include: identity, trauma, normalization, the hubris of exclusivity, and the difference between coexistence and reconciliation. ABOUT THE SPEAKER: Rabbi Hanan Schlesinger lives in Alon Shvut Israel and is one of the founders of Roots/Shorashim/Judur, The Palestinian Israeli Grassroots Initiative for Understanding, Nonviolence and Transformation. Currently he serves as its Director of International Relations. He also is the founder of the American Friends of Roots, a multi-faith organization dedicated to supporting the work of Roots/Shorashim/Judur. Rav Hanan frequently speaks in the USA together with one of his Palestinian partner about the amazing work of Roots/Shorashim/Judur. Prior to the founding of Roots, Rav Hanan spent his whole career teaching Jewish studies in various seminaries, colleges and frameworks in the Jerusalem area, among them the Pardes Institute, Beit Midrash Elul, Nishmat and Yeshivat Bat Ayin. He also spent two years as part of the Judaic Fellows Program in Boca Raton Florida and over ten years in Dallas Texas, first as Rosh Kollel of the Community Kollel and later as founder and Executive Director and Community Rabbinic Scholar for the Jewish Studies Initiative of North Texas. He and his Israeli–born wife Ayala have four grown children and ten grandchildren. -- DONATE: www.bit.ly/1NmpbsP​​​​​​​ For podcasts of VBM lectures, GO HERE: www.valleybeitmidrash.org/learning-library/ www.facebook.com/valleybeitmi...​ Become a member today, starting at just $18 per month!

CW//brief mentions of sexual abuse and abusers When, why, and how did the rabbis of the Talmud excommunicate people? How did they craft a narrative of powerlessness to invest themselves with more power?Rabbi Dr. Meesh Hammer-Kossoy is the Director of the Pardes Year Program at the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem. In 2015, Meesh completed her studies at Beit Midrash Har'el and received ordination from Rabbi Herzl Hefter and Rabbi Daniel Sperber.  She has a PhD in Talmud from New York University, and her dissertation explores the ways in which the rabbis of the Talmud created a criminal punishment system. Special thanks to our executive producer, Adina KarpView a source sheet for this episode www.sefaria.org/sheets/379348.Keep up with Interleaved on Facebook and Twitter.Music from https://filmmusic.io"Midnight Tale" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

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 community, where students encounter and grapple with classic texts and traditions of Judaism, while exploring their relevance to today's most pressing issues. Rabbi Hammer-Kossoy is engaged with a variety of social campaigns especially in the areas of women's and human rights and cultural peacebuilding. She was among the first cohort of Orthodox female rabbis ordained in June 2015. She completed her studies at Beit Midrash Har'el and received ordination from Rabbi Herzl Hefter and Rabbi Daniel Sperber. She has a PhD in Talmud from New York University. 

In this episode, “A Duet of Joy and Sorrow with Alden Solovy” we'll be taking a look at some of the issues surrounding that very challenge.Alden Solovy spreads joy and excitement for prayer. An American Israeli liturgist, poet, lyricist, author, and educator, Alden is the Liturgist-in-Residence for the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem. His writing was transformed by multiple tragedies, marked in 2009 by the sudden death of his wife from a catastrophic brain injury. His teaching spans from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion and the Conservative Yeshiva in Jerusalem to synagogues throughout North America, as well as Leo Baeck College in London and Limmud Conferences in the U.S., Canada, and the UK. He's the author of five books of liturgy, including a trilogy of poetic prayer books from CCAR Press: most recently "This Precious Life: Encountering the Divine with Poetry and Prayer," along with "This Joyous Soul: A New Voice for Ancient Yearnings" and "This Grateful Heart: Psalms and Prayers for a New Day." Alden's work is anthologized in 15 volumes from Jewish, Christian, and Catholic publishers. Alden also writes for Ritualwell, RavBlog, and The Times of Israel. He's a three-time winner of the Peter Lisagor Award for Exemplary Journalism and the founder of ManKind Project Israel. In 2012, Alden made Aliyah to Jerusalem. You can find his latest work at ToBendLight.com.Links mentioned in this podcast:Alden's CCAR Press page (to order his books): https://www.ccarpress.org/content.asp?tid=432Alden's Blog: https://tobendlight.com/Links to “Bereaved But Still Me” Social Media and Podcast Pages:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bereaved-but-still-me/id1333229173Spreaker: https://www.spreaker.com/show/heart-to-heart-with-michael Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HugPodcastNetwork YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGPKwIU5M_YOxvtWepFR5Zw Website: https://www.hug-podcastnetwork.com/To support the show, visit our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/Hearttoheart

A virtual event presentation by Dr. David I. Bernstein ABOUT THE EVENT: Mordechai Anilewicz was one of the leaders of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising in the spring of 1943. Yet alongside him in the ghetto was another Jewish leader, Emmanuel Ringleblum, who chose the pen over the sword. Two heroes, two different kinds of heroism, for their own time and place — and beyond. ABOUT THE SPEAKER: Dr, David I. Bernstein is the Dean of the Pardes Institute for Jewish Studies in Jerusalem. Previously he was the Director of Midreshet Lindenbaum. He has a BA and MA in History and a Ph.D. in Religious Education from NYU. His passion for Jewish history has taken him as historian-in-residence with student and adult groups to Poland, Prague, Budapest, Vienna, Berlin and other important European sites of Jewish life. -- DONATE: www.bit.ly/1NmpbsP​​​​​​​ For podcasts of VBM lectures, GO HERE: www.valleybeitmidrash.org/learning-library/ www.facebook.com/valleybeitmi...​ Become a member today, starting at just $18 per month! Click the link to see our membership options: www.valleybeitmidrash.org/become-a-member/

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Samuel Lebens - philosophy professor and author - about the interaction of Judaism with analytic philosophy and mysticism.Samuel is an analytic philosopher, trained to analyze philosophical questions in a precise, almost mathematical framework. In his new book, The Principles of Judaism, he attempts to wed the foundations of Judaism to this framework, discussing the ways that one might formalize their Judaism on rational grounds.- How can one ground their Judaism in precise, rational terms?- How certain can one be of their Judaism?- What is the place of mysticism in a rational framework?Tune in to hear a conversation about Judaism and analytic philosophy.For more, visit https://18forty.org/rational/.References:The Principles of Judaism by Samuel Lebens https://www.amazon.com/Principles-Judaism-Studies-Analytic-Theology/dp/0198843259Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus by Ludwig Wittgenstein https://www.amazon.com/-/es/Ludwig-Wittgenstein/dp/0486404455/ref=pd_lpo_2?pd_rd_i=0486404455&psc=1The Nineteen Letters by Joseph Elias https://www.amazon.com/Nineteen-Letters-World-Rabbi-Hirsch/dp/0873066960Covenant and Conversation by Rabbi Jonathan Sacks https://www.amazon.com/Covenant-Conversation-Genesis-Book-Beginnings/dp/1592640206Two Dozen (or so) Arguments for God by Jerry Walls, Trent Dougherty https://www.amazon.com/Two-Dozen-Arguments-God-Plantinga/dp/0190842229Samuel is an associate professor in the philosophy department at the University of Haifa, as well as a rabbi and Jewish educator. Samuel holds a PhD in philosophy from Birkbeck College (University of London), and his academic interests cover the philosophy of religion, metaphysics, epistemology, and the philosophy of language. Samuel teaches at the Drisha Institute for Jewish Education and the Pardes Institute for Jewish Studies. Samuel's most recent book, of several, is The Principles of Judaism, a strikingly sharp analysis of the fundamentals of the Jewish religion. Samuel's first book was a study of Bertrand Russell's dynamic theories about the nature of meaning.

ABOUT THE EVENT: Bring a laptop (or pen and paper), and an open view of yourself. Confidentiality assured. The purpose of this workshop is to bring all the lofty concepts of Teshuva down to earth, and down to each of us and our own life. Join me as we spend about 45 minutes in a guided introspective writing exercise to do some critical stock-taking so we can move forward to change. ABOUT THE SPEAKER: Dr. David I. Bernstein is the Dean of the Pardes Institute for Jewish Studies on Jerusalem. Previously he was the Director of Midreshet Lindenbaum. He lectures widely and travels with student and adult groups to Poland and other Jewish heritage sites in Europe as historian-in-residence. DONATE: www.bit.ly/1NmpbsP​​​​​​​ For podcasts of VBM lectures, GO HERE: www.valleybeitmidrash.org/learning-library/ www.facebook.com/valleybeitmi...​ Become a member today, starting at just $18 per month! Click the link to see our membership options: www.valleybeitmidrash.org/become-a-member/

We sit down with Dr. Mira Neshama Niculescu and discuss her journey through Zen meditation to Jewish meditation, her studies on the JuBu phenomenon and the incredible work she does teach Jewish meditation worldwide. (38:41) Is when the meditation begins Dr. Mira Neshama Niculescu is a Paris -born scholar and teacher of Jewish spirituality and meditation. She received her Doctorate in Sociology of Religion from the Ecole de Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales in Paris and is a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and at the Center for Hebrew and Jewish Studies in Oxford. A former Arts Fellow from the Drisha Institute of Jewish Education and a certified Experiential Jewish Educator from the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies as a Yesod European Leader Fellow, she currently learns Torah as a rabbinic fellow at Beit Midrash Har'El in Jerusalem. A certified Jewish Mindfulness Teacher from the Institute for Jewish Spirituality, she teaches Torah and Jewish meditation for Or HaLev, Applied Jewish Spirituality, Romemu, IJS, Moishe House, and at various institutions in Europe and in the United States. https://www.miraneshama.com/ www.orhalev.net https://www.appliedjewishspirituality.org/experiencing-jewish-meditation https://romemu.org/about/yeshiva/ https://www.jewishspirituality.org/ https://www.friendsofroots.net/  

This was originally posted on Authentic Jewish Living with Yiscah Smith. From Yiscah: In Conversation With Rabbi Dr. Meesh Hammer-Kossoy. This unique and refreshing Rabbi, Educator and Director of the Year Program at the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies speaks … Read the rest The post Authentic Jewish Living with Yiscah Smith – Episode 46: In Conversation With Rabbi Dr. Meesh Hammer-Kossoy first appeared on Elmad Online Learning. Continue reading Authentic Jewish Living with Yiscah Smith – Episode 46: In Conversation With Rabbi Dr. Meesh Hammer-Kossoy at Elmad Online Learning.

In this episode Rabbi Jessica Minnen teaches me about the story of Onan and we explore how this text about a guy who pulled out during sex may or may not have led to the word "onen” which is the word for someone in deep grief immediately following the death of a loved one, before the burial. About Rabbi Jessica Minnen: Rabbi Jessica Minnen is an educator, writer, and Clubhouse enthusiast. Part of the founding team of OneTable, she now serves as the organization's Rabbi in Residence. Originally from Paducah, Kentucky, she is an alumna of Washington University in St. Louis, the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies, Paideia: The European Institute for Jewish Studies in Sweden, Baltimore Hebrew University, and the Jewish Theological Seminary. Jess lives in Denver, Colorado with one little kid and one little pup.Hebrew and Jewish References Explained:Onen: Someone who is in a deep state of grief immediately following the death of a loved one but before a burial. After a burial the mourner becomes an "aveil" or "aveilah"Halacha: The collective body of Jewish religious laws derived from the written and Oral TorahKaret: A biblical term for someone who has been "cut off" from the community as punishment Mikvah: A pool of natural waters for Jewish ritual immersion Niddah: Laws surrounding purity and particularly referencing a menstruating personTorah: The Hebrew Bible, the first five books of MosesYom Kippur: The Day of Atonement, the holiest day on the Jewish calendarTikva Frymer-Kensky: Was a professor and scholar of biblical studies, Jewish studies, and women and religion Sefaria: an online open source free content digital library of Jewish texts Get on the email list at besideproject.substack.com

With all the conflict we face and try to resolve, what if we stopped and reconsidered how we approach conflict in the first place? That's a question that's been on the mind of Rabbi/Dr. Daniel Roth for quite some time. He's the founder and creator of the Jewish Week of Constructive Conflict, which is taking place around the world on February 15-21, 2021. He is based in Israel and teaches at Bar-Ilan University and the Pardes Institute and is director of Mosaica, The Religious Peace Initiative. He spoke about his work and the origins of this unique conflict resolution commemoration. For more information, visit https://www.9adar.org/ You can attend a live session observing the Week of Constructive Conflict Wednesday, February 17 at 1p Eastern on Zoom: visit https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85615358941?pwd=NUJJVTU4aDM1R1NqdFVGS0FPZ2JEQT09.

The audio recording from the second part of the MST|Live, A Deeper Look at the Maggid Studies in Tanakh Series.Guest host, Sarah Rindner was joined by Dr. Tova Ganzel (Ezekiel), Rabbi Michael Hattin (Joshua and Judges), and Rabbi Yaakov Beasley (Nahum, Habakkuk & Zephaniah) to talk about the methodologies and motivations behind their wonderful books and why we should invest time to learn more of their chosen sefer.We are grateful to our partners 929, Herzog College, The Midrasha at Bar Ilan University, and Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies.The Maggid Studies in Tanakh series is a groundbreaking collection of works by some of the world's leading Tanakh teachers from Israel and abroad. The series utilizes a synthesis of classical and modern biblical and literary scholarship methodologies to uncover the beauty and masterful authorship of the Jewish bible.Available here: https://korenpub.com/collections/maggid-studies-in-tanakh

The audio recording from the first part of the MST|Live, A Deeper Look at the Maggid Studies in Tanakh Series.Guest host, Sarah Rindner was joined by Prof. Nechama Price (Tribal Blueprints), Prof. Yoel Elitzur (Places in the Parasha), and Rabbi Benny Lau (Isaiah and Jeremiah) to talk about the methodologies and motivations behind their wonderful books.Join us again on Sunday, January 31st for another installment of MST|Live with Dr. Tova Ganzel (Ezekiel), Rabbi Michael Hattin (Joshua and Judges), and Rabbi Yaakov Beasley (Nahum, Habakkuk, and Zephania).We are grateful to our partners 929, Herzog College, The Midrasha at Bar Ilan University, and Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies.

How is Pesach different in Israel? What are the different foods that various Jews associate with the festival? How are food choices for Passover changing in our time? Why was that only three questions, or does this one make it four? Matt and Mike discuss these and other Paschal topics with the Pardes Institute's Catering Manager, David Berman. Pardes JerusalemU's The Israel Teachers Lounge Podcast is produced by Matt Lipman. Listen to more episodes, and let us know what you think! We are happy to take topic requests and questions. And please rate and review us on iTunes and stitcher. Check out our Our Website! Join our Facebook page! Contact us with questions and comments!