More than any other holiday, Hanukkah is all about the home. The Jewish people, with our long history of exile and displacement, has a complicated relationship with the space and rootedness we associate with "home." Our study of the laws of Hanukkah candle lighting will shed some light on a uniquely Jewish vision of homemaking.

More than any other holiday, Hanukkah is all about the home. The Jewish people, with our long history of exile and displacement, has a complicated relationship with the space and rootedness we associate with "home." Our study of the laws of Hanukkah candle lighting will shed some light on a uniquely Jewish vision of homemaking.

Our Rosh Hashana liturgy is full of stories of mothers who sacrifice. Hagar and Hannah sacrifice their sons. Sarah and Em Sisra's sons are sacrificed by others. Rachel is sacrificed for her child. This course will explore these stories of maternal sacrifice and raise questions about the role of maternal sacrifice in creation. Specifically, is it necessary? Even if it is necessary, is it good?

Our Rosh Hashana liturgy is full of stories of mothers who sacrifice. Hagar and Hannah sacrifice their sons. Sarah and Em Sisra's sons are sacrificed by others. Rachel is sacrificed for her child. This course will explore these stories of maternal sacrifice and raise questions about the role of maternal sacrifice in creation. Specifically, is it necessary? Even if it is necessary, is it good?

Short Talks by Rabbi Silber as you prepare you for Purim.

Short Talks by Rabbi Silber as you prepare you for Purim.

Short Talks by Rabbi Silber as you prepare you for Purim.

Short Talks by Rabbi Silber as you prepare you for Purim.

The aseret yemei teshuva are a time of repentance, introspection and reconnection with God. They invite us to think about how we can continue to transcend our past and move forward with the tools of the High Holidays – kol shofar, selichot, and prayer. This is part of series of recorded thoughts from Rabbi David Silber about this time and what demands – drishot – it makes of us.

The aseret yemei teshuva are a time of repentance, introspection and reconnection with God. They invite us to think about how we can continue to transcend our past and move forward with the tools of the High Holidays – kol shofar, selichot, and prayer. This is part of series of recorded thoughts from Rabbi David Silber about this time and what demands – drishot – it makes of us.

The aseret yemei teshuva are a time of repentance, introspection and reconnection with God. They invite us to think about how we can continue to transcend our past and move forward with the tools of the High Holidays – kol shofar, selichot, and prayer. This is part of series of recorded thoughts from Rabbi David Silber about this time and what demands – drishot – it makes of us.

The aseret yemei teshuva are a time of repentance, introspection and reconnection with God. They invite us to think about how we can continue to transcend our past and move forward with the tools of the High Holidays – kol shofar, selichot, and prayer. This is part of series of recorded thoughts from Rabbi David Silber about this time and what demands – drishot – it makes of us.

Often in Elul, Sukkot is forgotten. We focus on the High Holidays but forget that Sukkot comes immediately after. There are several unique rules that characterize the laws of Sukkot, such as mere discomfort exempting one from living in the Sukkah and the heightened requirements for beauty in the Arba Minim. We will explore whether these laws are unique to Sukkot or act as paradigms of broader Torah values.

The aseret yemei teshuva are a time of repentance, introspection and reconnection with God. They invite us to think about how we can continue to transcend our past and move forward with the tools of the High Holidays – kol shofar, selichot, and prayer. This is part of series of recorded thoughts from Rabbi David Silber about this time and what demands – drishot – it makes of us.

The aseret yemei teshuva are a time of repentance, introspection and reconnection with God. They invite us to think about how we can continue to transcend our past and move forward with the tools of the High Holidays – kol shofar, selichot, and prayer. This is part of series of recorded thoughts from Rabbi David Silber about this time and what demands – drishot – it makes of us.

The Yamim Noraim prayers have their own distinctive nusach, as well as many melodies which are sung in various communities. In this three part series, we will listen to and reflect upon selected niggunim and songs, exploring how the music reflects an understanding of the liturgy.

Part 3 – “Select Kinot” is part of the podcast series titled, “Preparing for Tisha B’Av – Studies and Reflections”

Rabbi Silber discusses the poem about the 10 martyrs,  ארזי הלבנון אדירי התורה

In this class, our character of choice is the city of Jerusalem. Rather than studying Megillat Eicha, the classic text of destruction, we  instead look at the before and after. We begin with the historical background and context to the fall of Jerusalem in 586 B.C.E., examining the 'Jerusalem myth', the notion that had taken hold over the previous centuries that the city could never fall, and then move to the post-script, studying the midrashic commentary to Eicha, which subverts, undermines, and rewrites the Megilla to replace themes of destruction and despair with ones of comfort and continuity.

How can we know what God wants of us? In Genesis 16, Sarai, Avram, and Hagar all struggle to understand their roles in God's covenant. Their interactions and their mistakes lay the groundwork for Genesis 21, the powerful Torah reading of the first day of Rosh haShannah. We will do a close reading of both of these biblical texts and utilize rabbinic midrashim to explore each character's motivation and why this story was chosen to be read on the Day of Judgment.