The Torah of the New Year – Jewish Theological Seminary Inspiring the Jewish World Thu, 09 Nov 2023 00:20:20 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 How Shall It End? /torah/how-shall-it-end/ Tue, 26 Sep 2023 20:51:10 +0000 /?post_type=post_torah&p=24079

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With Rabbi Gordon Tucker  

The Torah presents Shemini Atzeret—the “Eighth Day of Assembly”—as an add-on to the seven days of the Sukkot pilgrimage festival. The lulav is set aside, and the sukkah vacated. So, is it a “holiday about nothing”?  Or can we see in it a most meaningful coda to the Days of Awe, in which we learn profound lessons about endings? Through a close reading of Kohelet (Ecclesiastes), the Yizkor prayer, and other significant texts, we explore answers to these questions.   

About the Series

Part of the Series, “The Torah of the New Year”

Join 91첥 faculty for a close reading of several of the biblical texts that we read during the fall holiday season. Discover new insights into these readings and reflect on what meanings they hold for us today.  

]]> The Yom Kippur Avodah as a Template for Spiritual Practice /torah/the-yom-kippur-avodah-as-a-template-for-spiritual-practice/ Tue, 19 Sep 2023 20:50:31 +0000 /?post_type=post_torah&p=24008

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With Rabbi Eliezer Diamond

It is generally thought that the Yom Kippur Haftarah taken from Isaiah is supposed to be read as being in tension with the Torah reading from Aharei Mot ().  While the Torah reading focuses almost exclusively on the rites performed by the High Priest in the Temple on Yom Kippur, Isaiah declaims that the ritual piety without social justice and Shabbat observance is nothing more than worthless hypocrisy. 

While this observation has merit, it can encourage the view that ritual has no ethical or spiritual content. In this session we see that the Avodah, the Temple rites, can indeed serve as a model for a life of spiritual discipline. 

ABOUT THE SERIES

Join 91첥 faculty for a close reading of several of the biblical texts that we read during the fall holiday season. Discover new insights into these readings and reflect on what meanings they hold for us today. 

]]> Exile and Return as a Spiritual Paradigm /torah/exile-and-return-as-a-spiritual-paradigm/ Thu, 07 Sep 2023 17:34:42 +0000 /?post_type=post_torah&p=23962

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With Rabbi Mychal Springer

The haftarot of the High Holidays link personal teshuvah with the return to the land of Israel. When we hold these two returnings together the spiritual and communal dimensions of teshuvah come into powerful focus. We explore the exiles of our soul and pathways of return in this season of teshuvah.

About the Series

The Torah of the New Year 

Join 91첥 faculty for a close reading of several of the biblical texts that we read during the fall holiday season. Discover new insights into these readings and reflect on what meanings they hold for us today.

]]> The Torah of the New Year /torah/the-torah-of-the-new-year/ Tue, 01 Aug 2023 14:37:07 +0000 /?post_type=post_torah&p=23360 September 6, 12, 19, 26
1:00–2:15 p.m. ET

Join 91첥 faculty for a close reading of several of the biblical texts that we read during the fall holiday season. Discover new insights into these readings and reflect on what meanings they hold for us today.

Exile and Return as a Spiritual Paradigm
On the Haftarot of the High Holidays
with Rabbi Mychal Springer
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The Sacrifices of Hagar, Ishmael, and Isaac
On the Torah Readings for Rosh Hashana
with Dr. Aaron Koller
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The Yom Kippur Avodah (Temple Rites) as a Template for Spiritual Practice
On the Torah Reading for Yom Kippur
with Rabbi Eliezer Diamond
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How Shall It all End?
Ecclesiastes, Yizkor, and Shemini Atzeret
On Kohelet and Yizkor for Shemini Atzeret
with Rabbi Gordon Tucker
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Sponsored by Martine Thomas in memory of her husband Larry L. Thomas

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