Search Results

Life Under Siege: The Talmud’s Take on Trying Times

May 4, 2020 By Sarah Wolf | Public Event video | Video Lecture

How do we understand the relationship between the multiple complicating factors that arise in moments of communal hardship, such as questions of political leadership, unreliable news sources, physical privation, and economic disparity? The interplay of these challenges is at the core of a Talmudic story about the siege of Jerusalem by the Romans. Through an exploration of the values and priorities portrayed in this story, this class will help shed new light on the tensions of our present moment.

Beyond the Flag: The Religious Dimensions of Yom Ha’atzma’ut

Apr 27, 2020 By Eliezer B. Diamond z”l | Public Event video | Video Lecture

Yom Ha’atzma’ut, Israel Independence Day, commemorates a historical event – the declaration of the new State of Israel. From the beginning, however, it was also framed as a religious holiday. We will look at how, drawing on the liturgy of Hannukah, Purim, Shabbat and Passover, a holiday ritual was created, one that provides the religious language with which to speak of a fundamentally political event.

Imagining a New World When Your Old One Collapses: The Rabbinic Response to the Destruction of the Temple

Apr 20, 2020 By David C. Kraemer | Public Event video | Video Lecture

In 70 CE, the Jewish world changed catastrophically. The Temple in Jerusalem was destroyed and the Judaism prescribed by the Torah became impossible. Into this gap, the rabbis emerged to create a new, vibrant Judaism that required no particular center in any place. What is the system they created and how does it fill the gap left by the destruction?

A History of the Talmud

Feb 25, 2020 By David C. Kraemer | Public Event video

A discussion with JTS’s Dr. David Kraemer about his new book, which offers a sophisticated but accessible introduction to the Talmud, its origins, and its status through history.

From Scroll to Screen: Revolutions in Jewish Book History

Feb 9, 2020 By The Jewish Theological Seminary | Public Event video

Leading scholars explore the remarkable story of Jews and books: their historic role in advancing new reading formats; their creative use of technology; their critical work demonstrating the enduring relevance of the printed word; and their love of the Jewish book as a material object as well as an object of study.

The 2020 John Leopold and Martha Dellheim Senior Recital

Jan 30, 2020 By The Jewish Theological Seminary | Public Event video

H. L. Miller Cantorial School graduating seniors Jacob Agar, Arielle Green, and Jacob Greenberg present an evening of song in Hebrew, Ladino, Yiddish, and English.

Gene Editing and the Transformation of Human Life: Perspectives from Jewish Ethics

Nov 21, 2019 By The Jewish Theological Seminary | Public Event video

Revolutionary technology known as CRISPR has enabled scientists to change human genes, holding great medical promise. But it also raises significant ethical questions. Should there be restrictions on the development of this technology? How can we avoid abuse? Should we be able to design human beings and control evolution? Join us to explore these vital issues from the perspective of Jewish ethics.

A Virtual Minyan? Communal Prayer in the Digital Age

Jun 4, 2019 By Daniel Nevins | Public Event video | Video Lecture

Judaism places great value on communal prayer, mandating that we pray with others whenever possible. But what does it mean to pray in community? Are we really connecting if we make a minyan via videoconference?

Renewing American Judaism: Experimentation and Creativity in a Changing Landscape

Apr 4, 2019 By The Jewish Theological Seminary | Public Event video

Examine the initiatives revitalizing Jewish religious life in America, with Dr. Jack Wertheimer and three of today’s most innovative rabbis.

On the Bus! The Moral Obligation to Do Social Justice

Mar 27, 2019 By The Jewish Theological Seminary | Public Event video

A conversation with Sister Simone Campbell, longtime social activist and the executive director of NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice.

Anti-Semitism in America: How Did We Get Here and How Can We Move Forward?

Dec 11, 2018 By Shuly Rubin Schwartz | Public Event video

What explains the persistence of anti-Semitism through the ages—even here, today, in the United States? Our noted experts explore anti-Semitism’s historical and theological origins and trace its changing nature over time. They also discuss efforts to counter its pernicious effects and enhance intercultural and interreligious understanding.

The Art of Mystical Narrative: A Zohar Symposium

Nov 27, 2018 By Eitan Fishbane | Public Event video

In The Art of Mystical Narrative: A Poetics of the Zohar, Dr. Eitan Fishbane reveals the Zohar as an extraordinary narrative—the tale of a wandering kabbalist sage seeking wisdom in ancient Galilee. Along with experts in Kabbalah, medieval Jewish culture, and Jewish literature, he discusses the narrative and poetic features of the Zohar in the context of comparative literature and spirituality.

Reimagining End-of-Life Care: A Multi-Faith Exploration

Nov 1, 2018 By The Jewish Theological Seminary | Public Event video

How do we ensure the best care for the whole person — at the end of life — in a highly mechanized health system? What guidance and wisdom can diverse religious traditions and communities provide?

Cancer Risks: The BRCA Genes and What the Jewish Community Needs to Know

Oct 18, 2018 By The Jewish Theological Seminary | Public Event video

Leading genetics researcher Dr. Kenneth Offit and premier radiologist Dr. Miriam Levy discuss risks of cancers affecting the Jewish community and new options for genetic testing and medical management. Writer Letty Cottin Pogrebin and Dr. Michael Bergstein speak about their personal experiences of breast and prostate cancer.

HATE: Why We Should Resist It with Free Speech, Not Censorship

Oct 9, 2018 By The Jewish Theological Seminary | Public Event video

A discussion with Nadine Strossen, John Marshall Harlan II Professor, New York Law School; former President, American Civil Liberties Union.

Songs for the Holy City: An Interfaith Evening of Music and Prayer

Jun 20, 2018 By The Jewish Theological Seminary | Public Event video

A unique gathering of clergy, vocalists, and musicians from the Jewish, Muslim, and Christian traditions leading us in song and prayer for the peace and future of Jerusalem/Yerushalayim/Al Quds. Inspired by similar gatherings in Jerusalem, the event tapped the collective power of our three faiths to help us transcend divisions and plant seeds of cooperation and respect.