A New Heaven and a New Earth:  How the Bible Cultivates Hope for the Future 

Nov 2, 2026 By Amy Kalmanofsky | Public Event video | Video Lecture

It is difficult to have hope in today’s present-focused and crisis-driven society.  Yet, hope is essential to envisioning a future.  This session examines several passages in the Bible designed to cultivate hope and considers whether the Bible can be a resource for the cultivation of hope today.

The Future of Torah: Jewish Learning in the Age of AI

Oct 26, 2026 By Zohar Atkins | Public Event video | Video Lecture

With Rabbi Dr. Zohar Atkins, JTS alum, scholar, writer, and founder of Lightning, a lifelong learning AI platform

Artificial intelligence is transforming how we find, organize, and create knowledge. What could this mean for a Jewish tradition built on centuries of interpretation, debate, and discovery?

Back to the Future: Jewish Perspectives on What Comes Next

Preoccupation with what comes next, especially in periods of uncertainty, is hardly a new phenomenon. Looking ahead—to what might change, what might endure, and what might be possible—runs throughout Jewish text and tradition.

From Nothing to Nothing: Finding Your Own Voice in Prayer 

Aug 31, 2026 By Cantor Rabbi Shoshi Levin Goldberg | Public Event video | Video Lecture | Rosh Hashanah | Yom Kippur

The High Holiday liturgy offers a rich tapestry of words handed down through generations, yet it also leaves room for something deeply personal: the prayers of our own hearts. In this session, Cantor Rabbi Shoshi Levin Goldberg, Director of the H. L. Miller Cantorial School, will explore the quiet prayer recited at the conclusion of the Amidah—a passage traditionally associated with the personal supplications of the sages—and consider what it teaches us about bringing our authentic selves into prayer.

Fear, Trauma, and the High Holidays: Reading Ancient Texts with Compassion

Aug 24, 2026 By Naomi Kalish | Public Event video | Video Lecture | Rosh Hashanah

In this session, Rabbi Naomi Kalish, Director of the Program in Spiritual Care and Counseling, JTS, will explore how the themes of fear and trauma surface throughout the High Holidays, with particular attention to the banishment of Hagar and Ishmael, the binding of Isaac, and the recurring language of the Psalms.

Objects of Awe: The Meaning of the High HolidaysThrough Treasures from the JTS Library

Aug 17, 2026 By Marcus Mordecai Schwartz | Public Event video | Video Lecture | Rosh Hashanah | Yom Kippur

What can a medieval prayer book, one of the earliest printed Hebrew mahzorim, and a set of century-old baseball card sized boxing cards teach us about the High Holidays? These three remarkable objects from The JTS Library demonstrate how Jewish communities across the centuries have expressed themes of kingship, tradition, strength, repentance, and renewal.

Deuteronomy and the Separation of Powers  

Jun 29, 2026 By Benjamin D. Sommer | Public Event video | Video Lecture

Part of the series “America at 250: Jewish Ideas and the American Experiment”   Download Sources With Dr. Benjamin D. Sommer, Professor of Bible and Ancient Semitic Languages, JTS The core of democracy as understood by the framers of the United States Constitution understood it was not just majority rule, but the separation of powers and the rule of law. […]

JTS High Holiday Webinars 2026

Join The Jewish Theological Seminary this August for a special webinar series to help prepare for the Days of Awe. Through conversations with JTS scholars, we will explore themes that shape the High Holiday season, including fear and resilience, prayer and liturgy, and the enduring wisdom of Jewish texts and traditions. These sessions will offer fresh perspectives, thoughtful reflection, and practical insights to help deepen your experience of the High Holidays.