Abraham’s journey, mentioned every day in the morning services, takes him through the centers of civilization at the time, leads him to Egypt - and to a promise of an Exodus whose importance cannot be overstated. Why are the departure from Ur and Exodus from Egypt so important to us? Join us for a multi-media virtual adventure to explore these questions through the history and archaeology of ancient Mesopotamia and ancient Egypt. Nachliel Selavan, originally from Jerusalem’s Old City, is back in Israel after seven…

Join us on Sunday November 7, 2021 at Noon PST/3:00 PM EST/22:00 Israel time for a conversation between Yair Nitzani and Achinoam Nini. With roots and upbringing spanning Yemen, Israel and the United States, Achinoam Nini (aka Noa), is a singer, songwriter, poet, composer, percussionist, speaker, activist and mother of three children. Together with her longstanding musical collaborator Gil Dor, accomplished musician and co-founder of the Rimon School of music, Noa has released 15 international albums and graced many of the world's most…

Dr. Zohar Raviv is a recognized Jewish thought-leader and educator who currently serves as the International Vice President of Educational Strategy for Taglit-Birthright Israel. Raviv's professional experience spans Israel, North America, South America, Europe, South Africa and Australia. He holds a B.A in Land of Israel Studies from Bar-Ilan University, a Joint M.A in Judaic Studies and Jewish Education from Brandeis University, as well as an M.A in Near Eastern Studies and a Ph.D. in Jewish Thought --- both from…

Our virtual tiyul will take us to the neighborhood of Katamon. Established just before World War I by Arab Christians who had built large mansions here, Katamon was the site of some of the fiercest battles in 1948. Our tour will start with a short introduction accompanied by a Yehuda Amichai poetry reading at Gan Hashoshanim (The Rose's Garden); While walking towards Palmach street, we will start exploring street names along our way; Kovshey Katamon, Ha'shayarot, Ha'Portzim, Ha'Matzor, Ha'Maapilim. As we uncover the meaning of these names the story…

The origins, as well as the meaning, of the post-biblical holiday of Chanukah are hard to pinpoint. In an attempt to shed light on the holiday and to understand its contemporary relevance, we will compare the Chanukah story to another story of a flame that burns but does not extinguish: the biblical story of Moses at the burning bush. Judy Klitsner is a senior educator at the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem, where she has taught Bible and biblical exegesis to a…

How did jars come to be so important in the ancient world? What did the rabbis’ Shabbat candles look like? And why does the talmudic Angel of Death carry a knife, not a sword? There are certain stories only objects can tell. And yet, we know so little about rabbinic material culture, how the men and women of the Talmud prepared their food, mended their clothes, or decorated their living rooms. This course explores four objects of the rabbinic household,…

We are all familiar with those words in italics that tell us how to read, or to speak, the playwright's lines. In our close readings of a variety of biblical texts, we will note that the Bible has its own subtle set of stage directions, which provide much meaning between the lines of the text. Judy Klitsner is a senior educator at the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem, where she has taught Bible and biblical exegesis to a generation of students, of…

Class meets Tuesdays, February 1, 8, 15, 2022 10:00 am-11:00 am on Zoom. Join Rabbi Nevarez as he offers rich history and text to help us better understand the concept of wrestling within our tradition. Each session will offer a specific focus around our 3 pillars: God, Torah, and Israel. Session descriptions can be found below… Session 1: Wrestling with…. God (Feb. 1) For some of us, God may be like a critical parent or an exacting Divine Judge. For…

In the newly established state of Israel in the 50s and 60s of the previous century Jewish immigrants from Arab countries were met with hostility and degradation by the majority of Israeli society. Sami Chetrit, in his poems, portrays the identity conflicts these immigrants encountered and the ways the Arab-Jewish identity is still a complex model in modern Israel (though much more present and expressed in recent years by poets, philosophers, and artists in the Israeli cultural space). Join us for…

In this session, we’ll explore the works of painter and installation artist Ester Schneider. Her unique life story and path of studies in the art world has conjured a fascinating body of works that call for a journey through local Israeli culture, mythology, religious imagery, womanhood and more. The first and main part of the session will be led by Shirel Horovitz taking us through Schneider's works. Then, we’ll transition into a conversation with the artist herself and end with…

Join us as we examine contemporary Israeli fiction and the role of politics within it. Does life in such a politically-charged environment influence the kind of fiction and other art forms created within it? What is the role of authors in such an environment? Are they expected to deal with it, have an obligation to do so? Or perhaps a burden, a monkey on their back that they are not allowed to escape from?  Through a series of examples and…

Books are thresholds to unfamiliar worlds and can serve as bridges connecting diverse communities. Even before the age of printing, codices and books were crucial means of communication, and books persist as vehicles for exchanging information, ideas, stories, and emotions across time and space. They serve as platforms for collaboration between authors and readers, writers and their translators, and the creators of texts and images. During the pandemic, when many people were deprived of physical contact, ideas of the book…

Tamar Biala co-edited the first ever volume of midrash written by Israeli women. This collection, titled “Dirshuni”, has already taken a place on the Jewish bookshelf and is being cited, taught and argued over in yeshivot, high schools, synagogues, the press alternative batei midrash, universities and even Army educational programs. The Midrashim deal head on with issues of social justice and the treatment of women by Jewish law and rabbinic authority, and offer deep and wide-ranging discussions of Biblical personalities,…