91抖阴

Hearing: Reading the Torah and Singing its Praises

Jun 6, 2016 By Nancy Abramson | Short Video | Shavuot

From the 5776 Receiving Torah with All Our Senses series.

Touch: Beyond the Mountain鈥檚 Edge

Jun 6, 2016 By Jan Uhrbach | Short Video | Shavuot

From the 5776 Receiving Torah with All Our Senses series.

Fragrance: The Aroma of the Torah

Jun 6, 2016 By Daniel Nevins | Short Video | Shavuot

From the 5776 Receiving Torah with All Our Senses series.

Sight: Revelation at the Yiddish Theater

Jun 6, 2016 By Stefanie Halpern | Short Video | Shavuot

From the 5776 Receiving Torah with All Our Senses series.

Festival Ma’ariv (Lower Voice)

Jun 6, 2016 By 91抖阴 | Prayer Recordings | Pesah | Shavuot | Shemini Atzeret | Simhat Torah | Sukkot

Recordings by Rabbi and Hazzan Seth Adelson
Project coordinator: Rabbi David Freidenreich

Festival Ma’ariv (Higher Voice)

Jun 5, 2016 By 91抖阴 | Prayer Recordings | Pesah | Shavuot | Shemini Atzeret | Simhat Torah | Sukkot

Recordings by Cantor Arianne BrownProject coordinator: Rabbi David Freidenreich

Behukkotai鈥檚 Challenge to Us

Jun 4, 2016 By Matthew Berkowitz | Commentary | Behukkotai

Blessing comes to fruition through journey. The journey may be as simple as lighting Shabbat candles or it may be as complicated as leaving the comfort of one鈥檚 home to discover new worlds. Either way, that which is familiar is left behind, and a new reality challenges one to grow and thus to earn God鈥檚 blessing. Such is the challenge of this week鈥檚 parashah.

Making Space for New Grain

Jun 4, 2016 By Ofra Arieli Backenroth | Commentary | Behukkotai

Naomi Shemer, one of the most famous songwriters and performers in Israel, is known for her thoughtful songs that touch upon universal themes. In this song, she speaks about the need for rejuvenation. Every morning is an opportunity for a new experience. As successful as our days might be, there is always a need to go back to the beginning and start again.

Festival Shaharit (Lower Voice)

Jun 4, 2016 By 91抖阴 | Prayer Recordings | Pesah | Shavuot | Shemini Atzeret | Simhat Torah | Sukkot

Recordings by Rabbi and Hazzan Seth Adelson
Project coordinator: Rabbi David Freidenreich

Festival Shaharit (Higher Voice)

Jun 3, 2016 By 91抖阴 | Prayer Recordings | Pesah | Shavuot | Shemini Atzeret | Simhat Torah | Sukkot

Recordings by Cantor Arianne Brown and Cantor Jennifer Kanarek CahnProject coordinator: Rabbi David Freidenreich

Festival Musaf (Lower Voice)

Jun 2, 2016 By 91抖阴 | Prayer Recordings | Pesah | Shavuot | Shemini Atzeret | Simhat Torah | Sukkot

Recordings by Rabbi and Hazzan Seth Adelson
Project coordinator: Rabbi David Freidenreich

Festival Musaf (Higher Voice)

Jun 1, 2016 By 91抖阴 | Prayer Recordings | Pesah | Shavuot | Shemini Atzeret | Simhat Torah | Sukkot

Recordings by Cantor Arianne Brown and Cantor Jennifer Kanarek CahnProject coordinator: Rabbi David Freidenreich

Facing Our Past and Looking Toward the Future

May 27, 2016 By Michal Raucher | Commentary | Behar

Recently, the US Treasury Department announced that Harriet Tubman will replace Andrew Jackson, seventh president of the United States, on the $20 bill. Tubman was born as a slave around 1820, ran away in 1849, and returned south repeatedly to usher more than 300 slaves to freedom via the Underground Railroad. Her selection for the $20 bill is exciting news, because Tubman will be the first African American and the first woman to appear on federal paper currency. Women and civil rights leaders will be added to the $5 and $10 bills in the coming years, as well. While these changes are long overdue, the question is whether this change is merely symbolic or a further step toward acknowledging our nation鈥檚 ugly history of slavery. 

How Many Harvests

May 27, 2016 By Joel Alter | Commentary | Behar

In its radical reframing of our right to claim ownership of anything and anyone, Parashat Behar sets our mortality against God鈥檚 eternality, and our contingent lease to the Land against God鈥檚 permanent deed: 鈥淭he Land must not be sold beyond reclaim, for the Land is Mine; you are but strangers resident with Me鈥� (Lev. 25:23).

Sage Voices

May 26, 2016 By 91抖阴 | Short Video

A diverse group of rabbis and religious leaders speak about end-of-life issues and how they integrate Jewish tradition into their own teaching and care for others.  Created by the Center for Pastoral Education at 91抖阴 as part of What Matters: Caring Conversations About End of Life, a joint project of the Center for Pastoral Education, JCC Manhattan and The New Jewish Home, with generous funding from Plaza Jewish Community Chapel.

Thinking and Killing Philosophical Discourse in the Shadow of the Third Reich

May 25, 2016 By Library of the Jewish Theological Seminary | Public Event audio

In this Library Book Talk, Professor Alon Segev discusses his book, Thinking and Killing鈥擯hilosophical Discourse in the Shadow of the Third Reich, which deals with the contribution of eight German thinkers to the discussion about the Holocaust and the Final Solution.

Open Book Open Heart: Siddur Lev Shalem and the Future of Prayer

May 24, 2016 By 91抖阴 | Public Event video

Lev Shalem editors Rabbis Edward Feld and Jan Uhrbach discuss with Chancellor Arnold M. Eisen the unique spiritual needs and challenges of this generation and how this new prayer book responds.

The Blasphemer鈥檚 Twin

May 20, 2016 By Tim Daniel Bernard | Commentary | Emor

This week鈥檚 parashah ends with a sin:

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The son of the Israelite woman pronounced the name [of God] and cursed. (Lev. 24:11)

Maybe we don鈥檛 need to overthink why a law code seen as given by God would determine that cursing God is problematic, but how severe a crime is this? Evidently, Moses was uncertain: the culprit was detained while Moses checked in with God (Lev. 24:12). Perhaps the negative consequence of this act seems unclear. After all, what harm can possibly come to God through human words?

An Illustration of Kiddush Levanah

May 20, 2016 By Library of the Jewish Theological Seminary | Commentary | Emor

The middle of this week鈥檚 parashah (Lev. 23) details the cycle of the Jewish holidays. Each holiday is listed according to its month and its day. The months of the Hebrew calendar are strictly lunar, from new moon to new moon. Kiddush Levanah, a selection of prayers in honor of the new moon, is traditionally recited at the end of the first or second shabbat of each month.

Remarks by Dr. Michael Fishbane

May 17, 2016