Online Learning

Dying for a cause is considered by many the most noble form of death, and dying for one’s faith has a long and complicated history. The first Jewish martyrdom stories are from the books of Maccabees, and we will look at how this idea is used in that context, and then how it evolved and developed over the following centuries, in early Christianity and into rabbinic Judaism.

Dr. Aaron Koller and Rabbi David Silber in conversation about the Book of Esther. Part of the Family Morning of Learning sponsored, in part, by Rella Feldman and family.

sponsored by Bethia Straus and Paul Quintas in honor of David Jonathan Quintas

sponsored by Rachel Rosenthal in honor of her graduation from the Drisha Scholars Circle

Click here to listen to the other class sessions. Becoming a covenantal people involves choosing who will be in the group and who will be out. Not surprisingly this results in an interest in group boundaries and anxiety about blurring those lines.  

Click here to listen to the other class sessions. An investigation of the most fundamental of Jewish concepts – Torah. What are our most ancient and modern conceptions of its wisdom and all it encompasses?  

Come explore the world of parshanut as it is applied to the weekly Torah portion. Each class will focus on the parasha from the perspective of one commentator, his methodology, and historical context. Gain a better understanding of a number of different commentators and a deeper appreciation of learning Tanakh with commentary.

Click here to listen to the second session. What is life for? The human desire to find order and meaning in the apparent chaos of life is found in all cultures, and left its mark in the literatures of Mesopotamia, Aram, and ancient Egypt. We will explore the possible influences of these texts on our own Biblical wisdom literature.