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The Global Day of Jewish Learning brings the Jewish people together once a year to celebrate our shared Jewish text through community-based learning.
The guiding values of the Global Day of Jewish Learning are: fostering Jewish unity, empowering...
About the Artists
Drisha's Arts Fellowship ran from 2006 to 2014.
Drisha launched the Arts Fellowships Initiative in the fall of 2006 attracting eight women artists – writers and poets, a musician, an actress, a dancer, and an arts educator and calligrapher – to develop ski...
Academic Calendar
Tuesday, May 29-
Friday, July 27
...Drisha Kollel
Tuesday, June 26-
Thursday, July 26
...Dr. Beth Samuels Summer High School Program
Accessibility Statement
Drisha Institute for Jewish Education is committed to providing an accessible online experience for all our site visitors, regardless of any disability or impairment. As such, we have partnered with a web accessibility provider to ensure that our website...
Arts Fellowship
Drisha's Arts Fellowship ran from 2006 to 2014.
We offer many classes, seminars, and workshops; please click here for our current offerings.
The Arts Fellowship Program aims to revitalize the Jewish community by producing ...
Aseret Yemei Teshuva
Series by Rabbi David Silber
The aseret yemei teshuva are the 10 days of repentance between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur. This time of repentance, introspection, and reconnection with God invites us to think about how we can continue...
Learn with Us - 929 English
Drisha faculty and alumni are thrilled to be contributing to the global 929 English project. Click here to learn along with the rest of the world engaged in this exciting initiative. (If it defaults to Hebrew, click on the EN at the lop left to switch...
Beit Midrash for Mental Health Professionals and Clergy
“Who Heals the Brokenhearted and Binds up their Wounds” – Harofei lishvurei lev umechabeish le'atzvotam
Thursdays, 7:00 pm - 9:00 pmMay 9, 16, 23, 30
The upcoming sixth series of the workshop will be held in partnership with the Center for Pastora...
Beit Midrash in Israel
July 30, 2019 – August 13, 2019 in Yemin Orde
Drisha’s Beit Midrash in Israel is an intensive, two week program of study. A group of Israeli students, ages 22-28, from across the spectrum of Israeli life for Israeli students, gather together to for...
Board of Directors
Zella Goldfinger
Meyer G. Koplow
Allen Mansfield
Andy Mendes
Dana Rubinstein
Alan Septimus, President
Community Beit Midrash
In partnership with Hadar, Hartman, JTS, Pardes, and Yeshivat Maharat
Join one of two classes with incredible faculty members! Come with a c h avruta to learn in the beit midrash, or join a ch aburah to learn in a small group!
Thursdays 7:0...
Community Lecture 6/6/18
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Confronting Mental Illness
This program is part of Drisha's initiative,
Dirshu: Confronting Challenges with Mind and Heart
Past Dirshu Series:
Holiness - October/November 2015
Hunger: What Can We Do? - February 2015
Prayer: What Are We Doing? - March/April 20...
Contact Us
Drisha Institute for Jewish Education 1501 Broadway, suite 505A * New York, NY 10036Tel: 212.595.0307 * Fax: 212.595.0679Email: [email protected]
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Countdown to the Yamim Noraim
Every morning from September 23 until erev Yom Kippur, Drisha will be releasing a brief podcast in which Rabbi David Silber teaches about core themes of the tefillot of the Yamim Noraim .
We invite you to sign up for the daily podcast with the ho...
Dedicate
Every dollar you give to Drisha Institute has exponential impact. With your support, we can create a more reflective and committed Jewish community.
Dirshu: Confronting Challenges with Mind and Heart
Past Dirshu Series:
Confronting Mental Illness - April/May 2014
Holiness - October/November 2015
Hunger: What Can We Do? - February 2015
Prayer: What Are We Doing? - March/April 2014
Tzeniut - October/November 2016
W...
Donate
Every dollar you give to Drisha Institute has exponential impact. With your support, we can create a more reflective and committed Jewish community.
$36,000 - Sponsor collegiate and young professional programming or provide housing for high school girls...
Dr. Beth Samuels High School Program
Faculty Classes Essential Questions Workshop Activities Testimonials How to Apply Contact Us FAQs...
Dr. Beth Samuels High School Program: Activities
Home Faculty Classes Essential Questions Workshop Testimonials How to Apply
Contact Us FAQs
The program below is from a past summer. The upcoming program will be similar.
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thurs...
Dr. Beth Samuels High School Program: Classes
Home Faculty Essential Questions Workshop Activities Testimonials How to Apply Contact Us FAQs
Course Descriptions
Daf Yomi: Masekhet Chagigah
Ms. Eliana Kahan
How do we see and appear before God...
Dr. Beth Samuels High School Program: Contact Us
Home Faculty Classes Essential Questions Workshop Activities Testimonials How to Apply FAQs
For questions and more information about the program please email: [email protected] or call at 212-595-0307.
Drisha Institute for Jewish Ed...
Dr. Beth Samuels High School Program: Essential Questions Workshop
Home Faculty Classes Activities Testimonials How to Apply Contact Us FAQs
An essential component of the Drisha summer high school experience is the research-based Essential Questions Workshop, where participants hav...
Dr. Beth Samuels High School Program: Faculty
Home Classes Essential Questions Workshop Activities Testimonials How to Apply Contact Us FAQs
Hannah...
Dr. Beth Samuels High School Program: FAQs
Home Faculty Classes Essential Questions Workshop Activities Testimonials
How to Apply Contact Us
“The opportunity to learn t...
Dr. Beth Samuels High School Program: How to Apply
Home Faculty Classes Essential Questions Workshop Activities Testimonials Contact Us FAQs
Students
Click here to apply.
Click here for the recommendation form.
Deadline: Applications are being accepted on a ...
Dr. Beth Samuels High School Program: Testimonials
Home Faculty Classes Essential Questions Workshop Activities How to Apply Contact Us FAQs
2017:
“I can’t even explain my gratitude for this program. It was such an enriching experience for me, and I had a great ...
Dr. Beth Samuels High School Summer Program for Girls
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Dr. Beth Sharon Samuels
Drisha Scholar, Mathematician
Beloved Wife, Mother, Daughter, Sister and Friend
March 24, 1975 - January 5, 2007
Dr. Beth Sharon Samuels, a”h , was a gifted teacher of Torah and mathematics, inspiring her audiences with her passion for learning a...
Drisha @ B'nai Jeshurun
270 West 89 Street, between Broadway and West End Avenue
Trei Asar: Minor Prophets of Major Significance
taught by Nathaniel Helfgot
Mondays, 7:30-8:45pm
11 sessions: February 5-May 7
Drishat Shalom Fellowship
for college, graduate, and rabbinical...
Drisha @ Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun
125 East 85th Street, between Park and Lexington Avenues
From Slaves to Nation: The Construction of Israel in the Book of Exodus
taught by David Silber
Tuesdays, 9:30-10:45am
11 sessions: February 6-May 1.
Churban: Jewish Responses to Destruction,...
Drisha @ Congregation Ramath Orah
550 West 110 Street, between Broadway and Amsterdam Avenue
Parshanut: Great Figures in Jewish Interpretation of the Torah: An Analysis of Their Approaches
Faculty will include Nathaniel Berman, Robert Harris, Marc Herman, Aaron Koller, Sara Labaton,...
Drisha Forms
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Drisha Kollel
תוכנית לימוד קיץ ב-‘דרישה’ בניו יורק
.לימוד כנה, מעמיק, פתוח
בית מדרש 'דרישה' בניו יורק מזמין אותך תלמיד/ת מדרשה וישיבה ובוגר/ת צבא ושירות לאומי לתכנית לימוד אינטנסיבית ומרתקת בקיץ בארה"ב. התכנית מתמקדת בלימוד גמרא בעיון עם חברותות ובש...
Drisha Kollel
Join a community of intensive learning, fellowship, tefila and service!
June 18-July 26, 2019
The Drisha Summer Kollel is a full-time immersive beit midrash.
The Kollel is open to college students and recent graduates, including graduate a...
Drisha Kollel Faculty
Click here for the Kollel homepage.
Miriam Gedwiser is a faculty member at Drisha and teaches Talmud and Tanakh at the Ramaz Upper School. She has a BA from the University of Chicago in the History and Philosophy of Science and a JD from N...
Drisha Kollel: Open Night Seder
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Drisha veChakira Podcasts
Three Drisha scholars invite you to join them as they learn in chavruta . In this new podcast series, Tsvi Blanchard , Sam Lebens , and Devora Steinmetz explore Talmudic texts together, offering their own unique perspectives and striving to understand the ...
Drishat Shalom Fellowship
Students in college, graduate or rabbinical school and young professionals, who seek to join a cohort of dedicated peers to engage in deep, meaningful Torah learning, are invited to apply for the Drishat Shalom Fellowship.
Click here for previous ...
Drishat Shalom Fellowship Application
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Drishat Shalom: Previous Themes
Spring 2018: Heresy and Community: Does Believing Matter?
We dealt with questions such as: Are there core beliefs of Judaism? If so, what are they? Can one lose one's Jewishness? Who decides? What can we learn from famous banned heretics in Jewish histo...
Elul Learning
The Stanley Rudoff Memorial High Holy Day Lecture Series
All These Vows: The Kol Nidrei Conundrum
Yom Kippur opens with this most powerful, albeit peculiar, communal prayer of Kol Nidrei . This year, part 1 of the Stanley Rudoff Memorial...
Family Morning of Learning
Sunday, February 8
Sponsored, in part, by Rella Feldman and her family
Join Drisha for a cross-generational morning of learning focused on the holiday of Purim.
9:30-10:30am
Emerging Identities: Esther of Persia, Individuality and Community ...
Full Time Programs
Drisha's Full-Time Program ran from 1984 to 2014.
We offer many classes, seminars, and workshops; please click here for our current offerings.
Women from all walks of life, of all ages and backgrounds, are attracted to ...
Giving Tuesday
Drisha: Deep Learning. Committed Lives
At Drisha we are always at the forefront, developing innovating programs to create text-centered communities of learners . Drisha classes, fellowships, and immersive programs all have the rigor of the yeshiva...
Great Chassidic Schools and Masters
Three experts speak about the core teachings of major Chassidic schools and how these teachings can challenge and inspire us today.
Wednesday, June 8, 7:00-8:30 PM
Rabbi Shlomo Yaffe - A Yearning for Unity: The Fulcrum of Chabad Chassidut
Wednesday, J...
Guest Lecturers and Speakers
The following speakers have presented at Drisha. Recordings are available through our online learning library.
Click here to view our Online Learning Library
High School Program Recommendation Form
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Holiness
Program dates have passed. If you would like to hear about similar programs in the future, please email us at [email protected] to be added to our mailing list.
This program is part of Drisha's initiative,
Dirshu: Confronting Cha...
Hunger: What Can We Do?
This program is part of Drisha's initiative,
Dirshu: Confronting Challenges with Mind and Heart
Past Dirshu Series:
Confronting Mental Illness – April/May 2014
Holiness - October/November 2015
Prayer: What Are We Doing? – March/...
Jack Flamholz Memorial Yom Iyun
About the Yom Iyun Schedule RSVP About Jack Flamholz, z"l
Judaism in America: Intersecting Values and Identities
Sunday, November 12, 10am-4pm
Please join for a day of learning in memory of Jack Flamholz, z”l. The progr...
Job Openings
FULL TIME POSITIONS
Administrative Assistant
Communications Associate
PART TIME / SEASONAL POSITIONS
The Dr. Beth Samuels Drisha Summer High School Program
Madricha (Multiple positions available)
Shoelet u'Meishiva ...
Administrative Assistant
Administrative Assistant
The Administrative Assistant will work with and support office staff to ensure organizational effectiveness and efficiency. Must be computer proficient, especially with Microsoft Office Suite and social media platforms. An ...
Communications Associate
Communications Associate
The Communications Associate will work in close cooperation with the Dean, Director of Operations, and Director of Communal Engagement and coordinator of adult education in the planning, coordination, marketing and implementation...
Madricha - Summer Job Openings
The Dr. Beth Samuels Drisha Summer High School Program seeks qualified candidates for Madricha for this coming summer.
The program runs June 25-July 25, 2019. Prior to the program, staff will work on planning (schedule is flexible).
Applicants ...
Shoelet u'Meishiva - Summer Job Openings
The Dr. Beth Samuels Drisha Summer High School Program seeks qualified candidates for Madricha for this coming summer.
The program runs June 25-July 25, 2019. Prior to the program, staff will work on planning (schedule is flexible).
Applicants ...
Join the Drisha Network
Wherever you live, you can connect to the Drisha network and be part of a vibrant community of Jewish learning, education, and scholarship. You will be the first to know of new learning initiatives and special events, and news of students, graduates and...
Join us this summer
Join us for weekday minyanim (traditional mechitza and traditional egalitarian) during our Kollel (May 30 to July 27).
Note- no minyanim July 4.
8:15am Shacharit
2:15pm Mincha (Monday-Thursday)
8:45pm Ma'ariv on Tuesdays and Thursdays
Prepare for pr...
Kollel Application
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Kollel Recommendation Form
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Learn Gemara with Drisha's Kollel
The Drisha Kollel begins each day with intensive Talmud study, and we are opening the Talmud shiurim to members of the community. If you would like to spend each morning for one month or two learning with us, we invite you to join our study of the sixth...
Letter from David Silber
Dear friend,
We will soon begin the holiday of Chanuka by lighting a single candle. Over eight days the light will grow and, as we know from the story of the Hashmonaim, the light that began with one flame can eventually illuminate the entire world. Since ...
Mental Health
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Mental Health Program Refrence
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Mishnah Bava Metzia
Bava Metzia Chapter 4
בבא מציעא פרק ד'
Commentary נוסח המשנה המקורי
Commentary
Halakhic 'Taking Possession' vs. Aggadic 'Statement'- Which Has the Upper Hand?
I. Introduction
Chapter 4 o...
Mishnah Brachot
Brachot
Chapter 1
ברכות
פרק א'
Original Mishnah Text Commentary פרוש בעברית נוסח המשנה המקורי
Commentary
A. Is Our Chapter Well-Ordered?
From the very first words of Berakhot Chapter 1...
Mishnah Brachot, Chapter 2
Brachot Chapter 2
ברכות פרק ב'
Original Mishnah Text Commentary פרוש בעברית נוסח המשנה המקורי
Commentary
As opposed to chapter 1 of tractate Berakhot, whose unifying theme la...
Mishnah Brachot, Chapter 3
Brachot Chapter 3
ברכות פרק ג'
Original Mishnah Text Commentary פרוש בעברית נוסח המשנה המקורי
Commentary
A. Connections with Chapter 2
In contrast to the first two chapters of trac...
Mishnah Brachot, Chapter 4
Brachot Chapter 4
ברכות פרק ד'
Original Mishnah Text Commentary פרוש בעברית נוסח המשנה המקורי
Commentary
I. Disorder and Order In The Redaction Of The Mishnah
Chapter 4 open...
Mishnah Brachot, Chapter 5
Brachot Chapter 5
ברכות פרק ה'
Original Mishnah Text Commentary פרוש בעברית נוסח המשנה המקורי
Commentary
I. The conceptual and literary Contours of the chapter – a preliminary...
Mishnah Brachot, Chapter 6
Brachot Chapter 6
ברכות פרק ו'
Original Mishnah Text Commentary פרוש בעברית נוסח המשנה המקורי
Commentary
I. The literary shaping of the chapter
Our chapter opens a unit that de...
Mishnah Brachot, Chapter 7
Brachot Chapter 7
ברכות פרק ז'
Original Mishnah Text Commentary פרוש בעברית נוסח המשנה המקורי
Commentary
I. The Structure of the Chapter
The five mishnayot in our chapter can easi...
Mishnah Brachot, Chapter 8
Brachot Chapter 8
ברכות פרק ח'
Original Mishnah Text Commentary פרוש בעברית נוסח המשנה המקורי
Commentary
I. The Structure of The Chapter
The beginning of our chapter bears the followin...
Mishnah Brachot, Chapter 9
Brachot Chapter 9
ברכות פרק ט'
Original Mishnah Text Commentary פרוש בעברית נוסח המשנה המקורי
Commentary
A. Structure of the body of the chapter – Mishnah 1 – Mishnah 5a
A ...
Mishnah Brachot, Chapters 1 & 3
Brachot Comparing Chapter 1 and 3
ברכות השוואה בין פרק א' לפרק ג'
Commentary פרוש בעברית
Commentary
I. Connections Between Chapters 1-3: Shared Motifs
After having completed our analysis of...
Mishnah Brachot, Chapters 1 and 3
Brachot
Comparing Chapter 1 and 3
ברכות
השוואה בין פרק א' לפרק ג'
Commentary פרוש בעברית
Commentary
I. Connections Between Chapters 1-3: Shared Motifs
After having completed our analysis of the fi...
Mishnah Brachot, Chapters 4 & 5
Brachot Comparing Chapter 4 and 5
ברכות השוואה בין פרק ד' לפרק ה'
Commentary פרוש בעברית
Commentary
I. The Connections Between Chapter 4 and Chapter 5
The Tefillah unit in tractate...
Mishnah Hullin
Hullin Chapter 5-12
חולין פרקים ה'-י"ב
Commentary נוסח המשנה המקורי
Commentary
In this lecture I will discuss a particularly prominent and interesting example of a literary tool fre...
Mishnah Maasrot
Maasrot Chapter 1
מעשרות פרק א'
Commentary נוסח המשנה המקורי
Commentary
A.
Regarding this chapter I'd like to focus on an interesting phenomenon in Mishnah redaction – inner-mishnaic i...
Mishnah Ohalot
Ohalot Chapter 7
אוהלות פרק ז'
Commentary נוסח המשנה המקורי
Commentary
m. 1
A solid monument (nefesh )
m. 6
One may not set aside a living being &nbs...
Mishnah Pesachim
Pesachim
פסחים
Commentary נוסח המשנה המקורי
Commentary
Structure and Order in Mishna Pesahim
A.
At first glance, it seems clear that Pesahim should be included amongst those tractate...
Mishnah Pesachim, Chapter 10
Pesachim Chapter 10
פסחים פרק י'
Commentary נוסח המשנה המקורי
Commentary
Preparation Questions- Pesahim Chapter 10
Study the mishnayot of the chapter, in order to understand them on a...
Mishnah Project
Commentary and Study Guides by Rabbi Dr. Avraham Walfish
Commentary
Brachot 1
Brachot 2
Brachot 3
Comparing Brachot 1 and 3
Brachot 4
Brachot 5
Comparing Brachot 4 and 5
Brachot 6
Brachot 7
Brachot 8
...
Mishnah Project: Further Readings
http://www.academia.edu/938591/Transmitting_Mishnah_The_Shaping_Influence_of_Oral_Tradition
http://www.daat.ac.il/daat/english/ten-daat/kosowsky_1.htm
http://www.daat.ac.il/daat/english/ten-daat/heinemann-1.htm
http://www.zahavy.com/mmt.pdf
http://www.chaver.com/Mishnah/TheMishnah.htm...
Mishnah Rosh Hashana, Chapter 3
Rosh Hashana
Chapter 3
ראש השנה
פרק ג'
Commentary נוסח המשנה המקורי
Commentary
m. Rosh Hashana 3:8
“And so it was, when Moshe raised his hand, Israel prevailed…” (Exod. 17:11) Do Moshe’s hands make or break war? Rather, ...
Mishnah Rosh HaShana, Chapters 1 & 2
Rosh Hashana
Chapter 1 - Chapter 2
The Search for Holy Time
ראש השנה
פרקים א'-ב'
Commentary נוסח המשנה המקורי
Commentary
A. The Mishna’s Calendar in Contrast to the Calendar of Second Temple Sects
One of the most ...
Mishnah Sanhedrin, Chapter 3
Sanhedrin Chapter 3
סנהדרין פרק ג'
Commentary נוסח המשנה המקורי
Commentary
m. 1
…When (bizeman) he brings evidence about them that they are relatives (qerobim) or invalid
m....
Mishnah Sukkah, Chapter 2
Sukkah Chapter 2
סוכה פרק ב'
Original Mishnah Text Commentary פרוש בעברית נוסח המשנה המקורי
Commentary
The Sukkah and the Parable of the Slave: The Riddle of its Solution
A. A C...
Mishnah Yoma
Introduction to Yoma
יומא
Commentary פרוש בעברית
Commentary
1. The difficulty in the language of m. Yoma 1:1: The word “mi-beyto ” (“from his house”)
We learn i...
My Drisha
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Our Mission
Drisha advances a model of serious learning that is engaged, committed, and open.
Drisha offers full-time and part-time learning programs focused on classical Jewish texts for young adults and adults in the United States and Israel. Drisha also...
Podcasts of "'Sweetening Judgment:' Readings in Rabbi Nahman of Breslov (in Hebrew)"
The notion of din - a central motif in Kabbalistic literature - is reformulated and reframed throughout the works of the founder of Breslover Chasidut. What can a sensitive understanding of Rabbi Nahman's symbolic and cryptic teachings reveal to us regarding the ...
Podcasts of "Body and Soul: Understanding the Asceticism of Yom Kippur"
What is the connection between the restrictions of Yom Kippur and repentance? How do they help us achieve atonement?
Taught by Jon Kelsen, Fall 2014.
Click here to listen to session 1.
Click here to listen to session 2.
Click here to listen...
Podcasts of "Book of Esther"
We will explore the role of the Book of Esther in Tanakh , with emphasis on lexical and thematic parallels to other biblical stories. Drawing upon observations both ancient and modern, the course pays special attention to the tribe of Benjamin and its ...
Podcasts of "Book of Exodus"
These podcasts are compiled from a series of classes Rabbi Silber gave on the Book of Exodus from spring 2013 to spring 2015.
Click here to listen to session 1
Click here to listen to session 2
Click here to listen to session 3
Click here...
Podcasts of "Book of Genesis"
These podcasts are compiled from a series of classes Rabbi Silber gave on the Book of Genesis from fall 2009 to fall 2012.
Click here to listen to session 1, on chapters 1 and 2
Click here to listen to session 2, on chapter 2
Click here t...
Podcasts of "Book of Isaiah"
We will examine the first half of the Book of Isaiah, the first of the great classical prophets with an eye to understanding the historical context in which he lived and preached, the literary structure of the book and the theological messages of the...
Podcasts of "Book of Judges"
The Book of Shofetim forms a bridge between Joshua's conquest of the land and the establishment of the monarchy. We will analyze the book with particular attention to the charismatic leaders.
These podcasts are compiled from a series of classes Rabbi...
Podcasts of "Book of Kings"
These podcasts are compiled from a series of classes Rabbi Silber gave on the Book of Kings from spring 2009 to spring 2010.
Click here to listen to session 1
Click here to listen to session 2
Click here to listen to session 3
Click here ...
Podcasts of "Book of Numbers"
The Book of Numbers describes the transition of the first to second generation and the beginning of the conquest of the land of Canaan. We will engage in a close reading of the text in order to more deeply understand the many implications of this transition.
Taught...
Podcasts of "Book of Numbers"
We will engage in a close reading of the Book of Numbers.
Taught by David Silber, Fall 2015 & Spring 2016.
Click here to listen to session 1 (fall '15).
Click here to listen to session 2 (fall '15).
Click here to listen to session 3...
Podcasts of "Book of Ruth"
We will conduct a close reading of the Book of Ruth.
Taught by David Silber, spring 2007.
Click here to listen to session 1.
Click here to listen to session 2.
Click here to listen to session 3.
Click here to return to the Online Lea...
Podcasts of "Book of Samuel"
These podcasts are compiled from a series of classes Rabbi Silber gave on the Book of Samuel from fall 2006 to spring 2009.
Click here to listen to session 1
Click here to listen to session 2
Click here to listen to session 3
Click here t...
Podcasts of "Brother Rival / Sister Enemy: Literary and Kabbalistic Readings of Intimate Antagonism in the Bible"
The Bible is filled with tales of enmity between intimates, rivals who are literal or figurative twins. We will look at the literary dimensions of the biblical narratives and will also look at the stories in relation to their interpretation and adaptation...
Podcasts of "Confession and Repentance"
We will look at a variety of biblical and rabbinic texts relating to the act of confession and the role of repentance.
Taught by David Silber, Fall 2014.
Click here to listen to session 1.
Click here to listen to session 2.
Click here to ...
Podcasts of "Consolation in Jewish Thought and Philosophy"
Consolation is a fundamental longing of the human soul - yet it remains an enigma. Through a study of the notion of consolation, both in Western philosophy (from Plato and Boethius to Leibniz and Nietzsche) and in Judaism (from the Torah, Lamentations...
Podcasts of "Eikha (Lamentations)"
We will engage in a close reading of Lamentations and examine how it has been understood over the ages.
Part of a Fall 2010 class, "5 Megillot," taught by David Silber.
Click here to listen to session 1 .
Click here to listen to session 2....
Podcasts of "Esther, Queen of Persia or Jewish Queen?"
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.
Taught by Aaron Koller, Fall 2013.
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Podcasts of "Ezra-Nehemiah Looking Backward To Move Forward"
What aspects of its historical context does Sefer Ezra-Nehemiah seek to address and how does the author do so?
Taught by Yael Leibowitz, Fall 2013.
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Podcasts of "Hearing Aggadic Voices: Ancient Wisdom Learned Anew"
Talmudic tales speak candidly of the complexities of adult life within a community shaped by a rabbinic value system. Gender relations, status, loyalty, competition, marriage, parenting, and exclusion are probed within an intricately-woven context of...
Podcasts of "Holy Feasts or Sacrifices to the Dead? The Meaning(s) of Jewish Eating"
We will explore the Rabbis attitudes towards food and eating. Among the topics we will discuss are the ethics of meat, the role of asceticism, the meaning of the grotesque and how what we ingest affects how we experience God.
Taught by Ben Skydell,...
Podcasts of "Lean Out: Flawed Leadership in the Book of Judges"
We will study the Book of Shoftim (Judges) as a portrayal of flawed leadership. We will focus on Devorah, Gideon, Yiftach, and Shimshon and analyze their strengths and failures. We will also reflect on how the Book of Judges lays the groundwork for the...
Podcasts of "Legends of the Cave: Biblical, Rabbinic, and Kabbalistic Quests for Ancestral, Mystical, and Messianic Truth in the Dark"
Cave stories are deeply rooted in the Jewish tradition. In the Bible, caves serve as the eternal resting place of our our ancestors (the Patriarchs and Matriarchs), as a place of eros and drama (Lot and David), as a place of visions of the divine (Moses ...
Podcasts of "Major Prayers of the Jewish Festivals"
The class will focus on the festival amidah and hallel and the prayers for rain and dew.
Taught by David Silber, summer 2009.
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Podcasts of "Midrash and Philosophy"
We look at a selection of midrashim in each session, and compare and contrast them with a selection of philosophical readings from the Western tradition (from ancient times until today). The texts look at similar issues but have completely different ...
Podcasts of "Multitasking and Mitzvot"
Are you always busy, juggling a million different commitments? Do you wonder how to set priorities within all the different opportunities and tasks that come your way? We will explore the Talmudic principle of "oseik b'mitzvah" the exemption from certain...
Podcasts of "Nachmanides' Commentary on the Torah"
We will look at major themes and motifs of Ramban's classical commentaries on Torah.
Taught by David Silber, fall 2011 and spring 2012.
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Click here to listen to session 3.
...
Podcasts of "Piyyutim of the High Holidays"
High holiday services often seem dominated by intricate, often difficult to understand, liturgical poetry (piyyutim ). We will explore different piyyutim, uncovering layers of biblical and midrashic allusions.
Taught by Miriam Gedwiser, Fall 2014.
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Podcasts of "Prayers of Yom Kippur"
We say more prayers on Yom Kippur than on any other day on the Jewish calendar. We will discuss several unique features in the prayers of Yom Kippur.
Taught by David Silber, fall 2011.
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Podcasts of "Rabbinic Love and Matrimony"
The rabbinic tradition is not known for its models of equality in relationships. However, the Talmud presents a number of stories of rabbis and their wives which transcend the boundaries of halakhic conversations and instead go in surprising directions. ...
Podcasts of "Retrieving Ishmael: Torah Readings of Rosh Hashana"
An in-depth and midrashic analysis of the Torah readings of Rosh Hashana.
Taught by Wendy Amsellem, Fall 2014.
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Click here to return to the ...
Podcasts of "Sacred or Profane: Practices of Purim"
We will will review the four mitzvot of Purim - megillah , mishloach manot , matanot le-evyonim (gifts to the poor), and the festive meal, as well as various folk practices that accrued to the holiday overtime (including dressing up, "Purim Torah," and...
Podcasts of "Samson: A Study of Strength and Vulnerability"
Analyzing the character of Samson as he emerges from the biblical text and rabbinic traditions.
Taught by David Silber, June 2013.
Click here to listen to session 1.
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Click here to listen to session 3. ...
Podcasts of "Servant of God: Moses and His Mission"
We will look at Moshe's triumphs and his struggles.
Taught by David Silber, fall 2014 and spring 2015.
Click here to listen to session 1 (fall '14).
Click here to listen to session 2 (fall '14).
Click here to listen to session 3 (fall '1...
Podcasts of "Six Character Traits of a Leader
Exploring a number of different texts, from the Bible, the Midrash, the Talmud, and the writings of Jewish philosophers throughout the ages, we will explore the character traits that - for better or worse - are associated with leaders and leadership....
Podcasts of "Song of Songs"
We will engage in a close reading of Song of Songs and examine how it has been understood over the ages.
Taught by David Silber, Fall 2010.
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Podcasts of "Strangers in a Strange Land: Immigrants and Refugees in the Book of Genesis"
What can we learn about immigrants and refugees from the experiences of the founding generations —Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebecca, Jacob, Rachel and Leah—living in places that were not their own—Canaan, Gerar, Ber Sheva and Egypt? We will study both t...
Podcasts of "Such a time as this....": Insights on the Book of Esther
We will conduct a close reading of the Book of Esther and look at global issues that arise in understanding the Book itself as well as its relationship to other biblical texts. We will look at the way it has been understood by rabbinic tradition and th...
Podcasts of "The Bible's Earliest Interpreters Philo and Qumran"
How was the Torah understood by Jews of the Second Temple Period? What do the surviving texts of the period reveal about ancient modes of biblical interpretation? We will study the works of Philo and the relevant parts of the Dead Sea Scrolls related...
Podcasts of "The Book of Samuel Through the Lens of the Book of Judges"
We will gain new insight into the Book of Samuel as we examine it through the lens of the Book of Judges.
Taught by David Silber, fall 2011 and spring 2012.
Click here to listen to session 1.
Click here to listen to session 2.
Click here t...
Podcasts of "The Desert and the Wilderness: Bamidbar"
Through a close reading of the Book of Numbers, we will study its fundamental themes.
Taught by David Silber, Fall 2015
Click here to listen to session 1 .
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Click here to listen to session 3 .
Click here...
Podcasts of "The Once and Future Kings: Saul and David and the Rise of Kingship"
King Saul loves his son-in-law David, but he also wants to kill him. We will explore how Saul and David’s relationship formed and trace their thorny, gripping ups and downs. Through our study of the Book of Samuel, we will uncover the author’s perspective on ...
Podcasts of "The Talmudic Readings of Emmanuel Levinas"
Shedding new light on classical themes as well as modern themes related to the existential challenges of contemporary Judaism, Emmanuel Levinas offers us the unique occasion to reconsider fundamental philosophical questions related to Judaism. In this...
Podcasts of "Themes of Rosh Hashana as Reflected in Our Liturgy"
Through an examination of the Rosh Hashana prayer service, we will uncover major themes of the holiday.
Taught by David Silber, Fall 2015.
Click here to listen to session 1.
Click here to listen to session 2.
Click here to return to the Online ...
Podcasts of "Trouble in the Vineyard: Talmudic Stories of the Sages of Yavneh"
Stories invite us into the lives- real or imagined- of others, challenging us to use our minds and hearts to enter their struggles, conflicts and achievements. In this series, we will learn four stories about a famous group of sages- Rabban Gamliel, Rabbi...
Podcasts of "What is Torah?"
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?
Taught by Aaron Koller, Fall 2012.
Click here to listen to session 1.
Click here to l...
Podcasts of "Wisdom and the Meaning of Life in Israel and the Ancient Near East"
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...
Podcasts of “'That was no lady, that was my wife!' – Stories of Rabbis and Their Wives"
The women of the Talmud both preserve rabbinic traditions and challenge them. Although usually the Rabbis' wives are invisible and unheard, occasionally we get a peak at their personalities, their concerns, and their relationships with their rabbi husbands....
Podcasts of “'They Cared For Me in Life and They Will Care For Me in Death': Deathbed Stories in the Babylonian Talmud"
The Babylonian Talmud contains several lengthy narratives detailing the deaths of Torah Sages. Some are carefully orchestrated deathbed scenes, others are more raw and unplanned. In this class we will explore these narratives, noting how they are constructed...
Prayer: What Are We Doing?
This program is part of Drisha’s initiative,
Dirshu: Confronting Challenges with Mind and Heart
Past Dirshu Series:
Confronting Mental Illness – April/May 2014
Holiness - October/November 2015
Hunger: What Can We Do? – February...
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Renewing the Old, Sanctifying the New
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Seminars and Workshops
June Executive Seminar
Tuesday, June 14 – Thursday, June 16, 2016
Join us for a 3-day seminar on Tablets and Broken Tablets: Studies of Rupture, Reconciliation, and Redemption, where we will examine biblical, rabbinic, kabbalistic, and Chasidic sourc...
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Songs of My Beloved: A Music Celebration of Shir HaShirim
When : Wednesday, March 25, 7 - 8:30pm
What : An evening of Learning and Song facilitated by Rabbi Roly Matalon and Drisha Faculty
Where : Drisha, 37 West 65th Street, 5th floor
Admission: $10 / $5 for students.
Co-Sponsored with Congregation B'...
Summer Seminar
Power: Use and Abuse
Monday, June 12 – Wednesday, June 14, 2017 . Program canceled
10 am – 4 pm
Join us for a three-day seminar as we examine biblical, rabbinic, and contemporary legal texts focused on the concept of political, judicial, and halakhic power....
Talmud Seder with Drisha's Kollel
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Teaching Talmud in Day Schools
Monday June 29 through Thursday July 2, 2015
a four-day workshop for high school and middle school Talmud teachers
Please join us for a workshop exploring key issues in teaching Talmud in day schools. Some of the topics we will address:
Teaching s...
The Elga Stulman Summer Programs
Summer Kollel Drisha's Summer Kollel for college students and recent graduates (graduate and rabbinic students included) is an intensive experience of Jewish text study, community building and spiritual growth. Our coed learning community...
The Quest to Reestablish the Bible’s Sacred Space
This 12-part series, recorded by Rabbi David Silber, was sponsored in memory of Ellen Goodstein Koplow and Joan Silverstein Meyers.
The Bible opens with the Creation story (or is it stories?) and the exile of the first man and woman from the sacred ...
Tzeniut: Can We Talk About It?
"כִּי אִם עֲשׂוֹת מִשְׁפָּט וְאַהֲבַת חֶסֶד וְהַצְנֵעַ לֶכֶת עִם אֱ-לֹהֶיךָ "
"do justice and love kindness and to walk humbly with your God." (Micah 6:8)
- Three Monday evenings: October 31, November 7 and November 14 -
What does tzeniut really mea...
UWS Celebrates Israel
We're excited to be part of the Upper West Side Celebrates Israel 2019!Sunday, May 5, 2019
Join us for the all day event! The Upper West Side's synagogues, schools, and Jewish organizations are coming together for a neighborhood-wide celebration...
Why Learn Talmud?
This program is part of Drisha’s initiative: Dirshu: Confronting Challenges with Mind and Heart
Past Dirshu Series:
Confronting Mental Illness – April/May 2014
Holiness - October/November 2015
Hunger: What Can We Do? – F...
Winter Program in Israel
.בין התאריכים ו'-ח' באדר א'6-8 בפברואר, תתקיים תוכנית קצרה בכפר הנוער ימין אורד
.בלימוד נעסוק בנושא "סביב למשכן יחנו": בנייה, קהילה, שכינה
.התוכנית פונה לתלמידים החפצים בלימוד תורה רציני ומעמיק ומתעניינים בסוגיות סוציאליות המעסיקות את הח...
Winter Week of Learning
Mysticism and Diplomacy: Ramban as Commentator, Disputant, Kabbalist, and Communal Leader
Sunday, December 23 - Tuesday, December 25, 2018
Rabbi Moshe ben Naḥman (1194-1267) was one of the most versatile and influential figures in Jewish history. H...
Yeshivat Bein Hazmanim Application
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Yeshivat Bein Hazmanim Recommendation Form
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Yeshivat Bein Hazmanim: Drisha Winter Beit Midrash
for college, graduate, and rabbinical students and young professionals, women and men
Sunday, December 23-Tuesday, December 25, 2018
Daily Schedule:
[Shacharit at Sixth Street Community Synagogue Sun- 7:30am, Mon- 6:30am, Tues- 7:30am]
9:15am ...
Yeshivat Drisha
עברית
Shana Alef Program
Staff
Drisha opened the doors of its new yeshiva in Rosh Tzurim in Elul of 5778 (August, 2018) ...