To our members and friends,
We are in the middle of a very exciting semester of classes with the Institute. Here is a brief schedule of upcoming classes and events:
On Shabbat March 10-11, I will be the scholar-in-residence at the Edmond J. Safra Synagogue in Manhattan (11 East 63rd Street, between Fifth and Madison Avenue). Free and open to the public.
On Shabbat March 31-April 1, I will be the scholar-in-residence at Congregation Emek Beracha, in Palo Alto, California (4102 El Camino Real). Free and open to the public.
On three Mondays, March 20, 27, and April 3 (1:00pm-2:15pm), I will be teaching a three-part series on the Haggadah at Lamdeinu Teaneck (950 Queen Anne Road, at Congregation Beth Aaron). For registration information, go to http://www.lamdeinu.org/.
My weekly course in Navigating Nach: A Survey of the Prophets, continues with sessions on Esther, Lamentations, and Kohelet on March 8, 15, 22. Wednesdays from 7:00-8:00pm, at Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun, 125 East 85th Street (between Park and Lexington Avenue).
Previous lectures from this series are on our website, jewishideas.org, at Online Learning.
The course is taught at a high scholarly level but is accessible to people of all levels of Jewish learning. Newcomers always welcome. Free and open to the public.
Conversations 27: Increasing Peace Through Balanced Torah Study
It is gratifying to have published a collection of essays discussing some of the underlying ideology we promote through our work at the Institute for Jewish Ideas and Ideals. We have been distributing this special issue of Conversations, free of charge, to communities and schools where I teach. We also had a book reception at Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun in Manhattan on February 15 to celebrate its publication.
Thank you to the sponsors of this volume: S. Daniel Abraham, Joshua Angel, the Bengualid Family Foundation, Marco Dilaurenti, the Levy Family Foundation, Alan and Kathleen Shamoon, Ronald and Adele Tauber, and the Sephardic Publication Foundation. Their generous support enables our Institute to spread its vision to people and communities across America and beyond.
Radio Broadcast on my new commentary on Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi.
Rabbi Harlan Wechler hosted me on his radio show, “Rabbi Wechsler Teaches,” on SiriusXM. We discussed my new commentary, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi: Prophecy in an Age of Uncertainty (Maggid Press).
You can listen to the broadcast on SiriusXM channel 109 Sunday, March 5, 8:00 pm (or at 4:00 am) Eastern Standard Time. Starting Sunday night, it will be available on demand on the SiriusXM app and wel player at siriusxm.com/player.
Citi Field Lecture with the Orthodox Union now online:
On January 15, I presented at the “Torah in the City” program at Citi Field hosted by the Orthodox Union. Nearly 1500 people were in attendance at this remarkable day of learning. They have posted videos of all the lectures at https://www.ou.org/convention/shiur/.
Teacher Training
I am teaching a ten-part series to the Honors Rabbinical Students at Yeshiva University, on Teaching Bible in Synagogues. The goal is to expose students to some of the challenges and opportunities in synagogue education, and to bring traditional Bible study to a contemporary, educated audience.
I also have been working with the Bible faculty at the Community Hebrew Academy of Toronto (CHAT) on developing a new curriculum that integrates traditional and contemporary scholarship in a manner that is relevant and meaningful to High School students.
As always, I am grateful to our members and supporters who enable us to carry out our educational programs, teacher trainings, campus lectures, and publications to disseminate our Institute’s vision far and wide.
Rabbi Hayyim Angel
National Scholar