November, 2014
To our members and friends,
With the Holiday season behind us, we have begun our robust schedule of educational programs.
Here are some upcoming highlights:
Kehilath Jeshurun (114 East 85th Street, between Park and Lexington Avenue in Manhattan): The next two Shabbatot as part of a monthly Shabbat Rabbinic Scholar program will be the morning of November 22 at the Sephardic minyan, and then December 20: morning with the Sephardic minyan, and then afternoon classes in the broader Kehilat Jeshurun community. That afternoon, I will teach a class at 3:30 p.m. on the topic of “Cut the Baby in Half: King Solomon’s Wisdom” and present at Seudah Shlishit (following Minhah at 4:05 p.m.) on “The Books of the Maccabees and Rabbinic Thought: Getting to the Roots of Hanukkah.” Classes are free and open to the public.
Creating Jewish Unity: We began a brand-new eight-part series, Creating Jewish Unity, on October 21. This course, sponsored by our Institute, outlines some of the most important areas for developing a religious worldview that is authentic to Jewish tradition, reasonable, and relevant to life in the 21st century. A wide range of opinions is considered, seeking those approaches that best address our complex contemporary reality. These classes present some of the core values of our Institute. It is held on Tuesday mornings, from 8:40-9:30 am, at the Apple Bank on 73rd Street and Broadway in Manhattan. Classes are free and open to the public. Upcoming Creating Jewish Unity Dates: November 18, 25 December 2, 9, 16 The shiurim also are posted on our website, jewishideas.org, on our Online Learning section. You are welcome to join at any time.
Second Samuel: In-Depth Bible Study: We have resumed our in-depth Tanakh learning at Lincoln Square Synagogue (68th Street and Amsterdam in Manhattan). This year we are learning the Second Book of Samuel. These classes meet on Wednesday evenings, 7:15-8:15. Upcoming dates are: November 12, 19 (not 26, Thanksgiving weekend) December 3, 10, 17 These classes are co-sponsored by our Institute and Lincoln Square Synagogue. For registration information, please go to lss.org.
Shabbat November 14-15: I will be scholar-in-residence at the Young Israel of Hillcrest (16907 Jewel Ave, Queens, NY 11365). All are welcome to attend.
Shabbat December 5-6: I will be scholar-in-residence at Beth Israel Abraham & Voliner in Overland Park, Kansas (9900 Antioch Rd, Overland Park, KS 66212). All are welcome to attend.
Four Thursdays: November 20, December 4, 11, 18, 11:45-1:00: Lamdeinu Teaneck, Haftarot. For registration and more information, go to http://www.lamdeinu.org.
On Shabbat October 24-25, I was scholar-in-residence at Anshei Sphard Beth El Emeth in Memphis, Tennessee. My book, A Jewish Holiday Companion, is a sequel to my Synagogue Companion. It is being published by our Institute and should be available shortly. Thanks to the generosity of special friends and supporters of the Institute, the book will be distributed at no charge to members of our Institute. It will also be available through our Institute's online store and at amazon.com.
As always, I thank our members and friends for their support and for enabling us to spread our Institute’s vision through teaching and publications throughout the country and beyond. Stay tuned for a new layer of exciting program, which I look forward to describing in my next report!
Rabbi Hayyim Angel
National Scholar