Few texts in the history of Judaism have been as evocative, elusive, and controversial as Genesis 22, the story of the Akedah. Why does God ask Abraham to sacrifice his son, and why does Abraham agree? What are the consequences of this fateful event for Abraham, Isaac, and Sarah-- and for us as readers and students of this text? We'll begin with a close literary and theological exploration of the Biblical text itself, consider the interpretations of Hazal, and then create a multi-faceted conversation among an array of modern Jewish (and Christian) thinkers as they-- and we-- struggle to make sense of this text and its role in Jewish theology and spirituality. Our investigation will include such thinkers as Soren Kierkegaard, Abraham Isaac Kook, Joseph Soloveitchik, Yeshayahu Leibowitz, Abraham Joshua Heschel, Martin Buber, Phyllis Trible, Uriel Simon, Jon Levenson, and others.
1/28/10
Yeshivat Hadar - Opening Remarks 2009-10
Thank you to everyone who joined us on October 21 for Yeshivat Hadar's Full-Year Celebration. The energy in the room was palpable as more than 350 Jews came together to study the ways that Torah and life intersect and the lessons we learn about Torah through our daily interactions with the world.
View Rabbi Shai Held's keynote address here:
Click here to download an audio file of Rabbi Shai Held's address to the community.
Click here to read the text of Rabbi Shai Held's address.
Click here to read about our full-year program in the Jewish Week
"Haham Adif mi-Navi" Rav Kook on the Meaning of Prophecy and Halakhah
Shiur Klali (Integrated Communal Learning)
Rabbi Shai Held Through a close reading of a beautiful essay by Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook, we'll discuss the relationship between broad vision (that is, Prophecy) on the one hand, and attention to detail (that is, Halakhah), on the other--in life in general, and in Jewish life in particular. Download Audio Recording1 hour, 20 minutes; 22.7 MB
Rabbi Shai Held, Sara Labaton and Rabbi Ethan Tucker
Mechon Hadar invites the entire community to an evening of learning entitled Sinai and Beyond: Making Revelation Come Alive. Together with Yeshivat Hadar faculty members, Rabbi Shai Held, Sara Labaton, and Rabbi Ethan Tucker, we will analyze three radical texts on revelation. All are welcome!
Yeshivat Hadar offers 15 men and women an intensive 8-week experience (June 3 - July 27, 2007) that combines traditional text study, egalitarian prayer and social action with a special focus on personal religious growth. Generous stipends offered. Application Deadline: February 1, 2007. To learn more, visit www.mechonhadar.org or email info@mechonhadar.org. At Thursday night's event, there will also be an opportunity for questions about the summer program.
Date: Thursday, January 18 Time: 7:30-9:15 pm Location: JCC in Manhattan (76th and Amsterdam) Cost: $5
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