Rabbi Yoel Kahn, 6/12/2025—“Hear the gay shouts of liberation in the tents of the just!” (Psalm 118:15). Reciting the festival liturgy on Pride Shabbat was an important innovation—first celebrated at Congregation Beth Simchat Torah in New York in 1973—and so was this early gay-inclusive new translation of the psalm. This session, in honor of LGBTQ Pride, examines the creation and evolution of early LGBTQ-informed and -inclusive liturgy in the 1970s and 1980s.

Profs. Bruce Phillips and David Myers, and Adam Brown, 6/11/2025—"Jewish Peoplehood" has recently been the nom de jour in the Jewish community. What does Jewish Peoplehood actually mean? Is it a historical phenomenon, a demographic characterization, or a genetically transmitted set of traits? Our three distinguished presenters will examine the meaning, validity, and usefulness of this term.

Prof. Eran Kaplan, 6/5/2025—The 1967 Six-Day War has had a profound impact on Israel. Much has been said and written about the regional, geo-political impact of the war; however, its impact on Israeli society, economy and culture were also far-reaching, helping transition Israel from the socialism of its founders to a more individualistic, free-market society that has embraced the (American) West and its values. In this talk, Kaplan explores how a new Israel emerged after the Six-Day War.

Edwin Bernbaum, 6/4/2025—As awe-inspiring features of the landscape, mountains have an extraordinary power to evoke a sense of the sacred. Drawing on personal experiences and extensive research illustrated with spectacular photography, Edwin Bernbaum takes us on a fascinating journey exploring the many ways that mountains embody humanity's highest values and aspirations, with a focus on their singular importance in Judaism.

Rabbi David Kasher, 3/28/2025—This program explores the relationship between the Torah given at Sinai and the Torah developed in the academies of Pumbedita. Through close readings of Talmudic texts and later philosophical and theological interpretations, we will examine the radical concept of the Oral Torah, and try to understand how rabbinic tradition balances sacred origin with human creativity.

Rachel Biale, 5/22/2025—Rachel Biale discusses her book, "And Now Can Love Begin (published in 2024). She wrote this as an imagined memoir, ventriloquizing her parents, Chaim and Anina, who arrived in Palestine in 1942 and 45, respectively. She explains the historical setting of the book and the unusual process of writing a joint memoir as if written by her parents, in contrast and parallel to her 2020 joint memoir with her husband, David Biale z"l, "Aeorgrams Across the Ocean: A Love Story in Letters 1970–72".

Leonard Rothman, 5/21/2025—There are over 1500 unique original antique maps of the land of Israel, including special maps of Jerusalem. This presentation will review antique and modern maps illustrating events in the Bible and details of the Land of Israel. The presentation will feature images of selected maps and a discussion of the cartographers' historical and religious backgrounds, and their impact on their mapmaking.

Dr. Molly Freeman & Prof. Ariel Mayse, 5/8/2025—Grounded in Jewish values and concepts of what it means to be human, we will critically examine the intrusion of AI into increasingly more aspects of our daily experiences. Jewish teachings will provide a framework for critically determining if, what and when to engage with artificial intelligence applications.

Dr. Jehon Grist and Dr. Eli Tadmor, 4/4/2025—Biblical Israel’s legacy from its ancient neighbors is not just a saga of conflict. Law, literature, early religious practices, and even food and drink owe much to the surrounding ancient cultures. The presenters explore these points and also discover how both cultures' influence culminate in the Passover narrative and traditions.

Deborah Apple, 4/2/2025—Explore the moon cycle’s connection to water and traditions of immersion from ancient Mesopotamian myths and rituals to Abrahamic religions—the Jewish mikveh, Christian baptism, and Islamic wudu. Engage with traditional texts and create a prayer or symbolic action echoing these texts.

Dr. Jehon Grist and Dr. Eli Tadmor, 3/27/2025—Biblical Israel’s legacy from its ancient neighbors is not just a saga of conflict. Law, literature, early religious practices, and even food and drink owe much to the surrounding ancient cultures. The presenters explore these points and also discover how both cultures' influence culminate in the Passover narrative and traditions.

Rebecca Schisler, 3/26/2025—Schisler shares her experience reading Genesis in its original Hebrew, and how the practice brought fresh eyes and profound reinterpretations regarding gender, sinfulness, and seduction to one of the most influential texts on earth.