Around the Calendar with Drisha

Chanukkah 5777: ”Maccabees and Martyrdom” with Dr. Aaron Koller

Dying for a cause is considered by many the most noble form of death, and dying for one’s faith has a long and complicated history. The first Jewish martyrdom stories are from the books of Maccabees, and we will look at how this idea is used in that context, and then how it evolved and developed over the following centuries, in early Christianity and into rabbinic Judaism.

Chanukkah 5777: ”The Jews of Diaspora in the Hasmonean Period” with Dr. Malka Z. Simkovich

When the Hasmoneans ruled Judea in the second and first centuries BCE, hundreds of thousands of  pious Jews were comfortably settled in Egypt – with no plans to return to their homeland. We will discuss what these Jews practiced, how they related to the land of Israel and the Jerusalem Temple, and what it meant to assimilate into the Greco-Roman world and still identify as a Jew.

Chanukkah 5777: ”Darkness Envelops Me” with Dr. Devora Steinmetz

The Talmud tells about the origins of Chanukah in a way that closely parallels a talmudic legend about Adam’s first encounter with darkness. As Chanukah begins, we will study these talmudic texts to illuminate our own encounter with the darkness and with the holiday of Chanukah.

Chanukkah 5777: ”Chanukkah and Sukkot” with Rabbi David Silber

We will conduct a detailed analysis of the significance of the commonalities the festivals of Chanuka and Sukkot.

High Holidays 5777: ”Countdown to the Yamim Noraim: Yom Kippur — 13 Middot” (6/6) with Rabbi David Silber

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.
Yom Kippur, part 6: 13 Middot: Today's podcast analyzes the context and content of the 13 Middot and reflects on the placement of Yom Kippur in the cycle of the Jewish calendar.

High Holidays 5777: ”Countdown to the Yamim Noraim: Yom Kippur— Neilah” (5/6) with Rabbi David SIlber

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.
Yom Kippur, part 5: Neilah: Today's podcast explores the tefilla of Neilah and its role as the culmination of the Yom Kippur service.
 

High Holidays 5777: ”Countdown to the Yamim Noraim: Yom Kippur — Avodah” (4/6) with Rabbi David Silber

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.
Yom Kippur, part 4: Avodah: Today's podcast explores the structure and themes of the avodah  service, and its vivid description of the sacrificial ritual in the Bet Hamikdash.

High Holidays 5777: ”Countdown to the Yamim Noraim: Yom Kippur — Torah Reading” (3/6) with Rabbi David Silber

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.
Yom Kippur, part 3: Torah Reading of Yom Kippur: Today's podcast explores the Torah and Haftarah readings of Yom Kippur.

High Holidays 5777: ”Countdown to the Yamim Noraim: Yom Kippur— Mussaf” (2/6) with Rabbi David Silber

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.
Yom Kippur, part 2: Structure of Mussaf: Today's podcast explores the structure of the Yom Kippur mussaf.

High Holidays 5777: ”Countdown to the Yamim Noraim: Yom Kippur— Kol Nidrei” (1/6) with Rabbi David Silber

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.
Yom Kippur, part 1: Understanding Kol Nidrei: Today's podcast explores the power of the individual to engage in self-transformation.