Around the Calendar with Drisha

High Holidays 5781: ”Ritual Re-enactments: Becoming Moshe, a Mother, and a High Priest in the Yamim Noraim Tefillah” (3/3) with Rabbanit Leah Sarna

This series will focus on core pieces of the Selichot, Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur liturgies. Specifically, we will explore the roles that our liturgy asks us to step into on these days and at these key moments. This class aims to enrich participants' experiences of these special tefillot, particularly in a year where many will be praying at home or in truncated synagogue services.
In this final session we will explore the Yom Kippur Avodah liturgy. In Temple times, the High Priest's actions were the focal point of the day. This session will look at how our liturgy calls upon each of us to become the High Priest today.

Yom Kippur 5781: ”The Kapparah of Yom Kippur” (4/5) with Rabbi Dr Shlomo Zuckier

High Holidays 5781: ”Intention and the Mitzvot of Tishrei” (2/3) with Dr. Shana Strauch Schick

If, after a long day in shul on Rosh Hashana, my mind is wandering during shofar blowing, do I have to hear it again? Can the pergola in my backyard be my sukkah? In this three part lecture series, we will explore how intenton factors into the mitzvot central to Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur, and Sukkot. 
In this class we turn to Sukkot and the debate regarding whether the construction of the sukkah itself must be done for the purpose of the mitzvah.We will see how the underpinnings of this talmudic discussion are reflected in discussions of brit milah as well. 

High Holidays 5781: ”Ritual Re-enactments: Becoming Moshe, a Mother, and a High Priest in the Yamim Noraim Tefillah” (2/3) with Rabbanit Leah Sarna

Session 2 we will turn to Talmudic and liturgical texts about the Shofar's cries. As both the criers and the ones who knows cries the best, mothers will be the focus of this session, as we contemplate how Rosh Hashana liturgy asks us to enact motherhood.

High Holidays 5781: ”Structure and Meaning in High Holiday Liturgy” (4/4) with Rabbi David Silber

This series delves into the core motifs and themes in the liturgy of Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur. Two sessions are devoted to the core texts of Rosh Hashana - Malchiyot, Zichronot and Shofarot - and two sessions will focus on the Kol Nidre service and the confessions of Yom Kippur.

Yom Kippur 5781: ”The Kapparah of Yom Kippur” (3/5) with Rabbi Dr Shlomo Zuckier

Shiur 3 will address the teaching, found at Yoma 86a, of the “four categories of atonement” – one of which is Yom Kippur – and consider how it impacts these discussions. It will also consider cases of those who reject Yom Kippur in various ways and whether that affects one’s capacity to achieve atonement on the day.

Rosh HaShanah 5781: ”How to Blow the Shofar, A ”Toot”orial” (2/2) with Rabbi Moshe Silver

Blowing the Shofar is simple – but not easy. Rabbi Silver will go over the basic concepts of proper lip position, posture, and breath control. Unless you are a trumpet player, the technique may seem unnatural at first. The real secret to mastering the Shofar is – that there’s no secret. It takes hours of dedicated practice. Rabbi Silver shares his own story of his road from utter failure to relative triumph the first year he blew Shofar at what was to later become the Drisha Minyan. In addition to teaching the basics of technique, Rabbi Silver offers enthusiastic encouragement for everyone hoping to participate in this important Mitzvah. “If I can do this,” says Rabbi Silver, “you can do it too. I guarantee it!” 
In this session we will learn the basic halakhot of the sounds (Ashkenazic style, as was done at the Drisha Minyan). Timing and counting, and when one is required to repeat. The session will end with another “Shofar-Out” and everyone will be encouraged to continue their progress as Shofar blowers.  Bringing Mashiach is hard work!

High Holidays 5781: ”Intention and the Mitzvot of Tishrei” (1/3) with Dr. Shana Strauch Schick

Handout: https://drisha.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Handout_Intention-in-the-Performance-of-Mizvot_Part1.pdf
If, after a long day in shul on Rosh Hashana, my mind is wandering during shofar blowing, do I have to hear it again? Can the pergola in my backyard be my sukkah? In this three part lecture series, we will explore how intention factors into the mitzvot central to Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur, and Sukkot. 
In this first class, we will explore the talmudic debate as to whether one must have kavannah when sounding and hearing the shofar, and how this relates to the broader question of Mizvot Zerikhot Kavannah (do rituals need to be performed with intention) and how the rishonim and aharonim weighed in on this debate and decide the halakhah. 

High Holidays 5781: ”Ritual Re-enactments: Becoming Moshe, a Mother, and a High Priest in the Yamim Noraim Tefillah” (1/2) with Rabbanit Leah Sarna

Handout: https://drisha.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Handout_Sarna_RitualReenactment1_Selichot_-Becoming-Moshe.pdf
This series will focus on core pieces of the Selichot, Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur liturgies. Specifically, we will explore the roles that our liturgy asks us to step into on these days and at these key moments.
This class aims to enrich participants' experiences of these special tefillot, particularly in a year where many will be praying at home or in truncated synagogue services.
Session 1, we will explore the Thirteen Middot, the liturgical backbone of Selichot. As we look at the Torah texts that the Selichot draw upon and interpretations of those texts in the Talmud Bavli and commentators, we will dive head-first into the moment the Thirteen Middot were revealed and discuss how to reenact that moment as we step into the role of Moshe in our recitation of Selichot.

High Holidays 5781: ”Structure and Meaning in High Holiday Liturgy” (3/4) with Rabbi David Silber

In this 4 part series, this session and next will focus on the Kol Nidre service and the confessions of Yom Kippur.