Around the Calendar with Drisha

High Holidays 5781: ”The Emotions of Repentance: Rav Soloveitchik, Rav Kook and the Lubavitcher Rebbe” (3/3) with Rabbi Dr. Yosef Bronstein

Handout: https://drisha.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Handout_Bronstein_Emotions-of-teshuva_Part3-RavKook.pdf
In addition to delineating the technical process of repentance, Jewish literature has also explored the emotions that are supposed to accompany this process. In this class we will trace The Emotions of Repentance from the medieval authorities (Rambam and Rabbeinu Yonah) through the great twentieth century thinkers, Rabbi Soloveitchik, Rav Kook and the Lubavitcher Rebbe.
Studying this topic comparatively will highlight the continuities and ruptures between the medieval and modern perspectives as well as the unique approaches of these three innovative and influential leaders.
Covered in this session: Rav Kook advised against embracing the traditional range of emotions associated with repentance in earlier Jewish literature.  This class will analyze the rationale for this conscious departure and the new texture of repentance for which Rav Kook advocated.

Yom Kippur 5781: ”The Kapparah of Yom Kippur” (2/5) with Rabbi Dr. Shlomo Zuckier

Handout: https://drisha.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Handout_AtonementYK_Zuckier_Part2.pdf
Yom Kippur is literally "the Day of Atonement." But how does that atonement come about: Is it dependent on the bringing of Korbanot? Does Yom Kippur still atone today? Need one observe the day of Yom Kippur in order to achieve atonement? What does this process of atonement tell us about the holiest day of the year?
This series examines a variety of sources in classic rabbinic literature, examining the issue from a variety of perspectives.
This shiur will treat the question, discussed in Yoma 85b-86a, of whether Yom Kippur atones by itself or only when accompanied by repentance. This essential question, interpreted in a variety of ways by the Rishonim, has major ramifications for how to understand the Day of Yom Kippur overall.

Rosh HaShanah 5781: ”How to Blow the Shofar, A ”Toot”orial” (1/2) 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 Rabbi Silver shares his personal story of trying to blow the Shofar, and of ultimately B”H “getting it.” The biggest challenge most first-time Shofar blowers must overcome is their own sense of awkwardness. Rabbi Silver will lead a mass “Shofar-Out,” encouraging everyone to experience for themselves the feel of their own Shofar. Then we will work on basics of technique: embouchure (lip position), stance, and breathing. 

High Holidays 5781: ”Structure and Meaning in High Holiday Liturgy” (2/4) with Rabbi David Silber

This series with Rabbi David Silber 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.

High Holidays 5781: ”The Emotions of Repentance: Rav Soloveitchik, Rav Kook and the Lubavitcher Rebbe” (2/3) with Rabbi Dr. Yosef Bronstein

Handout: https://drisha.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Handout_Bronstein_Emotions-of-Teshuva_Part2.pdf
In addition to delineating the technical process of repentance, Jewish literature has also explored the emotions that are supposed to accompany this process. In this class we will trace The Emotions of Repentance from the medieval authorities (Rambam and Rabbeinu Yonah) through the great twentieth century thinkers, Rabbi Soloveitchik, Rav Kook and the Lubavitcher Rebbe.
In this session we will explore Rav Soloveitchik’s painful but empowering approach to the emotions of repentance and contextualize it within the broader project of his thought.

Yom Kippur 5781: ”The Kapparah of Yom Kippur” (1/5) with Rabbi Dr. Shlomo Zuckier

High Holidays 5781: ”Structure and Meaning in High Holiday Liturgy” (1/4) with Rabbi David Silber

This 4-part series with Rabbi David Silber 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.

High Holidays 5781: ”The Emotions of Repentance: Rav Soloveitchik, Rav Kook and the Lubavitcher Rebbe” (1/3) with Rabbi Dr. Yosef Bronstein

Handout: https://drisha.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Drisha-Elul-5780-The-Emotions-of-Teshuva-1.pdf
In addition to delineating the technical process of repentance, Jewish literature has also explored the emotions that are supposed to accompany this process. In this class we will trace The Emotions of Repentance from the medieval authorities (Rambam and Rabbeinu Yonah) through the great twentieth century thinkers, Rabbi Soloveitchik, Rav Kook and the Lubavitcher Rebbe.
Studying this topic comparatively will highlight the continuities and ruptures between the medieval and modern perspectives as well as the unique approaches of these three innovative and influential leaders.
Part 1: Introducing the range of emotions possibly associated with repentance.  We will then focus on Rambam and Rabbeinu Yonah and see how these texts were understood and experienced in traditional yeshivot. This will create a baseline to better appreciate the continuity and ruptures of 20th century Jewish thought.

Tisha B’Av 5780: ”On Suffering and Metaphors: Limits and Opportunities” with Dr. Tammy Jacobowitz

The book of Eichah is saturated with metaphors that serve to capture a range of emotions in the wake of the destruction. The rabbis of the Midrash also draw on metaphor to grapple with the impact of loss, drastic change, guilt and anger. In this class, we will immerse ourselves in these metaphors, and consider the power and failings of using metaphor to navigate suffering. 

Tisha B’Av 5780: ”The Impossibility of Mourning: Zoharic Thoughts on the Interminability of Tisha b’Av” with Dr. Nathaniel Berman

“From the day the Temple was destroyed…” – with this phrase, Jewish tradition repeatedly insists that the Temple’s destruction irreparably damaged the cosmos, even the divine itself. We commemorate Tisha B’Av with many of the customs of mourning in our personal lives. Why can we not ever complete this mourning? Do we ever complete mourning in our personal lives? We will study some texts from the kabbalistic masterpiece, the Zohar, on what Tisha B’Av can teach us about mourning … and vice versa.