A Conversation about the Book of Judges

At this moment, the entire country is thinking about issues of leadership in our national life. Our own Jewish history provides several distinct paradigms of leadership. The theme of the Fall 2008 course guide is "Judges" which refers to the period of Israelite leadership between Joshua, Moses' successor, and Saul, the first King of Israel. It is much more difficult to pinpoint these events historically using archeological evidence or outside textual sources that the later periods of Kings and Prophets. Scholars know very little about the order in which these events occurred, or whether they occurred. In his podcast, Rabbi Leon A. Morris sits down with Dr. Diane Sharon to discuss the Judges. To read a full transcript of this interview, please visit  www.adultjewishlearning.org/judges.html. File Size: 9MB

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Tisha b'Av 2008: Shmirat HaLashon: Personal Speech and Public Discourse

This panel, part of the Skirball Center Annual Tisha b'Av Exchange, is entitled "Shmirat HaLashon: Personal Speech and Public Discourse". Panelists included Seth Aronson, Gary Rosenblatt, Rabbi Abby Sosland, and was moderated by Daniel Septimus. For the full schedule of the Tisha b'Av exchange visit this link. File Size: 66MB

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Tisha b'Av 2008: Living (and Dreaming) in Exile: Tisha b'Av and Tibet

This panel, part of the Skirball Center Annual Tisha b'Av Exchange, is entitled "Living (and Dreaming) in Exile: Tisha b'Av and Tibet". Panelists included Jay Michaelson, Tashi Phuntsok, Mickey Spiegel and was moderated by Rabbi Stephanie Ruskay. For the full schedule of the Tisha b'Av exchange visit this link. File Size: 71MB

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Conversations About God: A Third Interview with Theologian Dr. Neil Gillman

In this final interview in the series, Rabbi Leon A. Morris speaks with Dr. Neil Gillman, Professor of Jewish Philosophy at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America and one of America's most significant contemporary Jewish theologians. Dr. Gillman serves as this year's Scholar-in-Residence at the Skirball Center. A transcript of their discussion can be found at this link. File Size: 52MB

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Conversations About God: A Second Interview with Theologian Dr. Neil Gillman

In this second in a series of interviews, Rabbi Leon A. Morris speaks with Dr. Neil Gillman, Professor of Jewish Philosophy at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America and one of America's most significant contemporary Jewish theologians. Dr. Gillman serves as this year's Scholar-in-Residence at the Skirball Center. A transcript of their discussion can be found at this link. File Size: 47MB

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AFTERWORDS 024 - ACHAREI MOT

In this lecture of The Skirball Center's AfterWords series, Basya Schechter explores an idea pulled from the Torah portion of Acharei Mot. This lecture series can be attended weekly on Thursday evenings at 7pm at The Skirball Center (One East 65th Street, New York City). File Size: 44MB

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AFTERWORDS 023 - METZORAH

In this lecture of The Skirball Center's AfterWords series, Dr. Regina Stein explores an idea pulled from the Torah portion of Metzorah. This lecture series can be attended weekly on Thursday evenings at 7pm at The Skirball Center (One East 65th Street, New York City). File Size: 53MB

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AFTERWORDS 022 - TAZRIA

In this lecture of The Skirball Center's AfterWords series, Dr. Joshua Halberstam explores an idea pulled from the Torah portion of Tazria. This lecture series can be attended weekly on Thursday evenings at 7pm at The Skirball Center (One East 65th Street, New York City). File Size: 49MB

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AFTERWORDS 021 - SHEMINI

In this lecture of The Skirball Center's AfterWords series, Amichai Lau-Lavie explores an idea pulled from the Torah portion of Shemini. This lecture series can be attended weekly on Thursday evenings at 7pm at The Skirball Center (One East 65th Street, New York City). File Size: 57MB

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AFTERWORDS 020 - VAYIKRA

In this lecture of The Skirball Center's AfterWords series, Rabbi Joy Levitt explores an idea pulled from the Torah portion of Vayikra. This lecture series can be attended weekly on Thursday evenings at 7pm at The Skirball Center (One East 65th Street, New York City). File Size: 47MB

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AFTERWORDS 019 - PIKUDEI

In this lecture of The Skirball Center's AfterWords series, Nigel Savage explores an idea pulled from the Torah portion of Pikudei. This lecture series can be attended weekly on Thursday evenings at 7pm at The Skirball Center (One East 65th Street, New York City). File Size: 46MB

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AFTERWORDS 018 - VAYAK'HEL

In this lecture of The Skirball Center's AfterWords series, Rabbi Jennifer Krause explores an idea pulled from the Torah portion of Vayak'hel. This lecture series can be attended weekly on Thursday evenings at 7pm at The Skirball Center (One East 65th Street, New York City). File Size: 51MB

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AFTERWORDS 017 - KI TISA

In this lecture of The Skirball Center's AfterWords series, Rabbi Joanna Samuels explores an idea pulled from the Torah portion of Ki Tisa. This lecture series can be attended weekly on Thursday evenings at 7pm at The Skirball Center (One East 65th Street, New York City). File Size: 49MB

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AFTERWORDS 016 - TETZAVEH

In this lecture of The Skirball Center's AfterWords series, Aaron Bisman explores an idea pulled from the Torah portion of Tetzaveh. This lecture series can be attended weekly on Thursday evenings at 7pm at The Skirball Center (One East 65th Street, New York City). File Size: 45MB

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EMANU-EL READS PRESENTS "ARE JEWS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE WHOLE WORLD?"

In this special podcast, the Skirball Center invites you to listen to a lecture of Temple Emanu-El's Emanu-El Reads program featuring Rabbi Neil Gillman. This lecture is part of a year long program on The Sabbath: Its Meaning for Modern Man by Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel. For more information about the Emanu-El Reads program, please visit www.emanuelnyc.org. File Size: 74MB

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AFTERWORDS 015 - TERUMAH

In this lecture of The Skirball Center's AfterWords series, Tobi Kahn explores an idea pulled from the Torah portion of Terumah. This lecture series can be attended weekly on Thursday evenings at 7pm at The Skirball Center (One East 65th Street, New York City). File Size: 55MB

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AFTERWORDS 014 - MISHPATIM

In this lecture of The Skirball Center's AfterWords series, Esther Kustanowitz explores an idea pulled from the Torah portion of Mishpatim. This lecture series can be attended weekly on Thursday evenings at 7pm at The Skirball Center (One East 65th Street, New York City). File Size: 46MB

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AFTERWORDS 013 - YITRO

In this lecture of The Skirball Center's AfterWords series, Ari L. Goldman explores an idea pulled from the Torah portion of Yitro. This lecture series can be attended weekly on Thursday evenings at 7pm at The Skirball Center (One East 65th Street, New York City). File Size: 25MB

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AFTERWORDS 012 - BESHALACH

In this lecture of The Skirball Center's AfterWords series, Rabbi Howard Goldsmith explores an idea pulled from the Torah portion of Beshalach. This lecture series can be attended weekly on Thursday evenings at 7pm at The Skirball Center (One East 65th Street, New York City). File Size: 49MB

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AFTERWORDS 011 - BO

In this lecture of The Skirball Center's AfterWords series, Dr. David Arnow explores an idea pulled from the Torah portion of Bo. This lecture series can be attended weekly on Thursday evenings at 7pm at The Skirball Center (One East 65th Street, New York City). File Size: 60MB

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CONVERSATIONS ABOUT GOD: AN INTERVIEW WITH THEOLOGIAN NEIL GILLMAN

In this first in a series of interviews, Rabbi Leon A. Morris speaks with Dr. Neil Gillman, Professor of Jewish Philosophy at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America and one of America's most significant contemporary Jewish theologians. Dr. Gillman serves as this year's Scholar-in-Residence at the Skirball Center. A transcript of their discussion can be found here. File Size: 51MB

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AFTERWORDS 010 - VAYECHI

In this lecture of The Skirball Center's AfterWords series, Dr. Neil Gillman explores an idea pulled from the Torah portion of Vayechi. This lecture series can be attended weekly on Thursday evenings at 7pm at The Skirball Center (One East 65th Street, New York City). File Size: 65MB

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AFTERWORDS 009 - VAYIGASH

In this lecture of The Skirball Center's AfterWords series, Dr. David Greenstein explores an idea pulled from the Torah portion of Vayigash. This lecture series can be attended weekly on Thursday evenings at 7pm at The Skirball Center (One East 65th Street, New York City). File Size: 52MB

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AFTERWORDS 008 - MIKETZ

In this lecture of The Skirball Center's AfterWords series, Dr. John Ruskay explores an idea pulled from the Torah portion of Miketz. This lecture series can be attended weekly on Thursday evenings at 7pm at The Skirball Center (One East 65th Street, New York City). File Size: 20MB

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AFTERWORDS 007 - VAYESHEV

In this lecture of The Skirball Center's AfterWords series, Dr. Irit Koren explores an idea pulled from the Torah portion of Vayeshev. This lecture series can be attended weekly on Thursday evenings at 7pm at The Skirball Center (One East 65th Street, New York City). File Size: 55MB

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AFTERWORDS 006 - VAYETZEI

In this lecture of The Skirball Center's AfterWords series, Ariel Beery explores an idea pulled from the Torah portion of Vayetzei. This lecture series can be attended weekly on Thursday evenings at 7pm at The Skirball Center (One East 65th Street, New York City). File Size: 55MB

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AFTERWORDS 005 - TOLEDOT

In this lecture of The Skirball Center's AfterWords series, Dr. Leonard Fein explores an idea pulled from the Torah portion of Toledot. This lecture series can be attended weekly on Thursday evenings at 7pm at The Skirball Center (One East 65th Street, New York City). File Size: 29MB

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AFTERWORDS 004 - CHAYEI SARAH

In this lecture of The Skirball Center's AfterWords series, Rabbi Eliyahu Stern explores an idea pulled from the Torah portion of Chayei Sarah. This lecture series can be attended weekly on Thursday evenings at 7pm at The Skirball Center (One East 65th Street, New York City). File Size: 28MB

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AFTERWORDS 003 - VAYERA

In this lecture of The Skirball Center's AfterWords series, Gary Rosenblatt explores an idea pulled from the Torah portion of Vayera. This lecture series can be attended weekly on Thursday evenings at 7pm at The Skirball Center (One East 65th Street, New York City). File Size: 51MB

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AFTERWORDS 002 - LECH LECHA

In this lecture of The Skirball Center's AfterWords series, Dr. David M. Elcott, executive director of Israel Policy Forum explores ideas pulled from the Torah portion of Lech Lecha (Genesis 12:1-17:27). This lecture series can be attended weekly on Thursday evenings at 7pm at The Skirball Center (One East 65th Street, New York City). File Size: 51MB

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AFTERWORDS 001 - NOACH

In this Inaugural lecture of The Skirball Center's AfterWords series, Dr. Ruth Calderon explores an idea pulled from the Torah portion of Noach. This lecture series can be attended weekly on Thursday evenings at 7pm at The Skirball Center (One East 65th Street, New York City). File Size: 51MB

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TISHA B'AV 2007

BECAUSE OF OUR SINS? DO WE BLAME OURSELVES TOO MUCH OR NOT ENOUGH?

The classic biblical and rabbinic traditions understand exile as God’s punishment for our sins – either idolatry (in the case of the First Temple) or a host of social sins (in the case of the second). Is this theological move a matter of “blaming the victim” or does it encourage us to apply self-critique even in the most difficult times? What contemporary meaning can we draw from this for today?

Panelists included Dr. David Kraemer; Professor, Jewish Theological Seminary, and Rabbi Eliyahu Stern; scholar-in-residence at Manhattan’s Park East Synagogue. Moderated by Rabbi Leon A. Morris; Executive Director, The Skirball Center for Adult Jewish Learning.

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CREATING COMMUNITIES OF BASELESS LOVE

According to tradition, the Second Temple was destroyed by baseless hatred. Rav Kook and others have taught that Jerusalem will be restored by “baseless love.” Are we capable of creating communities that are venues for genuine connection and concern? What would such a Jewish community look like? What is the role of leadership in creating such communities? What historical precedents should we be looking at in our desire to create a new kind of community?

Panelists included Marcie Lenk; Berman Fellow at Harvard University and doctoral candidate in Early Christianity and Rabbinic Judaism, Nigel Savage; Founder, Hazon, an organization that focuses on “Jews, Food & Contemporary Life”, and Rabbi Elie Kaunfer; Founder, Machon Hadar. Moderated by Dr. Jill Salberg.

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IDEAS CAFE: THE JEWISH MEDIA CONSPIRACY: IS IT TRUE? AND IS IT GOOD FOR THE JEWS?

For years, anti-Semites have claimed that there's a Jewish media conspiracy--that Jews have attained a monopoly of interest in and control of the publishing industry, television, and Hollywood. At this session, we'll talk about the "Jewish media cabal" and whether it actually exists. Is such a claim anti-Semitism? Is the media is significantly populated by Jews? And if it is, does this reputation benefit the Jewish people?

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IDEAS CAFE: HOW MUCH CAN JUDAISM CHANGE AND STILL BE AUTHENTIC?

From iPods to the internet to Direct TV, it has been said that the past ten years have seen more technological change than the previous several decades. Judaism, too, is changing fast-- in the past thirty years, we have seen the first ordinations of women and of gay and lesbian rabbis; dozens of liturgical changes; the growth of Jewish meditation, yoga, and chanting; and attempts to integrate Judaism with other faith traditions. A Talmudic Rabbi visiting twenty-first century America might not even recognize today's Judaism. All of this begs the question: how much can Judaism change and still feel the same?

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IDEAS CAFE: CAN A JEWISH STATE BE TRULY DEMOCRATIC?

Israel prides itself on being the only democracy in the Middle East, but of course, it also prides itself on being a "Jewish" state. The State's Jewishness has ramifications for everything from immigration to marriage, and the latter was highlighted last year when a group of intermarried citizens sued the State of Israel because there is no way for people of different religions to marry legally in Israel. Can a state that privileges one religion and people over others ever be truly democratic? What are the costs of changing the status quo in Israel? And what are the costs of not changing it?

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IDEAS CAFE: IS THE TORAH REALLY A BASIS FOR LIBERAL VALUES?

Today, it's common in some circles to hear claims that the Bible aligns with modern politically liberal ideas such as workers' rights, welfare, universal health care, and environmental legislation. So does that mean that Jewish political conservatives are just plain wrong? Join Jay Michaelson, chief editor of Zeek: A Jewish Journal of Thought and Culture, for a hard-nosed look at the many voices of Biblical texts.

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IDEAS CAFE: DOES THE JURY SYSTEM WORK?

Many of us anticipate dreading jury duty, but when we actually serve on a jury to verdict, it can be a very different experience. Let's come together to discuss the experience of being on a jury. What does it feel like to have this kind of responsibility? What surprised you about the experience? Come share your feelings with a veteran criminal trial attorney, and maybe next time we get the envelope with the official seal on it, we might feel differently.

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IDEAS CAFE: THE MINIMUM WAGE: FREE ENTERPRISE VS. COMMUNAL OBLIGATION

This month, Congress is debating raising the federal minimum wage to $7.25/hour. Is this good for workers? For small businesses? What effect will this change have? What might Judaism say about minimum wages, living wages, and other worker-employer issues?

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IDEAS CAFE: EXCERPTS FROM "MUSLIMS AND JEWS: CAN WE TALK?

Is it possible? Can Jews and Muslims talk to each other as human beings? Can we communicate as people who share a love of family, life, and hope for a better world? Can we avoid the unsolvable debates for now, and begin to build a bridge over the abyss of history and hatred? Roy Wasserman and Gul Rukh Rahman moderate.

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IDEAS CAFE: DATING AND JEWISH ETHICS: WHAT DO WE OWE THE PEOPLE WE DATE (AND SOMETIMES HATE?)

Issues of sex and infidelity aside, what are the "sins" of modern dating? Is everything really fair in the pursuit of love? How much do we need to know about those we date and what are the ethical boundaries to seeking out information? How much are we obligated to reveal about ourselves? When things don't "click" with a date, is it unethical to kiss and kvetch? And does dating involve unspoken financial agreements -- and penalties for infractions? Just what do young Jews owe each other as members of the club of singles searching for Mr. or Ms. "Right?" Esther Kustanowitz moderates.

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IDEAS CAFE: WHY BE JEWISH? SEARCHING FOR NEW (AND COMPELLING) ANSWERS

Communal anxieties about assimilation and intermarriage have made Jewish continuity the primary concern of many Jewish organizations and institutions. Yet few of these outfits explicitly articulate why they value continuity. Why should people be Jewish today? Because God says so? To find personal meaning? To honor tribe and tradition? To not give Hitler a posthumous victory? And what is the payoff--or Jews, for mankind, for the planet? Daniel Septimus moderates.

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IDEAS CAFE: JEWS AND FOOD - BEYOND KEEPING KOSHER

Jewish identity has been bound up with food for 3,000 years--from the laying down of biblical dietary laws to 21st century jokes about minimalist "gastronomic" Judaism. In today's over-stressed global environment, is it time to go beyond kashrut and "bagel and lox" Judaism to something more in tune with Jews' ancient connection to the land and responsibility to practice good health? Should Jewish identity now be bound up with food and environmentalism? We may be the "people of the book," but that book tells us that our origins were "the people of the land." Sarah Chandler moderates.

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IDEAS CAFE: IS JEWISH LIFE BECOMING "POST-DENOMINATIONAL"?

Consider whether Judaism has entered a new, "post-denominational" era. Now that Jews pick and choose from among Judaism's tenets to shape their own religious lives, do the labels "Reform," "Conservative," and "Orthodox" still matter? Or do new labels - like "Liberal," "Traditional-egalitarian," "Flexidox," and "Metrodox" - better define today's customized Judaism? Is every Jew their own denomination? What do the changes mean for American Jewish life? What will be gained or lost? Is there still a need for movements, or have they run their course - and, if so, who will support the major 20th century institutions these movements established?

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TISHA B'AV 2006

For the second consecutive year, the Skirball Center for Adult Jewish Learning has convened a day of dialogue and study on Tisha B'Av, the anniversary of the destruction of the First and Second Temple in Jerusalem. In discussing the themes of exile and redemption, Skirball has reinvented the traditional commemoration day as an opportunity to discuss meaningful and relevant issues.