A Tree with Roots welcomes historian and storyteller SCOTT D. SELIGMAN to share a fascinating chapter of American history - with resonance for each of us today.

On July 30, 1902, tens of thousands of mourners lined the streets of New York’s Lower East Side to bid farewell to the city’s chief rabbi, Jacob Joseph. Without warning, scraps of steel, iron bolts, and scalding water were launched at the mourners, courtesy of antisemitic factory workers. The police compounded the attack, under orders from superiors, who made no effort to distinguish aggressors from victims. To the Yiddish press, the attack was not unlike those that many remembered bitterly from the Old Country. But this was America, and the Jewish community, fed up with being persecuted, responded to the assault, setting a pattern for the future by pursuing Jewish rights and justice for the victims. Scott Seligman’s new account of this history, The Chief Rabbi’s Funeral: The Untold Story of America’s Largest Antisemitic Riot, is the first book-length account of this seminal event and its aftermath.

Scott D. Seligman is a writer and historian. He is the national award-winning author of numerous books, including The Great Kosher Meat War of 1902: Immigrant Housewives and the Riots that Shook New York City (2020), and Murder in Manchuria: The True Story of a Jewish Virtuoso, Russian Fascists, a French Diplomat, and a Japanese Spy in Occupied China (2023).

Scott specializes in bringing little-known but crucial moments in history to life with drama and meaning. We are delighted to introduce him to our A Tree with Roots Community! Register below to receive the Zoom link and Passcode:

Special for A Tree with Roots community: Scott Seligman’s book THE CHIEF RABBI’S FUNERAL will be published in December. Beginning November 18, it can be ordered directly from the publisher at this link, for a 40% discount with the code 6AF24.

A Tree with Roots is delighted to welcome RABBI HANNA YERUSHALMI to our community for a soulful and powerful demonstration of how poetry puts words to our pain since October 7.

Hanna’s poems have been an online phenomenon in the past year. Many of them have gone viral, shared over and over again as expressions of a community’s trauma and resilience. Her poetry has been anthologized in two extraordinary and powerful collections: STRIP OF LAND - A Collection of Poems about Israel, and Oc7ober Shiva (both 2024). Many of these beautiful pieces have been incorporated into communities’ liturgies and memorials, timely reminders of shared empathy and hope.

Hanna Yerushalmi grew up in the Midwest, where kindness is a priority and listening is the first step in a relationship. And so relationship became the lens through which she views the world. Over the years this lens propelled her to the rabbinate and working in relational life. She is an ordained rabbi and served a congregation in Philadelphia, PA, as that community’s first woman rabbi. Currently she is a licensed professional counselor and works in a therapy practice with couples and individuals around issues of intimacy. In addition to her work as a therapist, Hanna is a writer, teacher, and motivational group leader. She lives in Annapolis, MD together with her husband and four children.

All are welcome to join us for a deep and spiritual exploration with a uniquely talented teacher. Register for the Zoom link and Passcode below:

Friday, July 5
17:00 Israel time | 10:00 A.M. Eastern time | 9:00 A.M. Central time

As Shabbat arrives in Israel, our online friends around the world are invited to welcome it together. We’ll study a selection from Parashat Korach, the week’s Torah portion, as we explore the enigmatic image of Aaron’s staff, which overnight blossoms with almond flowers. Why Aaron? Why almonds? The lens of midrash and Jewish commentary interprets this image as a powerful symbol of community a hope—a perfect way to welcome a summer Shabbat evening.

All are welcome to join us—register below for the Zoom link and Passcode. And after the class, you’re invited to flip over to Facebook Live at Kehillat Natan-Ya to join us for their spirited Shabbat service and Neal’s Friday night d’rash from the synagogue.

Neal has the pleasure of being a scholar-in-residence at Kehillat Natan-Ya in Netanya, Israel, through the generosity of Anita and Fred Finkelman and the gracious invitation of Rabbi Edgar Nof.

To receive the Zoom link, register at the link below:

Thursday, July 4
15:30 Israel time | 8:30 A.M. Eastern time | 7:30 A.M. Central time

Neal will be in Netanya, Israel for a series of classes this summer, open everyone around the world.

Since Biblical times, and especially since the advent of the State of Israel, we have sought to understand the relationship between Jews living in the Diaspora and those living in the Land of Israel: The complete negation of the Diaspora? “Poor cousins” in need of support? A wheel with spokes radiating outward? Many models have been proposed, but our world, especially post-Oct. 7, demands a rethinking. We’ll look at some of those historical models, and propose other ways of thinking of the interconnected nature of Jewish peoplehood today.

Neal has the pleasure of being a scholar-in-residence at Kehillat Natan-Ya, through the generosity of Anita and Fred Finkelman and the gracious invitation of Rabbi Edgar Nof.

To receive the Zoom link, register at the link below:

ATWR is delighted to welcome TAMAR BIALA, an extraordinary and creative teacher of Jewish texts, as we prepare for the holiday of Shavuot.

Tamar Biala is the editor of Dirshuni: Contemporary Women’s Midrash, a groundbreaking anthology of interpretations of the Hebrew Bible composed by Israeli women. It’s a profoundly beautiful and important new collection of contemporary writings that could stand alongside those of the ancient rabbis in their canon of Midrash. (The Hebrew versions of Dirshuni were added to the Sefaria.org site this past year.)

Tamar has taught at Jerusalem’s IASA (a high school for gifted children from all over Israel), and taught for a number of years at the Shalom Hartman Institute’s teacher training program, as well as seminars for the officer corps of the Israel Defense Forces. She has also taught in a variety of pluralistic batei midrash in Israel. Currently she is working on the Toratah project, regendering the Bible in revealing and eye-opening ways. She and her family live in Jerusalem.

Register here:

There is no charge for this event. If you’d like to support our growth, we warmly welcome your support:

The Passover Seder culminates with the famous phrase, “Next Year in Jerusalem.” How did this cry become the climactic words of the seder? In what times and places was it controversial? And how do these words reflect our celebration of freedom this year—as we look at the Seder through “Oct. 7 eyes”?

Join Neal and our blossoming online community, as we prepare our souls for Pesach—and we promise lots of great material and conversation-starters for you to share with your Seder this year!

Image: Barcelona Haggadah, mid- to late 14th century; British Library

A Tree with Roots is delighted to welcome Rabbi Dalia Marx, PhD, live from Jerusalem, to teach us about the spiritual promise of springtime and Passover’s imminent arrival—at this time of grief and war.

Rabbi Dalia Marx is one of the foremost scholars and exciting teachers of liberal Judaism working in Israel today: Rabbi David Ellenson ז״ל called her “arguably the foremost student of Jewish liturgy of her generation” and “a unique genius.” She is a 10th generation Jerusalemite, earned her doctorate at Hebrew University, and rabbinic ordination at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. She was the lead editor of Tfillat HaAdam (2020), the Siddur of the Israeli Reform movement, and the author When I Sleep and When I Wake: On Prayers between Dusk and Dawn (2010, Hebrew) as well as a wide array of academic and popular writings on Jewish liturgy, the Babylonian Talmud, and Israeli literature.

Rabbi Marx’s new book, From Time to Time: Journeys in the Jewish Calendar, is unlike any previous exploration of the Jewish year. It is a fascinating spiritual journey through the calendar, artfully blending traditional and contemporary perspectives on each Hebrew month and its holidays—with a fantastic collection of classic and contemporary Israeli poems and prayers.

There is no charge for this event. If you’d like to support our online classroom, we’d welcome it warmly:

Jewish spiritual life has been in turmoil for the past five months, since the horrific terrorist attacks against Israel, the ongoing war in Gaza, and the concomitant rise in antisemitism locally and around the world.

As Purim approaches, we’ll read the Book of Esther through “Oct. 7 lenses.” A spiritual and satirical masterpiece, Esther makes startling and timely observations about hatred, antisemitism, and self-defense. And the objects of its satire are never far from home.

Join Rabbi Neal Gold and our growing online community of learners for a spirited and heartfelt exploration of just how we can celebrate Purim at such a time of grief and fear. Some clues, we’ll discover, are to be found in the Megillah’s rich and multitiered text.

Image: Illuminated Scroll of Esther, Ferrara, Italy, 1616.
Courtesy of National Library of Israel.

7 Monday evenings, February - April 2024:
2/12, 2/26, 3/11, 3/18, 3/25, 4/1, 4/8

This class, originally scheduled for Me’ah, is now being offered as a special program for A TREE WITH ROOTS:

NOW, MORE THAN EVER: An online course to understand the roots and dynamic history of modern Israel.

Zionism sprouted from modernity, the 19th century social and intellectual trends that challenged just what, exactly, it meant to be a Jew in a new era of history. Simply put, the genesis and development of Zionism remains one of the most astonishing and fascinating moments in Judaism’s four thousand-year history. Zionism was not a single ideology, but a cluster of ideas that reflected a new era’s thinking about the Jew’s place in the modern world. We’ll explore how those ideas impacted the Jewish people in Israel and in America. We’ll discuss the writings of the movement’s key thinkers and writers, including often-neglected figures from the worlds of Mizrahi Judaism and women writers. We’ll look at art and literature, and we’ll explore how Zionist ideology was implemented in key political documents in Israel’s history.

This class is not offered from a particular political point of view. It is hoped, however, that by the end of the course, all of us will be able to articulate the reasons why the State of Israel needed to come into existence, why it looks the way it does - especially against the background of the current war.

This is a new endeavor for A TREE WITH ROOTS: A two-hour weekly course, with syllabus and background “homework” readings. Students will be offered background readings and asked to participate in real-time, with Zoom cameras turned on. There is a suggested enrollment fee of $200 (waivable for those who have already contributed $200 or more to ATWR in the past 12 months), and enrollment will be limited in order to maximize participation. Questions can be emailed to us at: ndzahav@gmail.com.

4 Wednesdays, January 24, 31; February 7, 14 | 7:00 pm Eastern time

The latest in our series of Jewish Literacy modules!

“Judaism emphasizes action" we’ve been told; but that cliché undermines the centrality of a nuanced Jewish faith that has come down to us throughout the generations. In this 4-week series, we’ll explore an overview of Jewish faith:

Does the Torah ever command belief? Is there a dogma of Judaism?

What is the place of faith—and doubt—in Jewish tradition?

What are the essential rubrics of Jewish faith?

Is there such thing as “heresy” in Judaism? Can (dis-)belief be an obstacle to participating in Jewish life?

…And more. We’ll explore some of the most challenging and insightful texts about faith in Jewish tradition, starting with the Bible and encompassing Maimonides, Kabbalah, and contemporary Jewish masters. If you’d like to discover more about the foundations of Jewish belief, and the permissibility (and perhaps even the gift) of doubt and questioning, this course is for you!

If you would like to support the growth of A Tree with Roots, we would welcome it with gratitude:

Image: An illuminated manuscript of SEFER HA-IKKARIM by Yosef Albo (Spain, 15th C), with the opening word YEDIAT (“Knowledge of [Fundamental Principles]”) highlighted.

We’re delighted to welcome Dr. Ruth Calderon to A Tree with Roots: an opportunity to study with a world-class teacher and to understand the painful situation in Israel through the lens of Jewish spiritual wisdom.

Ruth Calderon is a renowned educator and Talmud scholar working to promote Israeli and Jewish culture, Hebrew, and the cultivation of the study of Torah in a liberal, pluralistic, and humanistic public sphere. She served as a Member of Knesset for the Yesh Atid party and as Deputy Speaker in the 19th Knesset.

Ruth founded two Israeli institutions devoted to the study of sacred Jewish texts: Beit Midrash Elul in Jerusalem and Alma-Home for Hebrew Culture in Tel Aviv. She served as the head of the culture and education department of the National Library of Israel. She is the author of A Bride for One Night: Talmud Tales and A Talmudic Alpha Beta, which present beautiful and personal readings of classic Talmudic stories.

All are welcome to join us for this intimate event with an extraordinary scholar.

There is no charge for this event. If you’d like to promote our work and help us grow, we warmly welcome your support here:

Chanukah is about LIGHT. At a time when the world seems defined by strife, war, and pain, we can draw inspiration from individuals who are models of empathy and compassion. The RABBANIT BRACHA KAPACH of Jerusalem (known to so many simply as “the Rabbanit”) was one such hero; for me (Neal), she was a most profound teacher and exemplar of Tzedakah, kindness, and hope.

On the occasion of her 10th yartzeit (anniversary of her death), A Tree with Roots is privileged to host a class in her honor with Neal and two teachers who were closest to her and who carry forward her life’s work:

DANNY SIEGEL, master Torah teacher and poet; founder of the Ziv Tzedakah fund and author of over 30 books of poetry, Torah teachings, and prose that instructs us how to change the world.

EINAT KAPACH, filmmaker and lecturer; her films include Jephtah’s Daughter (1997) and Two Legacies (2008). Einat is granddaughter of the Rabbanit Kapach and Rabbi Yosef Kapach.

To learn more about the Rabbanit Kapach, you can read here the memorial that Neal wrote in 2013 at the time of her passing.

If your life was touched by the Rabbanit, you won’t want to miss the opportunity to mark this milestone with us. But if you never met her (or even heard of her), we know you’ll still enjoy the opportunity to learn with great teachers and be inspired by stories of how individuals can transform the world in grassroots and profound ways.

3 Mondays, October 16, 23, and 30, 2023 | 7:00 pm Eastern time

The sixth in our series of Jewish Literacy modules!

Judaism crucially takes place in the context of relationships: with family, lovers, neighbors, community, and with God. In this 3-week series, we’ll explore Jewish spiritual wisdom in these contexts:

What are my responsibilities towards the most important relationships in my life?

What is the meaning of marriage in the Jewish context?

What does it mean to “honor” parents? And what are the obligations of parents to children?

What is so unique about the teacher-student relationship?

Does Judaism prioritize a communal or an individual encounter with God?

…And much more. We’ll some of the most enlightening and provocative texts from Jewish tradition, and discover just how the most important relationships in our lives reveal essential truths about faith and about God. All are welcome: If you’d like to discover more about Judaism’s wisdom for our daily lives, this series is for you.

We invite you to support our Jewish virtual classroom! If you enjoy these classes, we’d welcome your tax-deductible support with grateful appreciation:

Image: a 16th Century Ketubah (marriage contract) from Rome, Italy

3 Sundays: October 15, 22, and 29; 12:00 noon Eastern time (9:00 am Pacific)

A Tree with Roots is delighted to host a three-week serieswith master teachers on the themes of Tzedakah, human dignity (“Kavod”), and world-repair (“Tikkun Olam”), including extraordinary people who are doing this work in fascinating ways.

30 years ago, a group of rabbinical students in Jerusalem established the KAVOD Tzedakah Fund, with the intention of seeking out, supporting, and promoting individuals and organizations that beautifully and creatively do the work of justice, caring, and peace. We named it “Kavod,” since human dignity was the common denominator of all these projects. Three decades later, the Kavod Tzedakah Fund has distributed over $1.7 million in the United States, Israel, Ukraine, and around the world. Kavod has also trained numerous “Tzedakah Fellows” in conjunction with Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, and inspired countless others in the art of grassroots, no-overhead Tzedakah-giving.

Here’s the schedule:

October 15: Torah study with RABBI YOSHI ZWEIBACK, our mentor and teacher DANNY SIEGEL, and a discussion with RABBI SUSAN LIPPE and KRIS WADE of The Other Ones Foundation, doing extraordinary work with homeless men and women in Austin, TX.

October 22: Torah study with RABBI JACQUELINE ELLENSON, and a discussion with RABBI JAY MOSES and DR. BETH WEINSTOCK of BirdieLight, working to save the lives of young people with education and action around the dangers of Fentanyl, the #1 cause of death among 18-45 year-olds in the US.

October 29: Torah study with RABBI DAVID ELLENSON and RABBI SYDNEY MINTZ, and a discussion with RABBI YOSHI ZWEIBACK and JONATHAN ORNSTEIN, CEO of JCC KRAKOW, on the frontlines of work and rescue of Ukrainian refugees.

All are welcome to join us for some truly enlightening and inspirational sessions about the skills of Tikkun Olam:

Participants are requested to learn more and to make a donation of any amount to the Kavod Tzedakah Collective at www.kavod.org.

Four Tuesday evenings, 7:00-8:15 pm Eastern time: August 29; September 5, 12, 19

Come join the growing A TREE WITH ROOTS community as embark on spiritual preparation for Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur.

The Akedat Yitzchak—the “Binding of Isaac” in Genesis 22—remains one of the most harrowing and enigmatic passages of the entire Torah. For centuries, it has also been indelibly linked with the liturgy of the Days of Awe, as the Torah reading for the Second Day of Rosh HaShanah and lingering in the prayers of the Machzor. But why? The connection between this story and the New Year is far from obvious.

In this four-week course, we’ll explore the Akedah from a variety of angles: its interpretation in classical Midrash; a comparison with Christian and Islamic understandings; and the place of the Akedah in modern Israeli life and literature. All along, we’ll mine these interpretations for fresh meanings for our own spiritual context, as part of our preparations to deepen the power of Rosh HaShanah 5784.

There is no charge for this event, but if you’d like to support our work and growth, we’d welcome it:

We’re pleased to announce a new initiative for our growing community: an online reading and discussion of a provocative new play: BELFAST KIND by Margo Connolly. The play is an exploration of the identities of a group of adolescent girls living in Belfast during the early 1980s, the period of “the Troubles” when cultural and political tensions were pulling Northern Ireland apart. At the center of this is a bat mitzvah girl, whose struggles with her multifaceted identity seems to be universally relevant for modern Jews. We really enjoyed the play and are eager to discuss it with A Tree with Roots.

A Tree with Roots is delighted to enter into this partnership with the Jewish Plays Project and their Founder & Executive Artistic Director David Wilinsky. Registrants will be invited to read the play in advance and to participate in reading selected passages during the program. Then we’ll explore the Jewish themes that emerge from the play, in conversation with Neal, David, and Margo, the playwright.

Space is limited to maximize participation - register below today:

There is no charge for this event. If you’d like to support the continued growth and development of A Tree with Roots, we’d gratefully welcome it here.

The Ninth of Av is the most solemn - and most misunderstood - day in the Jewish calendar. The essence of the day is Exile - from G-d, from Jerusalem, and from one another. Yet in the sadness of the day, there is deep spiritual meaning and yearning.

The Rabbis wrote a remarkable saga about the loss and destruction of Jerusalem; it’s a masterpiece of religious writing. We’ll explore the meaning of Tisha B’Av through the Talmud’s saga of the people of Jerusalem, who saw the city’s walls all aflame, in a historical moment that has some startling resonance with our own time.

All are welcome. Register here:

There is no cost for this class. If you’d like to support our growth, we’d welcome it here:

Image: Arch of Titus, Rome, commemorating the Roman destruction of Jerusalem and seizure of the treasures of the Temple. (Photo: NG)

Neal will be in Israel in June - and you’re invited to join online with the NATAN-YA community in the city of Netanya in pre-Shabbat Torah study with Neal and spirited Shabbat services where he’ll be speaking.

Friday, June 30 - 17:15 Israel time / 10:15 am Eastern time / 7:15 am Pacific time
Balaam’s Curses and Jewish Peoplehood Today In Numbers 22-24, the foreign prophet Balaam is hired to curse the Jewish people—but all that comes out of his mouth are words of blessing. By carefully reading his “prophecies,” what can we learn about the state of Jewish peoplehood today?

Friday, June 30 - 18:30 Israel time / 11:30 am Eastern US time / 8:30 am Pacific US time
“Who is a Rabbi?”:  Shabbat Services celebrating Rabbi Edgar Nof’s 10 years at Natan-Ya: עֲשֵׂה לְךָ רַב says the Mishnah, “Acquire yourself a Rabbi.” In honor of Rabbi Nof’s 10 years at Kehillat Natan-Ya, we’ll explore the meaning of the title “Rabbi” – and why the Sages saw Moses (and not others, like his brother Aaron) as their role model. 

Neal is delighted to be the Fred and Anita Finkelman Scholar-in-Residence of Congregation Natan-Ya and Bridges for Hope, in honor of the Finkelmans’ grandson Matanel Yizhar Chodoff.

Each of these programs will be broadcast Live on Facebook at Natan Ya קהילת ״נתן יה״ Congregation, and the class will also be shared on Zoom. To receive the Zoom link, please register here:

Neal will be in Israel in June, as the Fred and Anita Finkelman Scholar-in-Residence of Congregation Natan-Ya and Bridges for Hope, in honor of the Finkelmans’ grandson Matanel Yizhar Chodoff.

This special program for the marvelous Mitzvah organization BRIDGES FOR HOPE / Gesharim Letikvah.

For this class, we’ll explore the curious passages in the Torah that counterintuitively challenge us to “imitate God.” “Walk in God’s path,” instructs the Torah—over and over again. And yet other passages, like the Tower of Babel, teach that it is ridiculous for human beings to “play God”! How does our tradition teach us about this Mitzvah—and what are its spiritual implications for our work of Tikkun Olam?

This program will be broadcast LIVE on Facebook ON THURSDAY, JUNE 29, AT 16:30 ISRAEL TIME / 9:30 AM EASTERN (US) TIME through the page גשרים לתקווה - Bridges for hope, and it can also be seen via Zoom. To receive the Zoom link, register here:

We’re delighted to welcome RABBI GERSHOM SIZOMU, the first Chief Rabbi of Uganda, to A Tree with Roots to discuss Jewish life among the Abayudaya Jews.

Rabbi Sizomu serves his Jewish community in eastern Uganda near the town of Mbale. He is the first Jewish member of the Ugandan parliament (elected in 2016) and lives near the Moses in Synagogue in the village of Nabagogye, which he and others from the community’s early 1980s “Kibbutz movement” built up with their own hands, rebuilding Ugandan Jewish life after the devastating reign of Idi Amin.

A visionary leader, Rabbi Sizomu was awarded a Be’chol Lashon Fellowship in 2003 to attend the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies at the American Jewish University in Los Angeles, where he received rabbinic ordination in 2008. Rabbi Sizomu maintains, “The relationship between God and the Jews in the Torah resonates for many spiritual seekers. It is important that Africans and others know that they can choose Judaism as a spiritual path and that we are open to them.”

And we’re particularly thrilled Rabbi Sizomu will be in conversation with RABBI MICHAEL CHERNICK, Professor Emeritus of Rabbinic Literature at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. Rabbi Chernick is the chief mover behind Achvah: The Partnership for Abayudaya Rights, which is working to attain the right of the Abayudaya Jews of Uganda to recognition as full members of the world Jewish community.

Register here to receive the Zoom link:

There is no charge for this special event. If you’d like to invest in more programs like this with A Tree with Roots, we’d welcome it gratefully:

4 Tuesdays: April 18, 25; May 2, 9 | 7:00 pm Eastern time

The fifth in our series of Jewish Literacy modules!

Israel, now? Yes, now more than ever. In light of the struggles for Israeli identity that have been unfolding in her streets over the past few months - and marking the 75th anniversary of her Independence (April 26 on the Jewish calendar; May 14 on the secular calendar) - it’s crucial for us to understand Israel’s origins, foundation story, and the seeds of her problems as well as her astonishing successes.

Why is there a State of Israel? How did it come into being? How do we tell Israel’s story? What religious meaning, if any, should Israel have for Jews today?

We’ll explore some of the founding documents and thinkers who brought the State of Israel into being. We won’t be able to answer every conundrum about contemporary Israel, but we will strive to understand why and how Israel represents a tremendous chapter of Jewish history, and what the implications of Zionism are for Jewish life everywhere in 2023. All are welcome: If you’re confused about how to articulate Israel’s foundational story amidst the current maelstrom, this series is for you.

We invite you to support our Jewish virtual classroom! If you enjoy these classes, we invite your text-deductible support with grateful appreciation:

God will see the blood on the lintel and the two doorposts, and God will pass over the door and not let the Destroyer enter and smite your home (Exodus 12:24).

The essential moment of the Exodus story is filled with more questions than answers! Why on the doorposts? Does God really need this designation? Is this the origin of the term “Passover”? And so much more… This enigmatic moment of the Story of Freedom lends itself to much midrash and interpretation, and we’ll explore it in depth, always with an eye on its meaning for our freedom today.

We promise plenty of juicy texts and discussion topics for your seders! All are welcome to join us in this spiritual preparation for Passover 2023.

Join us for ONE or BOTH of our online Pesach preparation classes this year (March 30 and April 2). There is just ONE sign up… even if you can only join us for one session. Register here today to receive the Zoom link:

There is no cost to attend this online course. If you’d like to support our work and growth, we’d welcome it with gratitude:

“…In each generation they have tried to destroy us…” It’s no secret that our recent Passovers have been celebrated slightly on edge, with a renewed awareness of the anti-Jewish sentiment in the world. Let’s explore together the seder’s nuanced discussion of how Jews perceive ourselves and our enemies, through the Haggadah’s lens of Bible and Midrash. And we’ll examine the meaning of Passover’s promises at a time of growing hostility and anxiety. We promise lots of texts and juicy conversation starters for your seder this year!

Join us for ONE or BOTH of our online Pesach preparation classes this year (March 30 and April 2). There is just ONE sign up… even if you can only join us for one session. Register here today to receive the Zoom link:

There is no charge for these classes. If you’d like to support our work and growth, we’d welcome it with gratitude:

Image: from The Koren Ethiopian Haggada: Journey to Freedom, ed. Rabbi Menachem Waldman, 2010

4 Tuesdays: Feb. 28; March 7, 21, 28

The fourth in our series of Jewish Literacy modules!

Where does evil come from? Does Judaism find spiritual meaning in human suffering?  What are the foundations of Jewish ethics? 

In our latest four-week series, we’ll explore good, evil, ethics, and questions about our mutual responsibility for the world. We’ll spend some time studying Jewish theodicy: attempting to understand how Judaism grapples with questions of evil and human suffering. These are some of the primal questions of religious life, and the rich history of Jewish literature has a lot of spiritual wisdom to guide us. All are welcome: If you’ve been searching for new and accessible ways into Jewish spirituality, this series is for you.

We invite you to support our Jewish virtual classroom! We encourage a minimum $36 tax-deductible contribution for this class, for those who are able, your support is gratefully appreciated:

UPDATE: We’re happy to say that we’ve rescheduled this program for SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12, AT 11:00 AM EASTERN TIME. If you’ve already registered once, thank you: You’re still registered! Otherwise, please click on the link below to register and receive the Zoom link.

We are delighted to welcome Rabbi Jonathan Porath, author of the new memoir Here We Are All Jews: 175 Russian Jewish Journeys in which he tells the stories of his first-hand experiences with Soviet and post-Soviet Jews from the 1960s until today, through the lens of 175 journeys as an activist and leader of Jewish student missions and later as a senior staff member of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC).

The Exodus of Soviet Jewry as been called “the most successful human rights campaign in history”, and Jonathan Porath had a front-row seat to all its drama. He’ll be sharing with us his personal adventures and extraordinary stories—as well as why knowing this history is more important than ever. An excerpt of Here We Are All Jews was published here in the Jerusalem Post. Here are some testimonials about the new book:

“A moving message of Jewish connection and an important perspective on a chapter in Jewish history worthy of being told.” —Natan Sharansky, former Prisoner of Zion

“Offers one of the most vivid accounts I know of the modern exodus. This book belongs on the very short list of essential books on Soviet Jewry.” —Yossi Klein Halevi, Senior Fellow, Shalom Hartman Institute

“Filled with unforgettable vignettes, the volume serves both as a primary historical source…and as a monument.” —Jonathan D. Sarna, Brandeis University

Join us for a conversation on this important and extraordinary chapter in modern Jewish history with a fabulous teacher who himself was part of the amazing story:

There is no charge for this event. If you’d like to support our work, we’d warmly welcome it here: