September Report of our National Scholar, Rabbi Hayyim Angel

Rabbi Hayyim Angel

To our members and friends,

I hope you have enjoyed a good summer. We look forward to another full year of classes and programs through the Institute for Jewish Ideas and Ideals. Here is a brief summary of September offerings, as well as an overview of the upcoming co-sponsored classes of the Institute and Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun, where I serve as Rabbinic Scholar.

I will give a three-part series on the Torah and Haftarah readings of Rosh HaShanah at Lamdeinu Teaneck: An in-depth study of Genesis 21-22 (Abraham and Isaac), I Samuel chapter 1 (Hannah and Samuel), and Jeremiah’s prophecy of consolation in chapter 31.

Three Wednesdays: September 14, 21, 28, 12:00-1:15 pm, at Congregation Beth Aaron, 950 Queen Anne Road, Teaneck, New Jersey. To register, please go to lamdeinu.org.

On September 23-24, I will be the Shabbat scholar-in-residence at the Beth Avraham Yoseph of Toronto, 613 Clark Ave W, Thornhill, Ontario, Canada. For more information, please go to http://www.bayt.ca/.

Throughout the holiday season and the year, I will be speaking at the Sephardic Minyan at Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun (125 East 85th Street, between Park and Lexington Avenue in Manhattan). It is a warm, welcoming, vibrant community. Aside from Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur, when holiday tickets are required (please contact the synagogue office at 212-774-5600 for details), everyone always is invited to attend.

After the holiday season, I will resume our classes co-sponsored by the Institute for Jewish Ideas and Ideals and Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun. Classes are free and open to the public.

Navigating Through Nach: A Survey of the Prophets

Although Tanakh lies at the heart of the vision of Judaism and has influenced billions of people worldwide, many often lack access to these eternal works. The best of traditional and contemporary scholarship will be employed as we study the central themes of each book. This year we will study the Twelve Prophets and the books of the Writings (Ketuvim). The course is taught at a high scholarly level but is accessible to people of all levels of Jewish learning. Newcomers always welcome. Free and open to the public.

Wednesdays from 7:00-8:00pm, at Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun, 125 East 85th Street (between Park and Lexington Avenue) in Manhattan.

Fall session (Twelve Prophets, Psalms) November 2, 9, 16, 30; December 7, 14, 21
Winter session (Psalms, Proverbs, Job, Five Megillot) Feb 1, 8, 15, 22; March 1, 8, 15, 22
Spring session (Daniel, Ezra-Nehemiah, Chronicles) April 26; May 3, 10, 17

If you would like to hear the twenty classes I gave last year in this survey course, they are available at our Online Learning section of our website: https://www.jewishideas.org//online-learning

I also will teach the three-part History at Home series at Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun:
Great Biblical Scandals

November 12: The Dinah Narrative: Moral Ambiguities in a Dreadful Story
December 17: King David and Bat Sheva: An Affair to Remember
January 14: King Ahab: Did He Do Something Right?

Co-sponsored by the Institute for Jewish Ideas and Ideals and Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun.
Saturday nights from 8:30-9:30pm, at Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun,
125 East 85th Street (between Park and Lexington Avenue) in Manhattan.

I look forward to resuming our learning together, and stay tuned for updates!

I am grateful to the members and supporters of the Institute for making all of our programs, publications, and classes a priority in the development of American Jewish religious and communal life. Thank you,

Rabbi Hayyim Angel
National Scholar