Jewish History and Education through the Lens of JTS鈥檚 Rare Manuscripts

Jewish History and Education through the Lens of JTS鈥檚 Rare Manuscripts

Feb 26, 2024 By Yitz Landes | Public Event video | Video Lecture

With Dr. Yitz Landes, Assistant Professor of Rabbinic Literatures and Cultures, JTS

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Between Moscow, Kyiv, and Jerusalem: How The Wars in Ukraine and Gaza Have Changed Russian and Ukrainian Attitudes Toward Israel and Jews

Between Moscow, Kyiv, and Jerusalem: How The Wars in Ukraine and Gaza Have Changed Russian and Ukrainian Attitudes Toward Israel and Jews

Jan 15, 2024 By David Fishman | Public Event video | Video Lecture

Dr. David Fishman, expert on Ukrainian Jewry, discusses the complex connections between the wars in Ukraine and Gaza and how Russian and Ukrainian attitudes toward Israel and Jews have evolved as a result鈥攂oth for better and for worse.

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Where Are We Now?聽 Rethinking Exile, Diaspora and Home in Israel and America

Where Are We Now?聽 Rethinking Exile, Diaspora and Home in Israel and America

Jan 29, 2024 By Arnold M. Eisen | Public Event video | Video Lecture

For many Jews in Israel and America, the war with Hamas has provoked a reconsideration of long-held assumptions about Israel, the Diaspora, and the relationship between the two. This lecture considers whether America can be a true home for Jews or whether is it another instance of exile, albeit different in some respects from all others鈥攁nd it aska these same questions regarding Israel. We examine a variety of responses to these questions by Americans and Israelis,聽Zionists and non-Zionists, that sharpen debate and challenge convictions that we hold dear.聽

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“Zion in the Diaspora”: How Jews Imagined They Lived in Zion Wherever They Actually Lived

“Zion in the Diaspora”: How Jews Imagined They Lived in Zion Wherever They Actually Lived

Jan 22, 2024 By David C. Kraemer | Public Event video | Video Lecture

Jews through the ages have hoped that one day the Messiah would come, leading them back to Zion. But in the meantime, they lived all over the world, making homes in one diaspora or another. And remarkably, they often spoke of their diaspora homes as 鈥淶ion,鈥 a place of redemption long before actual redemption. In this session, we will examine multiple such teachings and traditions including teachings of the great Maharal of Prague (16th century), early Hasidic masters (18th century), and others. We will聽consider what it means for Jews to imagine themselves in their eternal homes while living abroad

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Timely Insights, Timeless Wisdom聽

Timely Insights, Timeless Wisdom聽

Jan 22, 2024 By 糖心出品 | Public Event video | Video Lecture

Join JTS鈥檚 renowned聽faculty聽to learn about their current work and greatest passions. Drawing on their expertise,聽scholars will offer inspiring learning and expose聽us to new ideas聽and insights聽that help us connect the Jewish past with the Jewish future.聽Topics will include:聽

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Civic Friendship in Times of Crisis and War: Jewish Thought, Political Theory, and the Story of Hanukkah

Civic Friendship in Times of Crisis and War: Jewish Thought, Political Theory, and the Story of Hanukkah

Dec 11, 2023 By Shira Billet | Public Event video | Video Lecture

Ancient philosophers described a political ideal of 鈥渃ivic friendship,鈥 the idea that fellow citizens in a political community ought to pursue a certain kind of bond of friendship, in order to create flourishing societies steeped in a robust social fabric. Dr. Shira Billet explores the central聽role of notions of civic friendship in traditional Jewish sources. In light of current events in Israel, we will turn our attention to Jewish texts that relate to civic friendship in wartime and in times of crisis, with special connections drawn to the holiday of Hannukah.

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Paradigms of Friendship: What Philosophers and Rabbis Can Teach Us

Paradigms of Friendship: What Philosophers and Rabbis Can Teach Us

Dec 4, 2023 By Eliezer B. Diamond z”l | Public Event video | Video Lecture

The Greek philosophers asserted that there are four types of friendship. This model, which was adopted by Maimonides, considered shared joint engagement in intellectual matters the highest form of friendship. Missing from this paradigm is the importance of certain character traits in creating and sustaining friendships. We consider the “four friendships” model and then take a mussar oriented approach to suggest alternative paradigms.聽

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Friendship During Crisis: Learning from the Book of Job聽聽

Friendship During Crisis: Learning from the Book of Job聽聽

Nov 27, 2023 By Mychal Springer | Public Event video | Video Lecture

Job鈥檚 friends come to Job in the midst of his unspeakable losses and try to comfort him. We will learn from the Book of Job and explore the challenges of being a good friend when someone is suffering.

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