Why does God command us to kill animals when we’ve done something wrong? What does this have to do with atonement, Yom Kippur, and the Binding of Isaac? Are you ready to transform yourself into a living sacrifice, and is that what we do on Yom Kippur?

In this session, we will look at the themes of memory, judgement, and covenant in Zichronot (verses of remembrance), one of the three blessings we add to musaf on Rosh Hashana.

In this session, we will look at the haftarah of the first day of Rosh Hashana (I Samuel 1:1-2:10) and use it to gain a better understanding of the holiday.

Sam Lebens shares his thoughts on Shavuot.

David Silber shares his thoughts on the Passover haggadah.

David Silber shares his thoughts on the Passover haggadah.

Through an examination of the Yom Kippur prayer service, we will uncover major themes of the holiday.

To what extent is it possible to become a new person? Is that what teshuva demands? What does the concept of repentance have to teach us about what and who we really are?

Do we believe that God is in time, or does He somehow stand outside of time? How is this question relevant to Rosh Hashana? Together we will think through some of these philosophical issues, and use them to interpret a puzzling Talmudic debate as to what we have to repent for each year.

Through an examination of the Rosh Hashana prayer service, we will uncover major themes of the holiday.