The Tisch with Rabbi Michael Knopf

Join Rabbi Knopf as he and his students discuss Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel’s monumental collection of essays on Jewish prayer, “Man’s Quest for God.”

This week, we discuss “The Doctrine of Prayer as a Social Act,” in which Heschel argues that prayer is more than an opportunity for Jews to come together and form community, and synagogues must strive to be more than social centers. What do you think?

Join Rabbi Knopf as he and his students discuss Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel’s monumental collection of essays on Jewish prayer, “Man’s Quest for God.”

This week, we discuss “The Doctrine of Religious Behaviorism,” in which Heschel claims that, in the modern American synagogue, we serve tradition rather than God, emphasizing behavior rather than meaning. What do you think?

Join Rabbi Knopf as he and his students discuss Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel’s monumental collection of essays on Jewish prayer, “Man’s Quest for God.”

This week, we discuss “The Doctrine of Agnosticism,” in which Heschel claims we have divorced God from prayer and banished prayer from the synagogue. As a result, the soul of the synagogue has withered, causing death from the inside out. Do you agree? Is God missing from the synagogue? If we bring God back, will the people come back?

Join Rabbi Knopf as he and his students discuss Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel’s monumental collection of essays on Jewish prayer, “Man’s Quest for God.”

This week, we discuss “Spiritual Absenteeism,” in which Heschel challenges the modern American synagogue, and the worshippers therein, to bring more spirit, soulfulness, and emotion into congregational prayer. How can our places of worship become more spiritually alive?

Join Rabbi Knopf as he and his students discuss Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel’s monumental collection of essays on Jewish prayer, “Man’s Quest for God.”

This week, we discuss “Praying by Proxy,” and wonder: “Has the temple become the graveyard where prayer is buried?” Does synagogue prayer move you? Should it? How can our places of worship become more spiritually alive?

Join Rabbi Knopf as he and his students discuss Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel’s monumental collection of essays on Jewish prayer, “Man’s Quest for God.”

This week, we discuss the “Separation of Church and God,” and wonder whether we can or should bring God back to shul.