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In Rabbinic literature, the Torah is likened to water. It is nourishing, refreshing, and life-giving among other qualities. Similarly, we all hold within ourselves wells of Torah that need replenishing. This Fall, fill your well of Torah with one (or many) of Hadar’s daily, weekly, or biweekly learning opportunities. Take a drop of Tefillah with Rabbi Elie Kaunfer, dip into Hassidut with Rabbi Aviva Richman or Parasha with Dena Weiss, delve into Talmud with Rabbi Avi Strausberg, or take a deep dive into Midrash with Amit Gvaryahu.
All times listed are EDT.
A Daily Drop: An accessible drop of Torah to anchor the rhythm of your day.
A Dip: Weekly or semi-weekly learning engagements across genres. No prior preparation required.
A Delve: Commit to learning an arc of material and grow your skills along the way. No prior preparation required.
A Deep Dive: Working through an arc of advanced material. May require prior preparation.
Prepare for your daily Shaharit practice with Hadar! In this 15 minute slot, Rabbi Elie Kaunfer and Rabbi Aviva Richman will offer some brief text learning related to the blessings of the Amidah; each morning will open with some song.
If any prayer is core to the Jewish tradition, it is the Amidah. Recited in every prayer service, the ostensibly straightforward Amidah is a collage of images, intentions, allusions, and intertexts. Yet, whether we pray it regularly or rarely, much of Amidah's language and themes remain closed to us. In this series we will explore the beauty and complexity of this important prayer and ask: How can I interpret the siddur in a grounded and traditional yet creative manner? Are traditional prayer formulas able to express my own values/ideas of prayer? What do you do when you "disagree" with the prayer's content?
Perspectives on the Parashah continues! In this class we will look at different insights on the Parashah. Our main focus will be on Midrash, but we will occasionally bring in other types of interpretations to add new vantage points to familiar stories.
For the past few years, we have had a lovely neighborhood Talmud class in our living room, studying Massekhet Sanhedrin. We are now opening the virtual walls and would love for you to join. We will learn the fifth chapter of Sanhedrin (beginning on 40a) as we explore issues around civil and criminal procedure in rabbinic law. We will focus on the original text and Rashi, with occasional reference to a Tosafot and outside commentaries, both medieval and modern. This is a perfect class for people with a background in Talmud as well as adventurous learners ready to jump in to the original text with a guide! Recommended to bring your own text if you are able, or Rabbi Tucker will screenshare as well.
Prepare for Shabbat each week with a close reading of the teachings of Rabbi Yehuda Leib Alter, the second Rebbe of the Gerre Hasidim, also known as the Sefat Emet. We will focus on how the Sefat Emet offers subtle and profound readings of midrash, beckoning us to ask penetrating questions of the figures in Torah and of ourselves.
Explore each week's parashah through leyning, mixed media story-telling, and discussion. Become familiar with the content and sound of the parashah each week and psyched about Torah as a lens to engage real life questions!
Our sages vividly describe the laws of Shabbat as “mountains hanging by a thread” (Hagigah 1:8). Discover these mountains by delving into the Jewish canon’s formative sources that shape what Shabbat practice(s) look like. By studying Halakhah through the lens of how the laws of Shabbat developed over generations, this class aims to orient you to key texts in the Jewish legal tradition, from the Bible to contemporary texts and sources. We will study Halakhah ‘bekiyut’ style, aiming to gain exposure to and comprehension of broad swaths of foundational sources.
Have you ever wondered how the Talmud works? What are its components and why does it feel so complex? In this class we will familiarize ourselves with the major, foundational texts of Rabbinic literature and how they interact with and build upon one another. We will gain an understanding of how the Rabbis study the Torah and teach the Torah - how they derive meaning from the Biblical text and, occasionally, how they subvert it. This is not a class in Rabbinic history or a survey of Rabbinic thought, but rather an introduction to and immersion in the mechanics of how to learn Rabbinic texts designed to empower us as learners of our tradition.
This class is intended for students with some familiarity with Rabbinic literature, but who have not had the opportunity to study it in depth and really learn how this literature works. All texts will be available in the original and in translation and we will toggle between the two languages. Fluency in Hebrew or Aramaic is not required, but students will be most engaged if they have some access to the fundamentals of Hebrew language as we will make reference to the original Hebrew. Class size will be capped at 20 students, who will be expected to keep their video on throughout the class, in order to facilitate discussion and deep learning.
In this course, we'll explore some of the major passages in the 6th chapter of Sanhedrin, Nigmar HaDin ("the verdict is completed"). This chapter deals with the application of the death penalty and explores issues of atonement, human dignity, and the place of the Divine in our sorrow. What does it mean to give someone a "mitah yafah," a “beautiful death” and how does it apply to the case of one who is being executed for a crime? For whose benefit are mourning rituals around death: the one who has died or the living? How do we preserve human dignity with someone in the hands of the criminal justice system?
This class is designed for students with a basic background in Rabbinic texts. We will be studying in the original Hebrew and Aramaic and we'll focus our conversations on content while also learning key terminology and structure common to the Gemara. Students in this class should be able to read and translate Mishnah somewhat independently. If you need the help of a dictionary or friend, that's fine too. If you have some exposure to Talmud, that's great and this class is still for you! No independent preparation is expected, though there may be some in-class havruta learning. In order to maintain an active and participatory learning environment, students will be expected to learn with cameras on. Class size will be capped at 25 participants.
This class is an in-depth crash-course in the genre of Halakhic midrash, using the “lost” Mekhilta to Devarim as a model. We will learn this early and foundational midrash in the original, working and learning through all its angles— text, biblical interpretation, theology and halakhah. We will also work with my recently completed translation to the midrash (based on geniza fragments found in the 19th century), and think about what a midrashic translation should and shouldn’t do. This class will give you an insider perspective on the origins of midrash and the earliest stages of Talmud Torah that will anchor the rest of your learning for a lifetime.
Prerequisites: To take this course you should be able to read Biblical Hebrew with a dictionary. Preferably you should also have some background in rabbinic literature. There will be highly recommended reading assignments to prepare you for each class.
Faculty Bio: Amit Gvaryahu (PhD, The Hebrew University, 2019), is a student of midrash and halakhah. He is currently working on a rabbinic cultural history of money on a new translation of the Mekhilta to Deuteronomy fragments. Amit worked on Tannaitic midrash as part of his MA and PhD theses--you can read some of his work on Midrash in the journals Tarbiz and the Journal of Jewish Studies.
Project Zug is an opportunity to learn virtually with a havruta (designated learning partner) each week. Choose from over 30 courses and delve into a topic that feels relevant to you. Learn from inspiring educators, including Hadar faculty, and commit to an experience of weekly learning and purposeful discussion from the comfort of your own home. Let the Project Zug team match you or sign up with a havruta! Register by November 5, 2020!
Prepare for your daily Shaharit practice with Hadar! In this 15 minute slot, Rabbi Elie Kaunfer and Rabbi Aviva Richman will offer some brief text learning related to the blessings of the Amidah; each morning will open with some song.
If any prayer is core to the Jewish tradition, it is the Amidah. Recited in every prayer service, the ostensibly straightforward Amidah is a collage of images, intentions, allusions, and intertexts. Yet, whether we pray it regularly or rarely, much of Amidah's language and themes remain closed to us. In this series we will explore the beauty and complexity of this important prayer and ask: How can I interpret the siddur in a grounded and traditional yet creative manner? Are traditional prayer formulas able to express my own values/ideas of prayer? What do you do when you "disagree" with the prayer's content?
Perspectives on the Parashah continues! In this class we will look at different insights on the Parashah. Our main focus will be on Midrash, but we will occasionally bring in other types of interpretations to add new vantage points to familiar stories.
For the past few years, we have had a lovely neighborhood Talmud class in our living room, studying Massekhet Sanhedrin. We are now opening the virtual walls and would love for you to join. We will learn the fifth chapter of Sanhedrin (beginning on 40a) as we explore issues around civil and criminal procedure in rabbinic law. We will focus on the original text and Rashi, with occasional reference to a Tosafot and outside commentaries, both medieval and modern. This is a perfect class for people with a background in Talmud as well as adventurous learners ready to jump in to the original text with a guide! Recommended to bring your own text if you are able, or Rabbi Tucker will screenshare as well.
Prepare for Shabbat each week with a close reading of the teachings of Rabbi Yehuda Leib Alter, the second Rebbe of the Gerre Hasidim, also known as the Sefat Emet. We will focus on how the Sefat Emet offers subtle and profound readings of midrash, beckoning us to ask penetrating questions of the figures in Torah and of ourselves.
Project Zug is an opportunity to learn virtually with a havruta (designated learning partner) each week. Choose from over 30 courses and delve into a topic that feels relevant to you. Learn from inspiring educators, including Hadar faculty, and commit to an experience of weekly learning and purposeful discussion from the comfort of your own home. Let the Project Zug team match you or sign up with a havruta! Register by November 5, 2020!
Our sages vividly describe the laws of Shabbat as “mountains hanging by a thread” (Hagigah 1:8). Discover these mountains by delving into the Jewish canon’s formative sources that shape what Shabbat practice(s) look like. By studying Halakhah through the lens of how the laws of Shabbat developed over generations, this class aims to orient you to key texts in the Jewish legal tradition, from the Bible to contemporary texts and sources. We will study Halakhah ‘bekiyut’ style, aiming to gain exposure to and comprehension of broad swaths of foundational sources.
Have you ever wondered how the Talmud works? What are its components and why does it feel so complex? In this class we will familiarize ourselves with the major, foundational texts of Rabbinic literature and how they interact with and build upon one another. We will gain an understanding of how the Rabbis study the Torah and teach the Torah - how they derive meaning from the Biblical text and, occasionally, how they subvert it. This is not a class in Rabbinic history or a survey of Rabbinic thought, but rather an introduction to and immersion in the mechanics of how to learn Rabbinic texts designed to empower us as learners of our tradition.
This class is intended for students with some familiarity with Rabbinic literature, but who have not had the opportunity to study it in depth and really learn how this literature works. All texts will be available in the original and in translation and we will toggle between the two languages. Fluency in Hebrew or Aramaic is not required, but students will be most engaged if they have some access to the fundamentals of Hebrew language as we will make reference to the original Hebrew. Class size will be capped at 20 students, who will be expected to keep their video on throughout the class, in order to facilitate discussion and deep learning.
In this course, we'll explore some of the major passages in the 6th chapter of Sanhedrin, Nigmar HaDin ("the verdict is completed"). This chapter deals with the application of the death penalty and explores issues of atonement, human dignity, and the place of the Divine in our sorrow. What does it mean to give someone a "mitah yafah," a “beautiful death” and how does it apply to the case of one who is being executed for a crime? For whose benefit are mourning rituals around death: the one who has died or the living? How do we preserve human dignity with someone in the hands of the criminal justice system?
This class is designed for students with a basic background in Rabbinic texts. We will be studying in the original Hebrew and Aramaic and we'll focus our conversations on content while also learning key terminology and structure common to the Gemara. Students in this class should be able to read and translate Mishnah somewhat independently. If you need the help of a dictionary or friend, that's fine too. If you have some exposure to Talmud, that's great and this class is still for you! No independent preparation is expected, though there may be some in-class havruta learning. In order to maintain an active and participatory learning environment, students will be expected to learn with cameras on. Class size will be capped at 25 participants.
This class is an in-depth crash-course in the genre of Halakhic midrash, using the “lost” Mekhilta to Devarim as a model. We will learn this early and foundational midrash in the original, working and learning through all its angles— text, biblical interpretation, theology and halakhah. We will also work with my recently completed translation to the midrash (based on geniza fragments found in the 19th century), and think about what a midrashic translation should and shouldn’t do. This class will give you an insider perspective on the origins of midrash and the earliest stages of Talmud Torah that will anchor the rest of your learning for a lifetime.
Prerequisites: To take this course you should be able to read Biblical Hebrew with a dictionary. Preferably you should also have some background in rabbinic literature. There will be highly recommended reading assignments to prepare you for each class.
Faculty Bio: Amit Gvaryahu (PhD, The Hebrew University, 2019), is a student of midrash and halakhah. He is currently working on a rabbinic cultural history of money on a new translation of the Mekhilta to Deuteronomy fragments. Amit worked on Tannaitic midrash as part of his MA and PhD theses--you can read some of his work on Midrash in the journals Tarbiz and the Journal of Jewish Studies.
Explore each week's parashah through leyning, mixed media story-telling, and discussion. Become familiar with the content and sound of the parashah each week and psyched about Torah as a lens to engage real life questions!
Join Hadar’s Faculty for a series of High Holiday Derashot, exploring what we're thinking about as we prepare for the holidays in this strange and difficult year. Each Derasha will be offered the evening before the holiday begins.
Get in the mood for Yom Kippur by learning about the themes and prayers of the day, enjoying soulful melodies and excerpts from Yom Kippur liturgy, and engaging in longstanding erev Yom Kippur traditions like making a yahrzeit candle and reciting prayers for loved ones. In ancient times, erev Yom Yippur was a mini-holiday in its own right, known as Ma'al (derived from the Aramaic word for “erev”). Since our actual Yom Kippur this year will be like no other, we have an opportunity to revive the power of the day before. Join us for the whole day or tune in for any part!
Want to make the most of the Ten Days of Repentance this year? Sign up to receive a daily text and/or email between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur that guides you in a different aspect of teshuvah each day, with content for reflection and guidance on practical exercises to make teshuvah real.
RECEIVE DAILY MESSAGES ON TESHUVAH
This year's High Holiday Reader, Connection Points is filled with insights old and new from Hadar’s distinguished faculty! This resource dives into the deeper meanings of Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and Sukkot, and explores how we as individuals find our place both within and without community. We're excited to share this substantial Torah with you to use as a meaningful resource this High Holiday season.
This year, we have the opportunity to forge anew our relationship to the words of the Mahzor. A critical part of Rosh Hashannah prayers are the Biblical verses that form the core of the Musaf service. We will look at these verses and their deeper contextual meaning in Rabbinic understanding.
Selihot is an experience of awakening that serves the transformation and new beginning of Tishrei. For about two decades R. Ebn Leader said selihot for the month of Elul with a particular community of Kurdish Jews in Jerusalem, and he has been leading selihot with students at Hebrew College for years since. This year, in partnership with Hadar, he is opening the experience to a wider community in virtual form.
Ground your days and prepare for the High Holidays by learning Mishnah Rosh HaShanah.
In this class we will look at different insights on the Parashah. We'll focus mainly on Midrash while occasionally exploring other types of interpretations, adding new vantage points to familiar stories.
Join Rabbi Ethan Tucker and Yoav Tucker through the month of September as they explore the eighth chapter of Mishnah Yoma. We will get through 1-2 mishnayot each day. Kids are encouraged to read along as Rav Ethan and Yoav lead the session. There are polls, breakout rooms, lessons in עברית and other fun interactive pieces. See what all the hype is about!
Become familiar with the content and sound of the parashah each week and psyched about Torah as a lens to engage real life questions! Explore each week's parashah through leyning, mixed media story-telling, and discussion.
Stay tuned for more upcoming programming from Hadar in DC.
Stay tuned for more upcoming programming from Hadar in Israel.