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.
Subscribe to Hadar's Virtual Beit Midrash calendar to stay up to date with all of our programming.
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.
Ground your days by learning Mishnah with Hadar! Gain a solid understanding of key rabbinic concepts while going through tractates of Mishnah in Hebrew and English. Classes will be led by members of Hadar's Advanced Kollel. We'll start off with Horayot - a tractate about leadership, and what happens when leaders mess up.
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.
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.
Life under a global pandemic has brought into focus the fundamental role that risk plays in our lives. Every decision, from where we grocery shop to how often we see our families, carries weight - the weight of knowing that our actions carry some degree of risk to ourselves, those around us, and beyond. What sources of wisdom can help orient us while we navigate choices that feel daunting and impossible?
This series will ground us in two centers: 1) The anchor of our vast tradition of Torah and 2) the anchor of people who are “embodied experts” in risk as a consequence of their daily work and lives. Through a generative havruta, we will reach for insight on how to navigate personal, communal, and structural questions of risk. By learning with people who consciously experience the impact of risk as part of the regular rhythm of their days, we will aim to gain our bearings to more readily step into the mode of living with risk.
The sanctity of human dignity serves as a bedrock of the Biblical and Rabbinic traditions. And yet, the cruel pervasiveness of racial injustice displays just how challenging it can be to adhere to this principle. During this three-part series, hear from Eric Ward, renowned expert on anti-Semitism and white nationalism and learn with Rabbi Avi Killip of Hadar as we probe our heritage for guidance and consider critical questions of contemporary racial justice and our responsibilities toward the broader world.
Webinar 1: Skin in the Game: A Conversation with Eric Ward
Webinars 2 and 3: Three Talmudic Paradigms for Understanding Racism in the United States with Rabbi Avi Killip
Our immediate reaction when things go wrong may be to doubt or to turn away from God, to sever the relationship because it feels outside of and out-of-place in our real experience. But what if our connection to God is, in fact, rooted in those very experiences? In this 3-part series, we will study core motifs in texts from classical midrash to hasidut that insist that our relationship to God grow out of, and not in spite of, the reality in which we find ourselves, however "unideal."
In this three-part series, we will turn to the writings of Rabbi Kalonymus Kalman Shapira, known as the Eish Kodesh, for his Torah on faith and resilience in the darkest of times. Writing from the Warsaw Ghetto between 1939-1942, his drashot offer us a window into what it means to be a person of faith and how to maintain a stance of hope, and even creativity, amidst immense suffering and loss.
The era of social media has ushered in radically new social norms around responding to public crimes and misbehaviors. Online shaming and cancel culture are two of the tools that have been leveraged to address contemporary injustice. But how are we to approach this new era of virtual judgement, and what does Jewish Ethics have to contribute to the conversation?
Join us for a candid, text-based conversation where we'll tackle questions like: Should we offer second chances to those who have betrayed our trust? What are the consequences of "cancelling" people who have acted inappropriately at best and criminally at worst?
In these times of isolation, spend some time connecting with your grandchild learning Parashat HaShavua together! Join us for our inaugural evening of learning across the generations, exploring the themes of the Parashah in havruta as we prepare for Shabbat together. Limited spots available, register now to reserve a spot! Note: Each participant is required to register to receive the Zoom link.
Join Rabbi Ethan Tucker and Yoav Tucker as they explore Massekhet Shevuot--a part of the Mishnah that deals with promises, lying, setting expectations for ourselves and lots of other interesting stuff. We will get through 1-2 mishnayot each day. Kids are encouraged to read along as Rav Ethan and Yoav lead the session. There will be polls, breakout rooms, lessons in עברית and other fun interactive pieces. Spread the word--it is a great time for new people to jump in! Register here for Kids Mishnah Club!
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!
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 October 23, 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.
Ground your days by learning Mishnah with Hadar! Gain a solid understanding of key rabbinic concepts while going through tractates of Mishnah in Hebrew and English. Classes will be led by members of Hadar's Advanced Kollel. We'll start off with Horayot - a tractate about leadership, and what happens when leaders mess up.
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.
The sanctity of human dignity serves as a bedrock of the Biblical and Rabbinic traditions. And yet, the cruel pervasiveness of racial injustice displays just how challenging it can be to adhere to this principle. During this three-part series, hear from Eric Ward, renowned expert on anti-Semitism and white nationalism and learn with Rabbi Avi Killip of Hadar as we probe our heritage for guidance and consider critical questions of contemporary racial justice and our responsibilities toward the broader world.
Webinar 1: Skin in the Game: A Conversation with Eric Ward
Webinars 2 and 3: Three Talmudic Paradigms for Understanding Racism in the United States with Rabbi Avi Killip
Life under a global pandemic has brought into focus the fundamental role that risk plays in our lives. Every decision, from where we grocery shop to how often we see our families, carries weight - the weight of knowing that our actions carry some degree of risk to ourselves, those around us, and beyond. What sources of wisdom can help orient us while we navigate choices that feel daunting and impossible?
This series will ground us in two centers: 1) The anchor of our vast tradition of Torah and 2) the anchor of people who are “embodied experts” in risk as a consequence of their daily work and lives. Through a generative havruta, we will reach for insight on how to navigate personal, communal, and structural questions of risk. By learning with people who consciously experience the impact of risk as part of the regular rhythm of their days, we will aim to gain our bearings to more readily step into the mode of living with risk.
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 October 23, 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.
The era of social media has ushered in radically new social norms around responding to public crimes and misbehaviors. Online shaming and cancel culture are two of the tools that have been leveraged to address contemporary injustice. But how are we to approach this new era of virtual judgement, and what does Jewish Ethics have to contribute to the conversation?
Join us for a candid, text-based conversation where we'll tackle questions like: Should we offer second chances to those who have betrayed our trust? What are the consequences of "cancelling" people who have acted inappropriately at best and criminally at worst?
In these times of isolation, spend some time connecting with your grandchild learning Parashat HaShavua together! Join us for our inaugural evening of learning across the generations, exploring the themes of the Parashah in havruta as we prepare for Shabbat together. Limited spots available, register now to reserve a spot! Note: Each participant is required to register to receive the Zoom link.
Join Rabbi Ethan Tucker and Yoav Tucker as they explore Massekhet Shevuot--a part of the Mishnah that deals with promises, lying, setting expectations for ourselves and lots of other interesting stuff. We will get through 1-2 mishnayot each day. Kids are encouraged to read along as Rav Ethan and Yoav lead the session. There will be polls, breakout rooms, lessons in עברית and other fun interactive pieces. Spread the word--it is a great time for new people to jump in! Register here for Kids Mishnah Club!
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 immediate reaction when things go wrong may be to doubt or to turn away from God, to sever the relationship because it feels outside of and out-of-place in our real experience. But what if our connection to God is, in fact, rooted in those very experiences? In this 3-part series, we will study core motifs in texts from classical midrash to hasidut that insist that our relationship to God grow out of, and not in spite of, the reality in which we find ourselves, however "unideal."
In this three-part series, we will turn to the writings of Rabbi Kalonymus Kalman Shapira, known as the Eish Kodesh, for his Torah on faith and resilience in the darkest of times. Writing from the Warsaw Ghetto between 1939-1942, his drashot offer us a window into what it means to be a person of faith and how to maintain a stance of hope, and even creativity, amidst immense suffering and loss.