In this 15-minute morning class, we will explore some of the core prayers in the siddur – focusing on special prayers for Shabbat – in an effort to deepen our connection and uncover new meaning. Each class will open with a melody to set the mood for the day.
The Jewish prayer book is a collage of texts that reflect our deepest emotions, longings, and experiences, but its meaning can take some work to unlock. With a focus on the Amidah for Shabbat, we will interpret the texts of our prayers, uncovering new insights and learning a method of understanding the prayer book in a new way.
One of the most distinctive features of the writings and teachings of the Hassidic master R. Yehudah Aryeh Leib Alter, the Sefat Emet, is that he returns year after year to the same source, plumbing it over and over for new dimensions and new insights. Each week we will look at two passages from the Sefat Emet, with each class focusing on one year’s take on a classical text, to learn timeless Torah and see how it evolves. All texts will be available in translation.
In this class we will encounter a range of Biblical commentators with a range of styles spanning almost ten centuries of exegesis. Focusing on some of the most difficult stories in the book of Bereishit, we will try to “get to know” some commentators who are brilliant and sensitive readers of the Torah but who may not be as well known or as frequently studied. All texts will be available in translation.
Who were the people who shaped Judaism as we know it today? Join us as we study the Talmudic stories of the sages who lived in the wake of the destruction of the Temple, come to know them as human beings, and try to understand their approaches to rebuilding Judaism in the wake of a lost world.
Tired of Zoom? Join us on Gather, an online meeting and learning platform. During Night Seder, you can join a haburah (small group learning) or grab a havruta for a lively evening in our Virtual Beit Midrash! We’ll sit at virtual tables and can walk around the room, get virtual coffee, and say hi to other folks. End the evening with a shiur from R. Ethan Tucker on topics in halakhah.
Enjoy weekly learning and discussion centered around a core text from R. Aviva’s weekly Dvar Torah.
In the case of someone who kills without intent, the Torah prescribes a unique consequence: the killer must flee to the closest “city of refuge,” and after entering, they may not leave. This case lends itself to discussions about human negligence and sacred responsibility and intersects with modern conversations about the ethics of imprisonment as a form of punishment.
This class will be divided into 3 groups, taught by R. Miriam-Simma Walfish, R. Tali Adler, and R. Micha’el Rosenberg. This is a textually-oriented class and even the beginner level presumes that students have very basic Modern/Mishnaic Hebrew. All registrants must complete a brief written assessment so that we can place you in the group that best corresponds to your textual fluency.
The second chapter of Tractate Makkot deals with someone who kills without intent and their imprisonment in a "city of refuge." We’ll focus on the original text and Rashi, with occasional reference to a Tosafot and outside commentaries. This class is perfect for those with a background in Talmud as well as adventurous learners ready to jump into the original text with a guide.
How can rabbinic midrashim -- even the seemingly most outlandish, unexpected stories - give us a more sophisticated understanding of biblical texts? Join us for three lectures with Rabbi Ethan Tucker as we visit and revisit familiar and obscure narratives, with an eye toward making sense of rabbinic midrashim which, on the surface, seem fantastical. We will read these stories closely to gain a deeper understanding of both the biblical text and its characters, while also appreciating midrash as a strategy to read and make sense of extraordinary biblical texts.
The beauty and power of Shabbat is often defined by what is in between the necessary and the forbidden, in the special effort that we choose to put in to make Shabbat special. Join us on three Thursday nights as we prepare to celebrate Shabbat in all of its richness and develop strategies to enhance our understanding and practice of Shabbat.
In this 3-part series in partnership with MakomDC, we will explore the intersections between mindfulness and teachings from musar and hasidut. Topics include: "Mindfulness and Musar: Choosing Growth," "Is God Inside Us?" and "The Joy of Withholding Judgement."
The JJGI Fellowship for Rabbis and Senior Educators offers a select cohort of experienced candidates the rare opportunity to engage personally with Rabbi Yitz Greenberg, one of the most influential Jewish thinkers of our time. By participating in regular seminars, learning in havruta, and holding intimate conversations, fellows will learn directly with Rabbi Greenberg and other Hadar faculty, and develop their own philosophical and theological perspectives.
Powered by the Hadar Institute, MMCC is the premier program for students to grapple with contemporary ethics using Jewish legal wisdom. Framed around a contested student-run social media page, the 2022 case study will pose the question: Is online shaming permissible for a greater cause? All college students are invited to participate as an individual or with a team from your campus. Teams will construct arguments rooted in the provided texts and debate their stance before a panel of expert judges at the February competition.
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Join a small cohort of passionate peers for a rich experience of learning and conversation with Hadar faculty. Fellows will meet weekly on Zoom to engage with core ideas behind our vision of Torah, Avodah, and Hesed and practical applications to campus communities. Accepted fellows will explore topics such as Torah and morality, faith and doubt, personal middot, taking prayer seriously, gender and Jewish practice, Hesed and justice.
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For parents, learning Torah with children is a deeply rewarding and eye-opening mitzvah. That’s why Hadar and Pedagogy of Partnership want to give you the support, tools, and resources to learn with your kids. Join us for three interactive sessions where we explore practical tools and resources to create meaningful family learning experiences.
Kids ages 7+ and their grandparents are invited to join us for Learning With Grandparents, Hadar’s intergenerational learning program. Rabbi Ethan Tucker will lead this next session, “When Welcoming a Stranger is Greater than Talking to God,” which will explore Parashat Vayera and focus on hachnasat orchim, the mitzvah of welcoming guests.
Can I pray to get an A on a test while my teacher is already handing back the tests? And what blessing would you say when you see the ocean? In this session of Mishnah Club, we will be learning sections of Massekhet Berakhot, which deals with prayer, blessings, and miracles. There will be polls, breakout rooms, lessons in Hebrew, and more. Whether you are returning after summer break or jumping in for the first time, we'd love to learn with you!
The registration fee is on a sliding scale from $36-$180.
Have you ever wondered why God chose Avraham, or where we learn that one shouldn’t eat and talk at the same time? Come learn the parashah with us using Devash, Hadar’s new parashah magazine! We will cover some of the highlights from the weekly Torah portion, including midrash and halakhah. The class will make use of interactive and engaging polls, kahoot quizzes, and breakout rooms.
Join a cohort of high school students for weekly learning sessions to prepare for the Maimonides Moot Court Competition (MMCC). Over the course of eight virtual meetings, students will do a deep dive into the sourcebook material. Framed around a contested social media page, the case challenges students to explore how Jewish laws around speech and shaming can be applied to a modern context.
Register for the 2022 Maimonides Moot Court High School Competition! Powered by the Hadar Institute, MMCC is the premier program for students to grapple with contemporary ethics using Jewish legal wisdom. Framed around a contested student-run social media page, the 2022 case study will pose the question: Is online shaming permissible for a greater cause? Participants can sign up with a group of classmates, or team up with people from other schools. Under the guidance of an advisor, teams will craft a written decision and oral argument to present at the shabbaton.
Project Zug empowers Jews of all backgrounds to find meaning and joy in learning together one-on-one, and offers everything you need to build relationships through meaningful conversations about important Jewish ideas. If you have the drive and desire for learning, sign up for Project Zug Fall Learning Cycle and experience the power of havruta learning firsthand.