Monthly Meeting Presentations

Study Institute for the Rabbinate and Senior Staff of the Jewish Federation

This year’s Scholar-in-Residence for our Annual Study Institute was Daniel Matt.

Daniel Matt has just achieved a monumental accomplishment, a rarity in general or Jewish scholarship, The Zohar: Pritzker Edition. He has for the first time translated the entire Zohar on the Torah into English, accompanied by a running English commentary. In addition, Daniel Matt has presented the first ever critical edition of the Aramaic text of the Zohar. It is available on the website of Stanford University Press. Furthermore, because his translation is based on the available Zohar manuscripts the hilufim-manuscript variants will soon be posted on the Stanford University Press website as well. It is hard to overstate the significance of his accomplishment. 

Texts: A Man Went, Gates, Adam’s Sin

Audio: Part One   Part Two

Renewing the Vision:  How Can the African American and Jewish Community Work Together?

with CBR rabbis and African American pastors including Rabbis Max Weiss, Capers Funnye, Shoshanah Conover and Pastors Marshal Hatch and Michael Nabors who are working in partnership on issues facing our communities. They will discuss how the relationships emerged, engaging their congregations, areas of strain and concern, the impact of Black Lives Matter, and the place of Israel in the relationship. Audio

“Was There a Doctrine of Zionism in Ancient Judaism?” with Dr. Malka Z. Simkovich – December 16, 2015

Audio Text

The Annual Study Institute for the Rabbinate and the Senior Staff of the Jewish Federation sponsored by the Rabbinic Action Committee – October 27, 2015

with Rabbi Dr. Saul Berman of Yeshiva University and Columbia University presenting his narrative of the Torah and the mitzvot of the Torah from the perspective of immigration, immigrants, and refugees. Audio1,  Audio2, Text

Unlikely Partners for Peace, CBR Monthly Meeting – October 21, 2015

An Orthodox settler and Palestinian activist say reconciliation begins with seeing the humanity of your enemy. Presented by Rabbi Hanan Schlesinger and Ali Abu Awwad Audio

Rabbi Reuven Brand, CBR monthly meeting, February 18, 2014

Text

 Part 1 Audio

 Part 2 Audio

God or Torah? A Study of Mesechet Brachot, 27b – January 15, 2014

Presented by Northwestern University visiting scholar Dr. Yakir Englander ( bio)
Please utilize Talmud Brachot 27b and Talmud Bava M’tziah 59b while listening to presentation Audio

Presentation of Recent Pew Study of American Jews and Judaism – December 18, 2013

Presented by Jack Ukeles and Peter Friedman: Audio

Jewish Genetic Disorders: What Rabbis Should Know, April 18, 2012

“Surrogacy and Jewish Law, with a focus on Jewish case studies” – Dr. Laurence Jacobs
ws310146.mp3 – text here , Powerpoint presentation here  

Rabbi Jason Miller, CBR monthly meeting, January 18, 2012

 “From Real Time Pulpit to Virtual Pulpit: How to Share Your Torah in the Digital Age”
WS310143.mp3

Social Media has helped make the borders of the global Jewish community non-existent. Rabbis can spread their Torah through Cyberspace by taking advantage of social networking sites and the blogosphere. Rabbi Jason Miller, “The Techie Rabbi,” will demonstrate best practices for increasing your digital reach and social amplification. With social media, you can help grow your congregation/organization’s brand and spread your Torah to a larger audience. We will explore the efficacy of social networking and Twitter, as well as the ethical and legal implications of rabbis in Cyberspace. 

Rabbi Daniel Nevins and Rabbi Peter Rubinstein, Annual Study Institute for the Rabbinate and the Senior Staff of the JUF, November 30, 2011 

“The American Rabbinate – Old Directions for New Times” – WS310141.mp3
Q & A session:  WS310142.mp3

Rabbi Jordan Bendat-Appell, CBR monthly meeting, November 23, 2011

“Open Your Eyes: Jewish Mindfulness” – WS310129.mp3, text here

Center For Jewish Genetic Disorders Panel Discussion, January 19, 2011

Included in Case Study Presentation:
Rabbi Aaron Melman, Congregation Beth Shalom
Board Member, Chicago Center for Jewish Genetic Disorders
Lee P. Shulman, M.D., FACOG, FACMG
Director, Division of Reproductive Genetics, Northwestern Memorial Hospital
Steven M. Tovian, PhD, ABPP, Health Psychologist
Board-certified in clinical health and clinical psychology

WS310096.mp3

The Origins of The Mourner’s Kaddish, CBR General meeting, October 20, 2010

Professor David Shyovitz
WS310095.mp3–  text here

Ruth Messinger, American Jewish World Service, May 6, 2010

The number of people worldwide living in extreme hunger recently topped a billion, making alleviating hunger one of the most pressing global justice issues of our time. Hear Ruth Messinger, president of American Jewish World Service, speak about Fighting Hunger from the Ground Up, AJWS’s campaign to alleviate global food insecurity.

ws310079.mp3

Presentation by Hilary Kreiger, October 21, 2009

Hilary Krieger is the Washington Bureau Chief for The Jerusalem Post, Israel’s English-language daily newspaper. In Washington, she writes about the White House, State Department, Pentagon and Congressional policy on Israel, the wider Middle East and the Jewish community. She also spent extensive time on the campaign trail covering the 2008 presidential elections.

WS310059.mp3

Muslim-Jewish Relations March 18, 2009

WS310027.mp3 – Professor Jacob Lassner, the former Klutznick Professor of Jewish Civilization at Northwestern University and an expert on Islam and Judaism.
WS310028.mp3– Panel of colleagues, Rabbis Andrea London, Asher Lopatin and Dan Sherbill, who discuss their efforts in this area.