Learn the basics of the Day of Atonement in 3 minutes. Yom Kippur is the most holy day of the Jewish year and it is full of spiritual opportunity if you open yourself up to its customs, prayers and melodies. This short video is a basic primer on what Yom...
Hebrew is an ancient language. And throughout thousands of years, different versions of Hebrew have emerged. Most people are familiar with the Modern Israeli Hebrew but rarely hear other forms. In this video, you can hear a Yemenite Jew showcase the differences in Hebrew pronunciation preserved in his community. And...
In Matthew 5:13 Jesus said to his disciples, "You are the salt of the earth..." but what exactly did he mean by that? Look beyond the English idioms. Look deeper into history. Consider how ancient Greeks and Jews perceived salt in antiquity. What did salt mean to...
This is a lecture by Daniel Matt a scholar of Kabbalah and a Professor at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley. He taught at Stanford University and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Dr. Matt is a translator of the first nine volumes of the twelve-volume Zohar (Pritzker edition). In my...
Professor Daniel Boyarin can boast of a distinguished career in academia, both in Israel and in the USA, in religious and in secular institutions. His ideas and research often challenge preconceived notions of both Jews and Christians, and he receives plenty of criticism for his bold claims. His books are...
Psalm 121 speaks of God's protection of those who trust in Hashem. God's ever-present hand, a shadow besides traveler. שִׁיר לַמַּעֲלוֹת אֶשָּׂא עֵינַי אֶל־הֶהָרִים מֵאַיִן יָבֹא עֶ...
This is a lecture by Rachel Elior, a Professor of Jewish Philosophy and Jewish Mystical Thought at the Hebrew University, a talk given in front of an audience of peers. Her research is insightful and often challenges the status quo academic thinking. In this segment, she raises questions of definitions...
This is a lecture by Shaye J. D. Cohen who is a Professor of Hebrew Literature and Philosophy in the Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations at Harvard University. He is a well-known historian who also holds rabbinic ordination from the Jewish Theological Seminary. His lectures often probe deep...
Psalm 150 in Hebrew is a song of praise that should ring in the hearts of all who live and move. The very breath we breathe is the breath of Hashem who made us alive. הַלְלוּ יָהּ הַלְלוּ־אֵל בְּקָדְשׁוֹ...