Learn
Virtual Learning 2021-2020
Watch/Listen to our clergy teaching about everything from mishna to parsha to the holidays.
- High Holy Days 2021
- Holiday Learnings
- Parsha
- Mishna
- The Study of Justice
- Biblical Poetry
- Passover
- A Few of My Favorite Things
- IKAR Limited Series
- Special Programs
The Psychology of the High Holy Days Prayers
Part I: The Psychology of the Shofar. August 11, 2021 Watch here. [source sheet]
Part II: The Psychology of the Mahzor. August 18, 2021 Watch here. [source sheet]
Rosh Hashanah Prayer Bootcamp. September 15, 2020. Watch here. [source]
Yom Kippur Prayer Bootcamp. September 22, 2020. Watch here. [source: Mahzor Lev Shalem]
Maimonides’ Guide to the High Holidays with Rabbi David Kasher
Part I: Intro. August 11, 2020. Watch here. [source]
Part II: – What is “Teshuvah,” anyway? August 18, 2020. Watch here. [source]
Part III: – The Righteous, The Wicked & The Rest of Us. August 25, 2020. Watch here. [source]
Part IV: – You are Free to Sin. September 4, 2020. Watch here. [source]
Holy Heresy: The Very Strange Yom Kippur Service with Rabbi David Kasher
Part I: The Avodah Service. August 17, 2020. Watch here. [source]
Part II: Enter The Goats. August 24, 2020. Watch here. [source]
Part III: The Scapegoat. August 31, 2020. Watch here. [source]
Holiday Bootcamps
- Purim Bootcamp: Misogyny, Anti-Semitism and Intersectionality in the Book of Esther. February 25, 2021. Watch here. [source sheet]
- Yom Kippur Prayer Bootcamp. September 22, 2020. Watch here. [source: Mahzor Lev Shalem]
- Rosh Hashanah Prayer Bootcamp. September 15, 2020. Watch here. [source]
Maimonides’ Guide to the High Holidays with Rabbi David Kasher
- Part IV: – You are Free to Sin. September 4, 2020. Watch here. [source]
- Part III: – The Righteous, The Wicked & The Rest of Us. August 25, 2020. Watch here. [source]
- Part II: – What is “Teshuvah,” anyway? August 18, 2020. Watch here. [source]
- Part I: Intro. August 11, 2020. Watch here. [source]
Holy Heresy: The Very Strange Yom Kippur Service with Rabbi David Kasher
- Part III: The Scapegoat. August 31, 2020. Watch here. [source]
- Part II: Enter The Goats. August 24, 2020. Watch here. [source]
- Part I: The Avodah Service. August 17, 2020. Watch here. [source]
Join us on Thursdays at 12pm for Parsha Study with Rabbi Kasher. All are welcome.
Past Classes:
- Guest Teacher Jody Myers. July 29, 2021. Watch here. [source sheet] [source sheet]
- Snakes on a Plain – Parshat Chukat. June 17, 2021. Watch here. [source sheet]
- The Ambivalent Angel of Death – Parshat Korach. June 10, 2021. Watch here. [source sheet]
- Dissecting a Disaster – Parshat Shelach. June 3, 2021. Watch here. [source sheet]
- Prophet Family Feud – Parshat Beha’alotcha. May 27, 2021. Watch here. [source sheet]
- Officers of Mercy – Parshat Naso. May 20, 2021. Watch here. [source sheet]
- A Dangerous Metaphor – Parshat Bemidbar. May 13, 2021. Watch here. [source sheet]
- Let Go of Everything Parshat Behar-Behukotai. May 6, 2021. Watch here. [source sheet]
- No Bread, No Torah – Parshat Emor. April 29, 2021. Watch here. [source sheet]
- Ghosts in the Torah – Parshat Kedoshim. April 22, 2021. Watch here. [source sheet]
- Re-Genesis – Parshat Tazria-Metzora. April 15, 2021. Watch here. [source sheet]
- Passover in the Parsha – Parshat Tzav. March 25, 2021. Watch here. [source sheet]
- Salt of the Heavens – Parshat Vayikra. March 18, 2021. Watch here. [source sheet]
- The Shadow Knows – Parshat Vayakhel-Pekudei. March 11, 2021. Watch here. [source sheet]
- Even Moshe Wore a Mask – Parshat Ki Tisa. March 4, 2021. Watch here. [source sheet]
- The Face of a Cherub – Parshat Terumah. February 18, 2021. Watch here. [source sheet]
- Law as Commentary – Parshat Mishpatim. February 11, 2021. Watch here. [source sheet]
- The Comings and Goings of Jethro Parshat Yitro. February 4, 2021. Watch here. [source sheet]
- Gendered Singing in Parshat Beshalach. January 28, 2021. Watch here. [source sheet]
- The Firstborn, Reconsidered -Parshat Bo. January 21, 2021. Watch here. [source sheet]
- How Many Pharaohs? January 7, 2021. Watch here. [source sheet]
- A Dream Deferred – Parshat Mikeitz. December 17, 2020. Watch here. [source sheet]
- The House That Jake Built – Parshat Vayeishev. December 10, 2020. Watch here. [source sheet]
- I Got Angels All Around Me – Parshat Vayishlach. December 3, 2020. Watch here. [source sheet]
- Rise of the Matriarchy – Parshat Toldot. November 19, 2020. Watch here. [source sheet]
- Freudian Torah – Parshat Chayei Sarah. November 12, 2020. Watch here. [source sheet]
- Connecting the Dots. November 5, 2020. Watch here. [source sheet]
- Our Father’s Father. October 29, 2020. Watch here. [source sheet]
- “What’s Wrong With Noah?” October 21, 2020. Watch here. [source sheet]
- Parshat Bereshit – Rashi on Genesis 1:1. October 14, 2020. Watch here. [source sheet]
- The Poetry of Torah, Part 2. September 30, 2020. Watch here. [source sheet 1, source sheet 2]
- The Poetics of Torah. September 23, 2020. Watch here. [source sheet]
- The Binding of Isaac: A Rosh Hashanah Story. September 16, 2020. Watch here. [source sheet]
- When God Does Teshuvah. September 9, 2020. Watch here. [source sheet]
- A Knowing Heart. September 2, 2020. Watch here. [source sheet]
- Remembering Our Greatest Enemy. August 26, 2020. Watch here. [source sheet]
- The Jewish Justice System. August 19, 2020. Watch here. [source sheet]
- Intro. August 12, 2020. Watch here. [source sheet]
This series has ended. Watch it all the way through using the links below!
Past Classes:
- How We Carry Gender – Mishnah Shabbat Ch. 6. June 7, 2021. Watch here. [source sheet]
- The Sociology of Carrying on Shabbat – Mishnah Shabbat 1:1. May 24, 2021. Watch here. [source sheet]
- The Ethics of the Mystics Week 5: The Moment of Doom & The Thread of Kindness. May 10, 2021. Watch here. [source sheet]
- The Ethics of the Mystics Week 4: Spiritual Development for the Young and Old. May 3, 2021. Watch here. [source sheet]
- The Ethics of the Mystics Week 3: Focus and Distraction. April 26, 2021. Watch here. [source sheet]
- The Ethics of the Mystics Week 2: Striving to be Average! April 19, 2021. Watch here. [source sheet]
- The Ethics of the Mystics Week 1: Searching for the Good in Everyone – Even Yourself! April 12, 2021. Watch here. [source sheet]
- The IKAR (Essence) of of the Haggadah. March 22, 2021. Watch here. [source sheet]
- The Light of Passover – Mishah Pesachim 1:1. March 15, 2021. Watch here. [source sheet]
- Inclusion and Exclusion in Jewish Ritual , Part IV: The Ethics of Dignity – Mishnah Bikurim. March 8, 2021. Watch here. [source sheet]
- Inclusion and Exclusion in Jewish Ritual, Part III – Mishnah Bikkurim, Ch. 4. March 1, 2021. Watch here. [source sheet]
- Inclusion and Exclusion in Jewish Ritual, Part II – Mishnah Bikurim. February 22, 2021. Watch here. [source sheet]
- Inclusion and Exclusion in Jewish Ritual, Part I – Mishnah Bikurim. February 8, 2021. Watch here. [source sheet]
- When to Circumcise Trees – Mishnah Orlah. February 1, 2021. Watch here. [source sheet]
- The Origins of Challah – Mishnah Challah. January 25, 2021. Watch here. [source sheet]
- The Tithes They Are a-Changin’: Tithing in Jewish Law, Part II. January 11, 2021. Watch here. [source sheet]
- No Taxation Without Revelation: Tithing in Jewish Law, Part I. January 5, 2021. Watch here. [source sheet]
- Trolley Problems, Sophie’s Choices, and Other Ethical Dilemmas – Mishnah Terumot Ch. 8. December 21, 2020. Watch here. [source sheet]
- The Status of the Deaf in Jewish Law – Part II. December 14, 2020. Watch here. [source sheet 1, source sheet 2]
- The Status of the Deaf in Jewish Law – Part I. December 7, 2020. Watch here. [source sheet]
- Loopy or Holy? – Loopholes in Rabbinic Law – Masechet Shevi’it. November 30, 2020. Watch here. [source sheet]
- “I won’t tell you what Rabbi Eliezer actually said…” – Mishnah Shevi’it. November 23, 2020. Watch here. [source sheet]
- Genetic Modification in Jewish Law and Lore – Mishnah Kilayim. November 16, 2020. Watch here. [source sheet]
- The Jewish Welfare State. November 2, 2020. Watch here. [source sheet]
- Immeasurable Things. October 26, 2020. Watch here. [source sheet]
- Blessing as a Way of Life. July 13, 2020. Watch here. [source sheet]
- Blessing Bee Bootcamp. July 6, 2020. Watch here. [source sheet]
- Cantor, Recant! June 29, 2020. Watch here. [source sheet]
- Lord, Let Me Learn! June 22, 2020. Watch here. [source sheet]
- The Origins of Non-Egalitarian Judaism. June 15, 2020. Watch here. [source sheet]
- The Very Exceptional Rabban Gamliel. June 8, 2020. Watch here. [source sheet]
- Heart Directions. June 1, 2020. Watch here. [source]
- Hardcore Judaism! May 18, 2020. Watch here. [source sheet]
- The Kickoff. May 11, 2020. Watch here. [source sheet]
This series has ended. Watch it all the way through using the links below!
Past Classes:
- 1. The Knowledge of Good and Evil. January 26, 2021. Watch here. [source sheet]
- 2. The Deepest Truth About Human Beings. February 2, 2021. Watch here. [source sheet]
- 3. Violence and Accountability. February 9, 2021. Watch here. [source sheet]
- 4. Noah and The Demands of Moral Leadership. February 23, 2021. Watch here. [source sheet]
- 5. Morality Outside of God. March 2, 2021. Watch here. [source sheet]
- 6. When God Asks for Injustice. March 9, 2021. Watch here. [source sheet]
- 7. Passover, The Holiday of Justice. March 23, 2021. Watch here. [source sheet]
- 8. Do The Ends Justify the Means? The Ethics of Jacob, Rebekah, and Machiavelli. April 6, 2021. Watch here. [source sheet]
- 9. Violence and Vengeance, Retribution and Restoration. April 13, 2021. Watch here. [source sheet]
- 10. The Ethics of State Power. April 27, 2021. Watch here. [source sheet]
- 11. Sacred Resistance. May 4, 2021. Watch here. [source sheet]
This series has ended. Watch it all the way through using the links below!
Past Classes:
- 1. The Very First Poems. October 28, 2020. Watch here. [source sheet]
- 2. Poetry for Times of Political Turmoil. November 4, 2020. Watch here. [source sheet]
- 3. Troublingly Triumphant: The Song of the Sea. November 11, 2020. Watch here. [source sheet]
- 4. Part 1 – Divine & Devastating Poetry in the Book of Job. November 25, 2020. Watch here. [source sheet 1, source sheet 2]
- 5. Part 2 – Divine & Devastating Poetry in the Book of Job. December 2, 2020. Watch here. [source sheet 1, source sheet 2]
- 6. Part 3 – Divine & Devastating Poetry in the Book of Job: The Behemoth and the Leviathan. December 9, 2020. Watch here. [source sheet]
- 7. Ma’oz Tzur: Hardcore Hanukkah Poetry. December 16, 2020. Watch here. [source sheet]
- 8. Poetry for a New Year. January 6, 2021. Watch here. [source sheet]
- 9. Solomonic Poetry, Part I: The Young Lover. January 13, 2021. Watch here. [source sheet]
- 10. Solomonic Poetry, Part II: The Wise King. January 20, 2021. Watch here. [source sheet]
- 11. Solomonic Poetry, Part III: The Old Philosopher. January 27, 2021. Watch here. [source sheet]
- 12. The Whole Religion in One Psalm. February 3, 2021. Watch here. [source sheet]
- 13. The Poetry of the Prophets Part I: Isaiah, Prophet of Hope. February 10, 2021. Watch here. [source sheet]
- 14. The Poetry of the Prophets – Part II: Jeremiah, Prophet of Doom. February 17, 2021. Watch here. [source sheet]
- 15. The Poetry of the Prophets – Part III: Ezekiel, Prophet of Visions. February 24, 2021. Watch here. [source sheet]
- 16. The Beautiful Agony of the Psalms. March 3, 2021. Watch here. [source sheet]
- 17. Stairways to Heaven – Psalms 120-134. March 10, 2021. Watch here. [source sheet]
- 18. Moshe’s Last Poem. March 17, 2021. Watch here. [source sheet]
- 19. Poetry as a Form of Liberation. March 24, 2021. Watch here. [source sheet]
The IKAR (Essence) of the Haggadah, with Rabbi Kasher:
Passover, the Holiday of Justice, with Rabbi Brous:
Poetry as a Form of Liberation, with Rabbi Kasher:
Hillel Tigay’s Behind the Music: Passover Edition
HAGGADAH SLAM 2021 with IKAR, Temple Beth Am, and B’nai-David Judea Congregation
With a bonus: Full podcast (including breakout sessions) here.
Led by Rabbi Sharon Brous.
- On Character. July 1, 2020. Watch here. [source]
- A Life of Meaning. June 24, 2020. Watch here. [source]
- I Have Grown Years in a Matter of Days. June 17, 2020. Watch here. [source]
- Justice, Accountability, and the Sacred Call to Protest. June 10, 2020. Listen here. [source]
- Why Did George Floyd Die? And What Would it Mean to Treat All People as an Image of God? June 3, 2020. Listen here. [source]
- Shavuot and the real meaning of our freedom. May 20, 2020. Listen here. [source]
- Cultivating Resilience Inside the Storm. May 13, 2020. Listen here. [source]
- The Affliction and the Remedy. May 6, 2020. Listen here. [source] (Due to poor internet connection,
the audio is a little choppy near the end of this session) - Prophetic Grief. April 29, 2020. Listen here. [source]
- A World is Dying, What is Being Born? April 22, 2020. Listen here. [source]
- The Most Important Things. April 1, 2020. Listen here. [source]
- Expendable. March 25, 2020. Listen here. [source]
- Hannah’s Broken Heart, and Ours. March 18, 2020. Listen here. [source]
A Bissel Shtisel, Hassidic Thought with Rabbi David Kasher
- Dangerous Torah: The Fiery Waters of the Mei HaShiloah. July 14, 2020. Watch here. [source]
- The Psychological Turn: The Breakaway School of Peshiskha. July 7, 2o20. Watch here. [source]
- Letters Flying Through the Air: Hassidic Readings of the Torah. June 30, 2020. Watch here. [source]
- The Philosopher of Hassidism: Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi. June 23, 2020. Watch here. [source]
- The People’s Defense Attorney: Rabbi Levi Yitzhak of Berdichev. June 9, 2020. Listen here. [source]
- The Hassidic Approach to Prayer. June 2, 2020. Listen here. [source]
- Eat Like a Hassid. May 26, 2020. Listen here. [source]
- The Danger of the Righteous Man: The Torah of Rabbi Elimelekh of Lizhensk. May 12, 2020. Listen here. [source]
- The Kabbalistic Foundations of Hassidism. May 5, 2020. Listen here. [source]
- Introduction: The Master of the Good Name. April 21, 2020. Listen here. [source]
The Pirkei Avot Collective with Rabbi David Kasher
- The 48 (or 49, or 50) Ways to Torah. July 2, 2020. Watch here. [source]
- The Ethics of Top Ten Lists. June 25, 2020. Watch here. [source]
- Sit Down, Be Humble. June 18, 2020. Watch here. [source]
- A Pessimistic View of Human Nature. June 11, 2020. Listen here. [source]
- The Jewish Ethics of State Power. June 4, 2020. Listen here. [source]
- Enjoy the Silence. May 21, 2020. Listen here. [source 1, source 2]
- The Man Who Loved Torah Too Much. May 14, 2020. Listen here. [source 1, source 2]
- Queer Love in Ancient Israel? May 7, 2020. Listen here. [source]
- The Ethics of a Heretic. April 30, 2020. Listen here. [source]
- The Beginning and End of Rabbi Akiva. April 23, 2020. Listen here. [source]
- What Was it About Hillel? April 2, 2020. Listen here. [source]
- Good Fences? March 26, 2020. Listen here. [source]
Regenerative Change: Compost as Climate Action & Ritual in These Times, with Devorah Brous
Watch Dev Brous’ new TEDx talk on Regenerative Change. Then, buckle down and learn a foolproof method to compost! Sheltering-in-P