Jewish Ideas to Change the World

Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowitz, President & Dean of Valley Beit Midrash, interviews Professor Noam Chomsky, linguist, philosopher, cognitive scientist, historian, social critic, and political activist, on the topic of "Activism, Human Nature, & American Repentance." DONATE: http://www.bit.ly/1NmpbsP For podcasts of VBM lectures, GO HERE: https://www.valleybeitmidrash.org/learning-library https://www.facebook.com/valleybeitmidrash ★ Support this podcast ★

Professor Zvi Zohar, Chauncey Stillman Professor of Sephardic Law and Ethics - Bar-Ilan University, presents his Valley Beit Midrash lecture "We Were Strangers in Egypt: Our Attitude as Jews to non-Jewish Strangers" before an audience at Congregation Or Tzion (www.congregationortzion.org) in Scottsdale, AZ. ABOUT THIS LECTURE: The Torah only tells us how to relate to converts, leaving us with no instructions with regard to aliens/strangers. This lecture presents a textual analysis of Jewish approaches to understanding "the stranger" from ancient times until the current day. DONATE: bit.ly/1NmpbsP LEARNING MATERIALS: https://bit.ly/2NYNJft For more info, please visit: www.facebook.com/valleybeitmidrash/ twitter.com/VBMTorah www.facebook.com/RabbiShmulyYanklowitz/ Music: "They Say" by WowaMusik, a public domain track from the YouTube Audio Library. ★ Support this podcast ★

Professor Zvi Zohar, Chauncey Stillman Professor of Sephardic Law and Ethics - Bar-Ilan University, presents his Valley Beit Midrash lecture "All Jews are Jews by Birth: Are Jews a Faith Community?" before an audience at Temple Solel (www.templesolel.org/) in Paradise Valley, AZ. ABOUT THIS LECTURE: A person born as a Jew remains a Jew, however s/he behaves. Surprisingly, this is stated in the Talmud only with regard to one kind of Jew: a former Gentile who became Jewish by the halakhic process of giyyur. Indeed, the Talmud says that such a person is like a newly-born (Jewish) child. We will read together sources that enable us to understand this view of giyyur as birth, and discuss the implications for our understanding of how the halakhic tradition understands Jewishness. DONATE: bit.ly/1NmpbsP LEARNING MATERIALS: https://bit.ly/33Tf4VM For more info, please visit: www.facebook.com/valleybeitmidrash/ twitter.com/VBMTorah www.facebook.com/RabbiShmulyYanklowitz/ Music: "They Say" by WowaMusik, a public domain track from the YouTube Audio Library. ★ Support this podcast ★

Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowitz, President & Dean of Valley Beit Midrash, interviews Rabbi Menachem Creditor, the Pearl and Ira Meyer Scholar-in-Residence at UJA-Federation New York, the founder of Rabbis Against Gun Violence and a noted author, on the topic of "Eradicating Gun Violence in America." DONATE: http://www.bit.ly/1NmpbsP For podcasts of VBM lectures, GO HERE: https://www.valleybeitmidrash.org/learning-library https://www.facebook.com/valleybeitmidrash http://rabbicreditor.blogspot.com/ https://www.facebook.com/menachemcreditor ★ Support this podcast ★

Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowitz, President & Dean of Valley Beit Midrash interviews Dr. Liz Shayne, a student at Yeshivat Maharat, on the topic of "Smart Assistants and Shabbat!" DONATE: http://www.bit.ly/1NmpbsP For podcasts of VBM lectures, GO HERE: https://www.valleybeitmidrash.org/learning-library https://www.facebook.com/valleybeitmidrash ★ Support this podcast ★

Dr. Liz Shayne, presents her Valley Beit Midrash lecture "Was The Golem Jewish? Robots, Artificial Intelligence, and Jewish Identity" before an audience at Temple Chai (www.templechai.com/) in Phoenix, AZ. DONATE: www.bit.ly/1NmpbsP LEARNING MATERIALS: https://bit.ly/2pkM4Yf For more info, please visit: www.facebook.com/valleybeitmidrash/ www.facebook.com/temple.chai twitter.com/VBMTorah www.facebook.com/RabbiShmulyYanklowitz/ Music: "They Say" by WowaMusik, a public domain track from the YouTube Audio Library. ★ Support this podcast ★

Dr. Liz Shayne, presents her Valley Beit Midrash lecture "Rabbi Google: Jewish Law, the Internet, and the Power of Online Torah." before an audience at Temple Chai (www.templechai.com/) in Phoenix, AZ. DONATE: www.bit.ly/1NmpbsP LEARNING MATERIALS: https://bit.ly/36ZUJjP For more info, please visit: www.facebook.com/valleybeitmidrash/ www.facebook.com/temple.chai twitter.com/VBMTorah www.facebook.com/RabbiShmulyYanklowitz/ Music: "They Say" by WowaMusik, a public domain track from the YouTube Audio Library. ★ Support this podcast ★

Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowitz, President & Dean of Valley Beit Midrash interviews Professor Jacob Ari Labendz, Clayman Assistant Professor of Judaic and Holocaust Studies and the director of the Center for Judaic and Holocaust Studies at Youngstown State University (https://ysu.edu/) on the topic of "Jewish Veganism and Vegetarianism: Studies and New Directions." DONATE: http://www.bit.ly/1NmpbsP BUY THE BOOK: https://amzn.to/2qchtMH For podcasts of VBM lectures, GO HERE: https://www.valleybeitmidrash.org/learning-library https://www.facebook.com/valleybeitmidrash ★ Support this podcast ★

Professor Justin Cammy, director of Jewish studies at Smith College (www.smith.edu/academics/jewish-studies) presents his Valley Beit Midrash lecture "Why Yiddish Matters" before an audience at Congregation Or Tzion (www.congregationortzion.org) in Scottsdale, AZ. ABOUT THIS LECTURE: What is the relationship between language and fate, homecomings and leave-takings, the commitment to art and a writer’s service to his community? We will explore these questions through the prism of Sutzkever, whom one scholar called “the last great Yiddish poet.” Justin Cammy, a leading world expert on Sutzkever, will introduce us to Sutzkever’s writings, from the beginning of his career in interwar Poland to his contributions to the cultural life of the Vilna Ghetto to his dedication to rebuilding Yiddish culture after the war in the first Hebrew city, Tel Aviv. Why does Sutzkever, and Yiddish, continue to matter, and what can we learn about ourselves by reading a great Jewish writer? DONATE: bit.ly/1NmpbsP For more info, please visit: www.facebook.com/valleybeitmidrash/ www.facebook.com/OrTzionAZ/ twitter.com/VBMTorah www.facebook.com/RabbiShmulyYanklowitz/ Music: "They Say" by WowaMusik, a public domain track from the YouTube Audio Library. ★ Support this podcast ★

Professor Justin Cammy, director of the program in Jewish studies at Smith College (https://www.smith.edu/academics/jewish-studies) presents his Valley Beit Midrash lecture "Yiddishland: Then and Now" before an audience at the Jewish Worship Group in Surprise, AZ. ABOUT THIS LECTURE: How have Jews mapped the landscapes of Yiddish, both historically and into the present? What do various models of Yiddishland tell us about Jewish politics, culture, and self-identity, and how have they often functioned as utopian experiments or radical alternatives to existing realities? What do imaginings and experiments in Yiddishland tell us about Jewish power and powerlessness, diaspora politics, and the dynamism of Jewish cultural reinvention? DONATE: bit.ly/1NmpbsP For more info, please visit: www.facebook.com/valleybeitmidrash/ twitter.com/VBMTorah www.facebook.com/RabbiShmulyYanklowitz/ Music: "They Say" by WowaMusik, a public domain track from the YouTube Audio Library. ★ Support this podcast ★

Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowitz, President & Dean of Valley Beit Midrash interviews Senator Joseph I. Lieberman (I-CT, ret.), on the topic of "Jewish Values & Public Service." DONATE: http://www.bit.ly/1NmpbsP For podcasts of VBM lectures, GO HERE: https://www.valleybeitmidrash.org/learning-library https://www.facebook.com/valleybeitmidrash ★ Support this podcast ★

Udi Goren, travel photographer, speaker, educator, and writer (www.israeltrailtalk.com/), presents his lecture "A Walk of the Land – A Photographic Journey of the Israel National Trail" before an audience at Congregation Beth Israel (www.cbiaz.org/) in Scottsdale, AZ. ABOUT THIS LECTURE: A personal crisis invoked by the 2014 war in Gaza motivated Udi to set out on a two and a half month journey through the Israel trail. The 700-mile long trek stretches Israel’s entire length. It is world-renowned as one of the world’s best and toughest long distance hikes. Udi will be taking you with him to experience Israel outside of the headlines and the friction and to hear first hand about his physical and mental journey from despair to a newly found hope. The people, the national monuments, the mountains, the creeks and the Israeli landscapes–you will encounter them all! DONATE: bit.ly/1NmpbsP UDI's PHOTOS: https://bit.ly/36IrAtn For more info, please visit: www.facebook.com/valleybeitmidrash/ www.facebook.com/cbiaz twitter.com/VBMTorah www.facebook.com/RabbiShmulyYanklowitz/ Music: "They Say" by WowaMusik, a public domain track from the YouTube Audio Library. ★ Support this podcast ★

Udi Goren, travel photographer, speaker, educator, and writer (https://www.israeltrailtalk.com/), presents his lecture "The Many Faces of Jerusalem" before an audience at Temple Solel (www.templesolel.org/) in Paradise Valley, AZ. ABOUT THIS LECTURE: 2017 marked 50 years to the Six-day War and going back to the old city of Jerusalem and the Jewish holy sites. The talk takes an in-depth look at this remarkable city, discussing different aspects and perspectives: spiritual / earthly, East / West, religious / secular, old / new, different religions, etc. It will make sense of all the scattered information people might have about the city, giving them a logical and cohesive idea of one of the oldest cities in the world. DONATE: bit.ly/1NmpbsP For more info, please visit: www.facebook.com/valleybeitmidrash/ www.facebook.com/templesolelaz/ twitter.com/VBMTorah www.facebook.com/RabbiShmulyYanklowitz/ Music: "They Say" by WowaMusik, a public domain track from the YouTube Audio Library. ★ Support this podcast ★

Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowitz, President & Dean of Valley Beit Midrash interviews Professor Ephraim Meir, Professor of Modern Jewish Philosophy at Bar-Ilan University, on the topic of "Buber, Levinas & Rosenzweig: Beyond Pluralism to Inter-Religious Dialogue!" DONATE: http://www.bit.ly/1NmpbsP For podcasts of VBM lectures, GO HERE: https://www.valleybeitmidrash.org/learning-library https://www.facebook.com/valleybeitmidrash ★ Support this podcast ★

Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowitz, President & Dean of Valley Beit Midrash interviews Professor Benjamin Sommer, Professor of Bible and Ancient Semitic Languages at the Jewish Theological Seminary, on the topic of "Embracing Both Biblical Criticism & Divine Command." DONATE: www.bit.ly/1NmpbsP For podcasts of VBM lectures, GO HERE: www.valleybeitmidrash.org/learining-library www.facebook.com/valleybeitmidrash ★ Support this podcast ★

Evonne Marzouk, presents her Valley Beit Midrash lecture about her novel "The Prophetess: A Modern Story About Rachel, An American Teen Called to Join a Secret Community of Jewish Prophets" before an audience at Temple Chai (www.templechai.com/) in Phoenix, AZ. BUY THE BOOK: https://amzn.to/2WyNUAH For more info, please visit: www.facebook.com/valleybeitmidrash/ www.facebook.com/temple.chai twitter.com/VBMTorah www.facebook.com/RabbiShmulyYanklowitz/ Music: "They Say" by WowaMusik, a public domain track from the YouTube Audio Library. ★ Support this podcast ★

Rabbi Marc Gitler, Director of Content for 929 English (https://www.929.org.il/lang/en/today) presents his Valley Beit Midrash lecture "The Hero is a Harlot: A Conversation about The Book of Joshua’s Most Intriguing Character" before an audience at Temple Chai (www.templechai.com/) in Phoenix, AZ. LEARNING MATERIALS: https://bit.ly/2pwSAel For more info, please visit: www.facebook.com/valleybeitmidrash/ www.facebook.com/temple.chai twitter.com/VBMTorah www.facebook.com/RabbiShmulyYanklowitz/ Music: "They Say" by WowaMusik, a public domain track from the YouTube Audio Library. ★ Support this podcast ★

Rabbi Dr. Bradley Shavit Artson, the Abner and Roslyn Goldstine Dean's Chair of the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies and Vice President of American Jewish University, presents the Hammerman Family Lecture "Almighty? No Way! Embracing the God We Actually Love" before an audience at Congregation Or Tzion (www.congregationortzion.org) in Scottsdale, AZ. DONATE: bit.ly/1NmpbsP For more info, please visit: www.facebook.com/valleybeitmidrash/ www.facebook.com/OrTzionAZ/ twitter.com/VBMTorah www.facebook.com/RabbiShmulyYanklowitz/ Music: "They Say" by WowaMusik, a public domain track from the YouTube Audio Library. ★ Support this podcast ★

Rabbi Dr. Bradley Shavit Artson, the Abner and Roslyn Goldstine Dean's Chair of the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies and Vice President of American Jewish University, presents a special VIP presentation "How I Installed the Chief Rabbi of Uganda, Converted 300 people there, and Sailed Up the Nile to Learn Life’s Lessons" before an audience at Congregation Or Tzion (www.congregationortzion.org) in Scottsdale, AZ. DONATE: bit.ly/1NmpbsP For more info, please visit: www.facebook.com/valleybeitmidrash/ www.facebook.com/OrTzionAZ/ twitter.com/VBMTorah www.facebook.com/RabbiShmulyYanklowitz/ Music: "They Say" by WowaMusik, a public domain track from the YouTube Audio Library. ★ Support this podcast ★

Professor Ziony Zevit, Distinguished Professor of Biblical Literature and Northwest Semitic Languages at the American Jewish University (University of Judaism), presents his Valley Beit Midrash lecture "Letters from the Dead: Three Ancient Texts Discovered by Archaeologists" before an audience at Temple Chai (www.templechai.com/) in Phoenix, AZ. ABOUT THIS LECTURE: In this presentation, we will examine, read, and discuss three short Hebrew texts written in the ancient Hebrew alphabet. They are all dated by the archaeological context within which they were found and by the handwriting style to the biblical period: one from Jerusalem, one from south of Tel Aviv, and one from a site in the Sinai wilderness. Considered together, they provide us with insights into different aspects of ancient Israelite civilization and its religious practices, and they enrich our understanding of the Hebrew Bible. For more info, please visit: www.facebook.com/valleybeitmidrash/ www.facebook.com/temple.chai twitter.com/VBMTorah www.facebook.com/RabbiShmulyYanklowitz/ Music: "They Say" by WowaMusik, a public domain track from the YouTube Audio Library. ★ Support this podcast ★

Professor Ziony Zevit, Distinguished Professor of Biblical Literature and Northwest Semitic Languages at the American Jewish University (University of Judaism), presents his Valley Beit Midrash lecture " Child Sacrifice: Considering the Context" before an audience at Beth Emeth Congregation of the West Valley (www.bethemethaz.org/) in Sun City West, AZ. ABOUT THIS LECTURE: In our culture, we sacrifice for children, but three narratives in the Tanakh describe the sacrifice or near sacrifice of children: Abraham of Isaac (Gen 22), Jephthah of his daughter (Jud 11), and Mesha, king of Moab, of his son (2 Kings 3). We will examine the narrative art of the first two stories—the third is a short report—but will consider them all within the cultural context of ancient Israel. DONATE: bit.ly/1NmpbsP For more info, please visit: www.facebook.com/valleybeitmidrash/ facebook.com/BethEmethofWValleyAZ twitter.com/VBMTorah www.facebook.com/RabbiShmulyYanklowitz/ Music: "They Say" by WowaMusik, a public domain track from the YouTube Audio Library. ★ Support this podcast ★

Tal Keinan, author, entrepreneur and social activist., presents his Valley Beit Midrash lecture "God Is In The Crowd" before an audience at Congregation Beth Tefillah (https://www.bethtefillahaz.org/) in Scottsdale, AZ. ABOUT THIS LECTURE: GOD IS IN THE CROWD is told through the prism of Tal’s dramatic personal story. Born to a secular Jewish family in Miami, he only became curious about his religion and identity when he arrived at Phillips Exeter Academy. This curiosity led him to embark on a trip to Israel, and soon after, his Jewish identity became so important that he enlisted in the Israeli Air Force. As a man who was putting his life on the line for his people, he began to ask himself if what he was fighting for was worth it. This led Tal into an investigation of the core values of Judaism in the twenty-first century and what must be done to preserve the religion. At once alarming and hopeful, philosophical and prescriptive, personal and communal, GOD IS IN THE CROWD presents an innovative plan in which the wisdom of the Jewish crowd is harnessed to endow Judaism with new purpose and ensure its survival. DONATE: bit.ly/1NmpbsP BUY THE BOOK: https://amzn.to/34budSh For more info, please visit: www.facebook.com/valleybeitmidrash/ https://www.facebook.com/cbtaz twitter.com/VBMTorah www.facebook.com/RabbiShmulyYanklowitz/ Music: "They Say" by WowaMusik, a public domain track from the YouTube Audio Library. ★ Support this podcast ★

Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowitz, President & Dean of Valley Beit Midrash interviews Rabbi Chaim Bruk, the Co-CEO and Spiritual Leader of Chabad Lubavitch of Montana (https://www.jewishmontana.com/) on the topic of "An Orthodox Rabbi adopts 5 children!" DONATE: http://www.bit.ly/1NmpbsP For podcasts of VBM lectures, GO HERE: https://www.valleybeitmidrash.org/learining-library https://www.facebook.com/valleybeitmidrash https://www.facebook.com/RabbiShmulyYanklowitz ★ Support this podcast ★

Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowitz, President & Dean of Valley Beit Midrash interviews Professor Michal Bar-Asher Siegal, a scholar of rabbinic Judaism at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, on the topic of "The Talmud Sages & Christianity." DONATE: http://www.bit.ly/1NmpbsP BUY THE BOOK: https://amzn.to/2M5SNOc For podcasts of VBM lectures, GO HERE: https://www.valleybeitmidrash.org/learning-library https://www.facebook.com/valleybeitmidrash https://www.facebook.com/RabbiShmulyYanklowitz ★ Support this podcast ★

Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowitz (http://www.rabbishmuly.com/) presents a special teaching "A Sfat Emet on Parshat Tzav." This teaching was facilitated by My Jewish Learning (https://www.myjewishlearning.com/). https://www.facebook.com/RabbiShmulyYanklowitz http://www.RabbiShmuly.com ★ Support this podcast ★

Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowitz (http://www.rabbishmuly.com/) presents a special teaching on Parshat Pekudei. This teaching was facilitated by My Jewish Learning (https://www.myjewishlearning.com/). https://www.facebook.com/RabbiShmulyYanklowitz http://www.RabbiShmuly.com ★ Support this podcast ★

Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowitz (http://www.rabbishmuly.com/) presents a special teaching on Parshat Shoftim, titled "Building a Just Society!" This teaching was facilitated by My Jewish Learning (https://www.myjewishlearning.com/). https://www.facebook.com/RabbiShmulyYanklowitz http://www.RabbiShmuly.com ★ Support this podcast ★

Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowitz (http://www.rabbishmuly.com/) presents a special teaching "What To Do with the Hatred in our Hearts?" This teaching was facilitated by My Jewish Learning (https://www.myjewishlearning.com/). https://www.facebook.com/RabbiShmulyYanklowitz http://www.RabbiShmuly.com ★ Support this podcast ★

Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowitz, President & Dean of Valley Beit Midrash interviews Rabbi Dr. Shai Held, President, Dean, and Chair in Jewish Thought at Hadar (https://www.hadar.org/), on the topic of "The Centrality of Love in Jewish Thought." DONATE: http://www.bit.ly/1NmpbsP For podcasts of VBM lectures, GO HERE: https://www.valleybeitmidrash.org/learning-library https://www.facebook.com/valleybeitmidrash https://www.facebook.com/HadarInstitute https://www.facebook.com/RabbiShmulyYanklowitz ★ Support this podcast ★

Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowitz, President & Dean of Valley Beit Midrash interviews Rabbi Dr. Ruth Langer, Professor of Jewish Studies at Boston College, on the topic of "Rabbinic Poetry in the High Holy Day Liturgy." DONATE: http://www.bit.ly/1NmpbsP For podcasts of VBM lectures, GO HERE: https://www.valleybeitmidrash.org/learning-library https://www.facebook.com/valleybeitmidrash https://www.facebook.com/RabbiShmulyYanklowitz ★ Support this podcast ★

Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowitz, President & Dean of Valley Beit Midrash interviews Ruth Messinger, Global Ambassador for American Jewish World Service, on the topic of "The Jewish Movement to Eradicate Global Poverty!" DONATE: http://www.bit.ly/1NmpbsP For podcasts of VBM lectures, GO HERE: https://www.valleybeitmidrash.org/learning-library https://www.facebook.com/valleybeitmidrash https://www.facebook.com/RabbiShmulyYanklowitz ★ Support this podcast ★

Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowitz, President & Dean of Valley Beit Midrash interviews Rabbi Dr. Yehudah Mirsky, Professor of Near Eastern and Judaic Studies - Brandeis University on the topic of "Rav Kook's Lessons for a Time of Change and Anger!" DONATE: http://www.bit.ly/1NmpbsP For podcasts of VBM lectures, GO HERE: https://www.valleybeitmidrash.org/learning-library https://www.facebook.com/valleybeitmidrash https://www.facebook.com/RabbiShmulyYanklowitz ★ Support this podcast ★

Abby Stein, an activist, speaker, and author, presents her Valley Beit Midrash lecture "The Intersectionality of Gender and Jewish Identity" before an audience at Temple Solel (www.templesolel.org/) in Paradise Valley, AZ. ABOUT THIS LECTURE: The story of a girl, raised as a boy in the Hasidic world, ordained as a Rabbi, then left and came out as a Trans-Women. This session will explore the intersecting worlds of the Hasidic Community, Education, arranged marriages in today’s America, LGBTQ issues, and the story of the first Ex-Hasidic Transgender support group. Abby will share her story via pictures, videos, some texts, and a lot of storytelling. DONATE: bit.ly/1NmpbsP LEARNING MATERIALS: Forthcoming For more info, please visit: www.facebook.com/valleybeitmidrash/ www.facebook.com/cbiaz twitter.com/VBMTorah www.facebook.com/RabbiShmulyYanklowitz/ Music: "They Say" by WowaMusik, a public domain track from the YouTube Audio Library. ★ Support this podcast ★

Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowitz, President & Dean of Valley Beit Midrash interviews Ilana Kurshan, the author of "If All the Seas Were Ink" on the topic of "Daf Yomi - A Page of Talmud A Day!" DONATE: http://www.bit.ly/1NmpbsP PURCHASE THE BOOK: https://amzn.to/2kLbZpM For podcasts of VBM lectures, GO HERE: https://www.valleybeitmidrash.org/learning-library https://www.facebook.com/valleybeitmidrash https://www.facebook.com/RabbiShmulyYanklowitz ★ Support this podcast ★

Abby Stein, an activist, speaker, and author, presents her Valley Beit Midrash lecture "The Intersectionality of Gender and Jewish Identity" before an audience at Congregation Beth Israel (www.cbiaz.org/) in Scottsdale, AZ. ABOUT THIS LECTURE: For generations, many Jews saw gender within Judaism as black and white, male and female, with no place for fluidity. Until today, ultra-Orthodox communities ignore the existence of gender diversity within Jewish tradition. However, Judaism is rich and full with gender diversity. This session will explore different approaches within primary Jewish texts, from the creation story, the several genders of the Talmud, to transgender theory within Kabbalah, with real-life examples. It will also include a hands-on guide to creating queer-friendly rituals! DONATE: bit.ly/1NmpbsP LEARNING MATERIALS: Forthcoming For more info, please visit: www.facebook.com/valleybeitmidrash/ www.facebook.com/cbiaz twitter.com/VBMTorah www.facebook.com/RabbiShmulyYanklowitz/ Music: "They Say" by WowaMusik, a public domain track from the YouTube Audio Library. ★ Support this podcast ★

Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowitz, President & Dean of Valley Beit Midrash interviews Professor Jonathan D. Sarna, Joseph H. and Belle R. Braun Professor of American Jewish History at Brandeis University on the topic of "The Rise of Anti-Semitism in America." DONATE: http://www.bit.ly/1NmpbsP For podcasts of VBM lectures, GO HERE: https://www.valleybeitmidrash.org/learning-library https://www.facebook.com/valleybeitmidrash https://www.facebook.com/RabbiShmulyYanklowitz ★ Support this podcast ★

Professor Rachel Rubinstein, professor of American literature and Jewish studies at Hampshire College, presents her lecture "Contextualizing Antisemitism on College Campuses" before an audience at Congregation Or Tzion (www.congregationortzion.org) in Scottsdale, AZ. ABOUT THIS LECTURE: How did Jewish immigrants to the United States imagine themselves at home in their new country? How did Jews identify with “America”? The figure of the imaginary Indian has long functioned in the American cultural imagination as an object both of vilification and romantic longing, frequently in relation to governmental policies towards actual Native tribes and communities. It is not surprising then that the figure of the American Indian loomed large in the Jewish imagination as well. This lecture describes a long and varied history of Jewish immigrant fascination with the indigenous peoples of the Americas, seeing in them a mirror for Jews’ own anxieties about tribal and national belonging. Ranging across multiple languages, and geographical locations, this lecture offers an introduction to an unexpectedly rich and complex history of actual and imagined interactions between Jews and Indians. DONATE: bit.ly/1NmpbsP LEARNING MATERIALS: Forthcoming For more info, please visit: www.facebook.com/valleybeitmidrash/ www.facebook.com/OrTzionAZ/ twitter.com/VBMTorah www.facebook.com/RabbiShmulyYanklowitz/ Music: "They Say" by WowaMusik, a public domain track from the YouTube Audio Library. ★ Support this podcast ★

Professor Rachel Rubinstein, professor of American literature and Jewish studies at Hampshire College, presents her lecture "Contextualizing Antisemitism on College Campuses" before an audience at Temple Chai (www.templechai.com/) in Phoenix, AZ. ABOUT THIS LECTURE: Antisemitism is experiencing a resurgence worldwide and in the U.S. But what are Jewish students experiencing on American college campuses? This lecture provides an historical context for antisemitism on both the political right and left, and describes the often confusing political environment of many college campuses, in which antisemitic attitudes can take root. Antisemitism on college campuses can be related to debates about Israel, but is as frequently tied to conflicts around class, race, and religious observance. Once we understand what informs campus antisemitism, what are some effective strategies for combating it? For more info, please visit: www.facebook.com/valleybeitmidrash/ www.facebook.com/temple.chai twitter.com/VBMTorah www.facebook.com/RabbiShmulyYanklowitz/ Music: "They Say" by WowaMusik, a public domain track from the YouTube Audio Library. ★ Support this podcast ★

Rabbi Amitai Fraiman, director of The Z3 Project (https://z3conference.org/) Zack Bodner, CEO of the Palo Alto JCC (https://www.paloaltojcc.org/) present an excerpt from their presentation "Zionism 3.0. What Is It, and Why Is It Important?" before an audience at Temple Chai (www.templechai.com/) in Phoenix, AZ. ABOUT THIS LECTURE: presentation and community conversation about the future of the relationship between Israel and Diaspora Jewry. In this session, we will discuss the need to evolve our Zionist consciousness and the role Israel plays in our communal and personal identities. For more info, please visit: www.facebook.com/valleybeitmidrash/ www.facebook.com/temple.chai twitter.com/VBMTorah www.facebook.com/RabbiShmulyYanklowitz/ Music: "They Say" by WowaMusik, a public domain track from the YouTube Audio Library. ★ Support this podcast ★

Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowitz, President & Dean of Valley Beit Midrash interviews Professor David Kertzer, the Dupee University Professor of Social Science at Brown University and a Pulitzer Prize-winning writer, on the topic of "The Pope and Jews." DONATE: http://www.bit.ly/1NmpbsP For podcasts of VBM lectures, GO HERE: https://www.valleybeitmidrash.org/learning-library https://www.facebook.com/valleybeitmidrash ★ Support this podcast ★

Dr. Erica Brown, director of the Mayberg Center for Jewish Education and Leadership and an associate professor of curriculum and pedagogy at The George Washington University (http://www.ericabrown.com/) presented her roundtable learning session "Where Have All The Leaders Gone" before Valley Beit Midrash's opening event in Sept. 2019. LEARNING MATERIALS: https://bit.ly/2kwyzlV ABOUT THIS SPEAKER: Dr. Erica Brown is an associate professor of curriculum and pedagogy at The George Washington University and the director of its Mayberg Center for Jewish Education and Leadership. She is the author of twelve books on leadership, the Hebrew Bible and spirituality; her forthcoming commentary is The Book of Esther: Power, Fate and Fragility in Exile (Koren/OU). She has been published in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, Tablet and The Jewish Review of Books and wrote a monthly column for the New York Jewish Week. She has blogged for Psychology Today, Newsweek/Washington Post’s “On Faith” and JTA and tweets on one page of Talmud study a day at DrEricaBrown. Erica has degrees from Yeshiva University, University of London, Harvard University and Baltimore Hebrew University. She previously served as the scholar-in-residence at both The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington and the Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Boston and as the community scholar for the Jewish Center of New York. Erica was a Jerusalem Fellow, is a faculty member of the Wexner Foundation, an Avi Chai Fellow and the recipient of the 2009 Covenant Award for her work in education. She currently serves as a community scholar for Congregation Etz Chaim in Livingston, NJ. Erica is also the author of Jonah: The Reluctant Prophet, Take Your Soul to Work: 365 Meditations on Every Day Leadership and Happier Endings: A Meditation on Life and Death (Simon and Schuster), which won both the Wilbur and Nautilus awards for spiritual writing. Her previous books include Inspired Jewish Leadership, a National Jewish Book Award finalist, Spiritual Boredom, Confronting Scandal and co-authored The Case for Jewish Peoplehood (All Jewish Lights). She also wrote Seder Talk: A Conversational Haggada, Leadership in the Wilderness, In the Narrow Places and Return: Daily Inspiration for the Days of Awe (All OU/Koren). This Valley Beit Midrash lecture took place before an audience at Temple Chai (www.templechai.com/) in Phoenix, AZ. For more info, please visit: www.facebook.com/valleybeitmidrash/ www.facebook.com/temple.chai twitter.com/VBMTorah www.facebook.com/RabbiShmulyYanklowitz/ Music: "They Say" by WowaMusik, a public domain track from the YouTube Audio Library. ★ Support this podcast ★

Dr. Erica Brown, director of its Mayberg Center for Jewish Education and Leadership and an associate professor of curriculum and pedagogy at The George Washington University (http://www.ericabrown.com/) presented the first annual Sherman Minkoff Memorial Lecture titled "Time to Change? Jewish Identity for the 21st Century," the opening event of Valley Beit Midrash's 2019-2020 Jaburg-Wilk Learning Season LEARNING MATERIALS: https://bit.ly/2kHSY7x ABOUT THIS SPEAKER: Dr. Erica Brown is an associate professor of curriculum and pedagogy at The George Washington University and the director of its Mayberg Center for Jewish Education and Leadership. She is the author of twelve books on leadership, the Hebrew Bible and spirituality; her forthcoming commentary is The Book of Esther: Power, Fate and Fragility in Exile (Koren/OU). She has been published in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, Tablet and The Jewish Review of Books and wrote a monthly column for the New York Jewish Week. She has blogged for Psychology Today, Newsweek/Washington Post’s “On Faith” and JTA and tweets on one page of Talmud study a day at DrEricaBrown. Erica has degrees from Yeshiva University, University of London, Harvard University and Baltimore Hebrew University. She previously served as the scholar-in-residence at both The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington and the Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Boston and as the community scholar for the Jewish Center of New York. Erica was a Jerusalem Fellow, is a faculty member of the Wexner Foundation, an Avi Chai Fellow and the recipient of the 2009 Covenant Award for her work in education. She currently serves as a community scholar for Congregation Etz Chaim in Livingston, NJ. Erica is also the author of Jonah: The Reluctant Prophet, Take Your Soul to Work: 365 Meditations on Every Day Leadership and Happier Endings: A Meditation on Life and Death (Simon and Schuster), which won both the Wilbur and Nautilus awards for spiritual writing. Her previous books include Inspired Jewish Leadership, a National Jewish Book Award finalist, Spiritual Boredom, Confronting Scandal and co-authored The Case for Jewish Peoplehood (All Jewish Lights). She also wrote Seder Talk: A Conversational Haggada, Leadership in the Wilderness, In the Narrow Places and Return: Daily Inspiration for the Days of Awe (All OU/Koren). This Valley Beit Midrash lecture took place before an audience at Temple Chai (www.templechai.com/) in Phoenix, AZ. For more info, please visit: www.facebook.com/valleybeitmidrash/ www.facebook.com/temple.chai twitter.com/VBMTorah www.facebook.com/RabbiShmulyYanklowitz/ Music: "They Say" by WowaMusik, a public domain track from the YouTube Audio Library. ★ Support this podcast ★

Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowitz, President & Dean of Valley Beit Midrash interviews Dr. Alice Shalvi, a renowned activist and educator, on the topic of "How Has the Status of Women Changed in Israeli Society in 70 years?" DONATE: http://www.bit.ly/1NmpbsP For podcasts of VBM lectures, GO HERE: https://www.valleybeitmidrash.org/learning-library https://www.facebook.com/valleybeitmidrash ★ Support this podcast ★

Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowitz, President & Dean of Valley Beit Midrash interviews Dr. Daniel Gordis, Senior Vice President and Koret Distinguished Fellow at Shalem College (https://shalem.ac.il/en/) on the topic of "The Rift Between American Jews & Israel." Dr. Gordis is also the author of the new book "We Stand Divided: The Rift Between American Jews & Israel." DONATE: http://www.bit.ly/1NmpbsP BUY THE BOOK: https://amzn.to/2kAB4mY For podcasts of VBM lectures, GO HERE: https://www.valleybeitmidrash.org/learning-library https://www.facebook.com/valleybeitmidrash ★ Support this podcast ★

Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowitz (http://www.rabbishmuly.com/) presents a special teaching "False Prophets in our Midst Today!" This teaching was facilitated by My Jewish Learning (https://www.myjewishlearning.com/). https://www.facebook.com/RabbiShmulyYanklowitz http://www.RabbiShmuly.com ★ Support this podcast ★

Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowitz, President & Dean of Valley Beit Midrash interviews Rabbi Steve Greenberg, Founding Director of Eshel (http://www.eshelonline.org) on the topic of "Orthodox Same-Sex Marriage." DONATE: http://www.bit.ly/1NmpbsP For podcasts of VBM lectures, GO HERE: https://www.valleybeitmidrash.org/learning-library https://www.facebook.com/valleybeitmidrash ★ Support this podcast ★

Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowitz, President & Dean of Valley Beit Midrash interviews Rabbi Jonah Pesner, the Director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism (https://rac.org/) on the topic of "Jewish Social Justice at the RAC." DONATE: http://www.bit.ly/1NmpbsP For podcasts of VBM lectures, GO HERE: https://www.valleybeitmidrash.org/learning-library https://www.facebook.com/valleybeitmidrash ★ Support this podcast ★

Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowitz, President & Dean of Valley Beit Midrash interviews Professor Laurie Zoloth, Margaret E. Burton Professor of Religion and Ethics in the Divinity School and the Senior Advisor to the Provost for Programs on Social Ethics at the University of Chicago, on the topic of "Jewish Medical Ethics." DONATE: http://www.bit.ly/1NmpbsP For podcasts of VBM lectures, GO HERE: https://www.valleybeitmidrash.org/learning-library https://www.facebook.com/valleybeitmidrash ★ Support this podcast ★

Rabbi Garth Silberstein (https://kitcsacramento.org/rabbi/), the founder and director of the Organic Yeshiva, presents his lecture, " The Mitzvah of Tokhecha (Reproof) and the Ethics of Protest" before an audience at Temple Chai (templechai.com/) in Phoenix, AZ. ABOUT THIS SPEAKER: Rabbi Garth Silberstein received his rabbinic ordination from Yeshivat Chovevei Torah in 2016. Previously he had also studied at the Pardes Institute for Jewish studies, and received a BA in acting and biology from Bennington College in Vermont. While a student, Rabbi Silberstein interned at the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale-The Bayit, Congregation Shaarey Tphiloh in Portland, Maine, Congregation Kadimah-Toras Moshe in Boston, and Hazon. Prior to beginning his rabbinic training, Rabbi Silberstein lived in New York and worked in the theatre and in non-profit management for several years. A native of Davis, California, Rabbi Silberstein is an out-door enthusiast, and has led Hazon’s Cross-USA bike ride twice. In 2014, Rabbi Silberstein founded Organic Yeshiva, an immersive adult education program that combines traditional talmud study with hands-on experience in sustainable agriculture. Rabbi Silberstein has taught and spoken at numerous synagogues and other institutions throughout the United States. DONATE: bit.ly/1NmpbsP LEARNING MATERIALS: https://bit.ly/2PeQjR1 For more info, please visit: www.facebook.com/valleybeitmidrash/ www.facebook.com/temple.chai twitter.com/VBMTorah www.facebook.com/RabbiShmulyYanklowitz/ Music: "They Say" by WowaMusik, a public domain track from the YouTube Audio Library ★ Support this podcast ★

Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowitz, President & Dean of Valley Beit Midrash interviews Rabbi Arik Ascherman, Founder & Director of Torat Tzedek-Torah of Justice" on the topic of "Spiritual Activism for Human Rights in Israel." DONATE: http://www.bit.ly/1NmpbsP For podcasts of VBM lectures, GO HERE: https://www.valleybeitmidrash.org/learning-library https://www.facebook.com/valleybeitmidrash https://www.facebook.com/RabbiShmulyYanklowitz ★ Support this podcast ★