Rabbi Jonathan Kligler

Rabbi Jonathan Kligler discusses manifestations of AntiSemitism in our world today, on the left and the right, and ways that we can take a stand to combat this rise.

Embracing the inherent paradoxes of our existence; Wonder, humility and radical amazement; a sense of being called, the deep intuition that our lives matter.

The cycle of "sevens" in Judaism - seven days, seven weeks, seven years - encode the core, radical innovation of Judaism: we must create a society and tend to our world in a way that ensures fair and just treatment for all, including the earth itself.

Listen to Heschel's own voice in an interview fro m shortly before his death in 1973. We discuss his presentation, and then read his short piece "The Reason for My Involvement in the Peace Movement" (1973)

Leviticus 23 describes the Biblical Holiday cycle. The Rabbis ingeniously transformed that ancient pattern into the Jewish Calendar we have today.

In this class, we read parts of Heschel's essay "The Spirit of Jewish Prayer"

Leviticus Ch. 19 instructs us in the central ethical behaviors that might create a "holy community", a place where the Divine Presence can dwell and be experienced.

We read and discuss "To Grow in Wisdom", a paper Heschel gave at the White House Conference in Aging in 1961. He addresses the challenges of growing old with deep insight and spiritual wisdom.

In the Biblical worldview, Metzora, a skin disease, mirrors some dis-ease of the inner self, some loss of integrity or disconnection from the community. A ritual is described that allows the person to be reintegrated into the community.

We read and discuss "Religion and Race", an address that Rabbi Heschel first delivered in 1963.

Can we make sense of the deaths of Nadav and Avihu? We explore both the plain and the mystical understandings of this episode.

What is the purpose of sacrifice in Leviticus? The Hebrew terms for "sacrifice" give us the answer

Three dimensions through which to manifest holiness: sacred space (the Mishkan), sacred time (Shabbat and holy times), and sacred self (Making oneself into a dwelling place for the Divine).

Moses as the exemplar of the human being who balances ascent and communion with the Divine with descent and communion with the human situation.

Aaron and his sons are tasked with keeping the light in the Mishkan lit from evening until morning, perpetually. The Hasidic master, the S'fat Emet, teaches that is everyone's task: to bring light into the darkness through not only performing mitzvot, but by being a mitzvah.

To understand the layout and purpose of the Mishkan, we must learn to think analogically. For our ancestors, every level of reality was in relation to and an analogy for every other level, from the personal to the cosmic.

How does one confront a Pharaoh, a tyrant? Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel of blessed memory offers inspiration

12 Vayechi Parshat Hashavua 011217 Jacob on his Deathbed by Rabbi Jonathan Kligler

What is the "Divine Feminine"? How does it express itself in the Abrahamic traditions? How has it been suppressed, and how is it being reclaimed?

Serach daughter of Asher is only a name in the Torah - but the Rabbis who wove Midrash give her a central role in the redemption of the Jewish People.

We explore the inner purpose of prayer and the central prayers of all three traditions.

We continue our exploration of the women in Genesis with the story of Tamar, a wronged woman who must outsmart Judah in order for justice - and God's plan - to be served.

We explore the awareness of the unity of all that serves as the vivifying experience behind all faiths, and conclude with the opportunity to witness Muslim prayer.

We examine the story of the Rape of Dina: was Jacob responsible? We examine Jacob's flawed character, and our own, as well.

How are Muslims and Muslim societies adapting to modernity? How are American Muslims experimenting with their tradition?

07 Vayetze Parshat Hashavua 12.09.16 : A Fresh Look at Leah by Rabbi Jonathan Kligler

Muhammad is revered in islam, and his life, prophecies, and spiritual experiences are the foundation of Islam. In this class, we learn about the life of Muhammad. We also learn about the influence of Judaism and Christianity in the Arabian Peninsula at that time, and on Muhammad's teachings.

Rebecca, more than any other female character in Genesis, appears to be the protagonist of the story, choosing her path, speaking with God, and directing events. This week we explore Rebecca from this perspective.

In this session we explore the origins, practices and purpose of Sufism and its place in the Moslem world, while comparing to Jewish mystical practices, as well. THE FIRST FEW MINUTES OF THIS CLASS WERE ACCIDENTALLY NOT RECORDED - OUR APOLOGIES!

An Introduction to Islam and its core practices, with some striking comparisons with especially Judaism and also Christianity.

We read Torah as a record of visionary experiences, and focus on Abraham's willing ness to confront God about acting justly. Also, a review of the history of the "Oral law" and the rabbinic tradition of interpretation.

In our first class, the teachers describe their journey to this moment of interfaith exploration and openness. The class members articulate many questions, which will serve as the foundation for our syllabus moving forward.

In this introductory class to a year of studying the weekly Torah portion, Rabbi Jonathan Kligler brilliantly describes the many ways that Torah can be interpreted. He offers an approach to Torah study that might be termed "Yes, and..." rather than "Yes, but...", continuing the ancient tradition of countless meanings emerging from our interaction with the text.

In this introduction to a year of studying the weekly Torah portion, Rabbi Jonathan Kligler brilliantly lays out the many levels of Torah interpretation, and offers an invigorating "Yes, and..." as opposed to a "Yes, but..." approach to Torah study.

Rabbi Jonathan and the class explore the strategies and awarenesses that free us to live in the world gracefully and powerfully.

During Elul we focus on Teshuvah, on turning our attention towards our most precious and deeply held beliefs and values, and working to align our attitudes and actions with those values. Using the "Gematria" of the incoming Jewish year 5777, Rabbi Jonathan guides us to Teshuvah teaching gems in the Hebrew Bible.

The illuminating history of the origins and development of Yom Hashoah - Holocaust Remembrance Day

More on the history, structure, purpose and deep teachings of the Passover Haggadah. Make your Passover Seder more meaningful this year - listen!

The origins and the development of Passover, from Biblical through Rabbinic and into modern times.

Hasidic teachings on Purim; more on the spiritual meaning of Amalek

The Purim story as a cosmic battle between good and evil; The power of making fun of the powerful; Transcending duality on Purim; A close reading of the Scroll of Esther, part 1

The origins of Purim; the meaning of Amalek in Jewish tradition; Spiritual messages of Purim.

In this final installment (for now) we discuss the origins of monasticism in Christianity, and we survey the Jewish liturgical calendar

Exploring the liturgical cycle of the Christian calendar, and some of its Jewish origins.

What do Christians mean when they speak about "a personal relationship with Jesus"? and, comparing the sacred mythos of Judaism and Christianity.

The series continues with an illuminating discussion of what we love about our faiths and traditions, and what they mean to us.

The origins and meanings of Chanukah and Christmas. This is the final class of the series. We hope to resume some time soon!

The origins of Christian anti-Semitism

On the Sefirot, and the relationship of the spiritual and the physical, and of humans and the Divine.

A spiritual understanding of the Trinity; triads in Judaism; Rev. Susan Auchincloss on "Faith, not Fault"