Editor's Recommendations

Jews in Emma Lazarus' New York

2012-02-13T08:09:00.000-08:00

Emma Lazarus' lifetime was a period of change and challenge in the American Jewish world. Professor Hasia Diner (NYU) and Professor Aviva Ben-Ur (UMass Amherst) assess what the Ashkenazi and Sephardic Jewish communities in late 19th-century New York shared and where they diverged. From the Museum of Jewish Heritage.

Lawrence Summers at 92Y: Rising Inequality Sinks All Ships

2012-02-06T13:10:00.000-08:00

Lawrence Summers, former Harvard president and economic advisor to Presidents Clinton and Obama, offered qualified support for the Occupy Wall Street movement while not always agreeing with its rhetoric and tactics. He summarized his position: "the issue of rising inequality and what it means for the middle class that's the underpinning of democracy, my judgment would be that once we get out of this downturn, that's going to be the issue that animates economic discussion for a very long time."

100% Electric Cars get on the Israeli Roads

2012-02-05T21:06:00.001-08:00

Israel's automotive revolution enters the test drive phase.

A Unilateral Palestinian State and the Implications for Israel with Daniel Kurtzer.

2012-01-31T21:00:00.000-08:00

A Unilateral Palestinian State and the Implications for Israel with Daniel Kurtzer. Lecture delivered at the Shalom Hartman Institute and webcast on the Jewish TV Network.

Interview with Dr. David Ellenson and Dr. Daniel Gordis

2012-01-24T20:13:00.000-08:00

The Jewish Week had the opportunity to speak with Dr. David Ellenson and Dr. Daniel Gordis about their new book Pledges of Jewish Alleglance: Conversion,Law and Policy-Making In Nineteenth-and Twentieth-Century Orthodox Responsa. Dr. David Ellenson and Dr. Daniel Gordis probe the challenges to Jewish self-definition in the modern period by examining a wide array of legal opinions on conversion and intermarriage, written by nineteenth- and twentieth-century Orthodox rabbis in Europe, the United States, and Israel, and discover how these rabbinic decisions are, in fact, attempts to define policy for Judaism in the modern period.

Reporters' Roundtable: Orthodox and Gay

2012-01-21T11:15:00.000-08:00

In this week’s podcast, host Josh Nathan-Kazis is joined by Orthodox rabbi, Steve Greenberg, who recently wrote for the Forward about his decision to conduct a same-sex commitment ceremony. Then Josh talks with Nathan Guttman, the Forward’s Washington correspondent, to discuss how the US and Israel are trying to handle Iran. Finally, Forward editor Jane Eisner stops by to discuss why women’s voices continue to be excluded from panel discussions in the American Jewish community.

Elie Wiesel In Conversation with Leon Charney (10/08/06)

2012-01-16T22:20:00.000-08:00

Elie Wiesel on The Leon Charney Report of 10/8/2006.

The Simulation Room

2012-01-13T13:10:00.000-08:00

An inside look at an emergency simulation room used to train IDF medics.

WebYeshiva

2012-01-13T10:05:00.001-08:00

WebYeshiva is an online yeshiva that offers free classes and shiurim on topics including Torah, Talmud, Gemara, and Mishnah.

From Swastika to Jim Crow Sample

2012-01-11T21:20:00.000-08:00

Based on a book by the late Gabrielle Simon Edgcomb, the film From Swastika to Jim Crow tells the little-known story of two different cultures that share elements of a common burden of oppression. Jewish refugee scholars who fled Nazi Germany and arrived in the United States were often excluded from mainstream American universities due to anti-Semitism and anti-foreigner sentiment. Some found employment in an unusual place - Black colleges in the segregated South.

Girls in Trouble

2012-01-11T17:24:00.001-08:00

Alicia Jo Rabins makes songs about women in the bible from their perspective, and the result is affecting and relatable folk-pop which makes you want to re-visit the original stories. This performance features her songs on the characters Lilith, Hannah, Jephthah's daughter, Hagar, Miriam, Eishet Chayil, and Samson's first wife. From The Contemporary Jewish Museum of San Francisco.

Birthright Israel Alumni Community Bar/Bat Mitzvah Celebration

2012-01-10T21:11:00.000-08:00

Birthright Israel Alumuni community gives individuals the opportunity to celebrate their own Bar or Bat Mitzvah with family and friends in just 8 weeks. This program was created in response to the great number of Birthright Israel alumni who shared with us that they had never had a Bar or Bat Mitzvah, or felt they didn't fully appreciate its significance. Throughout the course of 8 weeks, participants will be exposed to various aspects of Judaism including Jewish history, holidays, and how to read Hebrew.

5772 — Shemot: Why Would One Nation Oppress Another?

2012-01-10T20:54:00.000-08:00

Rabbi Daniel Roth discusses Parshat Shemot. Rabbi Daniel Roth teaches Talmud and serves as the Director of the Pardes Center for Judaism and Conflict Resolution. Daniel also is the coordinator and teacher of the Pardes Peace and Conflict Track. He holds an MA in Talmud from Hebrew University, a B.Ed in Jewish Philosophy and Talmud from Herzog Teachers’ College, and is currently pursuing a doctorate in Bar Ilan University’s Conflict Resolution and Negotiation Department on the topic of Rabbinic Models of Reconciliation. Daniel has been teaching Talmud, Chumash and other subjects at Pardes for the past nine years, and studied for eight years in Yeshivat Har-Etzion, during which time he received semicha.

Three Rabbis Walk into a Room

2012-01-08T20:03:00.000-08:00

In conversation with David Green of the JCC of San Francisco, featuring Rabbis Carla Fenves, Micah Hyman and Joshua Strulowitz. Three Rabbis Hailing from the Conservative, Reform and Orthodox movements come together for a discussion on the nature of God, Torah and revelation. What really happened at Sinai? Who wrote the Torah? How was it received? And how do the different streams of Judaism interpret it?

Mosaic Show with Upstart Bay Area and G-dcast

2012-01-08T13:03:00.000-08:00

MOSAIC, CBS 5, interviews explore how Bay Area people's lives are enriched by diversity of cultural and faith perspectives. In this episode, MOSAIC speaks with Maya Bernstein, Director of Education and Leadership Initiatives at UpStart Bay Area, and Sarah Lefton, Founder & CEO at G-dcast - an UpStarter.

Forward's Reporters' Roundtable: GOP Showdown, Natalie's Assets

2012-01-07T19:02:00.000-08:00

In this week’s podcast, host Josh Nathan-Kazis is joined by Forward opinion editor Gal Beckerman and Washington correspondent Nathan Guttman to discuss the fallout from the Iowa caucuses and the outlook for Republican presidential candidates in New Hampshire and beyond. Then, staff writer Paul Berger stops by to discuss his story about a Belgian man who was honored for saving Jews during the Holocaust. It turns out he is accused of being xenophobic and anti-Semitic. He may have actually prevented Jews from fleeing Nazi Germany. Finally, the group argues, vehemently, about why Jews like Natalie Portman.

Constantine's Sword: The Church and the Jews

2012-01-07T12:44:00.001-08:00

James Carroll's book, Constantine's Sword: The Church and the Jews, is both a powerful and disturbing analysis of the history of Christian, especially Roman Catholic, dealings with the Jews. He argues that Christians took anti-Semitic forks in the road when they might well have written a less tragic history by following another road. Here, Mr. Carroll and others, including Elie Wiesel and Cynthia Ozick, talk about his book.

Adrienne Cooper & Zalmen Mlotek Purim Concert

2012-01-02T15:27:00.000-08:00

Adrienne Cooper & Zalmen Mlotek - Purim Concert, St. Petersburg, 2003.

Adrienne Cooper's Musical Life

2012-01-02T14:50:00.000-08:00

The legendary Yiddish musician and music teacher Adrienne Cooper, who died December 25 at age 65, was remembered at a New Year’s Day memorial service on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. Jon Kalish reports from the event, and speaks with Cooper’s friends and colleagues about the life, career, character of the woman who, as fellow musician Jenny Romaine put it, “had the voice of a diva, and the soul of a bundist.”

Cartoon Kippah Interviews Moishe House Founder

2012-01-01T22:18:00.000-08:00

Mainstream "Alternative" Jewish Communities: Joel Stanley, Director of International Programming for Moishe House and a former, founding resident of Moishe House London. Are mainstream and alternative Jewish communities really that different? What is the relationship between grassroots groups and established Jewish institutions? How is Jewish life in Britain going to change over the next decade? Joel and David Yehuda discuss this and more on this edition of the show.

Beyond the Pale - Jan. 1, 2012

2012-01-01T21:07:00.001-08:00

It's is with great sorrow that Beyond the Pale notes the passing of Adrienne Cooper, a luminous vocal artist, interpreter of Yiddish song and social justice activist. The music on today's show will be from a few of her many recordings. Also on today's show, a reading of Clare Coss's play, Sha Sha, with Lynn Cohen, Stephanie Fieger and Ronald Cohen. And we'll re-broadcast a portion of Esther Kaplan's interview with Joe Sacco about Footnotes in Gaza, a graphic novel about the little known killings of hundreds of Palestinians by Israeli soldiers during the 1956 Suez crisis.

BEYOND THE PALE has aired on WBAI/New York, 99.5 FM, part of the Pacifica Radio Network, since 1995. The program, which currently broadcasts Sundays from noon to 1 p.m., explores local, national and international political debate and analysis from a Jewish perspective. We also bring listeners the voices and sounds of contemporary Jewish culture, from film critics to filmmakers, novelists, poets and musicians. BEYOND THE PALE is the only Jewish program on radio or television devoted to bringing a left perspective to political and cultural debates.

Introduction to the Old Testament (Hebrew Bible) with Professor Christine Hayes

2011-12-31T08:21:00.000-08:00

This Yale College course examines the Old Testament (Hebrew Bible) as an expression of the religious life and thought of ancient Israel, and a foundational document of Western civilization. A wide range of methodologies, including source criticism and the historical-critical school, tradition criticism, redaction criticism, and literary and canonical approaches are applied to the study and interpretation of the Bible. Special emphasis is placed on the Bible against the backdrop of its historical and cultural setting in the Ancient Near East. Christine Hayes is Robert F. and Patricia R. Weis Professor of Religious Studies in Classical Judaica. Before joining the Yale faculty in 1996, she was Assistant Professor of Hebrew Studies in the Department of Near Eastern Studies at Princeton University for three years. Her published works include two books and several articles in Vetus Testamentum, The Journal for the Study of Judaism, The Harvard Theological Review, and various scholarly anthologies. Her first book, entitled Between the Babylonian and Palestinian Talmuds (Oxford University Press, 1997) was honored with a Salo Baron prize for a first book in Jewish thought and literature, awarded by the American Academy for Jewish Research (1999). Her second book, Gentile Impurities and Jewish Identities: Intermarriage and Conversion from the Bible to the Talmud (Oxford University Press, 2002) was a 2003 National Jewish Book Award finalist.

www.jWASH.net

2011-12-30T15:18:00.000-08:00

24 hour Jewish streaming radio station from the Metro DC Area, featuring an eclectic mix of music, culture and tefila.

Christian-Muslim relations in Iraq: Need to Know, December 23, 2011

2011-12-30T08:47:00.000-08:00

Ray Suarez hosts this Christmas weekend’s edition of Need to Know, which shines a light on the precarious state of Iraqi Christians. Correspondent Martin Himel travels to Baghdad to see how Christian-Muslim relations in the country might fare after the departure of American troops. Also: Ray Suarez speaks with Anthony Shadid of the New York Times, and Jon Meacham gives an “American Voices” essay on how Muslims, Jews and Christians can reconcile their differences.

5000 Years of Jewish History with Rabbi Berel Wein

2011-12-30T07:35:00.000-08:00

Rabbi Wein and the Destiny Foundation present 33 excellent, short talks on Jewish history. The Destiny Foundation produces educational and entertaining media to tell the story of the Jewish people to the Jewish people.

Landmark Cases in American Courts: The Public Menorah

2011-12-21T08:24:00.000-08:00

From Chabad Lubavitch World HQ.

Noted civil liberties lawyer Nathan Lewin discusses his involvement in the legal battle to allow menorahs to be lit in public spaces. This class was given at the National Jewish Retreat - a yearly event hosted by the Rohr Jewish Learning Institute. The Retreat is a five day learning and discovery experience with world-class Torah lecturers which offers the opportunity to relax, reflect and refresh one’s spirit in a luxurious setting. For more information about the National Jewish Retreat and to register for this year’s Retreat, check out JRetreat.com

Lynn Schusterman - Jewish Advocate and Philanthropist

2011-12-20T08:31:00.000-08:00

From Voices of Oklahoma.

Lynn Schusterman was born in Kansas City, Missouri and raised in Oklahoma City. She first learned about philanthropy from her father. As she listened and watched him she was impressed with the importance of helping others help themselves. Lynn is the widow of Charles Schusterman, founder of Samson Investment Company, a Tulsa gas exploration and production company. Charles died in 2000, at the age of 65, from complications of leukemia.

Lynn Schusterman is chair of the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation, a private philanthropic foundation headquartered in Tulsa with offices in Washington, D.C. Through the Foundation as well as personal endeavors she has become a world-renowned advocate for the Jewish community.

Founded by the Schusterman couple in 1987, the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation is dedicated to advancing causes important to the Jewish people by supporting programs throughout the world that spread the joy of their culture, heritage, and values. With emphasis in the areas of education, child advocacy and youth leadership in and around Tulsa, the Foundation also provides assistance to non-sectarian charitable organizations dedicated to enhancing the quality of life throughout Oklahoma.

Hanukkah - In Those Days, at This Time

2011-12-19T16:01:00.000-08:00

From TheLandofIsrael.com.

What is the miracle of Hanukkah really about?
One days’ worth of olive oil lasting for 8 days, was indeed, miraculous….
but there is so much more to this holiday than meets the eye.
Hanukkah is the miraculous story of the Jewish People, and as you will see -the story never ended.
It lives today in our times, through the miracle of the State of Israel,
and the modern day Maccabees who stand alongside her.

Watch this short and powerful video from Jerusalem, for illuminating
insights and fascinating perspectives into the holiday of Hanukkah.

Yuri Slezkine - Conversations with History

2011-12-19T09:12:00.000-08:00

Conversations host Harry Kreisler welcomes Berkeley Professor Yuri Slezkine for a discussion of the Jewish odyssey in the 20th century. His comparative analysis focuses on the similarity of the Jews to other "Mercurians" and provides new insight into understanding the paths the Jews took amidst the chaos of the last century.

Rabbi Meir Lau in Conversation with Rabbi Menachem Genack

2011-12-18T14:02:00.000-08:00

From the 92nd Street Y of New York.

One of the world's most revered and charismatic Jewish leaders recounts his story of survival in one of the Nazis' deadliest concentration camps, his life after the war and his ascension to chief rabbi in Israel.

William Kristol and Rabbi David Saperstein - How to Further Jewish Values

2011-12-18T13:52:00.000-08:00

From the 2011 URJ Biennial Forum.

Two leading politically active and influential Jewish intellectuals, one from the Right and the other from the Left, delve into the question of furthering Jewish values.

Best News Stories of the Week

2011-12-18T13:42:00.000-08:00

From InfoLive TV.

AMOS SPACE SATELLITE LAUNCHED INTO SPACE
CIRQUE DU SOLEIL COMING TO ISRAEL
GOVERNMENT BUYS NEW LIMOS FOR VIPs
APPLE TO SET UP ISRAEL DEVELOPMENT CENTER
HANUKKA VIDEOS COMPETITION ON YOUTUBE

Girls in Trouble: The Arrow and the Bow

2011-12-18T10:21:00.000-08:00

From the Contemporary Jewish Museum of San Francisco.

Alicia Jo Rabins—Torah scholar, fem-folkie, punk maven — writes songs inspired by biblical heroines. Along with her group, Girls in Trouble, Rabins presented a concert which included the debuts a world-premiere song about Hagar. The song was commissioned by the Contemporary Jewish Museum in conjunction with the CJM installation, "Hagar in the Desert."

SHOLOM ALEICHEM: "MR. GREEN HAS A JOB"

2011-12-17T17:49:00.000-08:00

Uploaded by Forverts on Dec 16, 2011

Treasures of Yiddish Prose -
SHOLOM ALEICHEM: "MR. GREEN HAS A JOB"
Read by Dr. Paul Glasser

Newt Gingrich with Charlie Rose at 92Y February 2007

2011-12-17T17:44:00.000-08:00

Newt Gingrich on North Korea, Iran and Israel with Charlie Rose at 92nd Street Y in February of 2007.

Jabotinsky: Enduring Insights

2011-12-17T16:23:00.000-08:00

From The Foundation for Jewish Studies.

There are few men or women who are remembered, let alone honored, 70 years after they’ve died. But we do remember Vladimir “Ze’ev” Jabotinsky – and for good reason. Or, I should say, for good reasons. First, he played an instrumental role in the success of a great cause -- the reconstitution of a Jewish state in the Land of Israel. Second, in addition to his remarkable accomplishments, he was a man of remarkable character and ideas. And third, Jabotinsky’s thoughts on the Arab-Jewish conflict over Palestine are not merely of historical interest; they contain insights applicable today.

Speaker: Douglas J. Feith, Senior Fellow at the Hudson Institute, where he heads the Center for National Security Strategies.

Location: B'nai Israel Congregation; Rockville, MD

Also cosponsored by Ohr Kodesh Congregation as part of its Pledge 30 program

Can the Jewish People Survive as Secularists?

2011-12-17T15:09:00.000-08:00

From The Foundation for Jewish Studies.

What is "Secular Judaism?" The term "secular Jew" is used by those who claim to be secular Jews and those who see secular Jews as part of a malaise afflicting Judaism. But what is it and why does there seem to be an affinity between secularism and the deeply held beliefs of the American Jewish community? Dr. Berlinerblau will look at the history of Judaism with an eye towards understanding the factors which may predispose Jews to become the secular people par excellence.

Speaker: Dr. Jacques Berlinerblau, Associate Professor and Director of the Program for Jewish Civilization at the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University

Location: Adas Israel Congregation; Washington, DC

JCCSF Interview with Daniel Kahneman

2011-12-16T17:47:00.000-08:00

From the JCC of San Francisco.

Psychologist and Nobel Laureate Daniel Kahneman discusses when to trust intuition and how to tap the benefits of slow thinking.

YidLit: Admiel Kosman

2011-12-16T17:33:00.000-08:00

From The Forward.

Sitting down with Israeli poet Admiel Kosman and his translator Lisa Katz (who is a poet in her own right) in the Forward’s podcast studio felt less like a formal interview than a conversation in a dimly lit cafe, extending for hours into the night. And it likely would have extended — if the producer didn’t start waving frantically after the allotted half-hour was up. Indeed, Kosman’s new book, “Addressing You In English,” is so layered and multidimensional that it is prone to a vast number of discussions — not merely about poetry, but about language, love, Jewishness, prayer and more.

The Trial: The People vs. Yael

2011-12-16T17:14:00.000-08:00

From The Jewish Network.

Enjoy the fun, laughter & intrigue as Yael (yes of Yael & Sisera) is put on trial for murder. Another in the series of biblical characters put on trial for crimes they are alleged to have committed.

Dennis Ross at The Washington Institute

2011-12-16T17:05:00.000-08:00

In his first public address since leaving the Obama administration, Amb. Dennis Ross speaks to The Washington Institute on December 13, 2011. Ross rejoined the Institute as counselor upon his departure from government.

Hanukkah During the Holocaust

2011-12-16T17:01:00.000-08:00

From Yad Vashem.

Hanukkah During the Holocaust: Holocaust Survivor Testimonies

Sneak Preview of Itzhak Perlman

2011-12-16T16:32:00.000-08:00

From the Forward.

Itzhak spoke to Yitzchok in Hebrew. Hankus spoke to Yitzchok in Yiddish. The conductor made puns in English with a heavy accent that is Australian and South African. And this all happened in the studio where Bruce Springsteen recorded “Born To Run” and Madonna laid down her vocal tracks for “Like a Virgin.”

We’re talking, of course, about Itzhak Perlman, Cantor Yitzchok Meir Helfgot, Hankus Netsky of Boston’s Klezmer Conservatory Band and conductor Russell Ger, who is Helfgot’s musical director at Manhattan’s Park East Synagogue. In early December, they were joined by a 20-piece chamber orchestra composed primarily of the violin virtuoso’s former students and several members of KCB to record a new album of cantorial and Yiddish music at Avatar Studios, in midtown Manhattan.

Vayeishev772 - Esther Wein

2011-12-16T16:13:00.001-08:00

From OU Radio.

Rep. Eric Cantor - 2011 URJ Biennial Plenary Speech

2011-12-16T16:10:00.001-08:00

Speaker of the US House of Representatives, Rep. Eric Cantor.

Forward Reporters' Roundtable

2011-12-16T16:01:00.000-08:00

In this week’s podcast, host Naomi Zeveloff is joined by Forward reporter Paul Berger to discuss why Brooklyn District Attorney Charles Hynes is refusing to release the names of nearly 90 Orthodox Jews who have been arrested on sex abuse chargesin the past three years. Then, Paul reveals why there are thousands of girls named ‘Chaya Mushka’ in the Lubavitcher community. Finally, food editor Devra Ferst drops but to share some of the best Jewish Christmas cookies.

TJC's Jewish News Week in Review: December 16, 2011

2011-12-16T15:55:00.000-08:00

Newt Gingrich, Palestinian statehood, Hanukah gift ideas, Maurice Sendak's favorite menorahs, The Israeli Family Project, and more of the top stories from the Jewish world.

A Bibliographer Encounters the Muses: Reflections on the Yiddish Theater and Its Legacy

2011-11-17T15:55:00.000-08:00

Zachary M. Baker delivered the eighth Annual Myron M. Weinstein Memorial Lecture on the Hebraic Book as part of the Library's celebration of Jewish American Heritage Month. The lecture was titled "A Bibliographer Encounters the Muses: Reflections on the Yiddish Theater and Its Legacy." The lecture series honors Myron M. Weinstein (1927-1998), whose 29-year tenure at the Library was spent in the Hebraic Section. Speaker Biography: Zachary Baker is the Reinhard Family Curator of Judaica and Hebraica Collections at Stanford University Libraries.

The Jewish Newscast

2011-11-15T17:11:00.000-08:00

The Jewish Newscast is a daily audio report of the top Jewish and Israeli news.

Library of Congress

2011-11-07T21:01:00.000-08:00

The Library of Congress webcasts erudite lectures on uncommon topics, including those of Jewish interest. This link searches for lectures related to Judaism, Israel, Yiddish and Hebrew. Browsing the results uncovers lectures on topics of wideranging interest about Jews, including Yiddish radio, the Jewish of Cochin (India), and much more.

Learn Hebrew Phrases with Audio & Video

2011-10-08T21:35:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Learn Hebrew Phrases with Audio! It has been my goal to create a site that would help you learn Hebrew phrases and sentences easily. There are 54 topics with 1,211 Hebrew phrases and sentences. In addition to the online audio flash, the site includes 152 printable study sheets. The site is very easy to use: Click to choose Hebrew Only or English - Hebrew; Click to choose a topic - Use the screen or keyboard arrows to scroll up and down to view the phrases / sentences.

The Cartoon Kippah

2011-10-07T09:14:00.000-07:00

Cartoon Kippah – The NEW Jewish Podcast – is your number one show for debate and conversation on the latest Jewish topics affecting the UK Jewish community. Want to part of the discussion on Israel? Trying to decide if you should send your child to a faith school or simply interested in what Judaism has to say about vegetarianism? Then Cartoon Kippah is the show for you!

Mofet's Online Academy for Jewish Studies

2011-10-05T09:01:00.000-07:00

MOAJS offers studies toward a Specialization Certificate in the Didactics of Teaching Hebrew as a Foreign Language as an online program whose aim is to assist teachers of Hebrew as a Foreign Language in the Diaspora. The program will focus on expanding teachers and students in knowledge of the didactics of teaching the language: grammar (context-dependent), vocabulary, literature and expression; Particular emphasis will be placed on the technological aspect and the use of audio-visual and Internet aids in teaching the language; The program will stress knowledge of Jewish sources and values as well as the love of Israel, and will instill democratic values and knowledge of the country's institutions.

WORLD’S LARGEST KOL NIDRE SERVICE LIVE VIA WEB CAST

2011-10-05T08:45:00.000-07:00

The Los Angeles Jewish Journal reports that what may well be the largest Kol Nidre service of all time, potentially reaching more than 20,000 worshippers around the world, will be conducted by Rabbi Naomi Levy on Oct. 7 at 6:15 p.m (PDT). The live service will emanate from Santa Monica, Ca. and will be transmitted and archived via jewishjournal.com, the largest Jewish news site outside Israel. Kol Nidre is the evening service of Yom Kippur, or Day of Atonement, the most important holiday of the Jewish year. Levy, a rabbi and author, was ordained in the first class of women at Jewish Theological Seminary. She founded and leads Nashuva , Hebrew for, “We Will Return.” Nashuva is a “post-denominational” community that meshes spirituality with social action.

Pres. Shimon Peres Opening Plenary of the Israeli Presidential Conference

2011-06-22T18:31:00.000-07:00

Opposition leader Tzipi Livni, UK Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks and a host of professors, spiritual leaders and business leaders were scheduled to take part in a panel entitled, Looking Towards Tomorrow: Trends, Challenges and Decisions on Wednesday, as part of the three-day Israeli Presidential Conference. The discussion will be a strategic look into tomorrow. Will we find solutions to the great challenges that stand before the world, the Jewish people and the State of Israel? To what extent is our tomorrow subject to unpredictable and incontrollable events and to what extent is it subject to the rational decisions of mankind? Several other important speakers were scheduled to take part in this year’s President’s Conference including Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, former Shas chairman Arye Deri, British Ambassador Matthew Gould, US Ambassador Dan Kurtzer, French intellectual Bernard- Henri Lévy,US diplomat Dennis Ross, hitech entrepreneur Yossi Vardi – and, of course, President Shimon Peres. Here are President Peres' opening remarks.

Jerusalem: 4000 Years in 5 Minutes

2011-06-19T08:09:00.000-07:00

Jerusalem: 4000 Years in 5 Minutes is a marvelous tour of the city's history. Jerusalem is a mosaic of different peoples, faiths, and nationalities. Nevertheless, despite this diversity, under the sovereignty of Israel, Jerusalem is a city that works. But has it always been this way?

Fictional Jews at the End of Time: Conversion Narratives and Jewish Suffering in the Evangelical Apocalyptic Novels

2011-06-18T17:42:00.000-07:00

The presentation analyzes contemporary evangelic apocalyptic fiction with respect to the portrayal of Jews and Judaism. It examines 38 novels published in the United States between 1991 and 2009. These novels, which includes themes of Christian triumphalism, conversion to Christianity, and horrific Jewish suffering in the final days of mankind on earth, are consistent with theological principles of evangelical premillenial dispensationalism in that Jews are seen as apocalyptic agents both in suffering as well as in conversion. Presentation by Mark Stover at he 2010 Association of Jewish Libraries convention in Seattle, WA. Dr. Stover was the 2007 recipient of the American Psychological Association "Excellence in Librarianship" Award, and the 2006 recipient of the San Diego State University Alumni Association "Outstanding Faculty Contribution" Award.

Maimonides Mini-Course

2011-06-16T20:38:00.000-07:00

Lenn E. Goodman, Professor of Philosophy, Andrew W. Mellon Professor in the Humanities, Vanderbilt University, presented in the summer of 2003 a mini-course on Maimonides. The five lectures cover the chief elements of Maimonides' philosophical thought, as laid out in the The Guide to the Perplexed and in his ethical work, The Eight Chapters, a free standing component of his commentary on the Mishnah. Maimonides (1138 - 1204) was among the greatest of Jewish philosophers. He was also a physician, the author of ten medical works. And he was a jurist, commentator on the ancient Jewish legal code the Mishnah, collator of the 613 commandments traditionally numbered in the Torah, and author of the authoritative Mishneh Torah, a comprehensive code of Jewish law still cited and closely studied today for its brilliant conspectus of the entire range of biblical and rabbinic law, the Halakha. Most famous of Maimonides' philosophic works is the Guide to the Perplexed. Where Maimonides legal code was written in Hebrew, making it accessible to learned and literate Jews throughout the world, the Guide was written in Arabic, the same language in which Maimonides read the translated works of the Greek philosophers, scientists and physicians, and the same as that of the Islamic and Jewish philosophers whom he studied and whom he warmly and openly acknowledged. The aim of the Guide is to make sense of the ideas of the Torah in the light of the very different assumptions of that Greco-Arabic philosophical tradition.

Judaism and Justice - A Conversation Between Chief Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks and Professor Michael Sandel

2011-06-15T15:19:00.000-07:00

Two great contemporary teachers of moral philosophy talk about the meaning of Judaism and Justice. A program presented May 25, 2010 at the Harvard Bookstore. Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks is the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth and has held the position since September 1991. Rabbi Sacks prior to assuming the role of Chief Rabbi was Principal of Jews' College and the rabbi of the Golders Green and Marble Arch Synagogues in London. Michael J. Sandel is the Anne T. and Robert M. Bass Professor of Government at Harvard University, where he has taught political philosophy since 1980. His books include Liberalism and the Limits of Justice (Cambridge University Press, 1982; 2nd edition, 1997; translated into eight foreign languages); Democracy's Discontent: America in Search of a Public Philosophy (Harvard University Press, 1996); Public Philosophy: Essays on Morality in Politics (Harvard University Press, 2005); and The Case Against Perfection: Ethics in the Age of Genetic Engineering (Harvard University Press, 2007).

An Invitation to Piyut

2011-06-14T17:43:00.000-07:00

The goal of this website is to give the widest possible view into the world of piyut from the distant past until today. The website presents many sections engaging a variety of lenses to see into the world of piyut, and they are planning to widen the scope of this work over time. There are two archives at the core of the website. The central archive is a collection of piyutim and melodies. The second archive contains texts and melodies not classically defined as piyutim – such as selections from Psalms or traditional Jewish prayers.

The Tailor

2011-06-12T21:06:00.000-07:00

The Tailor -presented by the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival. Culture and confusion meet on a Brooklyn street, in this hilariously charming tale of similarities amid diversity. Film directed by Gordon Grinberg.

Radio Free Nachlaot

2011-06-12T08:17:00.000-07:00

Radio Free Nachlaot is Internet Radio’s newest and most exciting destination for the music, talk and Torah that defines the lifestyle of Jerusalem’s coolest neighborhood. Some say Nachlaot is the Greenwich Village of Jerusalem. Some say Nachlaot, home of the world-famous Machanae Yehuda Shuk, is the true heartbeat of Jerusalem. We say Nachlaot: NOT just a neighborhood: a State of Mind.

Contemporary Antisemitism: The European and Muslim Legacies

2011-06-05T21:15:00.000-07:00

On 3 August 2009, the Vidal Sassoon International Center for the Study of Antisemitism organized a special session at the 15th World Congress of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem on the topic “Contemporary Antisemitism: The European and Muslim Legacies.” The participants in this colloquium were Professor Robert Wistrich, the Head of the Center, Prof. Irwin Cotler from McGill University (currently a Canadian M.P.); Prof. Jeffrey Herf, a historian from the University of Maryland and author of a forthcoming book on Nazi Propaganda in the Middle East; and Prof. Menahem Milson of the Hebrew University and MEMRI, who presented visual material on “Antisemitism in Arab and Iranian Media”.

Amichai.com

2011-06-05T18:22:00.000-07:00

Amichai.com has a comprehensive list of links to Israeli radio stations. JewishWebcasting.com has updated it's listing in light of Amichai's work - many thanks to Amichai! Here's the mission of Amichai:

The future Amichai website will be similar to a weblog or blog, where I will post articles and ideas. I will also present new ideas for projects and request feedback and help from visitors. The articles may be on any topic, but will mostly cover news, politics, and religion, regarding Israel. The projects will take place in Israel, and will be geared towards spreading Torah and the pursuit of Justice.

The Long Divergence: How Islamic Law Held Back the Middle East

2011-05-29T11:24:00.000-07:00

"The Long Divergence" opens up a frank and honest debate on a crucial issue that even some of the most ardent secularists in the Muslim world hesitate to discuss. In the year 1000, the Middle Eastern economy was as advanced as that of Europe; but by 1800, the region had failed to modernize economically as the West surged ahead. Author Timur Kuran, a professor of economics and political science and the Gorter Family Professor of Islamic Studies at Duke University, attributes this delay in economic development to Islamic legal institutions, which slowed the emergence of central features of modern economic life. By the 19th century, modern economic institutions began to be transplanted to the Middle East, but the region's economy has not caught up. According to Kuran, it will take generations to overcome the low trust, rampant corruption and weak civil societies that are characteristic of the region's current economies and legacies of its economic history.

Eyewitness 1948

2011-05-28T17:31:00.000-07:00

Eyewitness 1948 is a short film series, produced by Toldot Yisrael and the History Channel. It is the centerpiece of an Israel Education pilot program for the US developed with The iCenter and made possible through the generous support of the Jim Joseph Foundation and others. The Eyewitness 1948 films use Toldot Yisrael’s interview footage to tell the stories of Israel’s founding through the eyes of the people who lived it.

Shalom Sesame

2011-05-28T16:14:00.000-07:00

Produced by Sesame Workshop, the non-profit creator of Sesame Street around the world, Shalom Sesame offers children and families an introduction to Jewish life and Israel through video, games, and resources for parents and educators. On this site you will find: Clips from the Shalom Sesame DVD series; Interactive games,activities, and e-cards; Parent tips and suggestions for extending the learning at home; and Educator materials to bring Shalom Sesame to life in the classroom.

The Forgotten Refugees

2011-05-27T17:03:00.000-07:00

A film about the mass exodus of Jews from the Middle East and North Africa in the 20th century. The Forgotten Refugees explores the history, culture, and forced exodus of Middle Eastern and North African Jewish communities in the second half of the 20th century. Using extensive testimony of refugees from Egypt, Yemen, Libya, Iraq, and Morocco the film recounts the stories - of joy and suffering - that nearly one million individuals have carried with them for so long. The film weaves personal stories with dramatic archival footage of rescue missions, historic images of exodus and resettlement, and analyses by contemporary scholars to tell the story of how and why the Jewish population in the Middle East and North Africa declined from one million in 1945 to several thousand today.

The Forgotten Refugees

Iranian Jewry: From Past to Present

2011-05-26T17:32:00.000-07:00

Webcast of lectures from the 2008 conference organized by the University of Maryland and the Library of Congress. The Jews of Iran comprise not only one of the oldest populations of Jews in the world, but also one of the most ancient threads in the diverse fabric of the ancient Iranian community. Beginning with the Achaemenid period (550-330 B.C.) and lasting beyond the emigration of a portion of Iran's Jewish population to the United States and Israel in the late 1970s, Jews have had a complex interaction with the Persian state and culture. The morning session focused on Jews in Medieval Persian Cultures and Resources for the Study of Iranian Jewry. Click here for the Morning session: http://www.loc.gov/today/cyberlc/feature_wdesc.php?rec=4507 . The afternoon session focused on Jewish Material Culture and Folk Art and Jewish Culture in Twentieth Century Iran. Click here for the Afternoon session: http://www.loc.gov/today/cyberlc/feature_wdesc.php?rec=4508

Sephardi Jewries and the Holocaust with Aron Rodrigue

2011-05-25T09:09:00.000-07:00

The Holocaust devastated European Jewry and dealt a death blow to the Ashkenazi heartland of Eastern Europe and Russia. What is less commonly known is the fact that it was also disastrous for Sephardi Jewries. The Sephardi communities of Southeastern Europe, the Ladino speaking centers of the Judeo-Spanish world, with Salonica as a principal center, were destroyed or disintegrated, leading to their disappearance from an area where the exiles from the Iberian peninsula after 1492 had reconstructed a transplanted Sepharad. Elsewhere, North African Jewries saw considerable hardship and discrimination under the rule of Vichy France and fascist Italy, and faced real dangers with the German armed forces in Tunisia and Libya, leading in many cases to their profound destabilization which contributed to their eventual mass departures from these lands.
http://www.uwtv.org/video/index.aspx?id=1549962911