When we think of kashrut, we often think first of meat & milk, shellfish, and other “forbidden foods.” Wine and cheese present special cases in the development of kashrut; they offer a window into how the system operates and how halakhah (Jewish practice) evolves over time. We will study sources in chronological order, culminating with... Read More
Senior Rabbi Abe Friedman and Associate Rabbi Annie Lewis will help you rediscover the meaning and connection found in daily prayers. Join us in the half-hour before Monday minyan for singing, conversation, and discussion about the act of prayer. You can access the class using the BZBI religious services link, and you can register here.... Read More
The Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS) summer 2021 lecture series is entitled A Wandering People: Jewish Journeys, Real and Imagined You can register for the entire series here. Sessions are every Monday from June 7 to August 23 with the exception of July 5. All sessions meet from 2:00 to 3:30 pm ET. The Zoom link will be... Read More
Join Rabbi Abi on Friday mornings for a contemplative Shacharit service. Take some time to recharge at the end of a stressful week before the start of Shabbat. Let's create and build community in these stressful times by gathering online for meditation, chanting, and prayer, inspired by the Torah cycle and the season. All are... Read More
Judaism is a world unto itself, encompassing rituals, ideas, and thousands of years of history. If you’ve been curious about Jewish learning but didn’t know where to start, this is the place for you! The American Jewish University’s On One Foot curriculum covers all of the essentials in an interactive format that encourages personal engagement. Join... Read More
Rabbi Yitzhak Hutner (1906-1980), a leader of America’s Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) community, was also one of the most original and challenging thinkers in Jewish history. His writings, which he collected under the heading of hilkhot de’ot ve-hovot ha-levavot (Character Paths and the Heart’s Commitments), use the Jewish holidays as a framework for understanding the deeper levels... Read More
On Saturday, February 5, BZBI will host David Marcu, Senior CEO of Israel Elwyn for Disability Awareness Shabbat. Israel Elwyn (IE) is an Israeli nonprofit that provides services and programs for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. They see a society in which individuals with disabilities are citizens with equal rights; a society in which... Read More
Join Rabbi Abi and mindfulness expert Gary Schapiro for a one-time deep dive into mindfulness/awareness theory and practice. Rest your mind and learn to make friends with whatever arises there. Cut through your speedy, racing, looping discursive thoughts and open your heart of compassionate wisdom in this one-hour session. Please join via Zoom using the... Read More
Artist-in-Residence Eliana Light From Wednesday, March 23 to Saturday evening, March 26, Eliana Light returns for her final 2021-2022 Artist-in-Residence weekend with meaningful music, powerful prayer, and thought-provoking education. Her intent is to help each of us discover the depth and richness of Jewish life within and take ownership of our Judaism. She will draw... Read More
To describe the post-Red Sea Israelites as "ungrateful" would be an understatement – barely a week after the Exodus, it seems like all they can do is gripe and complain. What gives? How can we make sense of their behavior, and what lessons can we draw for our own lives? Rabbi Abe Friedman invites... Read More
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