Once again, BZBI is sponsoring ScholarStream, a collaboration of the Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS), Rabbinical Assembly (RA), the Schechter Institutes and Ziegler, in which teachers representing each institution will examine some of Judaism’s key ideas, moments, and challenges. This year ScholarStream is divided into eight series of lectures, spanning October 2021 to May 2022.
To join the classes, click on this registration link
You can register for each series of three or four classes at $10 per series. Register using the link above and you will receive an immediate acknowledgement. You will be sent the Zoom link for each series in an email about a week before the start, and again on the morning of each session. The deadline to register for a given session is one day before the session.
ScholarStream Series 1 -5 have been completed.
Series #6, The Power of the Prophets, will be presented on Tuesdays, March 22, 29 and April 5, 12 at 8:00 PM.
- March 22: Rabbi Bradley Artson, Dean of the Zeigler College of Rabbinic Studies and Vice President of American Jewish University, discusses Jonah: A Prophet Who Failed His Way to Success. What makes a true prophet? According to the Torah, one whose prophecy comes to pass. But if that’s so, what happens when people do teshuvah (repent) and avert the evil decree? Does that make the prophet a fraud? Jonah thought so, and insisted on strict truth instead of compassion. Let’s dive into a fishy exploration of truth and justice vs. compassion and repentance in one of the Bible’s best stories!
- March 29: Rabbi Ernesto Yattah of Seminario Rabinico discusses A Focus on Amos. What makes the prophet Amos such an inspiring Biblical figure? Using Abraham Joshua Heschel’s The Prophets, we will explore Amos within the context of his contemporaries, his experiences, and his prophecies.
- April 5: Professor Ben Sommer of JTS on Debate among the Prophets: Isaiah vs. Jeremiah. How did Isaiah and Jeremiah differ on their views of the Temple and Jerusalem? What does their disagreement teach us about prophecy, and about Jewish tradition more generally?
- April 12: Bex Stern Rosenblatt of Conservative Yeshiva on “My Eyes are Finished by Tears” – Resilience and Lament. How do we keep on going when the unthinkable happens? We will do a close reading of selections from the Book of Lamentations to illuminate some of the possible answers to this question.
Remaining Series:
- Series #7: Liturgy of Miracles – Hanukkah, Purim, and Yom Haatzmaut, Tuesdays, May 3, 10, 17 & 24 at 8:00 PM
- Series #8: Israel – Models of Resilience, Wednesdays, May 11, 18, 25 and June 1 at 1:00 PM
