Pesach

The Sod Yesharim on the Four Sons – סוד ישרים על ארבעה בנים What if you already had everything waiting for you, but couldn’t get there? The Sod Yesharim of Radzyn reads the four sons not as types of children, but as four ways of wrestling with the deepest question of Jewish life: if God […]

“Every nation gets the leaders (government) it deserves” Joseph de Maistre (1753-1821)

This לימוד explores the timeless nature of antisemitism, and the faith and resilience which  have sustained the Jewish people through threats in every generation, challenging us to reflect on its meaning in history and in our own personal and family legacy.

This limmud teaches that the mitzvah of Rosh Chodesh gives the Jewish people ownership of their time after slavery, challenging us to use our time intentionally and make it meaningful and holy.

לפני כמה חודשים בדרך חזרה מבית הכנסת הביתה שיתף אותי חבר בחוויה אישית מתקופת הלחימה בעזה, זו הייתה הפעם השנייה שלו במערכה הזו, והוא דיבר על תחושת המשמעות בכך שהוא נמצא במקום שהוא יכול לפעול ולעזור בצורה ברורה. התחושה הזו, מילאה אותו במשמעות אשר עזרה לו להתמודד למרות הקשיים הפיזיים והמנטליים.  חוויה נוספת שמעתי ממורים […]

Pesach 5785 publication for Families and Communities including a symposium on emunah with leading educators, improv activities for the seder and student reflections on their own emunah.

By exploring the psukim about Korban Pesach, this limmud explores what we gain by participating in experiences, especially religious ones, on our own, with or family or with others.

“V’hi She’Amdah” has inspired Jews through the ages. What might it have to say to us today?

Chazal brought our attention to the miracle of growth and renewal that happens each spring. Reflecting on our own growth and renewal deepens our self-understanding and energizes us.

What helps us feel connected with the Jewish people? What distances us? By exploring the hagadah's admonishment of the Rasha's approach, this limmud asks participants to explore what it means to be a part of the Jewish people and why it plays such an important role in our faith.

Following the seder’s model of telling the story by beginning with disgrace and ending with praise, we consider how this process helps us better understand others, ourselves and our purpose.

The hagaddah stresses the importance for each and every Jew to tell the story of Yetziyat Mitzraim. What makes storytelling so powerful?

How do we fulfill the commandment of being happy on holidays? The answer is not as not as simple or easy as you(r students) might think.  We’ll explore the Rambam’s distinction between Simchat Mitzvah and Simchat Kreiso and ask what it means for us.

This limmud focuses on using Sefirat HaOmer as a paradigm for celebrating meaningful progress while moving towards an ultimate goal. It encourages students to make the most of the post-pesach, end of school year time as an opportunity for growth.