Latest High holidays Podcast Episodes

Providence and Covenant: Remembering the Binding of Isaac

Drisha: Examining the High Holiday Prayers - September 27, 2016 16:07 - 13 minutes ★★★★★ - 1 rating
Discusses the second part of the blessing of Zichronot with covenant as its dominant theme. In this section, the account of the binding of Isaac is presented as the moment of discovery of sacred space and the climax of God's creative activity.

Judgment and Accountability

Drisha: Examining the High Holiday Prayers - September 26, 2016 16:03 - 20 minutes ★★★★★ - 1 rating
Discusses the first part of the blessing of Zichronot and explores the motif of God as judge who engages in both collective and individual judgment of all created beings.

Rosh Hashanah and the Coronation of God

Drisha: Examining the High Holiday Prayers - September 25, 2016 04:05 - 10 minutes ★★★★★ - 1 rating
Explores the blessing of Malchuyot and its connection to the nature of Rosh Hashanah as a day designated for God.

El Erech Apayim--the Long Suffering God and El Melech Yoshev Al Kisei Rachamim--God Who Sits on a Throne of Mercy

Drisha: Examining the High Holiday Prayers - September 23, 2016 18:41 - 17 minutes ★★★★★ - 1 rating
The Thirteen Attributes of Mercy in the story of the Golden Calf and in the story of the spies, as contexts to understand the nature of selichot.

Lishmoa El HaRina VeEl HaTefilla--Supplication and Prayer

Drisha: Examining the High Holiday Prayers - September 22, 2016 21:06 - 17 minutes ★★★★★ - 1 rating
The structure of selichot and the Ashkenazi practice of starting selichot on a Saturday night--BeMotza'ei Menucha

David Silber on Themes of Yom Kippur as Reflected in Our Liturgy

Live @ Drisha: High Holidays - September 17, 2015 18:26 - 1 hour
Through an examination of the Yom Kippur prayer service, we will uncover major themes of the holiday.

Sam Lebens on Teshuva and Personal Identity

Live @ Drisha: High Holidays - September 17, 2015 18:25 - 1 hour
To what extent is it possible to become a new person? Is that what teshuva demands? What does the concept of repentance have to teach us about what and who we really are?

Shuli Taubes on The Death of the Martyrs: A Lesson for Living

Live @ Drisha: High Holidays - September 17, 2015 18:18 - 53 minutes
We go into this time of year believing that we have control over the divine decree by committing to Teshuvah, Tefillah and Tzedakah. How does the brutal death of ten blameless, righteous leaders of a generation fit into this paradigm? Part of the Stanley Rudoff Memorial High Holy Day Lecture Series.

Rachel Furst on “To pray with transgressors”: Sin and Repentance in Medieval Ashkenaz

Live @ Drisha: High Holidays - September 17, 2015 18:17 - 1 hour
The High Holiday service traditionally commences with an authorization for the community members to pray with the transgressors in their midst. What are the origins of this medieval custom and what is its significance today?

David Silber on Kol Nidre: An Analysis of Its Significance

Live @ Drisha: High Holidays - September 17, 2015 18:14 - 1 hour
Kol Nidre, a nullification of vows, is one of the prayer highlights of the year. Why? We will explore the nature of Kol Nidre and uncover the great significance of this prayer.

Ben Skydell on Self and Sin: An Exploration of Teshuvah

Live @ Drisha: High Holidays - September 17, 2015 18:08 - 1 hour
The Hebrew word teshuvah is commonly translated as repentance but is more accurately rendered as return. This class will ask, ‘a return to what?’ Who is the real me? What does it mean to abandon a sinful past? We will explore biblical and rabbinic texts as well as medieval and modern thinkers, am...