The Schechter Institutes

Archeology meets Schechter.

Today Schechter faculty and staff toured Israel's newest archeology museum: belonging to the Israel Antiquities Authority located in Jerusalem adjacent to the Israel Museum and the Bible Lands Museum (and just a 10 minute walk from our campus).

Here we saw some of Israel's best preserved mosaics, learned about plundering and stealing of antiquities, how research laboratories clean and preserve every type of archeological material that can be found in the ground (or in the seas), and walked through the architecture of the newly-constructed building.

Even for the most seasoned person, much was learned (though Schechter experts also enjoyed pointing out something new to the guide).

The joint academic conference וְיֵשׁ־תִּקְוָ֥ה לְאַחֲרִיתֵ֖ךְ
"And there is hope for your future" (Jeremiah 31:17) between Schechter and אוניברסיטת רייכמן - Reichman University was held today in Jerusalem. Tomorrow, the venue will be in Herziliya at Reichman and will include a non-political speech by former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot.

Today participants heard - and asked questions of the lecturers - including the Robert S. Rivkind z'l Visiting Professorship by Prof. Jodi Magness of The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill who spoke about Herod as the Messiah; Prof. Lior Zemer on 'archeological finds' at Auschwitz; Prof. Ronen Kritenstein on 'what we leave behind', Prof. Rabbi David Golinkin on Ethical Wills, and others.

Students met their mentors, mentors met their own mentors and discussions abounded about the past, present and future.

Tomorrow - Don't Miss this!

וְיֵשׁ־תִּקְוָ֥ה לְאַחֲרִיתֵ֖ךְ
"And there is hope for your future" (Jeremiah 31:17) is the focus of the exciting cooperative conference between Schechter and אוניברסיטת רייכמן - Reichman University.

This year the headline speaker - and the Robert S. Rivkind z'l Schechter Scholar is Prof. Jodi Magness of The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill - renowned archeologist and story teller!

Join us on Tomorrow 15 June at 12:15 here at Schechter's Jerusalem campus (4 Avraham Granot St) to hear about "Herod the Messiah and the Temple of Jerusalem"

(image of Huqoq excavations by James Haberman)

The 99th Masorti Women's Study Day.....took place on Friday!

And now we cannot wait for the 100th, scheduled for early 2027!

Masorti women from 12 countries and over a hundred women from all over Israel from Nof HaGalil and Shorashim in the North to Beer Sheva in the South, spent Friday morning and early afternoon studying, singing, conversing and asking questions about Jewish texts.

Hosted here on Schechter's Jerusalem campus alongside Zoom screens, the study day operated in English, Espanol, Hebrew, and Russian.

Classes were filled as well minds and imaginations on topics including Ethical behaviour, Yiddish literature, meditation, psalms, Talmud, and Bible.

Schechter's partners include בית המדרש לרבנים ע"ש שכטר Schechter Rabbinical Seminary , Women's League for Conservative Judaism, The Masorti Movement In Israel-התנועה המסורתית בישראל and Masorti Olami

A big big thank you to Diane Friedgut for continuing to make this happen!!

וְיֵשׁ־תִּקְוָ֥ה לְאַחֲרִיתֵ֖ךְ
"And there is hope for your future" (Jeremiah 31:17) is the focus of the exciting cooperative conference between Schechter and אוניברסיטת רייכמן - Reichman University.

This year the headline speaker - and the Robert S. Rivkind z'l Schechter Scholar is Prof. Jodi Magness of The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill - renowned archeologist and story teller!

Join us on Monday 15 June at 12:15 here at Schechter's Jerusalem campus (4 Avraham Granot St) to hear about "Herod the Messiah"

(image of Huqoq excavations by James Haberman)

Summer begins with, what else: a Schechter field trip course to the Temple Mount in Jerusalem!

This group of explorers participating in the 'Jerusalem’s Iconic Landmarks: Ancient & Modern Study Tours' course visited the historic and holy area led by Dr. Etka Liebowitz, director of our Public Courses curriculum and a licensed Tour Guide.

Before leaving for this visit, they perused a 2007 responsa by Rabbi Prof. Daivd Golinkin on whether or how or where to visit the holy site. The responsa is available on the Schechter website.

The historical and modern political realities of this Holy Place and the juxtoposition of sacred areas immediately adjacent to non-holy zones, make it an extremely fascinating place to visit.

No politicians participated in this trip. ✔

The most recent edition of Nashim: A Journal of Jewish Women’s Studies and Gender Issues features JEWS AND REPRODUCTION with the Consulting Editors: Rachel Kranson and Marjorie Lehman. Yes, it is available during Israel's Book Week!

Nashim offers readers a wealth of deeply sourced material on Jewish women and gender, in today’s world, throughout Jewish history and literature, and in Jewish art and texts.

Nashim is an international, interdisciplinary, scholarly and creative forum in
Jewish women's and gender studies. It is a joint publication of the Schechter Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem, Hadassah-Brandeis Institute, and Indiana University Press.

You can find a copy through: https://iupress.org/journals/nashim/

image: Judith Margolis, Song without Words (2019), 12″ × 15.75″. Glicée print on
archival board.

EVENT Update: TODAY!

Come meet and hear Rivka Greenfeld, the new Susan and Scott Shay TALI Director General תל"י - מרכז לחינוך יהודי ישראלי פלורליסטי

Today June 7th, she will be interviewed by Rabbi Matthew Berkowitz about the bright future for pluralistic Jewish education in Israel.

Rivka Greenfeld will speak about the challenges and blessings of Jewish education and Jewish Peoplehood in Israel and around the globe.

The event will be via Zoom - which you will be able to find in the events section of the Schechter.edu website.

We look forward to seeing and hearing from you!💪✔️

Books: Jewish studies, biographies, annotated editions, rabbinic commentaries and critical editions of Judaic texts

These are just some of the wares that Schechter Institute of Jewish Studies offers readers of all ages and in more than one language!

June 9 marks the beginning of an Israeli tradition: Book Week when publishers come together ply their wares ie: sell their books to the public in a massive public arena.

In Jerusalem, Book Week began early at the "Alternative Book Sale" for smaller and niche publishers, like Schechter. The book sale for the smaller universe reaches a varied group of young adults and students who find the prices more manageable.

The large 'corporate' Book Week will be in Jerusalem's Safra Square from the afternoon through the wee hours of the late evening.

Happy Reading to All this month!

June is Pride Month

Today June 4th, is the date of Jerusalem's Annual Pride Parade.

Rabbi Arie Hasit Associate Dean of the Schechter Rabbinical Seminary בית המדרש לרבנים ע"ש שכטר Schechter Rabbinical Seminary writes in ynet News (English) that because every single one of us is created in God's Image, all of us - including religious Jews - can find a way to support the LGBTQ+ Community.

To read Rabbi Hasit's article please click here: https://www.ynetnews.com/jewish-world/article/bj7rhi3lfl

(image of Rabbi Hasit and his children: Hilla Shiloni Rozner)