Torah and Western Thought is a weekly discussion group with Director of University Programs Alan Rubenstein. We will reflect on the weekly Torah portion and connect it to the great texts of the Western tradition.
To help us along the way, we will use Rabbi Dr. Meir Soloveichik’s Bible 365 podcast as a point of reference. Each week, participants will get a link to the podcast and a packet of (short) related source materials. To get an idea for what the podcast is all about, check out the sample episodes below.
We meet on Thursdays from 6:00 – 7:00 PM on Zoom. If you are interested in joining, please fill out this form
Sample Bible365 Episodes
Leviticus 16: Menachem Begin’s Yom Kippur
Thirty years after his family was murdered by the Nazis, Begin recalled what the Yom Kippur service in the Temple meant to his father—and therefore what it should mean to us.
In this episode, Rabbi Soloveichik refers to a speech of Menachem Begin, translated in Mosaic. You can read that speech here.
Text: Leviticus 16
Deuteronomy 16-19: Monarchy and the New Year
The unique biblical approach to monarchy allows us to understand why we coronate God every year on Rosh Hashanah.
Text: Deuteronomy 16-19
Genesis 2-6: The Serpent’s Tongue and Ours
The story of the sin in Eden is enigmatic, but if we look carefully, we will also find, amidst mankind’s failings, tales of love and gratitude. We will see how, rightly understood, the devastating dangers and powerful potential of the spoken word lie at the heart of all the stories leading up to the flood.
Text: Genesis 2-6
Genesis 21-22: The Akeida and Us
The story of the “Binding of Isaac,” or the Akeida, is one of the most terrifying tales in the Bible. But a fascinating letter from a great rabbi to a Catholic priest might teach us its profound relevance to our own lives.
In this episode, Rabbi Soloveichik references two etchings of Rembrandt. You can view them here:
Click here to see “Abraham Casting Out Hagar and Ishmael”
Click here to see “Abraham Caressing Isaac”
Text: Genesis 21-22
