Jewish Quest
Each week, join us on an adventure as we deconstruct that week’s parasha, exploring new insights and meaning in the Torah. Hosted by Simon Eder and sponsored by the Louis Jacobs Foundation, Jewish Quest aims to honour the statement of R' Jacobs z"l who said: 'The quest for Torah is itself Torah.' Welcome to that Quest.
Find out more about our work at louisjacobs.org
Episodes
154 episodes
25/13 - Shemot with Professor Edward Greenstein
Professor Edward Greenstein shares how the Moses story both conforms and deviates from fugitive hero narratives of the Ancient Near East?Professor Greenstein is Professor Emeritus of Bible at Bar-Ilan University. He received the EMET Pri...
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34:01
25/12 Vayechi with Rabbi Rachel Ain
Rabbi Rachel Ain discusses the significance of the way Jacob blesses his sons and his legacy as Patriarch. Rabbi Rachel Ain is the Rabbi of Sutton Place Synagogue, a Conservative Synagogue in Midtown Manhattan. Before jo...
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20:08
25/11 - Vayigash with Rabbi Ariel Abel
Rabbi Ariel Abel explores how Joseph delicately balances his identity as an Egyptian leader with his Hebrew roots during the reunion with his brothers.Rabbi Abel lives with his wife Shulamit and two children t...
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26:18
24/10 - Miketz with Professor Gary Rendsburg
Professor Gary Rendsburg invites us to understand the Joseph story as ancient literary art at its very best. Prof. Rendsburg serves as the Blanche and Irving Laurie Professor of Jewish History in the Department of Jewish Studies at Rutg...
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27:55
24/9 - Vayeshev with Dr Dov Berel Lerner
Dr Dov Berel Lerner considers what Joseph's dreams symbolise and their importance within the wider themes of Genesis. Dr Lerner is currently an associate professor of philosophy at the Western Galilee College in Akko and also teache...
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33:40
24/8 - Vayishlach with Dr. Alison Joseph
Dr Alison Joseph asks just who is the victim of the Dinah Story?Dr. Alison Joseph is the Director of Digital Scholarship and Associate Professor of Bible at Gratz College, Assistant Managing Editor of The Posen Library for Jewish Cu...
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22:30
December 2024 Special - with Rabbi Elliot Cogrove
Rabbi Dr Elliot Cosgrove discusses his timely new book:-For Such A Time As This: On Being Jewish TodayElliot Cosgrove is a leading voice of American Jewry and a preeminent spiritual guide and thought leader. The rabbi o...
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29:13
24/7 - Vayezei with Rabbi Dr Naomi Kalish
Rabbi Dr Naomi Kalish uncovers what Jacob teaches us about listening and how it paves the way for peace.Rabbi Kalish is the Harold and Carole Wolfe Director of the Center for Pastoral Education and assistant professor of Pastoral Educat...
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18:33
24/6 - Toldot with Rabbi David Kasher
Rabbi David Kasher asks just who is the villain in the Toldot story?Rabbi David Kasher is the Director of Hadar West Coast. After graduating from Yeshivat Chovevei Torah, he served as Senior Jewish Educator at Berkeley Hillel, a part of...
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27:22
24/5 - Chayei Sarah with Rabbi Marc Soloway
Rabbi Marc Soloway discusses the legacy of Sarah and the very contrasting responses of Abraham and Isaac to her death.Rabbi Soloway has been Bonai Shalom’s Spiritual Leader in Boulder, CO. since 2004, the same year that he was ordained a...
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24:04
24/4 - Vayera with Professor Kenneth Seeskin
Professor Kenneth Seeskin discusses the ambiguity and unresolved tension in the Akedah. Professor Seeskin is Professor of Philosophy and Philip M. and Ethel Klutznick Professor of Jewish Civilization at Northwestern University. He r...
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26:26
24/3 - Lech Lecha with Dr Rabbi Joshua Garroway
Dr Rabbi Joshua Garroway uncovers the importance of the minor character, Melchizedek. Dr. Rabbi Joshua Garroway is the Sol and Arlene Bronstein Professor of Judaeo-Christian Studies at HUC-JIR in Los Angeles. He holds a Ph.D. from t...
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22:47
24/2 - Noach with Dr Jeremy Tabisk
Dr Jeremy Tabick discusses the centrality of God's transformation in the parsha.Dr Jeremy Tabick is the content manager and faculty at Hadar, where he teaches, curates, and edits Hadar’s content – both online and in print – and project Z...
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18:42
24/1 - Bereshit with Rabbi Jeremy Gordon
This week for Bereshit, our director Rabbi Adam Zagoria-Moffet fills in as host as we begin a new year, welcoming Rabbi Jeremy Gordon to discuss some of the ways in which Bereshit defies our expectations and requires new explanations. From the ...
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29:37
138 - Mattot Masei with Dr Rachel Havrelock
Dr Rachel Havrelock uncovers the difference between the Priestly vision and the Deuteronomistic vision for the map of the land of Canaan. Dr. Rachel Havrelock is Associate Professor of Jewish Studies and English at the University of...
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32:48
137 - Pinchas with Rabbi Eliyahu Jian
Rabbi Eliyahu Jian discusses the inner meaning behind Pinchas' act of zealotry.Rabbi Eliyahu Jian is a global thought leader, transformational life and business coach, spiritual coach, relationship coach, author and motivational speaker....
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28:46
136 - with Professor Everett Fox
Professor Everett Fox uncovers the unusual features of the Balaam narrative. Professor Everett Fox is the Allen M. Glick professor of Judaic and Biblical Studies at Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts. He received his M.A. ...
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21:45
135 - Chukat with Dr Ely Levine
Dr Ely Levine discusses the significance of the Red Heifer and the symbolic meaning behind the serpent of bronze. Dr. Ely Levine holds a PhD in biblical studies and archaeology from Harvard University. He has taught at Villanov...
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17:02
134 - Korach with Professor Naomi Graetz
Professor Naomi Graetz discusses the connection between Samuel and Korach and the parsha’s pertinence for today. Naomi Graetz taught English at Ben Gurion University of the Negev for 35 years. She is the author of Unlocking the Gar...
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19:04
133 - Shelach with Professor Jacob Wright
Professor Jacob Wright discusses the origins of the spy story.Professor Jacob Wright is Professor of Hebrew Bible at Emory University’s Candler School of Theology and the Director of Graduate Studies in Emory’s Tam Institute of J...
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30:46
132 - Behalotecha with Rabbi Adam Zagoria-Moffet
Rabbi Adam Zagoria-Moffat discusses radical models of leadership.
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21:00
We Have Reason To Believe - Session Two
Audio of Session held on Tuesday 21st May 2024 with Simon Eder.
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47:39
131 - Emor with Rabbi Nelly Altenburger
Rabbi Nelly Altenburger shares how we might read some deeply troubling lines of the parsha. Rabbi Nelly Altenburger became the new spiritual leader of Congregation Adath Israel in Middletown in the summer of 2020. Rabbi Altenb...
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17:25