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
164 episodes
25/22 - Naso with Professor Idan Dershowitz
Professor Dershowitz discusses the nature of guilt in the Torah’s restitution laws and also the laws concerning Sotah.Professor Idan Dershowitz completed his undergraduate and graduate training at the Hebrew University, following several...
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30:21
25/21 - Bamidbar with Rabbi Andy Shugerman
Rabbi Andy Shugerman is a multifaceted Jewish educator and development professional currently serving as the inaugural Development Director at Congregation Beth Shalom in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In this role, he focuses on enhancing the synag...
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18:42
25/20 - Behar/Bechukotai with Professor James Diamond
Professor James Diamond discusses the treatment of non-Israelite slaves from Moses to Moses.Prof. James A. Diamond is the Joseph and Wolf Lebovic Chair of Jewish Studies at the University of Waterloo and former director of the university...
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31:15
25/Special - Rabbi Louis Jacobs on Israel and Zionism
This very recently discovered audio tape has just been digitized. This lecture, although spoken almost 50 years ago is an important contribution to the debate on Zionism. Simon Eder, Education Director of The Louis Jacobs Foundation ...
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46:11
25/19 - Achrei Mot/Keddoshim with Dr Eve Levavi Feinstein
Dr Eve Levavi Feinstein discusses the uniqueness of the sexual prohibitions outlined in Leviticus 18 and 20. Dr. Eve Levavi Feinstein holds a Ph.D. in Hebrew Bible from Harvard University. Her dissertation, Sexual Pollution in t...
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16:16
25/17 - Shemini with Dr Rabbi David Freidenreic
Dr Rabbi David Freidenreich discusses what the dietary laws teach us about holiness. Dr. Rabbi David M. Freidenreich is the Pulver Family Professor of Jewish Studies at Colby College. He earned his Ph.D. at Columbia University...
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23:21
25/18 - Tazria/Metzora with Dr Yitzhaq Feder
Dr Yitzhaq Feder uncovers the parallels between The skin disease Tzaraat in Leviticus and literature of the Ancient Near East. Yitzhaq Feder is a lecturer in the Department of Biblical Studies at the University of Haifa and tel av...
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19:17
25/16, Ki Tissa with Professor Berel Dov Lerner
Professor Berel Dov Lerner considers the commentary of Rabbi Meir Simcha of Dvinsk on the breaking of the Tablets. Berel Dov Lerner is currently an associate professor of philosophy at the Western Galilee College in Akko. He ...
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29:08
25/15 - Yitro with Professor Kenneth Seeskin
Professor Kenneth Seeskin asks just what was heard by the people, if anything, during the revelation at Sinai?Professor Seeskin is Professor of Philosophy and Philip M. and Ethel Klutznick Professor of Jewish Civilization at Northwestern...
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25:10
25/14 - Bo with Rabbi Daniel Zucker
Rabbi Daniel Zucker discusses the influence of Egyptian belief for understanding repeated references to Pharaoh’s heavy heart. Rabbi Zucker, D.D. is the Rabbi of Temple Israel of the Poconos, in Stroudsburg, PA, and President and...
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20:13
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