Congregation Etz Chayim

Rabbi Mordecai Kaplan, one of the intellectual luminaries of 20th century Jewish thought, was a prolific diarist. Comprising 27 volumes, his journals spanned over 60 years, recording his thoughts and his observations on topics ranging from two World Wars to the nature of God, from his teaching at the Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS) to his sermons, from liturgy and ritual to Jewish peoplehood.

Based on the Torah portion Chayei Sarah, Yiscah will share from her recently published book, Planting Seed so the Divine, gleanings from a Hasidic master on the importance of giving ourselves permission to spiritually protest to God. Open to Etz Chayim members and the broader community. Free to Etz Chayim members. $20.00 for non-members. Register here. Copies of the book will be available for purchase and Yiscah will be signing them.

Yiscah will be in conversation with Rabbi Chaim Koritzinsky around her new book that argues for a paradigm shift in how we express our Jewish identity and the role of God in that conversation. Open to Etz Chayim members and their guests. Register here. Copies of the book will be available for purchase and Yiscah will be signing them.

The Adult Learning Committee invites you to join Rabbi Ilana Goldhaber-Gordon for two Shabbat afternoons of reflection and inspiration. Rabbi Ilana is a gifted teacher, weaving together storytelling with a deep knowledge of Torah and Jewish tradition, and a keen understanding of the issues facing us in our modern world. On September 27th, in the midst of the High Holiday season, Rabbi Ilana will teach about the Talmudic figures Hillel and Shammai, who were famous for creating an ethic of debate. We desperately need their legacy today. On November 15th, she will teach about the struggle between Jacob and Esau, the Jewish connection to the land of Israel, and what it means to be a diaspora religion.