Laasok

Siddur 101: Announcing LAASOK's first full-semester course! - https://mailchi.mp/28682785dd6c/announcing-laasok-16240422

“Jewish Home” Marriage Prep Course A marriage preparation course designed for interfaith and intercultural couples who plan to build a Jewish home. “We learned so much through the course – about Judaism, about each other…

Embracing Interfaith Wedding Couples: Building the Jewish Future It turns out that one of the best parts of my job as a rabbi is the part that I never thought I’d be doing. For the last year, I have had the privilege of working with a small cohort of interfaith …

Rabbi Micah Streiffer's "Tikvah Through Text" program is an exploration of the relationship between hope and awe - especially through the writings of Abraham Joshua Heschel.

Hope and Awe: Tikvah Through Text with Rabbi Micah Streiffer How can experiencing awe help us move through fear toward hope? Rabbi Streiffer leads a discussion on some of the writings of Abraham Joshua Heschel.Tikvah T...

Highlights of Two Recent Classes - https://mailchi.mp/918c0c76e2e4/announcing-laasok-16239594

Knowing When to Step Aside (Pinchas)

In this portion, Moses faces the prospect of his own death. The Midrash paints a picture of him as a leader who both struggles with own mortality and cares deeply about the welfare of the people he leads. We explore these messages, comparing them with contemporary events.

Knowing When to Step Aside (Pinchas) In this portion, Moses faces the prospect of his own death. The Midrash paints a picture of him as a leader who both struggles with own mortality and cares deeply about the welfare of the people he leads. We explore these messages, comparing them with contemporary events. ---------------------------...

Laasok is looking for a volunteer or two to help with social media posts and moderating our discussion group - especially on Facebook but possibly other platforms.

Are you interested? Please comment here or email us at [email protected].

A thoughtful piece from Rabbi Micah Streiffer about engaging interfaith couples through Jewish study and ritual.

Embracing Interfaith Wedding Couples: Building the Jewish Future It turns out that one of the best parts of my job as a rabbi is the part that I never thought I’d be doing. For the last year, I have had the privilege of working with a small cohort of interfaith …

"Finding Hope in our Truth" - Tikvah Through Text with Rabbi Stacy Petersohn We study the book of Esther, looking at the ways that Esther comes into her whole self over the course of the story. Tikvah Through Text" is a weekly half ho...

In this week's Tikvah Through text, Rabbi Stacy Petersohn teaches about Esther, and how she moves toward becoming her whole self over the course of the book.

Check it out on youtube below, or join us live by visiting https://laasok.org/tikvah/

"Finding Hope in our Truth" - Tikvah Through Text with Rabbi Stacy Petersohn We study the book of Esther, looking at the ways that Esther comes into her whole self over the course of the story. Tikvah Through Text" is a weekly half ho...

Check out this week's "Tikvah Through Text," in which Reb Ezra Weinberg leads a discussion about Conflict Transformation, through the lens of midrash.

Conflict Transformation as a Jewish Value: Tikvah Through Text with Rabbi Ezra Weinberg Reb Ezra leads a discussion about what it means to disagree productively. We'll look at Midrash on psalms for some wisdom about pluralism and conflict.Tikvah...

A Little Tikvah For Today
Check out our most recent "Tikvah Through Text" sessions here: https://mailchi.mp/d4174296ebff/announcing-laasok-16238286

This week's podcast is called "Beware the Demagogue."

Korach claims that "all the people are holy," but his actions seem to be less about the people and more about his own interests. In that sense, he reminds us of some politicians we know today.

Beware the Demagogue (Korach) Korach claims that "all the people are holy," but his actions seem to be less about the people and more about his own interests. In that sense, he reminds us of some politicians we know today. --------------------------------- Seven Minute Torah is a production of LAASOK. To support the production o...

In this week's Tikvah Through text, Rabbi Benjamin Altshuler puts Anne Frank's famous assertion that "people are really good at heart" into conversation with traditional Jewish texts about hope.

Check it out below, or join us live each week at www.laasok.org/tikvah

"Hope Can Be Contagious": Tikvah Through Text with Rabbi Benjamin Altshuler Rabbi Altshuler puts Anne Frank's famous assertion that "people are really good at heart" into conversation with traditional Jewish texts about hope.Tikvah T...

The Torah's famous story of the "scouts" is a pivotal moment - the beginning of the 40 years of wandering in the wilderness. But what did the scouts do wrong? We take a look at a Midrash that suggests that, in part, it was because they made assumptions about what the people of the land were thinking about them. We talk about the cognitive distortion of "mind reading" and how it harms our well-being, our relationships, and our world.

‎Seven Minute Torah: You Don't Know What Someone Else is Thinking (Sh'lach Lecha) on Apple Podcasts ‎Show Seven Minute Torah, Ep You Don't Know What Someone Else is Thinking (Sh'lach Lecha) - Jun 25, 2024

Rabbi Alan Cook led a study session that brings together quotes from Torah, Lamentations, Bob Hope, and Stephen Stills, in an exploration of how we find hope in the past to guide us for the future. Check it out!

Finding Hope in the Past to Guide Us for the Future: Tikvah Through text with Rabbi Alan Cook How does Judaism teach us to remember the past and move forward toward the future? Rabbi Alan Cook of Sinai Temple in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, teaches a c...

Pirke Avot Study Starts Thursday!

Pirke Avot ("Chapters of the Sages") is Judaism’s traditional collection of ethical teachings - filled with insight about life, learning, spirituality, and more.

Our next Pirke Avot Study Group begins this Thursday. Join Rabbi Micah Streiffer for 5 interactive, one-hour discussions about this important Jewish text and its teachings.

Register at https://laasok.org/current-offerings/

LAASOK recently held two moving classes:
"The Hope of Elie Wiesel" with Rabbi Lynne Goldsmith.
"Ruth as an Archetype of Hope" with Rabbi Micah Streiffer.

For highlights and recordings of both please click on https://mailchi.mp/bc2997526cdb/announcing-laasok-16236618

Today's study session on "Ruth as an Archetype of Hope" with Rabbi Micah Streiffer is available below. Check it out!

Ruth as an Archetype of Hope, with Rabbi Micah Streiffer Studying the book of Ruth in honor of Shavuot, with Rabbi Micah Streiffer. We look at Ruth as a symbol of hope, resilience, and chesed (loving-kindness)."Tik...

Chag Shavuot Sameach!
✡️🍰
May we find a little sweetness in our learning and in our world.

This week's Seven Minute Torah podcast is called "70 Faces of Torah (Naso)."

A midrash says that the Torah is "one" but has seventy faces. We explore how Jewish life sits at the intersection of unity and pluralism.

70 Faces of Torah (Naso) A midrash says that the Torah is "one" but has seventy faces. We explore how Jewish life sits at the intersection of unity and pluralism. --------------------------------- Seven Minute Torah is a production of LAASOK. To support the production of this podcast, visit either www.patreon.com/sevenminut...

The Tikvah of Ruth: Ruth as a Symbol of Hope
Shavuot study, this Thursday at Noon ET (9am PT)

On Shavuot it is traditional to read the story of Ruth, the young Moabite woman who is often considered the first convert to Judaism. This Thursday, on the second day of Shavuot, join Rabbi Micah Streiffer to explore the book of Ruth as a story of resilience and hope.

This class is free and open to all.
Register: https://form.jotform.com/241546010184245

Pirke Avot Study Group Begins Next Thursday! Join Rabbi Micah Streiffer for 5 interactive discussions about Judaism's tractate of ethical teachings. Details at https://form.jotform.com/241615490702250

Come join Rabbi Micah Streiffer to study Pirke Avot, starting next Thursday!

Pirke Avot is Judaism's tractate of ethical rabbinic teachings. The most accessible section of the Talmud, and amazing fodder for discussion. We will meet once a week on Zoom (Thursdays at 3pm ET / Noon PT). You do not need to have studied Talmud before. Send us an email at [email protected] if interested!

In this interview episode of Seven Minute Torah, Rabbi Micah Streiffer talks with Rabbi Mark Washofsky about B'midbar, the opening parsha of the book of Numbers. They discuss the census in the desert, why it takes place and what it says about Jewish life. And they go on to talk about a variety of related topics around Reform Judaism and halakhah (Jewish law).

Rabbi Washofsky is the author of "Reading Reform Responsa, published this year by Central Conference of American Rabbis.

The Questions that Make Up Jewish Life (B'midbar - A Conversation with Rabbi Mark Washofsky) In this interview episode, Micah talks with Rabbi Mark Washofsky about B'midbar, the opening parsha of the book of Numbers. They discuss the census in the desert, why it takes place and what it says about Jewish life. And they go on to talk about a variety of related topics around Reform Judaism and...

"The Tikvah of Ruth: Ruth as a Symbol of Hope"
Thursday, June 13 at Noon ET / 9am PT

Join Rabbi Micah Streiffer on the second day of Shavuot to study Ruth, which is traditionally read on this festival. We will look to the figure of Ruth as a symbol of resilience and hope.

Open to all: https://laasok.org/current-offerings/

Happy Pride Month!