On Monday September 11, 2023, Beit Midrash Har’el presented an important and impressive program, taking a fresh look at the Akeidah, which we read on Rosh Hashana (and again later in the year). Scroll down to watch the video of this event.

The Panel comprised:

Rabbi Herzl Hefter: Founder and Dean of Beit Midrash Har’el, the first coed Orthodox smicha program, and convener of the Collaborative Seminar for the Study of the Jewish Interpretive Tradition. 

Professor Rabbi Sam Lebens: Associate Professor in the philosophy department at the University of Haifa, Orthodox Rabbi and Jewish educator, and participant in Beit Midrash Har’el’s Collaborative Seminar.

Dr. Batsheva Bertman: Postdoctoral researcher at Matanel-Bar Ilan Center for the Study of French Jewish Thought and participant in Beit Midrash Har’el’s Collaborative Seminar and a Fellow at Beit Midrash Har’el.

Gila Fine: Lecturer in rabbinic literature at the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies, exploring the tales of the Talmud through philosophy, literary criticism, psychoanalysis, and pop-culture.

Moderated by Dr. Elliot Malamet, Program Director at Living Jewishly; Senior Lecturer at Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

This was a fitting way to approach the new year – and the discussion highlighted the important voices and approach that Beit Midrash Har’el is bringing to our religious community and Israeli society.