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<h2>Celebrate Jewish &amp; Israeli Thought</h2>Located in the City Center of Jerusalem, Beit Avi Chai offers a space where people can reflect on the past and the present of Jewish/Israeli ideas and culture. The center includes a reading room, social area, student lounge, seminar rooms, as well as an auditorium and courtyard. Among the varied activities are unique educational workshops, literary evenings, poetry events, programs for children and families, Jewish study activities for youth, musical performances, cinema, art and sound, lectures, and even customized educational programs for soldiers and gap year travelers.<h3>Stay Tuned on Beit Avi Chai’s Website</h3>Beit Avi Chai believes in making information and content accessible to audiences all around the globe. Therefore, Beit Avi Chai's website is constantly updated, so visitors can enjoy new and unique articles and take part in online projects. In addition, the website contains information learn about upcoming events and monthly programs. Visitors can also enjoy live streaming of programs and events on the website as well as other social mediums.&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://www.bac.org.il/ENG"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener">Check it out here!</a></a> <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://torisify-dev-cdn.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/toch-bac.-en_JAN-FEB_2019__7.pdf"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener">View the full event calendar of January-February &gt;&gt;</a></a>

Beit Avi Chai - Events, Culture & Exhibitions

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Discover the beauty of Jewish and Israeli thought and culture and celebrate the ancient heritage of this historic nation with fascinating cultural activities at Beit Avi Chai. 

MORE AT BEIT AVI CHAI1

MORE AT BEIT AVI CHAI

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EVENTS THIS MONTH AT BEIT AVI CHAI

Speech God spoke and the world was created. In this session, we explore the power of speech in rabbinic thought with a comparison to a neo-platonic philosopher.The rich and diverse world of Rabbinic Literature left an indelible impression on Jewish culture. The Sages devoted time to study, lived amongst the people, and took part in daily life. In our new series, we study central passages from Rabbinic Literature that relate to significant life themes – and compare them to other currents of thought in Late Antiquity

Jewish Thought in Late Antiquity- Speech: ZOOM Event

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Prof. Marc Hirshman

Charity Zedaka (charity) was a hallmark of both Judaism and Christianity as noted by the emperor Julian around 362 CE. Yet each religion took its own path in developing the ethical and religious underpinnings of charitable works.The rich and diverse world of Rabbinic Literature left an indelible impression on Jewish culture. The Sages devoted time to study, lived amongst the people, and took part in daily life. In our new series, we study central passages from Rabbinic Literature that relate to significant life themes – and compare them to other currents of thought in Late Antiquity

Jewish Thought in Late Antiquity- Charity: ZOOM Event

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Glorifying God In one beautiful passage of a Tannaitic commentary, the early Sages offer a veritable roadmap to differing ways of glorifying God. The rich and diverse world of Rabbinic Literature left an indelible impression on Jewish culture. The Sages devoted time to study, lived amongst the people, and took part in daily life. In our new series, we study central passages from Rabbinic Literature that relate to significant life themes – and compare them to other currents of thought in Late Antiquity

Jewish Thought in Late Antiquity- Glorifying God: ZOOM Event

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The Book of Bereshit (Genesis) reveals God's expectation of mankind, telling a story of People and their challenges in a world that was created for them. We learn about human psychology, sin, punishment, education and the establishment of separate societies based on a diversity of ideas. The Book of Bereshit also reveals the power of the individual and the ability to establish a family nucleus that is faithful to the divine expectation of all human beings. Each chapter contains messages filled with great depth and meaning.Our new series focuses on revealing the secrets that establish the foundations of The People of Israel - and Humanity as a whole. &nbsp;Parashat Chayei Sara The dynamics of families&nbsp; In English | Wednesday | November 8 | 8pm (1pm EST)Parashat Toledot Mistakes and the Lessons to be Learned In English | Wednesday | November 15 | 8pm (1pm EST) Parashat Vayetzei Universal Ethics&nbsp; In English | Wednesday | November 22 | 8pm (1pm EST)Parashat Vayishlach Blaming the Victim? In English | Wednesday | November 29 | 8pm (1pm EST) &nbsp;

The Weekly Torah Portion: The Stories of The Book of Genesis

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Rabbi Shai Finkelstein

The devastation inflicted on an entire range of Jewish institutions, beginning with the cessation of sacrificial worship, placed into question the ongoing relationship between God and Israel. Was this relationship severed? What alternate paths of religious devotion were established? This session will examine some of these alternatives, most notably the role of prayer.Sunday | Dec 17 | 7pm (12pm EST)

Responding to Catastrophe at Beit Avi Chai

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From Rupture to Healin with Prof. Isaiah Gafni.

Sages set out to console their followers by claiming that a whole range of alternatives were capable of filling the void created by the destruction. Not the least of these was the claim that Torah-study, alongside other acts of piety unrelated to the Temple, might achieve the same results as sacrificial worship. Consequently, words intended originally as consolation ultimately evolved into independent theological doctrine.Sunday | Dec 24 | 7pm (12pm EST)

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From consolation to theology with Prof. Isaiah Gafni.

From consolation to theology - Prof. Isaiah Gafni.

In the aftermath of the destruction a wide-ranging &nbsp;restructuring of Jewish religious leadership came into effect. Decisions relating to the intercalation of the Jewish calendar, as well as the need to establish a recognized legal body empowered with the authority to rule on a broad range of legal questions previously addressed in Jerusalem, now required a new authoritative center. Determining the nature of that "center”, its location and composition, will be addressed in this session.Sunday | Dec 31 | 7pm (12pm EST)

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From Jerusalem to Yavne with Prof. Isaiah Gafni.

According to Jewish tradition, there is a unique relationship between the People of Israel and the Land of Israel. As part of this connection, there is a set of land-related mitzvot – mitzvot ha'tluyot ba'aretz – which deal mostly with agriculture. In our series, we will study the development of these commandments and their impact on modern day agriculture in Israel.There are numerous ways of defining the boundaries of the Land of Israel as described in the Bible for the purpose of observing land-related mitzvot. In this episode, we explore the biblical boundaries of the Land of Israel and the effect of Exile on the halachic status of some of these boundaries. We will see how geopolitical considerations affect where and how Israel grows its food and when and what agricultural produce is exported from and imported to the State of Israel, which is not necessarily equal to the Land of Israel.&nbsp;In English | Sunday | Jan 7 | 7pm (12pm EST)

Boundaries of Holiness at Beit Avi Chai

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The Mitzvot of the Land in the State of Israel with Dr. Joshua Klein.

The Mitzvot of the Land in the State of Israel.

According to Jewish tradition, there is a unique relationship between the People of Israel and the Land of Israel. As part of this connection, there is a set of land-related mitzvot – mitzvot ha'tluyot ba'aretz – which deal mostly with agriculture. In our series, we will study the development of these commandments and their impact on modern day agriculture in Israel.The mitzva of orla mandates that fruit from trees less than three years old must not be eaten or utilized in any other way. In this episode, we discover how long three years actually are according to the Jewish law. We also explore the halachic definition of a tree, including how a fruit from a tree can be considered a vegetable, therefore evading the orla restriction. Finally, we also discuss the implications of who grows the trees and where.In English | Sunday | Jan 14 | 7pm (12pm EST)

"Orla" at Beit Avi Chai

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According to Jewish tradition, there is a unique relationship between the People of Israel and the Land of Israel. As part of this connection, there is a set of land-related mitzvot – mitzvot ha'tluyot ba'aretz – which deal mostly with agriculture. In our series, we will study the development of these commandments and their impact on modern day agriculture in Israel.Interspecies mixing includes mixed weaving of cloth, plowing with two kinds of animals, and sowing different kinds of seeds together. In this session we consider the implications of the prohibition against such mixing, the restrictions on grafted plants and genetic engineering, and religious distinctions between those who can and cannot use the fruits and vegetables resulting from kilayim.&nbsp;In English | Sunday | Jan 21 | 7pm (12pm EST)&nbsp;

"Kilayim" at Beit Avi Chai

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According to Jewish tradition, there is a unique relationship between the People of Israel and the Land of Israel. As part of this connection, there is a set of land-related mitzvot – mitzvot ha'tluyot ba'aretz – which deal mostly with agriculture. In our series, we will study the development of these commandments and their impact on modern day agriculture in Israel.Most agrarian societies practice crop rotation, including letting land lie fallow for a period of time to let it "regenerate". Jews are divinely commanded to do so in the Land of Israel every seven years, and at the same time commanded to forgive debts. We discuss the connection between these two aspects of shmita, and their agricultural and social benefits. We also explore terms like heter mechira and see how food policy, consumerism, and international relations join with halacha in determining shmita observance in the State of Israel. In English | Sunday | Jan 28 | 7pm (12pm EST)&nbsp;

"Shmita" at Beit Avi Chai

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Join noted scholar Prof. Ruth R. Wisse as she speaks on the impact of October 7 on Israeli and American Jewry – and on new questions about the paradoxes in the international perception of Jews in politics and power. Moderated by Israeli journalist Moav VardiMonday I February 19 I 7pm (12pm EST)

Jews and Power After October 7 at Beit Avi Chai

Cover design: Eliyahu Misgav | Photography: Maoz Vaystooch

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Ruth R. Wisse,
Harvard University Professor Emerita,
Distinguished Senior Fellow at Tikvah.

Ruth R. Wisse,
Harvard University Professor.

The core dispositions of early Hasidism include joy, generosity, equanimity, respect, non-judgmentalism, and love for God, Torah, and people. Led by spiritual masters, beginning with the Baal Shem Tov (d. 1760), the Hasidim foregrounded fervent prayer, storytelling, open-hearted Torah, and sacred melody (niggun) as vehicles for inner growth and transformation. The teachings of Hasidism show us how to embrace our unique personalities, how to be genuinely present, how to build community, how to fuse body and spirit, how to trust God and our own inner selves.Sunday | February 4 | 7pm (12pm EST) | zoom

An Introduction to Hasidism at Beit Avi Chai

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The Baal Shem Tov - With Rabbi Dr. Nehemia Polen.

The Baal Shem Tov.

The core dispositions of early Hasidism include joy, generosity, equanimity, respect, non-judgmentalism, and love for God, Torah, and people. Led by spiritual masters, beginning with the Baal Shem Tov (d. 1760), the Hasidim foregrounded fervent prayer, storytelling, open-hearted Torah, and sacred melody (niggun) as vehicles for inner growth and transformation. The teachings of Hasidism show us how to embrace our unique personalities, how to be genuinely present, how to build community, how to fuse body and spirit, how to trust God and our own inner selves.Sunday | February 11 | 7pm (12pm EST) | zoom

Niggun and Storytelling - With Rabbi Dr. Nehemia Polen.

Niggun and Storytelling.

The core dispositions of early Hasidism include joy, generosity, equanimity, respect, non-judgmentalism, and love for God, Torah, and people. Led by spiritual masters, beginning with the Baal Shem Tov (d. 1760), the Hasidim foregrounded fervent prayer, storytelling, open-hearted Torah, and sacred melody (niggun) as vehicles for inner growth and transformation. The teachings of Hasidism show us how to embrace our unique personalities, how to be genuinely present, how to build community, how to fuse body and spirit, how to trust God and our own inner selves.Sunday | February 18 | 7pm (12pm EST) | zoom

Women in Hasidism - With Rabbi Dr. Nehemia Polen.

Women in Hasidism.

The core dispositions of early Hasidism include joy, generosity, equanimity, respect, non-judgmentalism, and love for God, Torah, and people. Led by spiritual masters, beginning with the Baal Shem Tov (d. 1760), the Hasidim foregrounded fervent prayer, storytelling, open-hearted Torah, and sacred melody (niggun) as vehicles for inner growth and transformation. The teachings of Hasidism show us how to embrace our unique personalities, how to be genuinely present, how to build community, how to fuse body and spirit, how to trust God and our own inner selves.Sunday | February 25 | 7pm (12pm EST) | zoom

Hasidism in the Modern Period - With Rabbi Dr. Nehemia Polen.

Hasidism in the Modern Period.

Focusing on a story in Tractate Hullin, we find a narrative that portrays a dichotomy between a "good" and a "bad" heretic, offering a glimpse into the complexities of theological dissent within the Jewish-Christian communities. What makes this narrative particularly intriguing is what it demonstrates about rabbinic knowledge of contemporary Christian beliefs.In English | Sunday | March 10 | 7pm (1pm EDT)

Good and Bad Heretics at Beit Avi Chai

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Humour and Satire in Interreligious Dialogue with Prof. Michal Bar-Asher Siegal.

Humour and Satire in Interreligious Dialogue.

We turn our attention to the question of humor within early Christian writings. We examine the parallels between the humorous elements found in Christian texts and those identified in polemic rabbinic literature directed towards Jews. Through a comparative analysis, we attempt to discern commonalities and differences in the use of humor as a rhetorical device, shedding light on the diverse strategies employed by both communities in expressing dissent and engaging in religious polemics.In English | Sunday | March 17 | 7pm (1pm EDT)

An Ancient Christian Joke? at Beit Avi Chai

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Jews and the American Civil Rights Movement and Beyond Prof. Eli LederhendlerIn this series we analyze how race became American society’s most pressing domestic issue in the postwar decades, how Jews in America were affected by this trend, and whether Jews can be considered an influential party to that national debate. Did the legacy of the civil rights struggle have special meaning for Jews? How can we account for the “disappearing Jew” in the identity politics of the post-sixties yearsWhile the legal battles for equal protection under the law were under way, a new kind of struggle was shaping up in the streets of the nation’s cities, the nation’s capital, and on college campuses. What were the ramifications of Jewish involvement in the movement and how were Jews affected? What were the early achievements and the initial costs of street activism? And did the Black-Jewish Alliance survive the end of the decade?In English | Sunday | April 7 | 7pm (12 pm EDT) | zoom

"Jews, Counterculture, and the Black-Jewish Alliance" at Beit Avi Chai

Credit: הרב יואכים פרינץ, תמונה מספר 3551, הארכיון היהודי - אמריקאי, סינסינטי אוהיו

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From the March on Washington to 1968.

Why did “militancy” and “radicalism” take precedence over equality in the new racial and identity politics of the late 60s, and how did this influence Jewish life? What lessons, if any, did Jews in America draw from the Civil Rights struggle? Where do we see continuities in Jewish public and community life between the 60s and the following years, and where can we see changes?In English | Sunday | April 14 | 7pm (12 pm EDT) | zoom

"Black Power and Jewish Identity" at Beit Avi Chai

Credit: Courtesy of Yeshiva University Archives, Student Struggle for Soviet Jewry Collection

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New Dilemmas after 1968.

The first Jews reached Greece in the early Hellenistic period as entrepreneurs, tempted by the possibilities of trade, military activity and other opportunities. They established themselves quickly into communities which resembled each other, with similar institutions uniting them. In the next few centuries, a steady stream of Jewish emigrants arrived from Judaea to the cities of the Greek diaspora. We will discuss how it was possible for Jews to dwell in cities “not their own” and what their strategies were for coping with, accepting and participating in Greek life without losing their identities.

The Long History of the Jews of Greece at Beit Avi Chai

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The First Jews of Ancient Greece with Dr. Katherine Aron-Beller.

The First Jews of Ancient Greece.

The study of Byzantine Jewry – its political and social history no less than its cultural institutions and achievements – has long been the stepchild of Jewish scholarship. A further challenge is the continually shifting borders of the Byzantine world. For a few hundred years, Jews were granted freedom of settlement and movement within the Empire and were not excluded from the Christian socio-economic space. We will attempt to define Jewish life in Greece at this time and how Jews coped with their loss of the Holy Land. We will also look at the beginnings of the Karaite communities in Greece.

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The Rhomanian Jews of Byzantine with Dr. Katherine Aron-Beller.

The Rhomanian Jews of Byzantine.

Spanish speaking exiles found a welcoming haven in the Ottoman Empire in the late XV and early XVI centuries. The newcomers settled in central parts of the mainland, particularly around Salonika, turning the city into one of the most important ports in the Ottoman Empire. The Sephardim, who were innovative and radical, constituted the majority of the city’s population and developed communities with many institutions. Among them was the false messiah Sabbatai Zevi, whose presence and followers in Greece caused an emotional upheaval in the Jewish community the reactions to which continued until the XX century.

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The Sephardi Jews and Sabbatai Zevi with Dr. Katherine Aron-Beller.

The Sephardi Jews and Sabbatai Zevi.

Among the unique Greek Jewish communities in the late XIX and early XX centuries, Salonika was considered the most distinguished. Until the arrival of the Nazis in 1941, the city housed two-thirds of Greek Jewry, resulting in over one-third of its population being Jewish. The Jews of Salonika were the undisputed masters in almost all sectors of the economy. They represented all social classes, and were to be found in every profession. In this last session, we will follow the city’s history in the XX century by looking at different historical events up to the Jews’ return in the post-war years.

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Greek Jewish Life in the Twentieth Century with Dr. Katherine Aron-Beller.

Greek Jewish Life in the Twentieth Century.

How would the man who dreamed of a safe home for the Jewish people in Eretz Israel react to the tragedy of October 7? Join author Matti Friedman and news anchor Tamar Ish Shalom in a special presentation about the enigmatic character of Theodor Herzl. Using his writing and rare archival footage, they reflect on his vision and discuss the gap between that vision and reality. "Dreams and actions are not so different as usually thought", Herzl wrote, "as all actions of men are founded upon dreams…."Tuesday | June 25, 2024 | 8:30 PM

An Old-New Land: Theodor Herzl at Beit Avi Chai

רונן אקרמן, Author photo credit Mary Anderson, סטודיו דוב אברמסון

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The Man and the Vision After October 7.

Dr. Marik Shtern In the first session, we explore how Jerusalem changed from a small and religious center to a Mediterranean cosmopolitan city. The physical and human landscape is changing rapidly, as modernism and nationalism take hold amidst its various communities.&nbsp;In English | Sunday | June 2 | 7pm (12pm EDT)

Discovering Jerusalem at Beit Avi Chai

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The Late Ottoman Period.

Dr. Marik Shtern Our second session is devoted to the years of British rule in Palestine, where we discuss urban planning and modern architecture, see the widening of the religious and nationalistic rift and the gaps between Zionism and the Palestinian national movement.In English | Sunday | June 9 | 7pm (12pm EDT)

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The British Mandate Period.

Dr. Marik Shtern After 1948, the capital of Israel developed as a city split into two. We discuss the development of the city over the years, the annexation of East Jerusalem and the influence of Mayor Teddy Kollek.&nbsp;In English | Sunday | June 16 | 7pm (12pm EDT)

באדיבות הארכיון הציוני

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The Israeli City.

Dr. Marik Shtern As Jerusalem entered a new era, different issues had to be dealt with and impacted the development of the city. Beginning with the first and intifada, the Oslo peace accords and the construction of the separation wall, and continuing with growing tension and extremism of the various religious communities.&nbsp;In English | Sunday | June 23 | 7pm (12pm EDT)

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Post Oslo Accords Period.

Getting to know Elijah the Prophet with Dr. Chana Shacham-Rosby &nbsp;

Elijah the Prophet at Beit Avi Chai

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Elijah the Prophet in Medieval Ashkenaz 

In the first centuries AD, the idea crystallized that Elijah would be involved in the eschaton. We will examine how medieval Christians and Jews in Europe discussed Elijah’s eschatological role and how these mutually exclusive approaches to the future reflected contemporary struggles of identity.In English | Sunday | August 11 | 7pm (12pm EDT)

Elijah the Prophet in Medieval Ashkenaz at Beit Avi Chai

Harbinger of Redemption
 Dr. Chana Shacham-Rosby



The prosperous world of Midrash, the product of centuries of Jewish creativity, has been created entirely by men. Recent years have seen new midrashim written by learned, committed, and creative women. Many have appeared in the Hebrew and English editions of the collection Dirshuni. These writings explore the riches of Jewish life and are now joined by midrashim by various women grappling with the experience of living through October 7 and its aftermath. This 4-part series will include an introduction to the new world of women’s Midrash and its relationship to classical Midrash, an exploration of women’s midrashim on various topics, including current midrashim that will help orient us in the run-up to the coming new year. &nbsp;Who writes and why? Who writes midrashim these days and why? What are these midrashim about? We will read together several midrashim that beautifully illustrate how the writers use the classical genre of midrash to speak to the realities of the 21st century. &nbsp;Sunday | September 8 | 7pm (12pm EDT) &nbsp;

Israeli Women Writing Midrash at Beit Avi Chai

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Who writes midrashim these days and why? What are these midrashim about? We will read together several midrashim that beautifully illustrate how the writers use the classical genre of midrash to speak to the realities of the 21st century.

Who writes midrashim these days and why?

Sharing their personal experiences from that day and afterward. &nbsp;Sunday | September 15 | 7pm (12pm EDT)

After Simchat Torah at Beit Avi Chai

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Midrashim written by women from kibbutzim Kfar Azza and Nir Oz. 

Around the country about captivity, displacement and where God was on October 7. &nbsp;Sunday | September 22 | 7pm (12pm EDT) &nbsp;

Dealing with Trauma at Beit Avi Chai

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Midrashim written by Israeli women 

As we turn towards the coming year and look for hope. &nbsp;Sunday | September 29 | 7pm (12pm EDT)&nbsp;

Closure and Beginnings at Beit Avi Chai

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Midrashim on the theme of endings and new beginnings. 

As we turn towards the coming year

Come join our English tour to discover Israel’s most celebrated forgotten artist – and his fascinating legacy!Friday | November 15 | 10am | The Beit Avi Chai Gallery

Guided Exhibition Tour in English at Beit Avi Chai

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You Must Choose life – That is Art: Pinchas Litvinovsky

In this session we will focus on two related themes: immigration and Americanization. What are the origins of the key subgroups of Jews that make up the American Jewish collective? When did they arrive in the United States? How have they integrated into American society? What are their respective contributions to the evolution of American Jewish life?Sunday | November 3 | 7pm (12pm EST) | ZOOM

At Home in the USA - Beit Avi Chai

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Who are the Jews of America?
Prof. Adam S. Ferziger

Who are the Jews of America?

This session will highlight the ways America's religious and social cultures have impacted the trajectory of American Judaism and Jewish family life. Among the topics that will be addressed are state and religion, religion coercion and the lack thereof, market-driven religious life, social boundaries – endogamy (in-marriage) and exogamy (intermarriage), and the various ways of defining the key religious streams or sectors.Sunday | November 10 | 7pm (12pm EST) | ZOOM

Religion and Family - Beit Avi Chai

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We will examine in this session the role of Israel in American Jewish identity, and relatedly, the raging debates as to the relationship between rising levels of Jew-hatred and antipathy toward Israel.Sunday | November 17 | 7pm (12pm EST) | ZOOM

Israel and Antisemitism - Beit Avi Chai

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This session will take place after the November 2024 presidential elections and will attempt to analyze their results in the Jewish context. The aim is both to share initial impressions, as well as to draft insights from the prior sessions that can be useful in contextualizing them.Sunday | November 24 | 7pm (12pm EST) | ZOOM

The November 2024 Elections and American Jews - Beit Avi Chai

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In 332 BCE Alexander the Great conquered Tyre and Gaza, and, according to Josephus Flavius, Alexander also met the Jewish high priest Jaddua at that time. The rabbis tell a rather different version of this encounter. By focusing on some key differences between the parallel accounts, we hope to show how the rabbis enlisted a biblical literary model as they molded the legend of Alexander anew in line with a distinctive political ideology. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

Beit avi chai-Simeon the Righteous meets Alexander the Great

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Prof. Amram Tropper: The Second Temple Period through Rabbinic Eyes


According to Josephus, the Hasmonean brothers fought a civil war (c. 65 BCE), and word of this war eventually made it to the rabbinic sages in Babylonia. The talmudic narrative of the civil war, however, has many details not mentioned in Josephus. We will attempt to identify the sources of these unique details focusing especially on the source of inspiration for the character of the old traitor Sunday | December 8 | 7:00pm (12pm EST) &nbsp;

Beit avi chai-The Siege of Jerusalem during the Hasmonaean Civil War 

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According to Josephus Flavius, as King Herod neared the end of his life, he was worried that the Jewish people would celebrate his demise, so he secretly ordered trustworthy relatives to execute a large group of elders on the very day he died, thereby giving the people good reason to mourn on that day. Rabbinic literature has preserved an alternative version of this story. We will hope to show how these different versions are connected to each other&nbsp; &nbsp;

Beit avi chai-The Twice Told Tale of a Despot’s Death

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In the wake of the fall of Jerusalem in 70 CE, the rabbis established a rabbinic center in the city of Yavneh, but early rabbinic literature does not reveal how the rabbis arrived at Yavneh. This lacuna in early rabbinic literature, however, was filled in the later literature by means of a story which tells how Rabban Yohanan ben Zakkai escaped the besieged Jerusalem, met the Roman emperor Vespasian and received his blessing to relocate to Yavneh. This story became a foundation myth for the rabbinic movement, and we hope to identify some of the sources of inspiration which guided the sages in their formation of this famous legend. &nbsp;

Beit avi chai-Fashioning a Foundation Myth for the Rabbinic Movement

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Come join our English tour to discover Israel’s most celebrated forgotten artist – and his fascinating legacy!

You Must Choose Life - That is Artat Beit Avi Chai

Guided exhibition tour in English - Artist Pinchas Litvinovsky

This course lays bare the longevity of Jews doing violence towards images of Christ in Christian literature and non-literary sources and examines how allegations, judicial accusations as well as related charges launched within works of art affected Jewish individuals and communities. Ranging from the Byzantine Empire in the V century to early modern Europe at the end of &nbsp;XVII, it focuses on a particular aspect of late-medieval anti-Judaism: how the Jews were portrayed by Christians as desecrators. &nbsp;

Jews and Christian Art - Dr. Katherine-Aron Beller

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Interesting Zoom course that portrays the jews in the Christian art 

This series will introduce key kabbalistic principals and their impact on different historical figures, with their actions and ideas, like dominos, causing a chain reaction from one to another. Ultimately, the stories of these people will end up deeply interwoven with the late 19th century Zionist movement.

The Kabbalistic Birth Pangs of Zionism | Dr. Jonnie Schnytzer

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Lecturer at The Multidisciplinary Department of Jewish Studies, Bar Ilan University's & postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Jewish Thought, Ben Gurion University.

You Must Choose life – That is Art: Pinchas Litvinovsky.&nbsp;Come join our English tour to discover Israel’s most celebrated forgotten artist &nbsp;

Guided Exhibition Tour in English

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You Must Choose life – That is Art: Pinchas Litvinovsky
.Come join our English tour to discover Israel’s most celebrated forgotten artist

A guided tour at the Beit Avi Chai gallery

Orly Rahimiyan - Researcher of Iranian JewryThis series will examine the history of the Jewish community in Iran from its earliest days to the present, in light of social, cultural, and political developments both in Iran and beyond.&nbsp;We will highlight the experience of Jews in Iran as a case study of the status of a Jewish minority under Muslim rule, and specifically under Shia Muslim rule. Additionally, various aspects of the culture and life of the Iranian Jewish community will be reviewed.&nbsp;The series will present primary sources from the period, alongside research on the Jews of Iran in particular and Jews in the Muslim world in general.

The Children of Esther: The History of the Jews of Iran

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Join this series and explore the history of the Jewish community in Iran from its earliest days to the present

The history of the Jewish community in Iran

Redemption is an important motif in Judaism. It begins with the original Exodus of the Hebrew slaves from Egypt and continues to the contemporary Exodus – the creation of the State of Israel – as the first step of the Divine promise to liberate all of humanity.&nbsp; In light of Rabbi Greenberg’s new book, “The Triumph of Life: A Narrative Theology of Judaism”, we will explore the liberation from slavery as partial fulfillment of the ultimate goal of the Jewish covenant with God – the victory over all the enemies of life: poverty, hunger, oppression, war and sickness, with the Earth turned into a paradise &nbsp;

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Holocaust Distortion - The case of Lithuania at Beit Avi Chai

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