Our  Evening Study Programmes

Famous Jewish Women You Might Not Have Known Of.

With Rabbi Jacky Tabick

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1. Licoricia of Winchester. Click here for the recording of this first talk from March 20th.

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Commitment and Community

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The Exodus marks the liberation of the Israelites. On the 7th day of the holiday we read "The Song of the Sea" - sung as the Israelites pass beyond the borders of Egypt for the first time into a new world of political freedom. According to the Rabbinic tradition that freedom is immediately transmuted into communal religious obligations! In this short series we will think about the intimate relationship between community and commitment - how humans have always lived within thick webs of relationships and mutual obligations. Where do our core commitments come from,  how are they sustained, and how do they emerge from the communities which we inhabit?

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1. April 22nd recording

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Duchaning - Who and When

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From its beginning Kol Nefesh was a pioneer community forging a path towards full gender equality in a traditional shul. Last year we learned about, debated, and changed our practice on aliyot for the children of Cohanim and Leviim, regardless of gender. Now we would like to turn our attention to duchaning, the priestly benediction in shul, to see how our classical sources relate to women participating in this ritual. As is our custom we will go back to basics and see how the halachic system has evolved regarding having people other than male Cohanim channelling God’s blessing on the community. We will also look at the question of when we duchan. Currently at Kol Nefesh we duchan only on the High Holy Days, but some communities duchan more often. Should we?

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Recording of Session 1, March 11

Recording of Session 2, March 18​

Recording of Session 3, April 1

Recording of Session 4, April 8

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Source sheets for the sessions are:

Talmudic source (Ta'anit 26), Rif, Rambam, Shulchan Aruch, CJLS  Responsa (Rabbi Rabinowitz)

CJLS Responsa (Rabbi Ethan Tucker)​

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There are 2 additional sessions continuing the theme from the Shavuot Tikkun Leil of  לא תגנב  Lo Tignov - Do not steal.

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July 2nd - click for the recording

July 9th - click for the recording