In the modern world Jews have a respected place both within the insular, tribal community and the larger, universal society. We celebrate the freedoms associated with citizenship and acceptance in a global society, even as we are challenged by the consequences of going beyond the safety of Jewish community boundaries. The existence of a strong Jewish State alongside a largely successful diaspora Jewish community brings the question of tribalism vs. universalism into greater focus. The confluence of war in Israel and rising antisemitism in America makes the question even more complicated.

Through a series of compelling presentations, Rabbi Tucker explores the enduring and evolving meaning of two prophecies from Isaiah: “The Torah shall come forth from Zion” (2:3), and “My house shall be called a house of prayer for all people” (56:7).

Friday, December 13

6:15 PM Kabbalat Shabbat
7:00 PM Shabbat Dinner (Register below)
8:00 PM Learning Session – Torah: For Everyone or Just for Jews?
For whom is Torah intended? Is the audience Israelite/Jewish alone? Is there a hope that the whole world will embrace this way of life? We will look at rabbinic texts that attempt to work through this issue and consider the implications for today.

Rabbi Ethan Tucker is President and Rosh Yeshiva at Hadar. Ethan was ordained by the
Chief Rabbinate of Israel and earned a doctorate in Talmud and Rabbinics from the Jewish Theological Seminary and a BA from Harvard College. A Wexner Graduate Fellow, he was a co-founder of Kehilat Hadar and a winner of the first Grinspoon Foundation Social Entrepreneur Fellowship. He is the author, along with Rabbi Micha’el Rosenberg, of Gender Equality and
Prayer in Jewish Law (2017).

Shabbat dinner reservations are due by Monday, December 9.
Early bird by December 2: $23/adult; $13/child (ages 3-12); under 2, free
After December 2: $28/adult; $18/child (ages 3-12); under 2, free

This year’s Scholar-in-Residence weekend is generously sponsored by the M.B. Lewis Charitable Foundation.

Registration is now closed. Please contact Rachel Hyman (rachel@bnaiisraelcong.org) to find out if there is still space.