Teaneck—Yeshiva University’s popular annual summer learning program in Bergen County will take place at Congregation Rinat Yisrael on three successive Mondays: July 14, 21, and 28, 2014. The event, which last year garnered an impressive 90 community participants, welcomes both men and women, as well as mature high school students, said Nehama Cohen, the event’s organizer.
Following last year’s exciting scholars Rabbi Allen Schwartz and Mrs. C.B. Neugroschl, the first of this summer’s two lecturers is Rabbi Jeremy Wieder, a rosh yeshiva at the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary and the Joseph and Gwendolyn Straus Chair in Talmud. His lecture series is called “The Ten Martyrs in Liturgy,” and will occur from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. on each of the three Mondays. Rabbi Wieder holds a Ph.D. in Judaic Studies from New York University.
The stories of the Ten Martyrs are found in a number of places in the literature of Chazal and memorialized in Jewish liturgy on both Tisha B’av (Arzei HaLevanon) and Yom Kippur (Eileh Ezkerah). Rabbi Wieder will share how each of these two piyyutim recounts the stories of the Ten Martyrs in order to connect with and reenact the theme of the day on which it is being recited.
The second speaker is Mrs. Nechama Price, a local Yoetzet Halacha who is a noted Tanach lecturer as a member of the faculty at Stern College for Women. Her lecture series is called “Heroes and Villains in Tanach,” and will occur from 10:45 to 11:45 a.m. following Rabbi Wieder’s presentations.
Mrs. Price’s series will analyze many of the heroes and villains of Tanach, including the sins of famous heroes like the Avot, Imahot, David, Shlomo, and others. Participants will discover important lessons by analyzing the difference between peshuto shel mikra and Chazal’s interpretation of the deeds of famous villains, such as Yishmael, Esav, and Lavan. Mrs. Price will discuss how Chazal understood neutral personalities against the backdrop of the abstract text.
Registration is required. Both classes are offered for a fee of $90. Register online at yu.edu/bergenlearn
For more information about the program and sponsorship opportunities, please contact Nehama Cohen, Assistant Director, Community Partnerships at [email protected] (212-960-5400 x6350).
By Elizabeth Kratz
