Filter by Category
Our Classes
40 Talmudic Stories Every Jew Should Know
A virtual class series hosted by Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowitz
ABOUT THE CLASS:
Discover the depth, drama, and enduring wisdom of the Talmud in this inspiring new Valley Beit Midrash 40-part Zoom series with Rabbi Shmuly Yanklowitz: “40 Talmudic Stories Every Jew Should Know.” Each class brings to life a powerful narrative from the Talmud—stories of courage, curiosity, compassion, conflict, and transformation. Rabbi Yanklowitz will guide participants through the historical context, spiritual meaning, and ethical challenges embedded in each tale, revealing how these ancient narratives still speak urgently to the modern Jewish experience. Whether you’re a seasoned learner or brand new to Talmud study, you’ll find yourself captivated by the richness and relevance of these stories.
More than just storytelling, this series is an invitation to think, question, and grow. Each session will open space for thoughtful discussion, personal reflection, and practical takeaways that can elevate daily life, relationships, and spiritual practice. Come connect with a vibrant community of learners, deepen your understanding of Jewish tradition, and be energized by Rabbi Yanklowitz’s uniquely passionate, inclusive, and justice-centered approach to Torah. These are stories that shape who we are—and who we can become. Join us and let them inspire you.
All are held over Zoom every Tuesday at 10am PT (1pm ET).
Cost: $360 for the whole series, free for VBM members
ABOUT THE SPEAKER:
Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowitz is the President & Dean of Valley Beit Midrash.
What does the mishna teach us about the people who wrote it?
A virtual event presentation by Rabba Aliza Libman Baronofsky
Please note event times are listed in PT
EVENT CO-SPONSORED BY: Temple Emanuel
ABOUT THE EVENT:
The mishna was written during a time period that included the destruction of the second temple and the Bar Kochba Revolt. The 63 tractates of the mishna include the rabbis' origin story for rabbinic Judaism and many clues about the world it was written in. We'll explore mishnas that give us explicit information about the early rabbinic period as well as hints about the groundbreaking changes happening in the Jewish world at the time.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER:
Rabba Aliza Libman Baronofsky is a career educator who teaches Jewish text and mathematics at the Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School. In the summer, she works as a teacher and Rabba at Camp Yavneh in Northwood, NH. She is the host of the podcast “Mishna Accomplished.”
How to Do Things with Kavanah: J. L. Austin and the Communicative Activity of Performing Mitzvot
A virtual event presentation by Dr. Paul Franks
Please note event times are listed in PT
EVENT CO-SPONSORED BY: BMH-BJ
ABOUT THE EVENT:
What is kavanah — usually translated as “intention” — in the performance of mitzvot? What, in particular, is kavanah in Jewish prayer? Often used but rarely explained, the term will be illuminated by means of the speech act theory of the great Oxford philosopher and architect of the Normandy invasion, J. L. Austin (1911-60), articulated most famously in his 1955 William James Lectures at Harvard, later published as How to Do Things with Words.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER:
Paul Franks is the Robert F. and Patricia Ross Weis Professor of Philosophy and Jewish Studies, and the Chair of the Department of Philosophy at Yale University. Educated at Gateshead Yeshiva, Oxford and Harvard, he has taught at Indiana University, Notre Dame, and Toronto, and has been visiting professor at Chicago, Leuven, and Hebrew University. He works on post-Kantian philosophy, Jewish philosophy and kabbalah. Among his publications are Franz Rosenzweig: Philosophical and Theological Writings, and All or Nothing: Systematicity, Transcendental Arguments, and Skepticism in German Idealism.
Unfolding: Reflections on the Lessons of the High Holy Days
A virtual event presentation by Rabbi Karyn Kedar
Please note event times are listed in PT
EVENT CO-SPONSORED BY: Congregation Ner Tamid
ABOUT THE EVENT:
Join Rabbi Karyn D. Kedar for a 45-minute exploration of her award-winning book, Unfolding: A High Holy Day Companion. Drawing from meditations, poetry, reflections, retellings of Talmudic and Hasidic stories, and lyrical encounters with prayer and scripture, Rabbi Kedar will share insights from the book and offer selections that illuminate the path through the months of Av and Elul, Rosh HaShanah, the Ten Days of Repentance, and Yom Kippur.
Together, we will reflect on themes of grief, longing, forgiveness, repentance, and renewal, discovering how ancient wisdom and contemporary spiritual practice can help us navigate this season with greater depth and compassion. Whether this year’s High Holy Days were your first or you have new questions about familiar rituals, this gathering will offer inspiration on how to carry forward the lessons of the holidays into the new year ahead.
Books are available for purchase at a 20% discount for participants. More details will be shared upon registration.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER:
Karyn Kedar is a gifted writer and teacher. She inspires people of all backgrounds and faiths to live intentionally, find beauty and purpose in everyday moments, and cultivate a life of spiritual depth, meaning, compassion, and purpose. Through poetic reflections and practical insights, she guides others to navigate life’s complexities with grace and deepen their connection to their essential self and to others.
As the author of six non-fiction books, everything she writes—whether poetry, liturgy, or essays—is an invitation to pause, to contemplate, and to awaken the spirit.
Her newest work, Unfolding: A High Holy Day Companion, invites readers to sit on the edge of what they know and explore the mysteries of forgiveness, beauty, and spiritual renewal.
Her books, teachings, and retreats explore the shared human experiences of love, struggle, forgiveness, resilience, and the search for meaning. She invites us to “come to the edge of what you know and sit a while.”
Karyn lives with her husband Ezra in the Chicago area. Their children and six grandchildren are making their way in life in both the United States and Israel.
When Judaism Began: Understanding Ezra and Nehemiah
A virtual event presentation by Rabbi Steven M. Bob
Please note event times are listed in PT
EVENT CO-SPONSORED BY: Congregation Or Tzion
ABOUT THE EVENT:
The Books of Ezra and Nehemiah tell the story of the return to Jerusalem from the first exile in ancient Babylonia. These books contain the foundational ideas for our modern sense of Jewish identity and key elements of our Jewish lives. The public reading of the Torah begins with Ezra reading from the scroll before the community in Jerusalem. In these books we will meet the first people to think of themselves as Jews. Jewish holidays take shape during the beginning of this period, as does the Jewish calendar. Ezra and Nehemiah are the first biblical books to use the names on the months that we use today, like Elul and Kislev.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER:
Rabbi Steven M. Bob was Senior Rabbi of Congregation Etz Chaim in Lombard, IL for 35 years. Rabbi Bob serves as a Guest faculty member at Wheaton College and as an Instructor at the Hebrew Seminary for the Hearing and the Deaf. He is a leader of the faculty of Olin-Sang-Ruby Union Institute. His newest book is When Judaism Began: Exploring the Books of Ezra and Nehemiah (2026). He is also the author of Go to Nineveh (2013) and Jonah and the Meaning of Our Lives (2016) and Ha'aretz named Rabbi Bob as one of the 36 American Jews who helped shape the 2008 Presidential election.
Messiah: The Zionist Nobody Wants
A virtual event presentation with Dr. Jonnie Schnytzer
Please note event times are listed in PT
EVENT CO-SPONSORED BY: BMH-BJ
ABOUT THE EVENT:
Throughout Jewish history, there have been a series of individual attempts to organize Jewish communities towards conquering the Land of Israel and reinstalling Jewish sovereignty. Time and again, these attempts were turned down and declined by the masses. Why? Learning about the fascinating stories of a few individuals we learn a valuable lesson about freedom and the slippery slope from redemption to messianism.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER:
Jonnie Schnytzer is probably the only PhD in Jewish Philosophy, focusing on medieval kabbalah, who can say that he once beat the head of Israeli Naval Commandos in a swimming race. His dissertation focused on the scientific kabbalah of Rabbi Joseph ben Shalom Ashkenazi. Jonnie’s forthcoming book is about Ashkenazi’s Kabbalah as well as a critical edition of the kabbalist’s majestic commentary on Sefer Yesira. Jonnie’s also the author of Mossad thriller, The Way Back, which paints a picture of contemporary Israel. Jonnie also orchestrated the publishing of an English edition of ‘The Hitler Haggadah’, an important piece of Moroccan Jewish history from the Holocaust. Jonnie has also taken on several leadership roles in the Jewish world, including advisor to the CEO of Birthright and executive manager with StandWithUs. He lectures on a wide variety of topics relating to Judaism and Israel, especially about the untold stories and unspoken heroes of Jewish history. Jonnie is happily married, with four gorgeous little kids, lives in Israel and thinks that Australian Rules Football is the greatest sport ever invented.
Unlocking Meaning in the Words of the Siddur
A virtual event presentation by Rabbi Elie Kaunfer
Please note event times are listed in PT
EVENT CO-SPONSORED BY: Congregation Ner Tamid
ABOUT THE EVENT:
As Jews we spend a lot of time praying, but not a lot of time looking at the texts of our prayers for meaning and understanding. In this session we will explore a method that will aim to deepen your own engagement with prayer through rigorous interpretation. We will examine questions such as: Are traditional prayer formulas able to express my own values/ideas of prayer? What do you do when you "disagree" with the prayer's content? How can I interpret the siddur in a grounded and traditional yet creative manner?
ABOUT THE SPEAKER:
Rabbi Elie Kaunfer is President and CEO of the Hadar Institute. Elie has previously worked as a journalist, banker, and corporate fraud investigator. A graduate of Harvard College, he completed his doctorate in liturgy at the Jewish Theological Seminary, where he was also ordained. He also received semikhah from his long-time teacher, Rav Daniel Landes. A Wexner Graduate Fellow and Dorot Fellow, Elie has been named multiple times to Newsweek’s list of the top 50 rabbis in America. He is the author of Empowered Judaism: What Independent Minyanim Can Teach Us About Building Vibrant Jewish Communities and is completing a book on the Amidah.
The Talmudic Tale of the Toasty Heels: A Debate over Gendered Giving
A virtual event presentation by Noam Zion
Please note event times are listed in MT
EVENT CO-SPONSORED BY: Temple Emanuel
ABOUT THE EVENT:
While standing in the communal oven, Ms Ukba and Mar Ukba had a dispute about how best to give tzedakah. They represent Masculine and Feminine Tzedakah, or the Ethics of Dignity versus the Ethics of Care. Whose approach takes priority?
ABOUT THE SPEAKER:
Noam is now emeritus at the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem where since 1978 he has been a senior research fellow and educator. He earned a graduate degree in general philosophy at Columbia University and the Hebrew University, while studying Bible and Rabbinics at JTSA and the Hartman Beit Midrash.
His popular publications and worldwide lecturing have promoted Homemade Judaism – empowering families to create their own pluralistic Judaism during home holidays – Pesach, Hanukkah and Shabbat. His most popular publications include: A Different Night: The Family Participation Haggadah; A Different Light: The Big Book of Hanukkah; A Day Apart: Shabbat at Home; The Israeli Haggadah: Halaila Hazeh; and A Night to Remember: The Haggadah of Contemporary Voices (published together with his son). But his most recent book written with his son came out March 17, 2024, Haggadah Yisraelit to reflect on the latest events of October 7, 2023.
His most recent academic research encompasses a trilogy on the intellectual history of philanthropy entitled Jewish Giving in Comparative Perspectives (2013) and a nine-part series on Talmudic Marital Dramas (2018). In 2021 Jewish Publication Society published Sanctified Sex: The 2000 Year Jewish Debate on Marital Intimacy.