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20 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 20-part Zoom series with Rabbi Shmuly Yanklowitz: “20 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.
Rebecca: Between Speech and Silence
A virtual event presentation by Rabbi Marc Gitler
Please note event times are listed in MST
EVENT CO-SPONSORED BY: Shalom Park
ABOUT THE EVENT:
Rebecca is one of the most active and decisive figures in the Torah — yet her voice is often heard only in fragments. In this class, we will explore the tension between speech and silence in Rebecca’s story: when she speaks boldly, when she remains silent, and what those moments reveal about power, prophecy, family, and identity. From her first appearance at the well to the dramatic struggle over Isaac’s blessing, we will examine how Rebecca navigates a world in which influence is not always exercised openly. Together, we’ll uncover the hidden depth and complexity of one of the Bible’s most misunderstood matriarchs.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER:
Rabbi Marc Gitler serves as Senior Jewish Educator for Valley Beit Midrash and is the visiting Rabbi of Aish SanDiego. A recipient of the Wexner Fellowship, he was ordained at Yeshivat Chovevei Torah. The founder of Fast for Feast, he lives in Denver, Colorado with his wife Sarah and their four children.
Why Should Jews Care about Christianity, and Why Should Christians Care about Judaism?
A virtual event presentation by Professor Elias Sacks
Please note event times are listed in PST.
EVENT CO-SPONSORED BY: BMH-BJ
ABOUT THE EVENT:
What can Jews learn from Christianity, and what can Christians learn from Judaism? What might we gain from interreligious dialogue, and what challenges can such conversations pose? To what extent does a commitment to Judaism or Christianity benefit from—or perhaps even require—learning about the other tradition, and what sorts of risks might arise from these encounters? We will explore diverse answers to these questions, examining the changing ways in which Judaism and Christianity have interacted with one another, and wrestling with sources from the Hebrew Bible and New Testament to works of post-Holocaust theology.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER:
Elias Sacks is Associate Professor of Religious Studies and Jewish Studies at the University of Colorado Boulder, where he studies Jewish thought, philosophy of religion, Jewish-Christian relations, religious ethics, and religion and politics. He is the author of Moses Mendelssohn’s Living Script: Philosophy, Practice, History, Judaism (2017), as well as articles on medieval and modern thinkers including Mendelssohn, Moses Maimonides, Baruch Spinoza, Nachman Krochmal, Hermann Cohen, Franz Rosenzweig, and Jacob Taubes. Previously, Sacks served as Director of The Jewish Publication Society.
“What Is Truth?” — Torah, Narrative, and the Power of Framing
A hybrid (in-person & virtual) event presentation by Rabbi Marc Gitler
Please note event times are listed in MST
EVENT CO-SPONSORED BY: BMH-BJ
ABOUT THE EVENT:
This is the first session in a four-part series. Participants may register for one, multiple, or all four sessions - attendance at every session is not required. Each session relates to the main theme but will stand on its own, allowing participants to join at any point in the series. All sessions will also be recorded and made available for those who would like to catch up on any content they miss or revisit the material at a later time.
Truth, Media, and Propaganda - A timely look at misinformation, lashon hara, and the ethics of communication—especially in an age of social media and AI.
Session 1: “What Is Truth?” — Torah, Narrative, and the Power of Framing
An opening exploration of how truth is constructed, presented, and sometimes distorted. The class would examine biblical and rabbinic cases where facts, interpretation, and perspective blur together.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER:
Rabbi Marc Gitler serves as Senior Jewish Educator for Valley Beit Midrash and is the visiting Rabbi of Aish SanDiego. A recipient of the Wexner Fellowship, he was ordained at Yeshivat Chovevei Torah. The founder of Fast for Feast, he lives in Denver, Colorado with his wife Sarah and their four children.
Righteous Idolaters? A History of Christianity Through Jewish Eyes
A virtual event presentation by Rabbi Dr. Joshua Garroway
Please note event times are listed in PST.
EVENT CO-SPONSORED BY: Congregation Kol Ami
ABOUT THE EVENT:
Jews have viewed Christians alternatively as friends and as enemies, as partners in salvation and as pitiable idolaters. Why such contrasts? Come learn how Jewish perspectives on Christianity have developed from ancient, to medieval, to modern times. Hopefully, you'll come away some combination of amused, disgusted and inspired!
ABOUT THE SPEAKER:
Rabbi Joshua Garroway is the Sol and Arlene Bronstein Professor of Judaeo-Christian Studies at the Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion in Los Angeles. Raised in Rochester, New York, Rabbi Garroway earned a BA in Religion from Duke University in 1998, rabbinical ordination from the Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion in 2003, and a PhD in New Testament Studies from the Religious Studies department of Yale University in 2008. While his academic books and articles focus on the origins of Christianity, and specifically the life and writings of Paul, his teaching and popular writing deal with Jewish texts and history more broadly. Professor Garroway lectures widely in synagogues, churches, and other public venues. He is also engaged in several interfaith ventures, including the Los Angeles area InterSem program and the Jewish-LDS Academic Dialogue. Rabbi Garroway currently lives in Pasadena, California, with his wife, Professor Kristine Henriksen Garroway, and their three teenage boys. For fun, he enjoys chess, tennis, opera, period pieces, and taking his kids to Dodgers games.
“Lashon Hara in the Information Age” — Speech, Gossip, and Viral Culture
A hybrid (in-person & virtual) event presentation by Rabbi Marc Gitler
Please note event times are listed in MST
EVENT CO-SPONSORED BY: BMH-BJ
ABOUT THE EVENT:
This is the second session in a four-part series. Participants may register for one, multiple, or all four sessions - attendance at every session is not required. Each session relates to the main theme but will stand on its own, allowing participants to join at any point in the series. All sessions will also be recorded and made available for those who would like to catch up on any content they miss or revisit the material at a later time.
Truth, Media, and Propaganda - A timely look at misinformation, lashon hara, and the ethics of communication—especially in an age of social media and AI.
Session 2: “Lashon Hara in the Information Age” — Speech, Gossip, and Viral Culture
Building on the first class, this session applies Jewish laws of speech to modern media ecosystems. What happens when gossip becomes algorithmic and outrage becomes profitable?
ABOUT THE SPEAKER:
Rabbi Marc Gitler serves as Senior Jewish Educator for Valley Beit Midrash and is the visiting Rabbi of Aish SanDiego. A recipient of the Wexner Fellowship, he was ordained at Yeshivat Chovevei Torah. The founder of Fast for Feast, he lives in Denver, Colorado with his wife Sarah and their four children.
Stolen, Saved, or Claimed? The Battle between Yeshiva University and Dubrovnik’s Jewish Community
A virtual event presentation by Rabbi Marc Gitler
Please note event times are listed in MST
EVENT CO-SPONSORED BY: Kavod on the Road
ABOUT THE EVENT:
This class will examine the history of sacred Jewish ritual objects sent from Dubrovnik, Croatia to Yeshiva University for safekeeping during a time of danger, and the story of what happened to them afterward.We will explore questions of ownership, preservation, and responsibility, and consider what it means to safeguard religious treasures.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER:
Rabbi Marc Gitler serves as Senior Jewish Educator for Valley Beit Midrash and is the visiting Rabbi of Aish SanDiego. A recipient of the Wexner Fellowship, he was ordained at Yeshivat Chovevei Torah. The founder of Fast for Feast, he lives in Denver, Colorado with his wife Sarah and their four children.
Nonviolence in a violent world: Aharon Shmuel Tameres in Conversation with Martin Luther King and James Lawson
A virtual event presentation by Rabbi Aryeh Cohen
Please note event times are listed in PST.
ABOUT THE EVENT:
Rabbi Aharon Shmuel Tamares is probably the most passionate Jewish voice against nationalism, militarism, and, most of all, war. A prolific writer in the first four decades of the twentieth century, he articulated an opposition to war and violence rooted in a theological vision which saw war as modern idolatry; or in another formulation, war as the service to the idolatry of nationalism. Rev. James Lawson was, according to his friend and colleague Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., the foremost theorist of nonviolence in this hemisphere. Lawson's understanding of nonviolence was rooted in his understanding of Christianity and the thought of Mahatma Gandhi. He was the driving force—both theologically and philosophically, and practically—of the training and workshops which led to the Nashville and Memphis movements and whose impact was felt throughout the civil rights movement. He understood nonviolence as a way of life which operated on and impacted the personal, the communal, the national and ultimately international stages. The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. needs no introduction. His career, cut short by the politics of assassination, changed the way that Americans viewed political dissent, and the possibility for change in this country. Nonviolence was central to his thought and fueled his demand for justice in the United States, and to curb the violence that the United States was inflicting on other countries. The class will deal with the following questions posed to each of our thinkers: 1. What is the difference between not being violent and nonviolence as a way of life? 2. What is the role of suffering in the nonviolent demand for justice? 3. Are there not "good" wars or at least "just" wars? 4. What are the religious roots of nonviolence or anti-militarism/anti-nationalism? How do Tamares, Lawson, and King differ on this question?
ABOUT THE SPEAKER:
Aryeh Cohen is Rabbi and Professor of Rabbinic Literature at the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies, American Jewish University. He serves as Vice-President of the Los Angeles City Ethics Commission and is a co-convener of the Black Jewish Justice Alliance. He is past-President of the Society of Jewish Ethics and served on the inaugural interfaith advisory board of the Los Angeles District Attorney's office. He is the author of Justice in the City: An Argument from the Sources of Rabbinic Judaism, and has published widely in academic and public forums. He is also a poet.