What is the purpose of Jewish education? Is it to teach skills? To inspire? To build Jewish community? Rabbi Benay Lappe, President & Rosh Yeshiva at SVARA, a self-described traditionally radical yeshiva, joins David Bryfman to discuss what we can learn from the story of Chanukah, how that story has been reinvented, and the purpose of Jewish education. Together, they explore how SVARA is responding to a “crash” in Jewish life by using the Talmud as a blueprint to reimagine Jewish tradition so Judaism can continue to do what Rabbi Lappe says was always the point— to create good people.
"Chanukah is the choose your own story holiday... I think we are in need of a new Chanukah story. Chanukah is sitting here waiting for the compelling story of 2021."
Rabbi Benay Lappe
President and Rosh Yeshiva
SVARA: A Traditionally Radical Yeshiva
Adapting: The Future of Jewish Education is a production of The Jewish Education Project. Be sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released.
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Gabriel Weinstein. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben. This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media. If you enjoyed the show please leave us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released.
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Additional Resources:
Svara: A Traditionally Radical Yeshiva
Learn with Svara
The Crash Talk
Too Late for Pluralism—or Too Early? By Rabbi Lappe in Sources: A Journal of Jewish Ideas
Rabbi Lappe on Judaism Unbound Podcast
Rabbi Lappe's ELI Talk - An Unrecognizable Jewish Future: A Queer Talmudic Take
How to Read the Talmud by Rabbi Lappe on MyJewishLearning.com
Collected Essays by Rabbi Lappe
The Oral Talmud Weekly Livestream with Rabbi Lappe and Dan Libenson
