The Straw Hat

Tetzaveh 5782: You Never Have to Eat Hamentashen

This week, Rabbi Wolkenfeld and Rabbanit Goldie reflect on Pastor Donovan Price’s visit to ASBI last Shabbat and the power of this show of solidarity as well how we, as an urban orthodox congregation, have a duty to support our neighbors. They also delve deeper into many of the learning that has been happening at the shul and what’s ahead on our calendar: the halacha of a Bar Mitzvah boy with dyslexia who can’t read from the Torah but who can leyn from memory; Rabbanit Goldie’s series on the teachings of Rabbi Nachman and his practice of finding a quiet space to speak to God; from Daf Yomi, the mitzvah of kriah and the ways that Jewish tradition provides a path for mourning in a psychologically astute way; and the upcoming observance of Purim Katan.
Music credit: “Three” from the album Proverbs, by Les Hayden, used under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License. 

Mishpatim 5782: Lost & Found

This week, Rabbi Wolkenfeld and Rabbanit Goldie talk about our Mishnah Club program and share some of the Torah they have been learning—plus interview Mishnah Club participant and ASBI Member Shira Berkowitz! They also talk about Parshat Mishpatim, give an introduction to our Scholar-in-Residence this Shabbat, Rabbi Dr. Shlomo Zuckier, and mourn the loss of Rabbi Simcha Krauss, reflecting on his impact on American Modern Orthodoxy.
Music credit: “Three” from the album Proverbs, by Les Hayden, used under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License. 

Beshalach 5782: The Shabbat Dimension

Looking to this week’s Torah portion and Haftorah, Rabbi Wolkenfeld and Rabbanit Goldie talk about Devorah both as a person and as an example in halakhic literature. Rabbanit Goldie also gives a preview of her upcoming shiurim on forgiveness in the Talmud and the reason these classes are particularly timely in our socially distant age. They also share some wisdom from recent learning at shul on when the restrictions of shabbat come into conflict with pikuach nefesh and the reasons to join in the next Daf Yomi tractate.
Music credit: “Three” from the album Proverbs, by Les Hayden, used under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License. 

Vayechi 5782: Sanctifying Passage

In this episode, Rabbi Wolkenfeld and Rabbanit Goldie talk about some of the practical halachot covered in Masechet Megillah, which just began in Daf Yomi (and in particular, how it can be applied to our shul). Rabbi Wolkenfeld also gives a preview of his upcoming “Judaism & Peacemaking” shiur and Rabbanit Goldie gives some thoughts on Parshat Vayechi and the practice of creating ethical wills.Music credit: “Three” from the album Proverbs, by Les Hayden, used under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License. 

Vayishlach 5782: A Joyous Younger Generation

This week, Rabbi Wolkenfeld and Rabbanit Goldie reflect on Masechet Rosh Hashanah, which was recently completed in Daf Yomi, and the many relevant topics it covers, including the laws and practices of tefillah. They also celebrate the return of inviting kids up onto the bima Shabbat morning and the joys of this bit of return to normalcy. Lastly, Rabbanit Goldie shares an interpretation of this week’s parsha, Parshat Vayishlach.
 
Music credit: “Three” from the album Proverbs, by Les Hayden, used under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License. 

Toldot 5782: Beyond Shabbat Morning

The clocks are about to change and Rabbi Wolkenfeld and Rabbanit Goldie explore some of the opportunities to engage in mitzvot in ways that are uniquely available during this time of year. In particular, they present some ways to engage kids Jewishly and orient them to shul life beyond Shabbat morning. They also give an overview and a bit of a taste of what will be explored in our upcoming Middle School Mishnah Club and our ASBI Global Day of Jewish Learning, which will launch Rabbanit Goldie’s new Talmud Shiur.Music credit: “Three” from the album Proverbs, by Les Hayden, used under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License. 

Vayera 5782: Part of the Same Conversation

This week, Rabbi Wolkenfeld and Rabbanit Goldie discuss some of the themes and interpretations of Parshat Vayera. They also talk about an idea that has come up in Daf Yomi of adding some of the holy to the mundane. Finally, they share some of the pedagogy they explored in this week’s Parent-Child learning session about rooting ourselves in the text.
Music credit: “Three” from the album Proverbs, by Les Hayden, used under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License. 

Devarim 5781: The Words of Moshe

In this episode, Rabbi Wolkenfeld and Rabbanit Goldie discuss the unique perspective of Sefer Devarim, which begins this week. Rabbi Wolkenfeld also shares some of the insights from his Shabbat afternoon shiur on Gesher Hachaim by Rabbi Tucazinsky, and Rabbanit Goldie relates her experience doing chaplaincy work in a hospital and how that has affected her.
Music credit: “Three” from the album Proverbs, by Les Hayden, used under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License. 

Pinchas 5781: Boundless Generosity

This week, Rabbi Wolkenfeld and Rabbanit Goldie discuss the Three Weeks and explore how the messages of unity and coming together during this time can be at odds with the way we’ve been living during the pandemic. They discuss how a generosity of spirit can help get us back into the habit of communal life and help us work through the pain and baggage we all bring with us. Rabbanit Goldie also shares some of her recent research as part of the Jewish Women Scholars’ Writing Fellowship and its relevance to our own ASBI Community Standards.Music credit: “Three” from the album Proverbs, by Les Hayden, used under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License. 

Korach 5781: Chosenness

This week, Rabbi Wolkenfeld and Rabbanit Goldie discuss Parshat Korach and explore the question of if every Jew is inherently holy or if holiness is the product of Mitzvot. They also discuss the art of drasha writing and share an update on some of the exciting ways that things are re-opening at the shul.
Music credit: “Three” from the album Proverbs, by Les Hayden, used under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.