Holiday Webinars for Rabbis—Liturgy as Philosophy: The High Holiday Mahzor as a Source of Inspiration in Jewish Thought
Join JTS for this free webinar designed to inspire you as you prepare for this year’s fall holiday season.
This program is offered in collaboration with the Rabbinical Assembly.
Liturgy as Philosophy: The High Holiday Mahzor as a Source of Inspiration in Jewish Thought
Thursday, August 15, 2024
1:00–2:15 p.m. ET
Online
With Dr. Shira Billet, Assistant Professor of Jewish Thought and Ethics, JTS
The siddur is arguably the most important Jewish book ever printed, in that it was designed for daily use by the entire community and not just by an elite group. The mahzor similarly guides the entire community through the holiest days of the Jewish year. The siddur and the mahzor have long served as sources of Jewish philosophical reflection.
In this session, we will introduce the idea of the siddur, and liturgy in general, as a source of philosophical reflection, and then dive into specific examples of how Jewish philosophers have found inspiration in the High Holiday liturgy—examining themes such as regret and hope; forgiveness and repentance; the relationship between God and human beings; human frailty; and human empowerment.
Session I is July 31: The first session of Holiday Webinars for Rabbis is “Commemorating October 7: A Workshop on Ritual” with Rabbi Jan Uhrbach, Director, Block/Kolker Center for Spiritual Arts, JTS
