During a recent tele-webinar on The Structure and Moral Meaning of the Plagues, Brandeis Professor Reuven Kimelman talked about the importance of reading the narratives of the Hebrew Bible, the Tanakh, as moral stories aimed at nurturing and developing our moral thinking. In a world suffering from both over-use and abuse of the Bible by contemporary commentators, his emphasis on the educational power of the Biblical material is not only rare but also highly desired and needed.
As Dr. Kimelman points out, there are two main advantages to reading the Biblical narrative with the goal of developing moral reasoning. First, this eliminates the need to justify every action taken in its stories: often, these actions are portrayed for the purpose of being condemned. Second, the Biblical stories are often aimed at stimulating our thinking: we can learn more from a morally problematic situation than from a clear-cut one.
Let's listen together for 5 minutes to Rabbi Kimelman's own development of these points:
Filed under Events, Jewish Learning, Produced by on Apr 13th, 2011. Comment. 
During the reading of the Haggadah—the book most of us read and discuss around the Passover Seder table—we enumerate the ten plagues that were inflicted upon the ancient Egyptians, according to the story in the Book of Exodus. While the story is familiar to most, its meaning remains elusive.
Reuven Kimelman
Why are there so many plagues? Wouldn't one or two suffice to convince Pharaoh to allow the Israelites to go? Further, are the ten plagues some random calamities, chosen for dramatic effect, or do they follow a pattern?
I have invited Brandeis Professor Reuven Kimelman, author of The Moral Meaning of the Bible audio coursebook, to answer these and many other questions about the story of the plagues and their moral significance in a 70-minute interactive tele-webinar you can join (for the live event) over the Web or Skype or telephone — or you can listen to the full recording later on over the Web (streamed or downloadable MP3).
Just imagine yourself sitting at your Passover Seder table, and when time comes during the reading of the Haggadah to enumerate the plagues, you could say: "Listen, let me tell you what these all mean!" If you happen to be an educator or rabbi, this program can also serve as a ready-made educational module for your own congregants and students.
[Registration at MoralBible.com/Plagues]
During this session, Rabbi Kimelman will address questions such as:
.Read more on The Structure and Moral Meaning of the Plagues – with Reuven Kimelman…
Filed under Events, Jewish Learning, Produced by on Apr 8th, 2011. Comment.
As we approach the end of 2010 and the joyous festival of Hanukkah, I've taken a bit of time to look back at the last few years, and the "little miracle" we've managed to manufacture here at Our Learning Company for Jewish learning:
The 36 tele-webinars and tele-series that connected over 5,000 learners and educators worldwide with 15 world-class Jewish teachers, scholars, and authors;
The hundreds of hours of audio materials and the thousands of pages of study guides we've planned and produced;
The 7 Jewish Learning Treasures we packaged as audio coursebooks, audio courses and audio collections.
It is those latter that I called the Hanukkah Gelt of Jewish learning, and decided to feature for the upcoming festival of miracles and gifts:
OurLearningCompany.com/Hanukkah/S
Wishing everybody an enlightened and enlightening Hanukkah!
Filed under Jewish Learning, OLC News by on Nov 10th, 2010.
Jewish teaching is not just about theology or the Jewish Bible or the Jewish wisdom writings. It is about as many aspects of the individual, the community and the universe as humanity can fathom. This is why I find it so exciting, so compelling, and so interesting. This is also why teaching quality, the teacher's quality is so important.
There are many talented, resourceful, skillful, wise and knowledgeable American Jewish teachers today. I have found it hard to select "my teachers." Which is why I have been on the quest of exploring and finding as many superb Jewish teachers, scholars and authors as I can.
I have had the privilege of working with over 15 of them so far. Among them, I have (almost randomly) selected nine to assemble into a collection of audio programs on topics ranging from theology to practice, from social studies to individual success, from liturgy to Biblical studies, from holy days to philosophy.
I am inviting you to explore nine samples of their teaching.
Filed under Jewish Learning, OLC News by on Sep 28th, 2010.
Lawrence Hoffman & Reuven Kimelman
I recently had the honor and pleasure to produce and host a superb tele-masterclass with Rabbis Lawrence Hoffman and Reuven Kimelman, titled "Who By Fire, Who By Water: New Approaches to the Meaning of the High Holy Days."
During this 150-minute program, Professors Kimelman and Hoffman engaged in a dialog on the meaning of a few core portions of the High Holy Days liturgy, the structure of the liturgy, as well as interactively answered questions from participants across the world (USA, Canada, Chile, Israel, The Netherlands, United Kingdom and Virgin Islands).
As a gift to the community, I am making available one of the six audio segments of the program, entirely at no cost.
Filed under Events, Jewish Learning, Noted, Produced by on Sep 4th, 2010.
Abraham Twerski, MD
In the mid-eighteen century of Eastern Europe, Rabbi Yisrael ben Eliezer, to be known to you and I as The Baal Shem Tov, set the foundations for a Jewish renewal movement based on traditional Jewish teachings, spirituality and a deep understanding of the human psyche, to become know to you and I as Hasidic Judaism.
Roll the clock ahead ten generations…and Baal Shem Tov's descendant, renowned psychiatrist and author Rabbi Abraham Twerski MD, once again brings together a deep understanding of human psychology, as informed by modern psychiatry and a vast scholarship of the Jewish traditional wisdom literature into A Formula For Proper Living: Practical Lessons from Life and Torah, just published by Jewish Lights.
On Thursday April 29, 2010, I hosted the world's second Jewish Bookinar, featuring Abraham Twerski himself. To gain access to the podcast of this program:
Filed under Events, Jewish Learning, Produced by on Apr 26th, 2010. 1 Comment.
Dr. Erica Brown
“This is so boring!”
How many times have you heard yourself, your children or family members, or your students or congregants say this?
Do they or you ever feel bored about Jewish services, classes, or events?
In a world-premiere Bookinar—a live, interactive tele-dialogue based on her latest book, Spiritual Boredom: Rediscovering the Wonder of Judaism, published by Jewish Lights—renowned author and educator Dr. Erica Brown invites you to explore what spiritual boredom is, why it relates to Judaism, and especially how to deal with it and even be inspired by it.
I produced this first-of-a-kind event in collaboration with Jewish Lights Publishing. The live recording of the full 92-minute program is now available at:
OurBookinar.com/EricaBrown/replay
Enjoy!
Filed under Blog, Jewish Culture, OLC News, Produced by on Mar 17th, 2010.
Purim is celebrated on February 28 this year, and I have one question for you:
What does Purim mean to YOU?
Please scroll to the bottom of this page (and while you're doing so, you can sample what others have already shared—I included just a small selection) and share your answer with us in the Comments box.
Then I have a gift for you:
Filed under Jewish Culture by on Feb 11th, 2010. 83 Comments.
Rabbi Simon Jacobson
On Tuesday February 23, 2010 at 9:00 PM Eastern | 6:00 PM Pacific I will have the privilege of hosting a 120-minute teleseminar with best-selling author and master teacher Simon Jacobson, Dean of The Meaningful Life Center, on The Soul of Purim: How Purim Can Transform Your Life. Full information and registration can be found at:
»» AskSimonJacobson.com/SoulOfPurim ««
Here is a brief (15') sample of Simon Jacobson's teaching on Purim, recorded in front of a live audience a few years ago:
If you liked what you heard (in spite of the fairly poor quality of the sound, for which we apologize), please join us either for the live teleseminar or by listening to its recording. Here is the information and registration page again:
»» AskSimonJacobson.com/SoulOfPurim ««
You'll love it!
Filed under Produced by on Feb 10th, 2010. Comment.
Rabbi Ed Feinstein
I recently had the privilege of hosting a teleseminar with master teacher and award-winning author Rabbi Ed Feinstein on Abraham Joshua Heschel's Spiritual Lens to the world. This event was a learning benefit for the New Coalition for Alternatives in Jewish Education (NewCAJE). You can still gain access to the learning package (88-minute audio recording of the entire program, 33-page Study Guide and 4 additional learning bonuses) at:
OurLehrhaus.com/AskEdFeinstein
A few days later, I invited Rabbi Feinstein to address some of the many questions about this very generous subject that were left unanswered during the live event. The recording of this conversation became a learning program I titled 27 Elaborations on A.J. Heschel with Rabbi Ed Feinstein.
Here are the first 13 minutes of this 96-minute conversation:
To gain access to the entire streamed-audio program at:
Our-Learning.com/EdFeinstein-27ElaborationsOnHeschel
You'll love it!
Filed under OLC News by on Feb 3rd, 2010. Comment.
Media Release
Contact:
| Sergiu S. Simmel Founder & President Our Learning Company LLC Phone: +1-617-731-3132 Email: Info@Our-Learning.com |
Elinor Chayo Executive Director Meaningful Life Center Phone: +1-718-774-6448 Email: Elinor@MeaningfulLife.com |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Our Learning Company and Meaningful Life Center Renew Their Partnership to Co-Produce a New Series of Teleseminars with Rabbi Simon Jacobson
Boston, Massachusetts and New York, New York February 1, 2010 – Our Learning Company LLC—publisher, producer and promoter of innovative Adult Learning content—and Meaningful Life Center—an organization dedicated to personal, societal and global transformation through presenting the universal wisdom of Jewish teachings— announce the renewal of their partnership in producing a series of live, interactive tele-webinars featuring renowned teacher and bestselling author Rabbi Simon Jacobson, Meaningful Life Center’s Dean.Read more on Renewed Partnership with Meaningful Life Center…
Filed under Press Releases, Produced by on Feb 1st, 2010. Comment.
Few would argue with the assertion that Jewish history has a lot to do with the history of ideas, yet until now there were few places on the Web that aggregated the flow of Jewish ideas as they actually happen in the press (and especially its Web incarnation), in the presses (these are the physical presses that print books on paper) and otherwise. Now we have the rather notable Jewish Ideas Daily, a new venture sourced by The Tikvah Fund of New York.
Modeled somewhat after the amazing Arts & Letters Daily which has kept me intellectually well fed for years, JID promises to be a fountain of Jewish ideas, and therefore a fountain of learning for and about Jews, Judaism, Judaica, Yiddishkeit, and all other ways in which this unique tradition and contemporary presence can be looked at. In the words of the JID editors:
Jewish Ideas Daily is a one-stop source of opinion and insight, of deliberation and analysis, of reflection, discovery, stimulation, and delight: the best that has been thought and said by or about Jews.
Why am I so excited about it?
Filed under Jewish Culture, Jewish Learning by on Jan 11th, 2010. 1 Comment.
Cherie Koller-Fox
On December 30, 2009 I recorded a 26-minute conversation with Rabbi Cherie Koller-Fox, Facilitator of The New Coalition for Alternatives in Jewish Education (NewCAJE). The conversation was prompted by the concurrent announcement of the partnership between OLC and NewCAJE to produce a series of tele-webinars as benefits for NewCAJE. The series is named LEHRHAUS ONLINE.
During the 26' interview, we covered topics ranging from what NewCAJE is today, what motivated the creation of LEHRHAUS ONLINE as a series of Learning Fundraisers, the impact of the series on learners and educators worldwide, and her vision of both NewCAJE and The LEHRHAUS ONLINE in the future.
Listen to the interview here…
… please consider registering yourself and 4 of your friends for the upcoming first event in the LEHRHAUS ONLINE series at
Filed under Jewish Learning, Produced by on Jan 1st, 2010. 1 Comment.
Media Release
Contact:
| Sergiu S. Simmel Founder & President Our Learning Company LLC Phone: +1-617-731-3132 Email: Info@Our-Learning.com |
Rabbi Cherie Koller-Fox Facilitator NewCAJE.org Phone: +1-617-558-0045 Email: Shual@Comcast.net |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Our Learning Company to Produce LEHRHAUS ONLINE, an experiment in Adult Education and a Benefit for NewCAJE
Boston, Massachusetts December 31, 2009 – Our Learning Company LLC—publisher, producer and promoter of innovative Adult Learning content—and NewCAJE, The New Coalition for Alternatives in Jewish education—a pluralistic network of Jewish educators— announce a new partnership that will produce a series of live, interactive tele-webinars aimed at both raising funds for NewCAJE and offering Jewish educators and their congregants and students high quality Jewish learning opportunities.
Filed under Press Releases by on Dec 31st, 2009.
Media Release
Contact:
Sergiu S. Simmel
Founder & President
Our Learning Company LLC
Phone: 617-731-3132
Email: SSS@Our-Learning.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Innovative Adult Learning Courseware Publisher Announces
Follow-on Audio Coursebook Featuring World Renowned Brandeis Professor
Brighton, Massachusetts, 27 November 2006 – Our Learning Company LLC (OLC) – a start-up publisher of innovative Adult Learning courseware with Jewish content – announces its follow-on audio coursebook featuring Dr. Reuven Kimelman, world-renowned professor at Brandeis University. “The Moral Meaning of the Bible – The What, How and Why of Biblical Ethics — Volume I” is an 8-part series featuring studio-recorded audio sessions, study text and uniquely colorful mindmapped graphic summaries.
Filed under Press Releases by on Nov 27th, 2006.
Media Release
Contact:
| Sergiu S. Simmel Founder & President Our Learning Company LLC Phone: 617-731-3132 Email: SSS@Our-Learning.com |
Rabbi Hayim Herring, Ph.D. Executive Director, STAR Synagogues: Transformation and Renewal Phone: 612-381-8840 Email: HHerring@STARsynagogue.org |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
National Leaders in Synagogue Innovation and Adult Jewish Learning Promote
New Generation Adult Learning Products
Brookline, Massachusetts and Minneapolis, Minnesota, 28 November 2005 – Our Learning Company LLC (OLC) – a start-up publisher of Jewish Adult Learning courseware – and STAR (Synagogues: Transformation and Renewal) announce a new partnership to promote wide-spread Jewish Adult Learning across STAR’s national network of synagogue innovators.
Filed under Press Releases by on Nov 28th, 2005.
Media Release
Contact:
| Sergiu S. Simmel Founder & President Our Learning Company LLC Phone: 617-731-3132 Email: SSS@Our-Learning.com |
Alan Teperow Executive Director Synagogue Council of Massachusetts Phone: 617-244-6506 x18 Email: Alan@SynagogueCouncil.org |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Innovative Jewish Learning Publisher Partners with Synagogue Umbrella Organization to Strengthen Congregational Adult Learning in Massachusetts
Brookline and Newton, Massachusetts, 14 October 2005 – Our Learning Company LLC (OLC) – a start-up publisher of Jewish Adult Learning courseware – and the Synagogue Council of Massachusetts (SCM) announce a new partnership to promote and enable wide-spread Jewish Adult Learning across SCM’s 120 member congregations throughout Massachusetts.
Read more on Partnership with the Synagogue Council Announced…
Filed under Press Releases by on Oct 14th, 2005.
Media Release
Contact:
Sergiu S. Simmel
Founder & President
Our Learning Company LLC
Phone: 617-731-3132
Email: SSS@Our-Learning.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Innovative Jewish Adult Learning Courseware Publisher Announces First Audio Coursebook Featuring World Renowned Brandeis Professor
Brookline, Massachusetts, 14 October 2005 – Our Learning Company LLC (OLC) – a start-up publisher of innovative Jewish Adult Learning courseware – announces its first audio coursebook featuring Dr. Reuven Kimelman, world-renowned professor at Brandeis University. “The Hidden Poetry of the Jewish Prayerbook – The What, How and Why of Jewish Liturgy” is an 18-part series featuring studio-recorded lectures, study text and uniquely colorful graphic summaries.Read more on First Audio Coursebook Launched…
Filed under Press Releases by on Oct 14th, 2005.
