Scholar-in-Residence Weekend with Hadar Institute's Rabbi Elie Kaunfer
Click to navigate to:
- A Note from Rabbi Rafi
- Testimonials
- Jan 23: Shabbat Dinner and Learning
- Jan 24: Torah Study led by Rabbi Elie
- Jan 24: Havdalah, Lecture, and Dessert Reception
- About Rabbi Elie Kaunfer
- About Hadar Institute
A Note from Rabbi Rafi
I am so excited that we have the chance to host Rabbi Elie Kaunfer, Phd, President and CEO of the Hadar Institute, at Shir Hadash on the weekend of January 23rd and 24th. Through three sessions, R. Elie will take us on a wonderful journey through the world of liturgy — his area of internationally-renowned expertise.
In our community, which has such a wonderful dedication to prayer, I thought that R. Elie would be a perfect person to bring in as a scholar-in-residence. His thoughtful and accessible teachings always inspire me to think more intentionally about not only what I am praying, but how I am praying.
As a Reform Jew and a Reform rabbi, I am moved by his deep knowledge of both historical and contemporary liturgy and I find myself thinking more deeply, as a result, about the words I say in moments of prayer. All of us at Shir Hadash will be enriched by this opportunity to learn with him.
Please register at the links found on this page, especially for Kabbalat Shabbat on Jan 23 so we can get a proper headcount for dinner! Also, note that babysitting will be available at all programming for this weekend.
I look forward to us all welcoming R. Elie very soon.
Warmly,
Rabbi Rafi Ellenson
Several Shir Hadash congregants have had the chance to study with Rabbi Elie in the past. Here's what they have to say:
"The siddur is so familiar, and yet Rabbi Kaunfer helped us find new layers and meaning in the familiar order: what is this telling us, and why is it here and not someplace else? I've really enjoyed learning new insights from him." - Richard Muirhead
"Rabbi Kaunfer's lectures [have] transformed the way I think about G-d's sovereignty in the world. His teaching has coherence, depth, and immediacy so that complex material becomes wonderfully accessible." - Sharla Kibel
Friday, January 23
6 PM | SHABBAT DINNER & LEARNING
This very special Shabbat service will feature a D'Var Torah read by Rabbi Elie, as well as a Kosher-catered Shabbat dinner. Adults are then welcome to attend an educational program, and madrichim will be onsite to host children's activities.
Resurrection Revisited: A Closer Look at the Second Blessing of the Amidah: In this Beit Midrash style class with Rabbi Elie, we will open up the second blessing of the Amidah – said in all formal Jewish prayer services – to explore different possibilities of meaning. Which biblical and midrashic texts stand behind this blessing, and how can they open up our field of vision around this controversial prayer.
RSVP Here
Saturday, January 24
9:15 AM | TORAH STUDY LED BY RABBI ELIE
Rabbi Elie will be leading an extended Torah study session on Saturday morning! Please note the earlier start time of 9:15.
Israel as the Chosen People: What Might This Mean?: A core concept in Judaism is that God chose the Jewish people. It appears throughout our major prayers. But what does that mean? How might we understand this theological concept in a modern context and consistent with other core values? Together and led by Rabbi Elie, we will explore this concept through text and conversation.
RSVP Here
6:30 PM | HAVDALAH, LECTURE, AND DESSERT RECEPTION
The final event of this weekend will include a Havdalah service, before one last class with Rabbi Elie. Be sure to stick around for a dessert reception!
The Mourner’s Kaddish – A New Interpretation: Join us as we explore the essence of the Kaddish, perhaps the most misunderstood prayer in Judaism. We will move on an interpretive journey that has implications for all prayers we say. Along the way we will encounter the power of the Kaddish, a poignant depiction of God's relationship with us, and what people can offer the Divine.
RSVP Here
ABOUT RABBI ELIE KAUNFER
Rabbi Elie Kaunfer is President and CEO of the Hadar Institute. Elie has previously worked as a journalist, banker, and corporate fraud investigator. A graduate of Harvard College, he completed his doctorate in liturgy at the Jewish Theological Seminary, where he was also ordained. He also received semikhah from his long-time teacher, Rav Daniel Landes. A Wexner Graduate Fellow and Dorot Fellow, Elie is a co-founder of the independent minyan Kehilat Hadar and has been named multiple times to Newsweek’s list of the top 50 rabbis in America. He was selected as an inaugural AVI CHAI Fellow, and is the author of Empowered Judaism: What Independent Minyanim Can Teach Us About Building Vibrant Jewish Communities (Jewish Lights, 2010). Elie serves on the board of the Harold Grinspoon Foundation and on the advisory board of Upstart.
ABOUT THE HADAR INSTITUTE
The Hadar Institute is a center of Jewish life, learning, and practice that builds vibrant egalitarian communities in North America and Israel. Our vision for Jewish life is rooted in rigorous and nuanced Torah study, gender equality, meaningful Jewish practice, and the values of kindness and compassion. Since our founding in 2006, Hadar has impacted thousands of people through our programs and content, giving Jews of all ages the tools to access traditional texts and live inspired Jewish lives.