Look for any podcast host, guest or anyone
Showing episodes and shows of

Elie Kaunfer

Shows

Ta ShmaTa ShmaR. Elie Kaunfer: Praying Against Our Enemies in the AleinuIn this session, we will look at one of the most controversial - and censored - prayers in our tradition: Aleinu. How are we meant to understand the lines in these prayers? Who are the enemies and how might we relate to those concepts today? Who censored the prayers - and how? This class will explore all these questions through various textual traditions of these prayers. Recorded at the Rabbinic Yeshiva Intensive, March 2024. Source sheet: https://mechonhadar.s3.amazonaws.com/mh_torah_source_sheets/RYI2024KaunferAleinu.pdf2024-08-1950 minTa ShmaTa ShmaR. Elie Kaunfer: Is the Seder Really So Ordered?There's a catchy song that tells us what we're supposed to do during the Seder and when (Kaddeish Urhatz). But when you dig a little deeper, the song is a little simplistic for the actual Seder structure. How can the giant Maggid section be covered by a single word? And why is Hallel actually split into two? Rav Elie discusses the overall structure of the Seder. Recorded in March 2022 and available as part of a video series on the Haggadah (https://hadar.org/torah-tefillah/resources/seder-really-so-ordered) and our YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2H4x...2024-04-0815 minAround the Calendar with DrishaAround the Calendar with DrishaPesach 5777: ”Dayenu: The Core Story of the Haggadah” with Rabbi Elie Kaunfer2023-12-1459 minTa ShmaTa ShmaR. Elie Kaunfer on Parashat VeZot HaBerakhah: Blessing - A Purifying Pool of WaterIn our prayers, we often call God “ברוך - blessed.”  What images might this word evoke, and how might it deepen our connection to God, the source of blessings?2023-10-0408 minTa ShmaTa ShmaR. Elie Kaunfer on Parashat Ha'azinu: Praying for Resurrection, Literally and FigurativelyThe idea that God can revive the dead became central to our prayers and Jewish theology in general.  But what does this “resurrection” entail?  Do we have to take it literally, or can we understand it in a more metaphorical way?  And what do we lose without the literal meaning?2023-09-2009 minTa ShmaTa ShmaR. Elie Kaunfer on Parashat Nitzavim-VaYelekh: How Do We Return?How are we meant to begin the process of teshuvah, returning to God?  Is this something we initiate, or does God help us to begin?  Or perhaps it is some combination?  How is this process understood in the Torah and in our Amidah?2023-09-0608 minTa ShmaTa ShmaR. Elie Kaunfer: Introduction to MalkhuyotIn a newly released video and audio series (originally recorded in 2020), Rabbi Elie Kaunfer introduces aspects of the High Holiday Mahzor as we prepare for the upcoming Hagim. This is the first of these introducing the Malkhuyot (or Kingship) section of Rosh Hashanah Musaf. You can go to hadar.org and sign up for the WhatsApp group to receive this video and audio series every day.2023-09-0409 minTa ShmaTa ShmaR. Elie Kaunfer on Parashat Ki Tavo: The Power of “Amen”In Parahsat Ki Tavo, the word “amen” appears 12 times in 12 consecutive verses (Deuteronomy 27:15-26).  It is also a word that features prominently in our prayer experience, usually in response to the prayer leader’s prompt.  But what does this word mean?  What is happening ritually when we say “amen”?2023-08-3011 minTa ShmaTa ShmaR. Elie Kaunfer on Parashat Ki Teitzei: Are Gerim Treated Differently in Prayer?Jewish identity is irreducibly made up of both religious and ethnic components.  One of the situations where this complexity comes to the fore is for converts (or in Hebrew: gerim), people who become Jewish but do not necessarily have ethnic Jewish ancestors.  And yet, our liturgy is full of references to the “God of our ancestors” and similar formulations assuming an ethnically Jewish background.  How should Jews by choice interact with a liturgy that assumes, at least sometimes, that those who recite it are Jews by birth?2023-08-2308 minTa ShmaTa ShmaR. Elie Kaunfer on Parashat Shoftim: Praying for PeaceAt the end of the Amidah, we ask for God to “שים שלום - grant peace.”  But the word “שלום - peace” has multiple meanings, and it is not clear exactly what we are asking for in this moment.  Is this a request for broad political stability, or something more personal?  How might we understand this request for peace and how it relates to our prayer life?2023-08-1608 minTa ShmaTa ShmaR. Elie Kaunfer on Parashat Re'eih: Calling God “Our Father” in PrayerIn many prayers, we call God “אבינו - our Father.”  What biblical allusions are we drawing on when we say this, and what are we trying to express when we call God “our Father” in prayer?2023-08-0907 minTa ShmaTa ShmaR. Elie Kaunfer on Parashat Eikev: The Meaning(s) of “Great, Mighty, and Awesome”What does it mean to call God “great, mighty, and awesome,” as we do in the first blessing of the Amidah?  Perhaps we are praising God as creator of the world, or redeemer of the Jewish people through miracles. After all, these are “great, mighty, and awesome” acts, which humans could never perform.  But the biblical context of this phrase points in a very different direction.2023-08-0210 minTa ShmaTa ShmaR. Elie Kaunfer on Parashat Devarim: Praying for our Religious LeadersWe often think of prayer as motivated by personal needs: I pray for myself or others close to me.  But one of our prayers specifically asks us to focus more broadly and pray for our religious leaders.  Why is this so important?2023-07-1908 minTa ShmaTa ShmaR. Elie Kaunfer on Parashat Mattot-Mas'ei: Why Praise God in Prayer?2023-07-1209 minTa ShmaTa ShmaR. Elie Kaunfer on Parashat Pinhas: Fixed and Spontaneous Words of PrayerWhy is there a fixed liturgy to the Amidah? After all, if I am meant to pray to God with focus and intention, shouldn’t I use my own personal words, and not words that were written by others long ago?2023-07-0507 minTa ShmaTa ShmaR. Elie Kaunfer on Hukkat-Balak: Praying to God as a KingWhat does it mean to call God a king in our prayers? What kind of king is God, and how might we as worshipers engage with that metaphor?2023-06-2806 minTa ShmaTa ShmaR. Elie Kaunfer on Parashat Korah: Striving to be HolyIn ancient times, in order to come as close as possible to God’s presence in the Temple, one had to be considered holy—fully purified and separate. When we pray to God today, must we be in a similar state of holiness? How might we relate to the concept of human holiness in our prayer life?2023-06-2109 minTa ShmaTa ShmaR. Elie Kaunfer on Parashat Shelah: Speaking Directly to a God Who Sees UsMoshe addresses God three times in one verse with the word “You.” In our prayers, we speak directly to God, calling God “You.” Why is this so, and what is the significance of addressing God in this way?2023-06-1406 minTa ShmaTa ShmaR. Elie Kaunfer on Parashat BeHa'alotkha: Praying for Healing—UrgentlyPraying for the sick is a core part of Jewish worship. One of the earliest examples of this is Moshe’s prayer for Miriam in Parashat BeHa’alotkha, one of the most intense and shortest prayers in the Torah. What can the form and style of Moshe’s prayer teach us about how to pray for the healing of others?2023-06-0709 minTa ShmaTa ShmaR. Elie Kaunfer on Parashat Naso: The End of the Amidah: A Blessing from GodIn Parashat Naso we read what is known as the Priestly Blessing, or Birkat Kohanim. This is a moment in which God blesses Israel, through the medium of the priests. This 15-word blessing became one of the most important liturgical pieces in Jewish tradition. Indeed, this serves as part of the conclusion to the public recitation of the morning Amidah. How are we meant to understand this blessing in the context of our prayers?2023-05-3008 minTa ShmaTa ShmaR. Elie Kaunfer on Parashat Bemidbar: Moderating Enthusiasm for GodIn Parashat Bemidbar, we see the critical importance of separation from the holy, violated by Nadav and Avihu's bringing "strange fire" to the altar. This is directly connected to Havdallah, when we separate between the holy day of Shabbat and the rest of the week.2023-05-1707 minTa ShmaTa ShmaR. Elie Kaunfer on BeHar-BeChukkotai: Praying for FreedomThe tenth blessing in the daily Amidah, which asks God to return those in exile, begins, “Sound the great shofar for our freedom…” What kind of freedom are we praying for? And why does a shofar blast herald this freedom?2023-05-1009 minTa ShmaTa ShmaR. Elie Kaunfer on Parashat Emor: "You Are Holy": Relationship After DisappointmentOne of the themes in Sefer Vayikra is the holiness of God. God calls Godself holy five times in the book. In some ways, this is the opposite of our liturgical experience, where we, the worshipers, address God directly and call God holy. What does it mean to say to God as part of our daily prayer: “You are holy”?2023-05-0307 minTa ShmaTa ShmaR. Elie Kaunfer on Acharei Mot-Kedoshim: When God Feels Distant: The Response of the KaddishThe Kaddish contains an anomaly: a liturgical phrase used to respond to God's name, but no triggering mention of God's name. Noting God’s missing name in the prayer, how are we meant to experience the Kaddish? This is a prayer that highlights our sense of the reality in which we dwell, where God’s presence is often experienced as distant. In a world with so much suffering and destruction, God can feel far away. This prayer, built on a response to the name of God that is never uttered, gives voice to that feeling of distance.2023-04-2608 minTa ShmaTa ShmaR. Elie Kaunfer on Parashat Tazria-Metzora: Praying for the Healing of OthersAsking God for healing is a core aspect of prayer. But the ideal form of this prayer (as expressed in the Amidah) pushes us to widen the circle of our concern. What is the proper model for prayers of healing?2023-04-1909 minTa ShmaTa ShmaR. Elie Kaunfer on Parashat Shemini: Stoicism and GriefImagine how Aharon must have felt, watching his sons die, on what should have been the greatest day of his life: the inauguration of the system of sacrifices meant to draw God and Israel closer to one another. What is the emotional stance encouraged by the Mourner’s Kaddish? How might the words of Mourner’s Kaddish reflect the grief that mourners experience?2023-04-1109 minTa ShmaTa ShmaR. Elie Kaunfer on Parashat Tzav: The Eternal Nature of GratitudeHow are we meant to conclude the Amidah? What is the emotional orientation to the end of an intense encounter with God?2023-03-2906 minTa ShmaTa ShmaR. Elie Kaunfer on Parashat Vayikra: Repetition in Prayer: Constancy, Urgency, and LoveThere are many instances in our prayers where we repeat phrases, paragraphs, or whole sections. What is the significance of repetition in prayer? God's repeated calls of "Moshe, Moshe!" can help us look at this repetition in new ways.2023-03-2209 minTa ShmaTa ShmaR. Elie Kaunfer on Parashat Vayakhel-Pekudei: "Moshe Rejoiced": Shabbat, Prayer, and Intimacy with GodThe rhythm of our week includes a day dedicated to feeling God’s presence differently from the rest of the week: Shabbat. A prayer recited only on Shabbat, beginning with the words Yismah Moshe (“Moshe rejoiced”), explores our connection to God and Shabbat through the lens of Moshe’s experience of God.2023-03-1509 minTa ShmaTa ShmaR. Elie Kaunfer on Parashat Ki Tissa: Praying for Knowledge of God’s EssenceMoshe asks to know God’s ways. But this is not a philosophical exploration about the nature of God. It is a question with a purpose. What is the knowledge we need in order to pray and to connect to God? How might this knowledge help us approach God, even if we might feel distant from God’s presence?2023-03-0809 minTa ShmaTa ShmaR. Elie Kaunfer on Parashat Tetzaveh: The Intimacy of Wearing God’s NameIn the moment of prayer, how are we meant to feel close to God, beyond reciting the words of the Siddur? How might we feel a connection to God through our tactile experiences? The plate of the High Priest (tzitz) and our tefillin hold some answers.2023-03-0107 minTa ShmaTa ShmaR. Elie Kaunfer on Parashat Terumah: The Particular Holiness of a PlaceIf God’s presence fills the whole world, why does it seem easier to connect to God in some places rather than others? This paradox is central to understanding the concept of the mishkan, God’s dwelling place on earth.2023-02-2208 minTa ShmaTa ShmaR. Elie Kaunfer on Parashat Mishpatim: The Moral Dimension of Opening Our Eyes in the MorningHow are we meant to orient to our day when we wake up? In what ways can a short blessing about God opening our eyes set our intention for the day to come?2023-02-1507 minTa ShmaTa ShmaR. Elie Kaunfer on Parashat Yitro: Struggling to Pray with IntentionIdeally, prayer is a pouring out of the soul. But in Jewish practice today, people don’t only pray when they feel moved to pray. We are mandated to say the Amidah multiple times a day, and we can’t guarantee that each of those moments will be characterized by intention, or kavanah. Should I pray even if I don’t know if my heart will be in it?2023-02-0809 minTa ShmaTa ShmaR. Elie Kaunfer on Parashat Beshallach: Praying for Your SakeWhat does it mean to pray to God when we are experiencing pain? One approach understands God as intricately tied to our suffering, and indeed, in need of redemption as well. How might we understand that position, and where is it found in the liturgy?2023-02-0108 minTa ShmaTa ShmaR. Elie Kaunfer on Parashat Bo: Praying For—or Against—Our EnemiesHow do we relate to our enemies through prayer? Can we pray for their failure? Might we ever pray for their welfare?2023-01-2507 minTa ShmaTa ShmaR. Elie Kaunfer: Hannah as Rebellious WorshiperOur rabbis imagine an intense confrontation between Eli the high priest and Hannah, our model for how we recite the Amidah. Explore this fascinating midrash and think about the power of prayer in the hands of forgotten members of society. This lecture was originally delivered at the Summer Learning Retreat in 2021.2023-01-2357 minTa ShmaTa ShmaR. Elie Kaunfer on Parashat Va'Era: Eighty Years of PrayerIs it worth persisting in prayer, even if we aren’t answered right away? What does it mean to pray for something for years—or even decades? Moshe can serve as one model for addressing these questions.2023-01-1708 minTa ShmaTa ShmaR. Elie Kaunfer on Parashat Shemot: Rethinking the AmidahOur most fundamental prayer, the Amidah, doesn’t mention Moshe by name. But the scene of Moshe at the burning bush is one of the central images of the Amidah’s first blessing. How does Moshe’s subtle presence change how we might experience the opening of the Amidah?2023-01-1009 minTa ShmaTa ShmaR. Elie Kaunfer on Parashat VaYechi: Waiting for GodWhere is God in my life and why am I stuck in a difficult place? Will God ever intervene on my behalf, and help me—and all of us—come to a better place? What if I am skeptical if God can rescue at all? These are questions so often on the mind of those who pray. How do our prayer texts themselves give voice to some of these wonderings?2023-01-0309 minTa ShmaTa ShmaR. Elie Kaunfer on Parashat VaYigash: Prayer is About Coming CloserHow might we come closer to God in prayer? What are the physical acts that deepen the potential for relationship with God while praying? The rabbinic understanding of Yehudah’s actions offers some insight on these questions.2022-12-2708 minTa ShmaTa ShmaR. Elie Kaunfer on Parashat Mikeitz: Facing the TruthHow are we meant to admit sin in our prayers? What is the model for confession after having done something wrong?2022-12-2106 minTa ShmaTa ShmaR. Elie Kaunfer on Parashat VaYeishev: The Meaning of JudaismAs we begin to close the Amidah, in the penultimate blessing that we call Modim, we say to God: “modim anahnu lakh,” we modim you. Drawing from the root י-ד-ה, the word modim has multiple meanings, each offering very different understandings of this blessing. This root word is also core to what it means to be a Jew, as it is the root word of Judaism (יהדות) and describes two aspects of the name of our ancestor Judah/Yehudah (יהודה). What does modim mean?2022-12-1311 minTa ShmaTa ShmaR. Elie Kaunfer on Parashat VaYishlach: Dressing for PrayerYa’akov is preparing to encounter God directly through sacrifice, an analog to our experience of prayer. It has been decades since Ya’akov actually encountered God in this way, and now he is preparing for this transition back into direct relationship. Critically, Ya’akov prepares by asking everyone to purify themselves and to change their clothes. What is the significance of changing clothes?2022-12-0607 minTa ShmaTa ShmaR. Elie Kaunfer on Parashat VaYeitzei: The Meaning of God's Holiest NameIn our prayers, we do not shy away from calling God directly by name, using the most holy four-letter name of God (although we don’t pronounce it explicitly). What might this name mean, and what might it mean in the context of prayer?2022-11-3007 minTa ShmaTa ShmaR. Elie Kaunfer on Parashat Toldot: Blessing GodA major theme of Parashat Toldot is “ברכה - blessing.” This root appears 32 times in this parashah, more than in any other in the Torah. In prayer, we use the Hebrew root ב.ר.כ as the main verb of our blessing formula. What does it mean to say, “ברוך אתה ה׳ - barukh attah Adonai,” usually translated as, “Blessed are You, God”?2022-11-2209 minTa ShmaTa ShmaR. Elie Kaunfer on Parashat Hayyei Sarah: Personal Prayer and the AmidahHow are we meant to pray words that we didn’t write? And how are we meant to pray those same words, multiple times a day?2022-11-1509 minTa ShmaTa ShmaR. Elie Kaunfer on Parashat VaYera: Compromise and AcceptanceAvraham alludes to a phrase found in our daily Amidah: "the King Who loves justice (tzedakah) and judgment (mishpat)." What does this phrase mean, and how might it relate to our own prayer lives? 2022-11-0807 minTa ShmaTa ShmaR. Elie Kaunfer on Parashat Lekh Lekha: Searching for Unexpected Moral Heroes Through PrayerIn this week’s parashah, we meet a character who teaches us a lesson in morality, and also ends up in the first blessing of the Amidah, one of our most important prayers. Surprisingly, this character, Malki-Zedek, is not part of the Jewish people! Yet Malki-Zedek teaches Avram - and, in turn, all of us - how to avoid moral pitfalls.2022-11-0108 minTa ShmaTa ShmaR. Elie Kaunfer on Parashat Noah: Praying a Few Words at a TimeWhat happens when we try to pray, but we just can’t make it work? Is there any hope, or any strategies, for those of us who can’t always reach the heights of connection with God in every moment of prayer? A particular interpretation to a strange phrase in this week’s parashah offers us some guidance.2022-10-2606 minTa ShmaTa ShmaR. Elie Kaunfer on Parashat Bereishit: Relational PrayerFrom the beginning of the Torah, humans have a fraught relationship with knowledge. The essence of da’at—knowledge—in Adam’s world is the tree of knowledge (עץ הדעת) of good and evil (Genesis 2:9). Adam is instructed to eat of all the trees, but not from the tree of knowledge (Genesis 2:17). When the snake speaks to the woman about the tree, he claims that once they eat of this tree, they will be like God, “knowing good and bad”—יודעי טוב ורע (Genesis 3:5).2022-10-1906 minTa ShmaTa ShmaR. Elie Kaunfer: The Deeper Meaning of Avinu MalkeinuWhere does Avinu Malkeinu come from, why do we say it on Rosh Hashanah, and what does it mean to call God “Our Father, Our King?” Rabbi Elie Kaunfer considers these questions in his lecture, which was originally recorded in Elul 2021.2022-09-1954 minTa ShmaTa ShmaR. Elie Kaunfer: Who By Fire? The Most Controversial Prayer in Jewish LifeRabbi Elie Kaufner explores the themes and intertextual references in Unetaneh Tokef. This lecture was originally recorded in Elul 2021.2022-09-1252 minThe Future of JewishThe Future of JewishThe Power of Living Jewishly, With Rabbi Elie KaunferRabbi Elie Kaunfer is President and CEO of the Hadar Institute, whose mission is to empower Jews to create and sustain vibrant, practicing, egalitarian communities of Torah, Avodah, and Hesed. Kaunfer is also 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. The Future of Jewish is a podcast hosted by Joshua Hoffman, the founder of JOOL. In each episode, Joshua is joined by top leaders, thinkers, and doers who are paving the path for a promising Jewish future.2022-05-1641 minThe Light Lab PodcastThe Light Lab PodcastEpisode 18: Siddur as Work of Art (with Rabbi Elie Kaunfer)It's an honor to share our interview with Rabbi Elie Kaunfer, president and CEO of the Hadar Institute. Rabbi Kaunfer is an incredible teacher, author, and liturgist. In fact, we’ve quoted him on the podcast many times- if you’ve ever heard us say “intertext,” we learned that from him! Rabbi Kaunfer shows us how so much of the siddur is made up of quotes from our sacred texts. Looking at those lines in their original context can deepen our understanding of the liturgy itself. He’s currently working on a book applying the intertext model to the whole Amid...2022-03-1755 minTa ShmaTa ShmaR. Elie Kaunfer: The Strange Case of Moshe's DeathIn rabbinic midrash, Moshe brings his case for immortality to God. What does Moshe argue and why does he believe he should be exempt from death? As R. Elie Kaunfer guides us through a text from Devarim Rabbah, we learn not only about Moshe’s fear of mortality, but also about our own anxieties around death and running out of time. This lecture was originally delivered as part of Hadar’s Summer Learning Retreat in June 2021.2022-02-2857 minIdentity/CrisisIdentity/Crisis#29: Praying for the Welfare of This GovernmentIn episode #29 of Identity/Crisis, Yehuda Kurtzer talks with Rabbi Sharon Brous (IKAR) and Rabbi Elie Kaunfer (Hadar) about whether and how one should pray for the welfare of a government and president to which one is opposed. Mentioned in the episode: - Jewish Prayers for the United States Government: A Study in the Liturgy of Politics and the Politics of Liturgy by Jonathan Sarna (https://bit.ly/2Idue2f) - Identity/Crisis #7: https://www.hartman.org.il/identity-crisis-7-no-mosque-no-church-no-shul-now-what/  2020-10-1342 minThe Rabbi\'s HusbandThe Rabbi's HusbandRabbi Elie Kaunfer on Genesis 15:1-8 – “Prayer: An Invitation to Express Doubts”Mark is delighted to welcome the President and CEO of the Hadar Institute, Rabbi Elie Kaunfer, to today’s episode. In addition to his work with this great institution of adult jewish learning in the world, Elie has also been named one of the top fifty Jewish leaders by The Forward, and one of Newsweek's top fifty rabbis. When asked to guest on the podcast to discuss prayer, the topic of his upcoming book, Elie chose Genesis 15:1-8 to discuss with Mark.He begins the conversation by summarizing the passage, and sharing why it is meaningful for hi...2020-10-1326 minRabbinic (re)DesignRabbinic (re)DesignRabbi Elie Kaunfer: How might we have a halachic experience of the High Holidays without going out of our minds?Elie, and Hadar, are working double time to produce materials to allow for meaningful preparation for the holidays, even if they must be observed alone or only with family, at home. Clergy can offer these to their members, and can also use them as resources in preparing sermons, adult education programs, and in setting up virtual chevruta learning in your community. Get inspired for the High Holidays with ideas, resources, and connections from the Center for Rabbinic Innovation: https://centerforrabbinicinnovation.org/Learn more about our guest:Rabbi Elie Kaunfer is President and CEO of th...2020-08-2419 minJewish Ideas to Change the WorldJewish Ideas to Change the WorldElie Kaunfer - Jewish Prayer & Independent MinyanimRabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowitz, President & Dean of Valley Beit Midrash interviews Rabbi Elie Kaunfer, President and CEO of the Hadar Institute (https://www.hadar.org/) on the topic of "Jewish Prayer & Independent Minyanim." DONATE: http://www.bit.ly/1NmpbsP For podcasts of VBM lectures, GO HERE: https://www.valleybeitmidrash.org/learning-library https://www.facebook.com/valleybeitmidrash ★ Support this podcast ★ 2019-12-2712 minMechon Hadar Online LearningMechon Hadar Online LearningAvinu Malkeinu: Rabbi Akiva's PrayerElie Kaunfer. How does the person who composed a prayer affect our understanding and relationship to it? In the case of the prayer Avinu Malkeinu, how does the relationship between Rabbi Akiva and his colleagues affect our understanding of what the prayer is about? Elie Kaunfer investigates the sources behind the prayer. Recorded live at the Singing Communities Intensive 2014.2017-09-1852 minMechon Hadar Online LearningMechon Hadar Online LearningHow Can We Really Change?Elie Kaunfer. Does teshuvah represent a radical departure from my past identity or a subtle re-shaping of it? What is our relationship with our past once we've changed? If we were successful at doing teshuvah, would we still recognize ourselves? We will explore these questions and more through close examination of classical and modern sources. Recorded in September 2014.2017-09-1849 minMechon Hadar Online LearningMechon Hadar Online LearningEmbracing Teshuvah: A Faculty PanelListen back as Mechon Hadar faculty members Elie Kaunfer, Avi Killip, Aviva Richman, Jason Rubenstein, and Dena Weiss discuss their favorite texts about Teshuva. Recorded on September 13, 2016.2017-09-111h 06Mechon Hadar Online LearningMechon Hadar Online LearningHuman Frailty and Human Value: A Theological Exploration of Unetaneh TokefElie Kaunfer. Much of the power of the High Holidays lies in our coming face to face with the reality of human frailty. People are judged, God is the judge. People are the sheep, God is the shepherd. And perhaps most forcefully: People are dust and will return to dust, while God is the living and eternal king. But the picture of Unetaneh Tokef, from which those images derive, is actually much more complex. By looking at the source texts for this poem, we will open up new layers of meaning. Recorded in September 2015.2017-09-1106 minMechon Hadar Online LearningMechon Hadar Online LearningGod’s Body in Our Lives: Can Anthropomorphism Help Our Relationship With the Divine?Elie Kaunfer. Have you ever wondered about God's body? In this eye-opening shiur, Rabbi Elie Kaunfer asks how thinking about God's body could change the way we think about and relate to God. Recorded live at our 2017 Summer Yom Iyyun, The Search for God: In Our Lives and in Our Communities2017-08-161h 07Dash of DrashDash of DrashEpisode 8 - Sanctuary: live from New York with special guest Rabbi Elie Kaunfer from Mechon HadarWhat is a sanctuary in our world? What is the difference between a Mishkan (Tabernacle) and a Mikdash (Sacred Space) These questions and more are explored in a conversation with Rabbi Elie Kaunfer, co-founder, president and CEO of Mechon Hadar in New York City,2017-03-0120 min