• November 3, 2024
  • 2 5785, Heshvan
  • פרשת לך־לך

Why We Do What We Do

Why We Do What We Do

“Why” is probably the most Jewish question you’ll hear Jews ask. In this series with Rabbi Dr. Stuart Fischman explore a new topic in Judaism each week and answer the big question: Why do Jews do it?

Next Class

November 06, 2024
3
Days
15
Hours
34
Mins

Timezone

Time of Class

Wednesday 3:00 pm, 4:00 pm
June 19, 2024 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Why We Do What We Do: The Question ‘Why’ & Is It Ok To Ask?
Class description

Hello Everyone,
“Why?” is a question that we all ask about all sorts of things. In 1956, Frankie Lymon asked “Why Do Fools Fall in Love?” There is no shortage of puzzling phenomena.
In the Torah, by which I mean the entirety of Torah there are many puzzling things. Sometimes answers are easily found and sometimes our “Why?” is not answered.
So we will talk about “Why?”
I don’t have answers to “Why?” but I hope that we will see how each of us can seek answers by studying the works of our Sages. To abuse an old cliché, the journey itself may be the answer.

June 26, 2024 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Why We Do What We Do: Lighting Shabbat Candles
July 3, 2024 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Why We Do What We Do: Eating Chulent / Chamin
July 17, 2024 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Why We Do What We Do: Breaking a Glass at a Jewish Wedding
Class description

Hello  Everyone.

From what I have seen in movies  and such, it seems that the great moment in Christian wedding ceremonies is when the priest ( or reverend or other member of the clergy) says “You may now kiss the bride.”

This is very romantic and at least in the movies the guests all go ooh and ah and the mothers and aunts get all weepy. So this seems like a reasonable way to finish a wedding ceremony.

Jews are different. The big moment of the wedding, the grand finale, is of all things, the groom stepping on a glass.

Today we will talk about this odd practice.

July 24, 2024 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Why We Do What We Do: Head Coverings
Class description

Hello Everyone,

Today we will speak about one of the identifying traits of Jews ( or to be more precise, of Jewish males). That trait is the yarmulkeh (or what we call it in Israel, the kippah). Why do we wear these caps that (in my experience growing up in New York) invite scorn and occasionally violent attacks? Why do we cover our heads even when we are not performing a ritual.

 

July 31, 2024 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Why We Do What We Do: The Kaddish Prayer
Class description

Hello Everyone,

Today we will talk about something that is perhaps the most well-known passage in our liturgy- the Kaddiah. Even people as far removed from Jewish observance such as Allen Ginsburg and Leonard Bernstein wrote works with the title Kaddish. Even a n0n-Jew, the composer Ravel wrote a work titled Kaddish.

Today we will learn about kaddish and why it generated so much fascination.

August 7, 2024 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Why We Do What We Do: Why We Do What We Do
Class description

Hello Everyone

This is the final session on the subject of “Why We Do What We Do?” And the answer to that question is, as the song from “Fiddler on the Roof” says, “tradition.” Tradition, מנהג is very important in the system of Halacha. This may seem odd, that a system of laws grant importance to custom. Laws come from some higher authority, whether Divine or, להבדיל אלפ אלפים, human. Laws are imposed. But customs originate among the people. nevertheless, the Halachic system enforces customs so that they too become laws.

I enjoyed these sessions and I hope that we all be זוכה to a peaceful summer and  ביאת הגואל במהרה בימינו

November 6, 2024 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Why We Do What We Do: Why We Do What We Do
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November 13, 2024 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Why We Do What We Do: Why We Do What We Do
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November 20, 2024 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Why We Do What We Do: Why We Do What We Do
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November 27, 2024 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Why We Do What We Do: Why We Do What We Do
Class description
December 4, 2024 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Why We Do What We Do: Why We Do What We Do
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December 11, 2024 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Why We Do What We Do: Why We Do What We Do
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December 18, 2024 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Why We Do What We Do: Why We Do What We Do
Class description

Rabbi Dr. Stuart Fischman graduated from Yeshiva University in 1980 and the dental school of Columbia University in 1985. In 1989 he began studying and teaching at Yeshivat Hamivtar and now studies and teaches at Yeshivat Machanaim in Efrat. He has rabbinic ordination from Rav Zalman Nechemia Goldberg.