Holidays and Theology in the Biblical Calendar: From a ’Holy Land’ to a ’Holy People’
Rabbi Menachem Leibtag
Menachem Leibtag is one of the pioneers of Torah education via the internet. He is the founder of Yeshivat Har Etzion’s Virtual Beit Midrash and more recently founded the Tanach Study Center. He also lectures at Midreshet Lindenbaum, MMY, Pardes and Orot College for Women.
Click here to access podcasts recorded by Menachem Leibtag.
Rabbi Menachem Leibtag on Holidays and Theology in the Biblical Calendar: From a ‘Holy Land’ to a ‘Holy People’
Many of the practices of the festivals seem odd or out of place. The imagery of being “judged” in Tishrei, the practice of saying ya’ale ve-yavo on holidays and Rosh Hodesh, our counting both days and weeks in the omer – all of these take on new significance in light of the agricultural roots of the Jewish festivals and the biblical calendar. In this lecture, Rabbi Leibtag explores those, in order to better appreciate the way the calendar has evolved together with the world, and yet preserves its eternal sanctity.
This Renee and Alexander Bohm Memorial Lecture, taught by Rabbi Menachem Leibtag, is sponsored by Elissa Shay Ordan and Daniel J. Ordan in honor of their grandparents, Renee and Alexander Bohm z”l.
It was originally recorded in 2018.