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June 26, 2024

Together, the Tribes of Israel? Core Themes of Sefer Bamidbar

Rabbi David Silber

Rabbi David Silber

David Silber is the founder and dean of Drisha Institute for Jewish Education in New York and Israel. Rabbi Silber received ordination from the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary. He is a recipient of the Covenant Award, for excellence in innovative Jewish education, and is the author of A Passover Haggadah: Go Forth and Learn (Jewish Publication Society 2011), For Such a Time as This: Biblical Reflections in the Book of Esther (Koren Publishers 2017), and Malkhut Adam: Iyunim Bsefer Shmuel (Maggid 2021). He is also a nationally acclaimed lecturer on the Bible. Rabbi Silber is married to Dr. Devora Steinmetz. They have eight children and live in New York City.

Click here to access other recorded classes by David Silber.

Rabbi Jon Kelsen

Rabbi Jon Kelsen

Dr. R. Jon Kelsen is the Chief Education Officer at Drisha, having formerly served as Dean at Yeshivat Chovevei Torah. He received ordination from Rabbis Daniel Landes and Zalman Nehemiah Goldberg and holds a PhD in Education and Jewish Studies from New York University, which he pursued as a Wexner Graduate Fellow.

Click here to access podcasts recorded by Jon Kelsen.

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In many ways, the book of Numbers (Bamidbar) tells a story resonant with contemporary political realities in both the United States and Israel. It depicts a collection of tribes attempting to cohere into one people, and a system trying to balance individual interests and differences with the needs of the collective. Ultimately, the book explores whether and how a society can allow for internal difference, containing its inevitable fissures while holding and connecting its people together. In this series, we will explore the central themes of Numbers as it traces the path from Sinai towards the promised land.

Note: Session 3 has no source sheet.

Session 1 - With Rabbi Dr. Jon Kelsen

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Session 2 - With Rabbi Dr. Jon Kelsen

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Session 3 – With Rabbi David Silber

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