Category: Holidays
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Practicing stopping for Shemini Atzeret
A Time to Take a breath and take it all in The Jewish holiday season is nearing its culmination with the joy-filled final day(s) of Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah. Whenever you find yourself reading this post, I invite you now to take a pause before moving onto the next…
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Shemini Atzeret: The Most Sacred Jewish Holiday You’ve Never Heard Of with La’asok: The Liberal Beit Midrash
Rabbi Tuchman was honored to give a talk on Shemini Atzeret, the 8th day of Assembly, which is the 8th day following the seven-day harvest festival of Sukkot and is a holiday in its own right. It also happens to be Rabbi Tuchman’s favorite fall holiday. Come and hear why! The talk…
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Day of Learning with My Jewish Learning
Rabbi Tuchman offered the second session of My Jewish Learning’s day of learning commemorating the 2nd anniversary of October 7. This day of learning, focusing on Mishnah, which is customarily learned to honor and uplift the souls of the deceased took place on October 5, 2025. The recording from the day…
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What Happens When Illusions Fall Away?
Disability Torah for Yom Kippur 5786 We are approaching Yom Kippur, the holiest day on the Jewish calendar. This day is a time for soul-searching, teshuvah and, as I write in my piece for The Disability Torah Project, a invitation to honest not-knowing. At its essence, Yom Kippur invites us to…
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My Jewish Learning Group Torah Study Parashat Ki Tavo
On September 12, 2025, Rabbi Tuchman offered the weekly Torah study session for My Jewish Learning on Parashat Ki Tavo (Deuteronomy 26-29). She invited participants to hear and respond to a piece by Rabbi Jonathan Sacks of blessed memory on the importance of sound in Judaism. Teachings chronologically: October 7,…
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Hatred, Holiness and the Image of God
A Pre-Tisha b’Av lecture for the Haberman Institute For Jewish Studies July 30, 2025
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We All Were At Sinai: The Transformative Power of Inclusive Torah
Why inclusiveness is crucial to Torah and Judaism. A talk given on May 29, 2025 for Laasok: the Liberal Bet Midrash in advance of Shavuot.
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B’Kol Libeinu: The Call of Our Hearts
As we approach a High Holiday season like none other, many of us find ourselves wondering how to approach these weighty days. B’Kol Libeinu: The Call of Our Hearts is a Rosh Hashana/Yom Kippur Machzor Companion with contributions from over 40 magnificent educators, clergy, writers, poets, and artists. You can…
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Torah in the Field
This article was originally published by Svara on September 13, 2024. You can read the full article here. Avodah, according to the likely pshat or plain reading of the Mishnah, refers to Temple worship. This is curious though, isn’t it? The Rabbis simultaneously sustain and subvert what has come before.
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Unpacking Tisha b’Av: A Journey of Discovery, Reflection and Renewal
Presented by the Haberman Institute for Jewish Studies
Rabbi Lauren Tuchman 