Welcome to Virtual Bet Midrash, Jewish distance learning from the Reconstructionist movement. This program is designed to provide meaningful learning for congregational members, leadership, clergy, educators and staff. Subject matter experts present on conference calls, and impart wisdom designed to help strengthen congregations and havurot, foster leadership, deepen Jewish spiritual life and inspire tikkun olam / social justice work.
Our Spring 2015 calls have all concluded. See below for archived recordings of all this year's calls.
The 2015 program year featured calls in the following formats:
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Rabbinic Lunch & Learn Calls (sessions are 30 minutes each)
- Listen to interesting teachings on your lunch break!
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RRC Study Sessions (sessions are one hour each)
- Each topic was be offered twice.
- Participants had a chance to study a common text, then discuss it in small groups.
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Special Rabbinic Leadership Topic Call (a one-time one hour session)
- Rabbi Shawn Zevit and congregational president David Piver co-presented strategies for dealing with tragic losses within your congregation.
(Note: Previous years' distance learning calls for congregations are available under the PEARL Calls section of this site.)
2015 Virtual Bet Midrash Archives
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Finding the Reconstructionist God in the God of the Torah Presenter: Rabbi Avi Winokur |
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Jewish Prayer in a Time of Eco-Crisis Presenter: Rabbi Josh Jacobs-Velde |
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Offering a Rebuke—a Jewish Approach This call was offered twice:
Presenter: Rabbi David Teutsch
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Reconstructionism on an Island: Being the Only Reconstructionist Voice in Town
Thursday, March 5
At 12:30 p.m. Eastern time
Presenter: Rabbi Alex Lazarus-Klein
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New Prayers in Contemporary Israel |
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Theory, Practice, and Accessing Our Potential Tuesday, March 17 At 2:30 p.m. Eastern time Presenter: Rabbi Daria Jacobs-Velde |
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Passover: How the Rabbis Took Us Out of Relationship to the Land and How We Need to Reconnect to the Earth Tuesday, March 24 |
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Rabbis’ Continuing Ed: Community Resilience in the Face of Tragedy Presenters: Rabbi Shawn Zevit and David Piver, President of Mishkan Shalom |
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Shmita/Release: Reconstructing a Relevant Ritual Wednesday, April 1 At 2:30 p.m. Eastern time Presenter: Rabbi Fred Dobb |
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Re-inventing Ritual |