The 2011 scholar-in-residence program will feature Judith Shulevitz, author of The Sabbath World the weekend of March 11-13, 2011.  Details to follow.

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The 2010 scholar-in-residence program featured Rabbi Larry Hoffman, a mentor of our Rabbi Zemel, over the weekend of Mar. 5 - 7, 2010.  His theme is "Exploring Passover".  This year's speaker is very special.  He lit up our sanctuary with his brilliant and witty remarks at the installation of Rabbi Esther Lederman as our Assistant Rabbi on Oct. 23, 2009.   Here's what Rabbi Zemel says,

"My mentor Rabbi Larry Hoffman is our scholar in residence March 5 - 7.   Nothing means more to me than for the sanctuary to be OVERFLOWING for each of his three talks, Friday evening, Saturday Havdalah and Sunday morning. If you want to learn from the Jewish scholar that has molded my rabbinate, my interpretation of Judaism, my vision for synagogue life, my dreams for Temple Micah, come hear Rabbi Hoffman.  I so want him to see the best of Temple Micah and that is impossible without your being with us for this very special weekend. I would consider your participation a personal favor."

All of Rabbi Hoffman's presentations from 2010 and 2008 are available in audio format.

Bio

Rabbi Lawrence Hoffman is the Barbara and Stephen Friedman Professor of Liturgy, Worship, and Ritual, HUC-JIR, New York. A world-renowned liturgist, he has combined research in Jewish ritual, worship and spirituality with a passion for the spiritual renewal of contemporary Judaism.

Rabbi Hoffman has written and edited numerous books, including Rethinking Synagogues: A New Vocabulary for Congregational Life (Jewish Lights), a finalist for the National Jewish Book Award; The Way Into Jewish Prayer (Jewish Lights); The Art of Public Prayer, 2nd Edition: Not for Clergy Only (SkyLight Paths), now used nationally by Jews and Christians as a handbook for liturgical planners in church and synagogue; as well as a revision of What Is a Jew?, the best-selling classic that remains the most widely read introduction to Judaism ever written in any language. He is also the author of Israel—A Spiritual Travel Guide: A Companion for the Modern Jewish Pilgrim (Jewish Lights).

He is a developer of Synagogue 3000, a trans-denominational project designed to envision and implement the ideal synagogue of the spirit for the twenty-first century.

Past Scholars-in-Residence