Parsha in Present Tense: Enriching Commentary for Contemporary Issues

Course Description

Using the weekly parsha as a framework, we will explore how deep reading of classical biblical commentaries provides enriching analysis of Torah and lasting

relevance for issues in contemporary life. Sources will range from midrash to medieval exegesis to modern thinkers on topics such as: well-being, social responsibility, women in Judaism, Zionism and more.

About the Educator Rabbanit Karen Miller Jackson

is a certified Meshivat Halakha, Jewish educator and writer with a focus on Talmud, midrash and halakha. She is a lecturer at Matan Institute for Torah Studies. She is also the creator of #PowerParsha (a brief dvar Torah disseminated weekly via social media) and the host of the Eden Center podcast: “Women & Wellbeing”. Karen has written for Matan’s Shayla initiative and developed curriculum for Lookstein Virtual. Karen is also the founder of "Kivun l’Sherut," a guidance program for religious girls before sherut leumi or army service. She has an MA in Rabbinic Literature from NYU and has studied in Midreshet Lindenbaum, Matan and Drisha.