The Tisch Jcast Network

Join Rabbi Knopf as he and his students discuss Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel’s monumental collection of essays on Jewish prayer, ”Man’s Quest for God.” This week, we discuss the relationship between prayer and spirituality: What does it mean to have a spiritual life, and how can prayer help?

Join Rabbi Knopf as he and his students discuss Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel’s monumental collection of essays on Jewish prayer, “Man’s Quest for God.”  This week, the discussion centers on the way our approach to life impacts our approach to prayer.

Join Rabbi Knopf as he and his students discuss Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel’s monumental collection of essays on Jewish prayer, “Man’s Quest for God.” This week, the discussion centers on whether one should pray in a perfunctory way solely to fulfill one’s ritual obligations, or whether it is better to not pray at all.

Rabbi Bradley Shavit Artson teaches that the point of prayer is in what we take away from it, and how it changes us. Since we spend so much time praying over the High Holy Days, it is worth asking: what will you take away from this season? How did it change you? Join Rabbi Knopf […]

Is your prayer too selfish? Should you interrupt other peoples’ selfish prayer habits? What would it mean to pray for a warmer world? And what can Sukkot teach us about prayer? Join Rabbi Knopf as he and his students discuss Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach’s response to these important questions.

All quiet on the synagogue front? Should shul be more noisy? Does more volume in services add to the prayer experience? Is decorum getting in the way of our connecting to God? Join Rabbi Knopf as he and his students discuss JTS Chancellor Arnold Eisen’s response to these important questions.

Do you think God prays? If so, what would God pray for? And what does God’s prayer have to say about God, and about us?  Join Rabbi Knopf as he and his students discuss the  Netivot Shalom’s approach to Jewish prayer.

What is prayer? Just as, when viewing an impressionist painting, we must look at it from afar to see the whole picture, prayer is an opportunity to gain perspective and insight about our lives. In so doing, we can better confront our challenges.  Join Rabbi Knopf as he and his students discuss the  Netivot Shalom’s approach […]

What may we pray for? What do you pray for? How do you know if God answers your prayers, and how do you know what prayers God answers? Join Rabbi Knopf as he and his students discuss the  Netivot Shalom’s approach to these questions.

Is prayer a waste of time? Should we be spending the time we set aside for prayer pursuing other, more useful, Jewish activities? What does prayer give us – and the world – that performing acts of lovingkindness does not? Join Rabbi Knopf as he and his students discuss the  Netivot Shalom’s approach to these questions.

According to the Netivot Shalom, the purpose of prayer is to refine us, to help us transform our negative virtues into positive ones. Join Rabbi Knopf as he and his students discuss this approach to Jewish prayer.

Why do we praise God so much in Jewish prayer? What does our praise possibly do for God, who is beyond praise?  Join Rabbi Knopf as he teaches the Netivot Shalom’s approach to these questions.

What does “successful” prayer look and feel like? Are the prayerbook, the physical layout of our synagogues, and our sense of self-consciousness helping or hurting our ability to be successful in prayer? Join Rabbi Knopf as he teaches the Netivot Shalom’s approach to these questions.

What would it be like to “call God for no reason?” What would you say if you spoke to God like you would a lover, a trusted friend, or confidant? Does praying with a community help or hinder your ability to pour your heart out to God? Join Rabbi Knopf as he teaches the Netivot […]

When you pray, do you mean what you say? Does it matter? What kind of intention are we supposed to have when we pray? Join Rabbi Knopf as he teaches the Netivot Shalom’s approach to these questions.

The Talmud teaches that prayer is the “service of the heart.” Yet for many Jews, that description could not be further from our experience with Jewish prayer. Join Rabbi Knopf as he teaches the Netivot Shalom on the profound challenges and extraordinary possibilities of prayer.

By combining thought with intention and deed, we can constantly experience God’s presence in our lives. Join Rabbi Michael Knopf as he explores these ideas in the 10th and final chapter of the Tomer Devorah by Rabbi Moses Cordovero. After listening, feel free to make a siyyum (a celebration for completing a holy book) and […]

We can experience God’s presence in our lives constantly, but only if we work at it. Through prayer, study, and deed, we can forge a continuous connection to the Divine. Join Rabbi Michael Knopf as he explores these ideas in the 9th chapter of the Tomer Devorah by Rabbi Moses Cordovero.

Revering God is about recognizing that we are not alone, avoiding actions that would hurt God or drive God’s presence from the world, and respecting our relationship with the Holy One. Join Rabbi Michael Knopf as he explores these ideas in the 9th chapter of the Tomer Devorah by Rabbi Moses Cordovero.

Refusing to be defined by your possessions, not becoming too attached to material things, and cultivating an attitude of gratitude are ways you can live a more godly life. Join Rabbi Michael Knopf as he explores these ideas in the 9th chapter of the Tomer Devorah by Rabbi Moses Cordovero.