Friday Night Drash With Dr. Susannah Heschel

January 31, 2020 Acton Free
Dr. Susannah Heschel (Courtesy photo)
Dr. Susannah Heschel (Courtesy photo)

On Friday night Dr. Heschel will present a drash on “Bo el Paroh: How Hasidic Thought Helps Us Understand and Overcome the Void of Despair.”

Hasidic teaching explores a remarkable statement in the Zohar, the classic medieval work of Jewish mysticism: “A person is only whole when their heart is broken.” There are many ways to understand the experience of broken-heartedness, and one of the most striking is in a commentary by a 19th-century Hasidic master, Nahman of Bratzlav (Ukraine; 1772-1810), on the verse in Exodus 9:1: “Bo el Paroh, Come to Pharaoh.”

What Pharaoh represents, in spiritual terms, is a place of potential entrapment of the human spirit: despair. The experience of despair is known to all human beings, and we have all struggled in different ways to emerge from despair. Nahman’s discussion of Exodus 9:1 examines the experience of despair, which he likens to the experience of God at the time of creation. He also discusses how a rebbe can lift another person out of despair. Finally, he offers suggestions regarding how despair might become a positive experience that can enhance a person’s piety, humanity, prayer and relationship with God.

A social oneg will follow the Friday night service. For more information about the scholar-in-residence weekend with Dr. Heschel, please click here.

+ More... - Less...
Fact Sheet
When
Friday, January 31, 2020, 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Where
Congregation Beth Elohim
133 Prospect St
Acton, MA 01720
Price
Free

CJP provides the above links concerning third-party events for your convenience only. CJP has no control over the content of the linked-to websites or events they describe, and accepts no responsibility for the websites, including any advertising or products or services on or available from such sites, or for any loss or damage that may arise from your attending, or registering to attend, the described events. If you decide to access any of the third-party websites linked to below, you do so entirely at your own risk and subject to the terms and conditions of use for such websites and event attendance. CJP is not responsible or liable to you or any third party for the content or accuracy of any materials provided by any third parties. All statements and/or opinions expressed in the linked-to materials or at the described events, and all commentary, articles and other content provided at the third-party websites or at the events, are solely the opinions and the responsibility of the persons or entities operating the linked-to websites and events. The inclusion of any link on this website does not imply that CJP endorses the described event, or the linked-to website or its operator. MORE

More From...

More In...

More At...