Rabbi Meir Soloveichik

Rabbi Soloveichik explores the history and hidden depths of Jewish ritual through the extraordinary art of Moritz Daniel Oppenheim. Oppenheim brought Jewish ritual to life as no other modern artist has. In this course, Rabbi Soloveichik will study his paintings to uncover the spiritual meaning, historical context, and enduring relevance of the Jewish practices and people he depicts.

In his teaching and writing, Rabbi Soloveichik frequently draws on the full range of popular culture, including enduring television shows and films. He does this both because of his great love for humor and dramatic storytelling, and because of his belief that stories depicted on screen can provide powerful examples of faith, leadership, perseverance, and more.

Great lessons can be learned from books of every kind, and in Rabbi Soloveichik’s view, a great many Jewish lessons can be found in works that, on their surface, have little relation to Judaism at all. In this series, he’ll introduce subscribers to eight of his own favorite modern books, placing a special focus on those works that most impacted him and his worldview.

Journey back in history with Rabbi Dr. Meir Soloveichik in his fascinating exploration of the role of Jews and Jewish ideas in America’s Civil War. As we ponder what it meant to be a Jew during this harrowing conflict, we will walk with the Jews expelled from Tennessee by General Grant, delve into the speeches and writings of Abraham Lincoln, and come to see how Lincoln learned from Hebraic sources to become the theologian of the American idea.

Traditionally studied each week between Passover and Shavuot, the Mishnaic tractate Avot may be the most beloved work of rabbinic literature; but its purpose and teachings are also often misunderstood. In this audio course, Rabbi Meir Soloveichik provides learned insight into the unique lives and worldviews of the rabbinic sages found in Avot. He thereby shows how to understand Avot as what it really is: an intellectual history of Jewish minds that were often in debate, and who offered solutions to challenges in a post-Temple world that was in many ways like our own.

The most widely read, beloved, and perplexing book of the Jewish tradition is the Passover Haggadah. It is also a serious work of Jewish political philosophy. In this audio course, Rabbi Meir Soloveichik explores the social, civic, and political teachings of the Haggadah. He will show how every prayer, passage, symbol, and song aims to describe and preserve the Jewish understanding of the good society, and why the festival of freedom is so central to understanding what Judaism stands for in every generation.

The continued existence of the Jews is a miracle. Jewish history is replete with attempts to eliminate the Jewish people, and along with them the Jewish idea of God. But, in the end, all of them failed, and it was the Jews who survived and thrived. Here, in four brief but powerful episodes, Rabbi Meir Soloveichik walks through how the Jews survived the conquests of Egypt, Assyria, and Rome, and explains why, through their own miraculous eternity, the Jews have come to exemplify better than anything else the miraculous case for God.

The rhythm of the Jewish year is defined by the holidays. The month of Ellul is one of introspection and repentance because Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are near; Nissan is joyous because on Passover Jews remember how God took them out of Egypt; Av is sad and mournful because on Tisha b’Av Jews think back to the destruction of Jerusalem and their Temple. In this online course, Rabbi Meir Soloveichik delves into how those sacred Jewish times—the festivals, the fast days, the days of judgment and joy—illuminate the Jewish understanding of time and of life. With episodes on the honey of Rosh Hashanah and the repentance of Yom Kippur, on the palm frond of Sukkot and the miracles of Hanukkah, on the costumes of Purim and the new festivals of modern Israel, there is no better way to learn what makes each Jewish holiday a unique and sacred occasion.

Join Rabbi Dr. Meir Soloveichik as he shows you how, from national symbolism to functional governance, Jewish ideas were at the very heart of the American founding. In a series of eight enlightening and entertaining lectures, you’ll meet the fascinating Jews who influenced America’s early leaders, you’ll see how Jewish ideas informed so much of the American intellectual debate, and you’ll learn why America has been such an exceptional home for Jews.