Hebrew College Koleinu: New Podcast Episodes, Interreligious Learning, & Winter/Spring Events

February 5, 2026 | 18 Shevat 5786

Koleinu |our voice|

Reimagining Jewish learning and leadership for an interconnected world.

Parashat Yitro | Candlelighting 4:46 PM EST

SPEAKING TORAH PODCAST: SEASON 11

Two New Episodes! Celebrating Jewish Literature

We're excited to release the next two episodes of Hebrew College's "Speaking Torah" podcast, where we continue to exploring new Jewish literature—including works for teens, adults, educators, and scholars. In our newest episodes, we rebroadcast our fall book talk with Rabbi Angela Buchdahl and Judith Rosenbaum, PhD about Rabbi Buchdahl's memoir Heart of a Stranger. We also listen in on a conversation with Rabbi Jane Kanarek, PhD, and her havruta partner, Dr. Judith Kates, as they discuss Rabbi Kanarek's new book Beyond Brutality: Reclaiming Female Presence in Bavli Sotah. Happy listening!

Listen now...

Pluralism on the Syllabus:
Rabbinical School Interreligious Intensives

Rabbinical students returned to campus on January 20 to attend week-long intensives with Hebrew College’s Miller Center for Interreligious Learning & Leadership to prepare for their work as pluralistic Jewish leaders. Pluralism is in the fiber of Hebrew College, and these courses help equip our students to engage the diverse Jewish populations they will serve and better understand our neighbors in other faith communities. We are grateful to the visiting faculty from Emory University, Naropa University, and Facing History who collaborated with the Miller Center to craft and facilitate this enriching curriculum. “The opportunity to practice interfaith leadership in a setting amongst my peers—all future rabbis—is irreplaceable," said rabbinical student Alyssa Coffey.

SEVENTY FACES OF TORAH

Eagles, Sinai, and Carrying God

By Rabbi Jessica Spencer `24

What does it look like to step into the third and final role, to imagine being a parent to God? It would be far more comforting to return to being carried, to be fully in God’s power, to watch and wait. It would even be more comforting to try and be a sibling to God, an equal partner in creation. But to do either would be to renege on the agreement of Sinai. At Sinai, we took responsibility for our actions, and the ways in which our actions shape the world. Maybe even more than we depend on God, God depends on us.

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Interfaith perspectives on Minnesota

We continue to reflect with gratitude on the Hebrew College alumni, faculty, and friends on the ground in the Twin Cities supporting the people of Minnesota in their effort to protect their community. Rabbi Arielle Lekach-Rosenberg `17 of Congregation Shir Tikvah in Minneapolis, offered a galvanizing blessing at the ICE Out of Minneapolis rally on January 23rd: “Beneath this paramilitary invasion of our state, something new is growing. This civil society, a weaving of love, is growing beneath this crust of ice.” Visiting Scholar of Christianity and Religious Leadership Rev. Rob Schenck (right) spent January 22-28 in Minneapolis, participating in and bearing witness to non-violent resistance to Department of Homeland Security’s authoritarian immigration enforcement action. He writes, “Metaphorically speaking, Minneapolis has been a fire, sometimes raging out of control. Atop this fire have been cauldrons filled with everyday citizens, some literally cooking for each other.”