Exploring Universalism and Particularism in a Post Oct 7th Jewish Communal Landscape with Yehuda Kurtzer. Jewish tradition imagines the Jewish people as motivated by values that advance our own self-interest and particular needs, and by larger aspirations for a role we are supposed to play for those around us and the world at large. These values are often divided into the categories of “universalism” and “particularism,” at different times in our history, the balance between these commitments has evolved. Today, the presence of Jews on the world stage has demanded a further rethinking of what it means to hold these commitments in balance. In our learning, we will explore the roots of this tension in Jewish tradition and what it means today in trying to live out the fullness of our values.

Opening Our Doors: What the Seder Teaches us about Feeding the Hungry and Redeeming the World, with Rabbi Avi Killip We will take a closer look at two moments in the Passover Hagaddah (the text read on the night of the Passover seder) as we explore the connection between caring for the most vulnerable and yearning for ultimate redemption. You will leave with something to think about and something to share at your own seder. Rabbi Avi Killip is the Executive Vice President at Hadar. A graduate of Hebrew College Rabbinical School, Avi also holds Bachelors and Masters from Brandeis University. Avi teaches as part of Hadar's Faculty and is host of Hadar's podcasts, Responsa Radio and Ta Shma.

Counting the Omer & The Radical Spiritual Implications for our Jewish Service Work, with Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowitz In this session with Rabbi Shmuly, we'll engage in a text study to explore how Jewish ritual in general, and how one ritual in particular, can not only inspire our Jewish service work but deeply enhance it. Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowitz is the President & Dean of the Valley Beit Midrash, the Founder & President of Uri L’Tzedek, the Founder and President of Shamayim, the Founder and President of YATOM, and the author of 27 books on Jewish ethics. Newsweek named Rav Shmuly one of the top 50 rabbis in America and the Forward named him one of the 50 most influential Jews.

Giving and Receiving: Reflections on Loss, Kindness, and Healing In life, we find ourselves shifting between giver and receiver—offering support one moment and relying on the kindness of others the next. Through an exploration of the Book of Ruth and a deep dive into a Talmudic passage, we will reflect on the power of reciprocity and consider how acts of kindness can create a continuous cycle of healing and connection. Dyonna Ginsburg is the CEO of OLAM, a network of Jewish individuals and organizations committed to global service, international development, and humanitarian aid. Previously, Dyonna served as Director of Education and Service Learning at The Jewish Agency; Executive Director of Bema'aglei Tzedek, an Israeli social change NGO; and co-founder of Siach.

“Chaver - חבר,” like “ally” from the Latin “alligare,” means “to bind to,” where we are so connected to another that there is no “other. This discussion will explore our current state of destruction (churban - חרבן) as the natural consequence of our lack of unity (chaburah - חבורה) and what we can do to restore it. Rabbi Mike Moskowitz is the Scholar-in-Residence for Trans and Queer Jewish Studies at Congregation Beit Simchat Torah, the world’s largest LGBT synagogue. He is a Wexner Field Fellow, Senior Rabbinic Fellow at the Hartman Institute, and the author of Textual Activism, Graceful Masculinity, Seasonal Resistance, and Ancestral Allyship. His newest book, Inviting Order, will be out in time for Passover 2026. Rabbi Moskowitz’s writings can be found at www.rabbimikemoskowitz.com