With the Rosh Hashanah coming historically early this year, Bar-Ilan has offered programs this summer that provide greater insights into the High Holidays.
Dr. Timotheus Arndt
BIU’s flagship Torah and Science Forum, called Nitzotzot, held a conference on “The Process of Repentance – Religious, Psychological, and International Aspects.” Conference speaker, Dr. Timotheus Arndt, a Jewish Studies researcher at the University of Leipzig, stressed that T’shuva means both repentance and “answer.”
Dr. Arndt recounted how his father – a former Nazi – repented at the end of the war and atoned for the rest of his life by helping the Jewish community, and advancing Jewish-Christian understanding.
Arndt, who translated Rabbi Kook’s Orot Hatorah into German, first met Rabbi Shabtai Rappoport, Jesselson Institute Beit Midrash head and Nitzotzot founder, at Shabbat services in Leipzig. Nitzotzot, which means “sparks” in Hebrew, is run by the Ludwig and Erica Jesselson Institute for Advanced Torah Studies.
At the conference, Rabbi Rappoport discussed the role of punishment in repentance and atonement; other subjects explored were repentance and psychotherapy, and remorse and appeasement.
In addition, Bar-Ilan’s Midrasha is gearing up for the High Holidays. Its popular Elul program (August 19 – September 12) will offer a range of classes related to Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. A special event “Soul Tunes” on September 9th will provide an inside look at Days of Awe melodies, and feature a Hasidic Tisch replete with stories and tunes performed by leading musicians.
To learn more about these and other Jewish education programs offered by Bar-Ilan, see the BIU Newsbytes Jewish learning and enrichment page (PDF) »
