Valley Beit Midrash

17/06/2026

Wednesday, June 24, at 12PM PT/1PM MT:

Join VBM's Senior Jewish Educator Rabbi Marc Gitler as he uncovers the hidden depth and complexity of one of the Bible’s most misunderstood matriarchs.

Register here: https://www.valleybeitmidrash.org/class/rebecca-between-speech-and-silence/

11/06/2026

There is still time to register for today's class with Professor Sylvia Barack Fishman: https://www.valleybeitmidrash.org/class/whos-the-anomaly-american-jews-and-israel-israelis-in-contemporary-novels/

Professor Sylvia Barack Fishman is the Joseph and Esther Foster Professor of Judaic Studies, Emerita, in the Near Eastern and Judaic Studies Department at Brandeis University, and the Founding Co-Director of the Hadassah-Brandeis Institute.

She will draw on recent American and Israeli novels that portray what it's like to be a Jew in each country and changing relationships between Jews in America and Jews in Israel, as Jews in both countries feel threatened by unanticipated challenges.

Thanks to Congregation Or Tzion for co-sponsoring this class. Secure your spot today! https://www.valleybeitmidrash.org/class/whos-the-anomaly-american-jews-and-israel-israelis-in-contemporary-novels/

07/06/2026

Entering the beautiful forest to the Meiji Shrine in Tokyo, Japan today and want to share 3 little thoughts about an ancient Japanese religion (Shintoism):

1. Holiness is found in everyday life. In Shinto tradition, the sacred is encountered not only in grand shrines but in mountains, rivers, trees, and daily acts of gratitude. Judaism similarly teaches that holiness can be woven into ordinary life through blessings, rituals, and mindful action. The unique Shinto approach invites us to encounter nature in a phenomenologically new way.

2. Memory creates identity. Ancient Japanese traditions preserve a deep connection to ancestors and collective heritage. Jewish history likewise demonstrates how remembrance - of people, places, and stories - can sustain a community across centuries.

3. Reverence fosters responsibility. Shinto emphasizes respect for the natural world as something worthy of care rather than mere use. This echoes Jewish teachings of stewardship, reminding us that gratitude for creation should lead to responsibility toward it. The Jewish tradition's deep reverence for sacred time, covenant, and ethical responsibility finds an intriguing complement in the Japanese appreciation of harmony ("Wa"), simplicity, life-giving connection ("Musubi") and attentiveness to the natural world.

Different traditions, different histories - but both suggest a timeless truth: a meaningful life grows from gratitude, memory, and respect for what is greater than ourselves.

Through respectful engagement, Judaism may humbly gain fresh language for expressing awe, humility, and reverence, while continuing to affirm its unique covenantal vision. Such encounters do not diminish Jewish identity; rather, they can strengthen it by revealing universal human quests for meaning, holiness, and connection.

Dialogue with Japan's ancient religious traditions, particularly Shinto and Buddhism, can illuminate new pathways for spiritual growth while remaining rooted in Jewish faith. The Japanese emphasis on gratitude ("Matsuri"), respect for ancestors, and the cultivation of inner discipline resonates with enduring Jewish values.

04/06/2026

The premise was deceptively simple: Let’s be better humans. That was the plan, and that was the message spray-painted across the repurposed…

03/06/2026

Missed May’s Inspiring Guest Speakers? You can catch up on all of the classes in our Learning Library on our website.

• Moishe Steigmann & Rabbi Noah Chertkoff – "Love Is a Verb: Jewish Wisdom for Building Meaningful Relationships"
• Rabbi Leah Cohen Tenenbaum & Rabbi Douglas Kohn - "Striving to Be Human"
• Michael Fishbane – "Primacies: Experience, Expression, and the Jewish Imagination"
• Rabbi Marc Gitler & Austin Swafford - "Revelation - Event, Experience, or Ongoing Process"
• David Shyovitz – "Cain’s Children: Mysticism and Monstrosity in the Jewish Tradition"

✨Visit our Learning Library to watch these sessions anytime! https://www.valleybeitmidrash.org/learning-library/

Stay tuned for next month’s recap!

02/06/2026

Become A National Fellow!

Applications for our 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐉𝐞𝐰𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐖𝐢𝐬𝐝𝐨𝐦 𝐅𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 cohort are now OPEN. Apply now!

Join the 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐉𝐞𝐰𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐖𝐢𝐬𝐝𝐨𝐦 𝐅𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 and, as a lay leader, facilitate Jewish learning in your own communities. Over the course of a year, each fellow will lead a small group of 8–12 participants in a text-based study, creating peer-led spaces for sustained Jewish learning and meaningful dialogue.

Guided by the theme "Building a Just and Compassionate Society," fellows will explore Jewish wisdom as a lens for engaging contemporary ethical questions, deepen their Jewish learning, strengthen their leadership skills, and connect with a network of passionate community leaders.

📎 Learn more and submit your application today: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdXsSNtHwa-n-Zrp7CafQWxTk5AlOM5x41qKTLyagV5HfTp8A/viewform

🗓️Priority application deadline: June 30, 2026

29/05/2026

Professor Sylvia Barack Fishman is the Joseph and Esther Foster Professor of Judaic Studies, Emerita, in the Near Eastern and Judaic Studies Department at Brandeis University, and the Founding Co-Director of the Hadassah-Brandeis Institute.

She will draw on recent American and Israeli novels that portray what it's like to be a Jew in each country and changing relationships between Jews in America and Jews in Israel, as Jews in both countries feel threatened by unanticipated challenges.

Thanks to Congregation Or Tzion for co-sponsoring this class. Secure your spot today! https://www.valleybeitmidrash.org/class/whos-the-anomaly-american-jews-and-israel-israelis-in-contemporary-novels/

28/05/2026

We are thrilled to introduce you to five exceptional young leaders who will carry forward the vital work of translating Jewish values into meaningful social action. Over the coming months, these fellows will engage in deep Torah study, develop community organizing skills, connect with mentors and partners across Colorado, and design their own social justice projects addressing critical issues in our community, from food insecurity and immigrant rights to environmental justice and disability inclusion.

Each fellow brings unique passions, experiences, and commitments to this cohort. Together, they join a growing network of Colorado Jews for Justice alumni creating lasting change across the state. Their work embodies the Jewish imperative of Tikkun Olam, repairing the world, and reminds us that we are all responsible for one another.

We invite you to meet our fellows, learn about their projects, and find ways to support their work throughout the year. This is how we build a more just, compassionate, and connected community, one committed leader at a time.