Jewish Approaches to Israeli Minorities Part 3: The Ultra Orthodox

Introduction

Five-part series on Am I my Brother’s Keeper? Jewish Approaches to Israeli Minorities. This lecture is taught by Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield who will discuss The Ultra-Orthodox Jewish community: Sharing the Burden. The expression “equal sharing of the burden” has become code in the non-haredi world for righteous indignation around non-participation in the army and work force. In This podcast, Zvi looks closely at the traditional sources that justify that haredi position, as well as some sources that offer a different perspective. Perhaps we can get beyond anger and accusation.

Click here for more lectures in this series.

Zvi Hirschfield

Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield teaches Talmud, Halakha and Jewish Thought at Pardes. He is also deeply involved in Pardes’s programs for Jewish educators, with a focus on tefilah in educational settings, modern Jewish thought, and Israel education. Zvi holds a B.A. in History from Columbia University, pursued graduate studies at Harvard University in Medieval and Modern Jewish Thought, studied at Yeshivat Har Etzion, and received rabbinic ordination from the Chief Rabbinate of Israel.

Before joining Pardes, Zvi served as Director of Judaica at the JCC of Cleveland and taught at the Cleveland College of Jewish Studies. He also works as a curriculum writer and staff trainer for the Nesiya Institute. Zvi lives in Israel with his wife, Dina, and their four children.