Vayera: Highway 61 and Mount Moriah

Introduction

Bob Dylan’s dark song, Highway 61, is actually an extended midrash on the story of the binding of Isaac. In this podcast, Rabbi David Levin-Kruss explicates the biblical roots of the song and connects it to what was happening in America in the late 1960s.

Please let us know your comments and thoughts about the podcast, write us to us at elmad@pardes.org.il.

Credits
Larry Kluger – Creative Consultant
Arlene Harel – Production Coordinator

David Levin Kruss

Rabbi David Levin-Kruss is an adjunct faculty member at Pardes. Originally from South Africa, he holds a B.A. and Teachers’ Certification in English Literature and Jewish Thought from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. After studying at Pardes as a student, he continued his learning in yeshiva and received rabbinic ordination from the Joseph and Gwendolyn Straus Rabbinical Seminary.

David previously served as Director of Jewish Education, Europe for the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, and earlier as faculty and director of special programs at Pardes. He also worked with the Melitz Centers for Jewish Zionist Education and served as community director at Stanmore and Canons Park Synagogue in London, the largest Orthodox synagogue in Europe. David founded My Open Book Life Coaching and enjoys cooking in his spare time.