The Thunder of Sinai: CTC Shabbaton with Rabbi Yaakov Moshe Poupko

A Congregation Toras Chaim Shabbaton with Rabbi Yaakov Moshe Poupko of Jerusalem | Shabbos Parshas Bechukosai, May 20, 2011 | Everyone is invited.

Friday Night

• Davening/Speech: Boaz and the Nazir from the (Spiritually) Deep South. Shimon HaTzadik’s  paradigmatic “Nazir” and Boaz are two cryptic figures we learn about in the Shevuous season.  This brief talk shows how their respective roles combine to form a single spiritual lesson.

Shabbos Day

• 8:30 AM Shabbos Morning Davening/Kiddush/Speech: From the Soft Voice in Eden to the Thundering Words at Sinai. This lecture draws on the Mishnah Torah and the Guide of the Perplexed  to explain  the prophetic revelation at Sinai and the distinct character of Moshe’s prophecy.  It also sheds light on the primordial sin – Chet Adam HaRishon.
• Mincha/Shalosh Seudos/Speech: The Tochachos (Rebukes of Parshas Bechukosai and Ki Savo): Covenants of Exile and Redemption This lecture, included in an anthology of contemporary Israeli thought published by “Yediot Acharonot”, contrasts the the two “Tochachos”.  It includes an explanation of the particular relationship of each exile to its culminating redemption.

Sunday Morning

• 8 AM Shacharis followed by Breakfast and Speech: Maharal vs. Rambam on the Minimal Entry Price to Olam HaBoh: The Rambam’s surprising position that Olam HaBoh may be won  by perfectly performing just one mitzvah in ones entire life is strongly contested by the Maharal of Prague.  Their arguments shed light on each ones unchallenged supremacy.

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Rabbi Yaakov Moshe Poupko

Rabbi Yaakov Moshe Poupko was ordained by Yeshivath Ner Israel  where he earned his Master’s Degree in Talmudic Law in 1969. He continued his post-semicha studies in the famed “Kodshim Chabura” of Beth Midrash Govoha of Lakewood where he held a select graduate instructorship in Jewish philosophy. He founded the Talmudic College of Florida and served as its associate dean until his aliya in 1977. In Israel he served as dean of Yeshivat Ohr Torah in Efrat. In 1986 Rabbi Poupko founded Kneseth Beth Eliezer , a yeshiva training students with a backround in public and organizational life for the rabbinate and offering programs for laymen as well.

As a reservist in the Israel Defense Forces Rabbi Poupko served as a non-commissioned Officer in Lebanon, Gaza and the Golan Heights. He lectured for over seven years in the IDF Officers’ Institute and has been cited for excellence in this capacity. He has also taught in various programs offered to students at the Overseas Program at the Hebrew University and at the Bnai Brith Hillel House on Mount Scopus at the University. In Israel, Rabbi Poupko’s weekly Biblical commentary is broadcast on Israel National Radio. A lecture of his , delivered at the Van Leer Institute, was included in an anthology of contemporary Israeli thought published by Yediot Achronot. Articles of his on Talmud and Jewish philosophy have also appeared in the Hadarom scholarly journal.

He has served as  scholar-in-residence at the Marble Arch Synagogue of London, the Cape Town Hebrew Synagogue (S.A.) and the Young Israel Congregations of Woodmere, West Hempstead, Edison N.J. and the Spanish-Portuguese Synagogue of Manhattan, Shevet Achim of Seattle , as well as at other synagogues in America and the U.K. Rabbi Poupko also represented the Orthodox Union in its debate with the leadership of Israel’s Reform movement and was twice selected by the Supreme Court of Queens (N.Y.) to lecture the judges’ weekly study group.

Rabbi Poupko currently lectures on Jewish Philosophy at the Orthodox Union’s Israel Center, where he serves as a rabbinic consultant. He continues to serve  communities in Great Britain as a  scholar-in-residence and lectures Christian clergymen at the Ami Jerusalem Center of Biblical Studies.

Allen Hoffman author of the best selling “Small Worlds” novels offers this description of his lectures:

“Rabbi Yaakov Moshe Poupko defines both the nature of man and the ethical challenge to the Jew through his literary, philosophical, and halachic inquiries into Biblical narratives and midrashic commentaries.  He dramatically engages his listener as he skillfully applies the rich, classical interpretive tradition to examine the most mythic and mystifying Biblical and Talmudic texts.  In the timeless encounter between man  and his Creator, between talmid and text, imagination complements knowledge to provide interpretive solutions that are sensible, psychologically satisfying, and profound.”