Rabbi Andrea L. Weiss, Ph.D., will lead two programs for Temple Concord via Zoom. Both programs are free and everyone is invited in person or via Zoom. People who want to attend in person at the synagogue should notify the office at 723-7355. They must wear masks, provide proof of vaccinations and practice social distancing.

On Saturday, February 26, from 9:15-10:30 am, Weiss will lead Temple Concord’s Torah study with a program titled “‘Give us a holding among our kin’: The Inception and Reception of ‘The Torah: A Women’s Commentary.’” Weiss served as associate editor of that work. On Sunday, February 27, at 1 pm, Weiss will speak about “‘What can we do to create light together?’ Interfaith Insights from American Values, Religious Voices.” Temple Concord Sisterhood is sponsoring the Sunday program. Invited to attend the program are WRJ Sisterhoods, including the Temple Concord Sisterhood, Temple Israel Sisterhood and Beth David Synagogue Sisterhood. 

Temple Concord Rabbi Barbara Goldman-Wartell won Weiss’ presentation in a Women of Reform Judaism Auction held in 2021 and donated it to Temple Concord Sisterhood. “It was one program and Rabbi Weiss was gracious enough to offer to do it in two sessions,” said organizers of the event.

“During the Saturday program, Weiss will talk about how in the Book of Numbers, the five daughters of Zelophehad boldly assert their right to inherit their deceased father’s land since they have no brothers,” organizers added. “This story provides a fitting symbol for ‘The Torah: A Women’s Commentary.’ Rabbi Weiss will tell how the commentary came about and show why a women’s Torah commentary matters today more than ever.” Also to be studied will be that week’s Torah portion – Vayakel – with materials from “The Torah: A Women’s Commentary.” The program will be held in person at Temple Concord and on Zoom located here, meeting ID number 882 9808 7579 and passcode 676707.

During the Sunday program, Weiss will discuss the “American Values, Religious Voices: 100 Days, 100 Letters” campaign, which sent a letter a day to the president, vice president and members of Congress for the first 100 days of the Trump administration in 2017, and the Biden administration in 2021. Weiss explained, “The letters were written by a multi-faith group of scholars who connected core American values to our different religious traditions. We will sample several letters and reflect on the project as a much-needed model of interfaith partnership and dialogue around shared values.” People who want to join the Sunday program via Zoom should register here; once registered, a Zoom link will be sent out.

Weiss is the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel provost and associate professor of Bible at the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. She is the founder of the American Values, Religious Voices campaign, co-editor of “American Values, Religious Voices: 100 Days, 100 Letters” (University of Cincinnati Press, 2019), and associate editor of “The Torah: A Women’s Commentary (CCAR Press, 2008). Her other writings include “Figurative Language in Biblical Prose Narrative: Metaphor in the Book of Samuel” (Brill, 2006), and articles on metaphor, biblical poetry and biblical conceptions of God.