What does it mean for the Jewish people to be both “a nation that dwells apart” and “a light to the nations”? These two callings — separation and connection, holiness and universality — have defined the Jewish story from its birth.
From Abraham’s covenant beneath the stars to Isaiah’s prophetic visions, from dispersion in diaspora to the rebirth of Jewish sovereignty, our people have wrestled with a timeless tension: how to live in unique covenant with the Divine while remaining responsible for the broader human family.
In an age of turbulence and moral confusion, this question rings especially true. Individually and as a people we face a profound challenge of identity and mission. Misunderstood and often isolated, we often ask: What does the world want of us, and what do we seek from the world? What relationship are we meant to build with other nations, and how can we realize it with integrity?
This six-part journey explores the evolving mission of the Jewish people through the Prophets, rabbinic wisdom, Kabbalistic insight, and the unfolding of Jewish history. We will study classical and contemporary texts (in Hebrew and English), engaging themes of chosenness and responsibility, separation and integration, the roots of antisemitism, and the Jewish role among the nations.
Each session integrates experiential practice — guided reflection, meditation, and writing — cultivating a lived expression of the ideals we study. We will explore how to carry awareness of Divine partnership into daily life, aligning heart and action with the vision of Jewish purpose we aspire to embody.
All texts will be provided with clear line-by-line translations, and no prior knowledge or experience with the subject matter is necessary. This course is welcoming of advanced students and novices alike.
How does it work?
Chosen? The Jewish Role in the World consists of 6 recorded sessions, each engaging a new perspective or modality of understanding and facilitating emotional healing.
The sessions are approximately 1 hour each.
Registrants gain lifetime access to all the course materials, including the recordings of every class.
Sessions consist of close study of texts interspersed with guided practices that will support personal growth and spiritual encounter alongside our learning.
Each session includes:
1) A recorded class.
2) Guided personal practice.
3) A printable handout of relevant texts from Biblical, Rabbinic, Kabbalistic and Chassidic sources, provided in full translation with introductory comments and guiding questions.