Sunday Scholars Series

The Har Zion Sunday Scholar Series are upcoming lectures by local–and a few remote–experts on the subject they are expert in.

All of these lecturse are on Sunday; most are at 10:15am, after minyan. The rest are also on Sunday, but later in the day.

In person and on Zoom at Zoom ID# 924 5552 6669 (with the Har Zion password); light refreshments will be served.

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Next in the Series:

March 15, 10:15am – Rabbi Miriam Lichtenberg on “Why Do We Read ‘Song of Songs’ on Passover?”

I Called But I was Not Answered; Why We Read Shir Hashirim on Pesach

What does an eight chapter love poem have to do with the Exodus from Egypt? In this class, we’ll explore why Shir HaShirim (the Song of Songs) — arguably the most intimate book of Tanakh — is traditionally read on Pesach. Together, we’ll examine how this poem reframes the Exodus not only as a story of liberation, but as the beginning of a relationship: between God and the Israelites, and between a newly freed people and themselves. We’ll also ask what Shir HaShirim can teach us about love, longing, and covenant in our own relationships with God today.

Rabbi Miriam Lichtenberg is the Rav Beit Sefer (school rabbi) at Rochelle Zell Jewish High School in Deerfield, where she teaches, collaborates with the Jewish Life team, and provides rabbinic guidance to the school community. She has taught Torah and lead tefillah in a variety of communities across the US including Los Angeles, Providence, New York, and Chicago. Miriam received her semikha (ordination) from the Hadar Institute in New York and holds a BA in History from Barnard College.

And Coming Up:

March 22, 4:30pm talk, 5:30pm Roman Jewish dinner – Leah Koenig (renowned cookbook author and daughter of Har Zion’s Carol Koenig) on “The History of the Jews of Rome”

Weekend of April 18-19: Dr. Tamara Freeman on “Holocaust Music.” See below.

In June, day and time to be determined – Har Zion member Leslie Blacksberg on art.

And, day and time to be determined – Rabbi Eric Leiderman on an topic concerning Israel. (Learn more from his op-ed pieces for The Times of Israel.)

Scholar in Residence, Tamara Freeman:

Dr. Tamara Freeman will be at Har Zion for the weekend of Saturday, April 18, though Sunday, April 19. She will speak at kiddush on Saturday and also on Sunday morning. Details to come for the weekend program. Learn more about Dr. Freeman at holocaustmusic.org.

Her subject will be “Holocaust Music.”

Date

Mar 15 2026

Time

10:15 AM - 11:15 AM