Special Classes with Mekor
Special classes are scheduled throughout the year, covering a wide range of topics, including Kashrut and Jewish holidays.
Updated 9/23/2024
RSVP is appreciated for all classes, to [email protected]
High Holiday Classes
~ Class with Rabbi Hirsch:
The Book of Life, 2024
Tuesday Sept 24 @7:30pm (note the new time)
Based on Rabbi Hirsch's book, The Book of Life: A Transformative Guide to the High Holidays, this class will upend common misconceptions and provide fresh insights to make your holidays a more powerful and meaningful experience.
Click here for class Source Sheet.
Click here for Zoom access.
Rsvp is appreciated: [email protected]
~ New 3-part Class Series with Rabbi Gotlib:
Energizing Elul:
Spiritual Reflections on Teshuvah, Tefillah, & Tzedakah
Wednesdays @7:30pm: Sept 11, Sept 18, & Sept 25
The 9/11 class source sheet can be found here.
Rsvp is appreciated: Energizing Elul at Mekor (google.com)
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Kashrut in Center City 2024
Monday, June 24 @ 7pm, followed by Mincha/Ma'ariv
Rabbi Hirsch will meet with the Mekor Habracha community to provide the latest kashrut news in Center City. He will answer all your queries, including follow-up questions about his class on Kosher Wine & Spirits presented at this year's Tikkun Leil Shavuot.
The class will be held at the shul, and live audio will also be available with this Zoom link.
Source sheets for the class can be found at these two links:
https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/484360?lang=bi (Kosher without the K)
https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/564331?lang=bi ( L'Chaim! Halachic Insights on the Kashrut of Wine & Spirits)
This event if free, but RSVP is appreciated for either format.
Guests from outside the Mekor community are welcome to attend.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pesach Classes with Rabbi Hirsch, 2024
~ Pesach Without the Pain: A Practical Guide to the Laws of Passover
Monday April 8 @ 6pm
Come prepared with all your questions!
(Followed by Mincha/Maariv @ 7:20pm)
RSVP appreciated -- [email protected]
~ Bringing Order to the Seder: A Modern Guide to the Traditional Passover Haggadah
Monday April 15 @ 6:30pm
With a special emphasis on the situation in Israel.
(Followed by Mincha/Maariv @ 7:30pm)
RSVP appreciated -- [email protected]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Purim Class with Rabbi Hirsch, 2024
Quantum Purim: Navigating our Chaotic Times
Monday March 18, following 6:55pm Mincha/Ma'ariv
Join Rabbi Hirsch as he delves into the ancient wisdom of Purim, finding lessons about life's meaning to guide us through the challenges of today, including antisemitism and conflict in Israel.
Use this link for the class source sheet.
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Chanukah Class with Rabbi Hirsch, 2023
Having it All: Yosef & the Meaning of Chanukah
Tuesday Dec 12, following 6:30pm Ma'ariv & candle lighting
Use this link for the class source sheet
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Halachot of Chanukah Lighting While Traveling
One of the most common and complex questions that arise during Chanukah is how to fulfill the mitzvah of candle lighting when traveling.
In this class, originally held on November 29th, 2021, Rabbi Hirsch discussed this topic and explained how it provides insight into the fundamental principle which underlies the mitzvah of Chanukah candle lighting.
Use these links for a recording of the class on Rabbi Hirsch's podcast and the handout source sheet.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Is Impossible Pork Kosher?
Recently there has been controversy about the kosher status of new plant-based products that are similar to pork in taste and texture.
In this class, originally held on November 1, 2021, Rabbi Hirsch discussed the halachic issues and the practical implications surrounding plant-based meat and dairy products.
Use these links for a recording of the class on Rabbi Hirsch's podcast and the handout source sheet.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Kashrut in Center City 2021
In this class, originally held on August 11, 2021, Rabbi Eliezer Hirsch met with the Mekor Habracha community to provide the latest kashrut news in Center City, and answer kosher questions from our members.
Use these links for a recording of the class on Rabbi Hirsch's podcast, and the handout source sheet for the class here.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~ Class with Rabbi Hirsch:
The Book of Life, 2024
Tuesday Sept 24 @7:30pm (note the new time)
Based on Rabbi Hirsch's book, The Book of Life: A Transformative Guide to the High Holidays, this class will upend common misconceptions and provide fresh insights to make your holidays a more powerful and meaningful experience.
Click here for class Source Sheet.
Click here for Zoom access.
Rsvp is appreciated: [email protected]
~ New 3-part Class Series with Rabbi Gotlib:
Energizing Elul:
Spiritual Reflections on Teshuvah, Tefillah, & Tzedakah
Wednesdays @7:30pm: Sept 11, Sept 18, & Sept 25
The 9/11 class source sheet can be found here.
Rsvp is appreciated: Energizing Elul at Mekor (google.com)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Kashrut in Center City 2024
Monday, June 24 @ 7pm, followed by Mincha/Ma'ariv
Rabbi Hirsch will meet with the Mekor Habracha community to provide the latest kashrut news in Center City. He will answer all your queries, including follow-up questions about his class on Kosher Wine & Spirits presented at this year's Tikkun Leil Shavuot.
The class will be held at the shul, and live audio will also be available with this Zoom link.
Source sheets for the class can be found at these two links:
https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/484360?lang=bi (Kosher without the K)
https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/564331?lang=bi ( L'Chaim! Halachic Insights on the Kashrut of Wine & Spirits)
This event if free, but RSVP is appreciated for either format.
Guests from outside the Mekor community are welcome to attend.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pesach Classes with Rabbi Hirsch, 2024
~ Pesach Without the Pain: A Practical Guide to the Laws of Passover
Monday April 8 @ 6pm
Come prepared with all your questions!
(Followed by Mincha/Maariv @ 7:20pm)
RSVP appreciated -- [email protected]
~ Bringing Order to the Seder: A Modern Guide to the Traditional Passover Haggadah
Monday April 15 @ 6:30pm
With a special emphasis on the situation in Israel.
(Followed by Mincha/Maariv @ 7:30pm)
RSVP appreciated -- [email protected]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Purim Class with Rabbi Hirsch, 2024
Quantum Purim: Navigating our Chaotic Times
Monday March 18, following 6:55pm Mincha/Ma'ariv
Join Rabbi Hirsch as he delves into the ancient wisdom of Purim, finding lessons about life's meaning to guide us through the challenges of today, including antisemitism and conflict in Israel.
Use this link for the class source sheet.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chanukah Class with Rabbi Hirsch, 2023
Having it All: Yosef & the Meaning of Chanukah
Tuesday Dec 12, following 6:30pm Ma'ariv & candle lighting
Use this link for the class source sheet
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Halachot of Chanukah Lighting While Traveling
One of the most common and complex questions that arise during Chanukah is how to fulfill the mitzvah of candle lighting when traveling.
In this class, originally held on November 29th, 2021, Rabbi Hirsch discussed this topic and explained how it provides insight into the fundamental principle which underlies the mitzvah of Chanukah candle lighting.
Use these links for a recording of the class on Rabbi Hirsch's podcast and the handout source sheet.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Is Impossible Pork Kosher?
Recently there has been controversy about the kosher status of new plant-based products that are similar to pork in taste and texture.
In this class, originally held on November 1, 2021, Rabbi Hirsch discussed the halachic issues and the practical implications surrounding plant-based meat and dairy products.
Use these links for a recording of the class on Rabbi Hirsch's podcast and the handout source sheet.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Kashrut in Center City 2021
In this class, originally held on August 11, 2021, Rabbi Eliezer Hirsch met with the Mekor Habracha community to provide the latest kashrut news in Center City, and answer kosher questions from our members.
Use these links for a recording of the class on Rabbi Hirsch's podcast, and the handout source sheet for the class here.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Covid Vaccine in Halacha
In this class, originally held on January 21, 2021, Rabbi Hirsch discussed the halachic considerations that surround vaccination for Covid.
You can listen to a recording of the class on Rabbi Hirsch's Covid Podcast.
In this class, originally held on January 21, 2021, Rabbi Hirsch discussed the halachic considerations that surround vaccination for Covid.
You can listen to a recording of the class on Rabbi Hirsch's Covid Podcast.