The 2008 scholar-in-residence program featured Rabbi Larry Hoffman, a mentor of our Rabbi Zemel, over the weekend of Feb. 22-24, 2008. His theme was "Spirituality, Identity and Coffee: The Search for a Meaningful Judaism." This year's speaker is very special. Here's what Rabbi Zemel says,

My mentor Rabbi Larry Hoffman is our scholar in residence February 22-24. Nothing means more to me than for the sanctuary to be OVERFLOWING for each of his three talks, Friday evening, Shabbat morning, Sunday morning. If you want to learn from the Jewish scholar that has molded my rabbinate, my interpretation of Judaism, my vision for synagogue life, my dreams for Temple Micah, come hear Rabbi Hoffman. Elsewhere in these pages you can read more about the his topics and themes. I so want him to see the best of Temple Micah and that is impossible with your being with us for this very special weekend. I would consider your participation a personal favor.

All of Rabbi Hoffman's presentations are available now in audio format.

Vine Excerpts

In addition, the TM Vine has published some excerpts from his presentations, including his presentation on Friday evening on "Spirituality of Life, Land, and Airports".

Bio

Rabbi Hoffman is the Barbara and Stephen Friedman Professor of Liturgy, Worship, and Ritual and Director of the Synagogue 2000 Initiative for synagogue spirituality, HUC-JIR, New York. A world-renowned liturgist, he has combined research in Jewish ritual, worship and spirituality with a passion for the spiritual renewal of contemporary Judaism.

He has written and edited numerous books, including Rethinking Synagogues: A New Vocabulary for Congregational Life (Jewish Lights), a finalist for the National Jewish Book Award; The Way Into Jewish Prayer (Jewish Lights); The Art of Public Prayer, 2nd Edition: Not for Clergy Only (SkyLight Paths), now used nationally by Jews and Christians as a handbook for liturgical planners in church and synagogue; as well as a revision of What Is a Jew?, the best-selling classic that remains the most widely read introduction to Judaism ever written in any language. He is also the author of Israel—A Spiritual Travel Guide: A Companion for the Modern Jewish Pilgrim (Jewish Lights).

He is a developer of Synagogue 3000, a transdenominational project designed to envision and implement the ideal synagogue of the spirit for the twenty-first century.

Mark Your Calendar:

• Kabbalat Shabbat Service: "Spirituality of Life, Land, and Airports". Friday night, 2/22 at 6:30 PM
  
• Shabbat Morning Service: "New Prayerbook, New Identity: Temple Micah in the Twenty-first Century". Saturday, 2/23 at 10:15 AM
• Sunday Morning Talk: "Coffee Houses Then and Now: Making a Case for Judaism through Limits, Truth, and Meaning". 2/24 at 11:15 AM.