Because the Rabbi Said So: Exploring Power and Authority in the Rabbinate

Rabba Yaffa Epstein

Registration for this event is now closed.

Walks ups will be accepted.

While utilizing power is a necessary part of any leader’s role, the abuse of power – particularly in the rabbinic arena – seems to be commonplace. How do we harness our internal power, as well as the power that we amass, in a healthy and constructive way? Do there need to be checks in place for our leadership to succeed? The issue of power and authority in the rabbinate is as critically important today as it has been since the first rabbi was ordained. We will explore some of the rabbinic perspectives on this question, and examine how they can inform our thinking around power and authority.

Yaffa serves as the Director of Education, North America for the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies. She received Rabbinic Ordination from Yeshivat Maharat and holds a Law Degree from Bar-Ilan University. She has studied at the Pardes Kollel, the Advanced Talmud Institute at Matan and the Talmud Department of Hebrew University.

Yaffa has been a teacher of Talmud, Jewish law, and Liturgy at Pardes for over a decade, and has served as the Director of the Beit Midrash at the Dorot Fellowship in Israel. She has taught Talmud and Jewish Law at Yeshivat Maharat, The Drisha Institute, The Wexner Heritage New Members Institute, Kayam Farm Kollel and Young Judaea. Yaffa has lectured at Limmud Events around the world, has written curriculum for the Global Day of Jewish Learning and has created innovative educational programming for Hillel: The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life.

LM1