“David Harbater is a master teacher and an inspired reader with a thousand theological insights”

Rabbi Yitz Greenberg

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Speaking Engagements

Rabbi Dr. David Harbater’s presentation at my shul was universally well received. The participants even applauded at the end of one lecture….
Dr. Harbater was easy to follow, and came across as erudite and well organized. He was everything we look for in a Scholar-in-Residence and he was entertaining as well, mixing humor, anecdotes and asides with his main presentation. We were extremely satisfied with every aspect of his lectures.

Rabbi Allen Schwartz
Congregation Ohab Zedek

You can purchase Rabbi Dr. David Harbater's book here

A Book by Rabbi Dr. David Harbater

In the Beginnings

Discovering the Two Worldviews Hidden within Genesis 1-11

David Harbater has written an astounding book; in many ways, it is one of a kind… The book is studded with fresh insights, deep conceptual and ethical teachings and is an intellectual, spiritual fest... Harbater dissolves the binary absolute clash between the religious Jewish Bible reader and the non-religious reader. I urge all readers to suspend their standard assumptions and convictions, to ignore standing party lines, and open up to learn Genesis 1-11 with a master teacher, one who is an inspired reader with a thousand theological insights. You will be rewarded with new insight after new insight that will inspire and dazzle and drive you to read the Torah with fresh eyes.

For anyone puzzled by the apparent inconsistencies and complexities that about throughout the Torah Harbater shines a great light. The dark places are illuminated, inconsistencies resolved, faith strengthened. In the Beginnings is a work to be treasured.

You may have studied the first chapters of Genesis many times before, but once you have read David Harbater’s groundbreaking and captivating book In the Beginnings, it will seem as though you are studying them for the very first time.

Whether you come to this book from a traditional view of the Bible’s origins or a more critical one, you will emerge enriched by Harbater’s central argument of a multifaceted text and often delighted by his abundant insight into the text’s nuances and its complex messages. Ultimately, In the Beginnings is a work of faith – in the depth and sophistication of the biblical word and in the Torah’s timeless relevance.

With surgical precision, Harbater splits the integrated story into its two component parts, which are now vividly presented to us as they stand juxtaposed with one another. This intriguing disentanglement of the text will enrich the spiritual world of the readers and their appreciation that “these and those are the words of the living God.

In the Beginnings… is a fascinating and thought-provoking exploration of the foundational texts in the Bible from a theological student's perspective… The author's meticulous research and deep understanding of the subject matter are evident throughout the book, making it an intellectually stimulating read… It is a rich and enlightening resource that will undoubtedly enhance biblical scholarship and theological discussions. I highly recommend it for its academic rigor, thought-provoking analysis, and its ability to challenge and broaden one's perspective on these foundational biblical texts.

Articles

A Fifth Cup at the Seder Is Long Overdue

Among the most iconic rituals of the Passover Seder is the drinking of four cups of wine. Given the evening’s rich symbolic structure—including the Four Questions and the Four Sons—it may not surprise us that wine too appears in a set of four. But what lies behind this particular number?

What is the Purpose of the Haggadah?

In Judaism, we generally recognize two primary categories of sacred texts. The first is the Torah—whether in its original scroll form or printed editions—which represents God’s communication to us. The second is the Siddur, the Jewish prayer book, reflecting our attempts to communicate with God. This raises an intriguing question: where does the Passover Haggadah fit within this framework? Is it a text to be recited like a prayer book, or studied and analyzed like Torah?

Vayikra: The Ultimate Sacrifice—Then and Now

Since the outbreak of the war, Jews in Israel and abroad have made profound sacrifices for the survival and security of the Jewish state and its citizens. This week’s parasha—Vayikra—centers on the theme of sacrifices, making its message especially poignant at this time.

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