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.

This past Shabbat our congregation had the pleasure of hosting Rabbi Dr. David Harbater as our scholar-in-residence. He was excellent. He taught complex ideas in an engaging and accessible manner….I highly recommend him as a scholar in residence for any community.

Rabbi Dr. Harbater was a wonderful Shabbat Scholar in Residence in our Ohel Ari shul in Ra'anana. His shiurim were thought provoking and very engaging…. His animated style and deep sensitivity to the Torah text provide a winning combination. His messages resonated with members of all ages.

Rabbi Dr. David Harbater recently visited our community in Teaneck, NJ for shabbat and shared important and wonderful insights with the entire shul. He was passionate, thoughtful and clear. He engaged the various and variegated crowds that attended his lectures with learning and respect. He is a wonderful teacher of Tanakh and a keen observer of the contemporary Israeli scene who shared his thinking in honest and thought-provoking ways.

Our community enjoyed Rabbi Dr. Harbater’s energy and passion around how Torah and Tanach can be appreciated, and in certain ways unlocked, through the lenses of contemporary Biblical and historical scholarship. He challenged our community to see in this scholarship and their methodologies not challenges to our religious faith system, but means through which we can deepen our religious faith system… Thank you for the uplifting, challenging and stimulating Torah.

We had the pleasure of having Rabbi Dr. David Harbater as a scholar-in-residence at the Rabbi Jacob Berman Community Center in Rehovot Israel… He spoke eloquently and there was a lively discussion both during the lectures and afterwards as well. I am in charge of arranging lectures in our shul and many times I get both praise and complaints… With David I got only compliments for his words of wisdom.

Rabbi Harbater’s… class was thought-provoking, insightful and fun. He is an engaging educator who is very welcoming to the insights of his participants. His class had me looking at Bereishit in a more complex, nuanced and eye-opening way.

My mind has been blown thanks to this class at least once a week for the past 9 months by Rabbi Harbater’s amazing, intelligent, creative and intensely passionate mind.

Rabbi Harbater has not only imparted knowledge but has also nurtured our spirits, encouraging us to seek wisdom, to question, and to continually grow in our spiritual journeys. His ability to connect the ancient teachings of our faith with the modern challenges we face today has been transformative.

Rabbi Dr. David Harbater's erudite, spirited lecture kept the audience engaged. Rabbi Harbater shared Bible text, asked questions, fielded responses, and presented so much for participants to think about. His passion for learning is evident and his presentation enthusiastic. People who were there that evening are still talking about the ideas presented.