What’s Coming Up in September?
What’s Coming Up in September?
As we enter September and approach the High Holiday season, CSP invites you into a month of deep reflection, spiritual renewal, and thought-provoking exploration. We kick off September with an exclusive members-only series, Soil to Soul: Food Land and Identity with Gila Levitan delving into the profound connections between land, environmental stewardship, human responsibility, and Jewish spiritual wisdom.
Our timely conversations continue with an insightful examination of contemporary Israeli society with Rabbi Yehuda Mirsky presenting The Changing Shape of Religious Zionism & the Upcoming Elections, exploring how evolving ideologies, politics, and religious movements are reshaping modern Israel’s landscape. As High Holiday preparation deepens, we turn to the sacred liturgy and themes of Rosh Hashanah with Rav Shai Cherry – Hayom Harat Olam, unpacking the mystery, creation, and existential resonance of the day the world was born.
In preparation for Yom Kippur, Rabbi Dr Raphael Zarum challenges us with The Gate of Tears Why Cry on Yom Kippur? Offering a moving study of prayer, vulnerability, repentance, and emotional honesty within classical and modern texts. We round out the month with world renowned author and lecturer Dr Avivah Gottlieb Zornberg sharing a nuanced revisit of foundational biblical narrative in Golden Calf Clouds of Glory, probing the complexities of human frailty, idol worship, forgiveness, and divine mercy.
September at CSP offers a rich journey through spirituality, contemporary politics, holiday preparation, and transformative text study. We look forward to preparing for the high holidays and sharing another month of inspired learning, meaningful conversation, and discovery with you.
Soil to Soul: Food Land and Identity Farm-to-Table Across the Ages in Israel
Tuesdays September 1, 8, 15 & 22, 2026
10:00-11:00 AM PDT /1:00-2:00 PM EDT /20:00-21:00 Israel time
Israel’s food story is one of resilience, creativity, and a deep connection to the land, from the agricultural practices of ancient Judea to today’s innovative food technologies. This four-part series explores the evolution of Israeli agriculture and cuisine, the diverse culinary traditions shaped by waves of immigration, and the cutting-edge technologies transforming the future of food. We’ll also discover how communities are addressing food security through sustainability, education, and urban agriculture, revealing how food continues to nourish Israel’s people, culture, and sense of shared purpose. LINK
The Changing Shape of Religious Zionism & the Upcoming Elections
Sunday September 6, 2026
10:00-11:00 AM PDT /1:00-2:00 PM EDT /20:00-21:00 Israel time
This session explores the complex history and evolution of Religious Zionism and its significant influence on Israeli politics, society, ideology, and culture. We’ll examine how Religious Zionism helped shape Israel’s current government and how October 7 and its aftermath have sparked profound divisions within the movement, from further radicalization to new alliances with the political center and Left. Together, we’ll consider what these shifts reveal about the future of Religious Zionism and Israeli society more broadly. LINK
Hayom Harat Olam Creation, Science, and Rosh Hashanah
Thursday September 10, 2026
10:00-11:00 AM PDT /1:00-2:00 PM EDT /20:00-21:00 Israel time
This CSP discussion explores Jewish perspectives on creation and the origins of the world, contrasting young-earth creationism with evolutionary understandings of life and the universe. Through the Rosh Hashanah liturgy, including Hayom Harat Olam (“Today is the conception of the world”), and the holiday’s stories of Sarah and Hannah, we’ll consider how Judaism approaches creation beyond questions of chronology. Together, we’ll ask whether Jewish thought supports, challenges, or transcends the claims of young-earth creationism. LINK
The Gate of Tears, Why Cry on Yom Kippur?
Thursday September 17, 2026
10:00-11:00 AM PDT /1:00-2:00 PM EDT /20:00-21:00 Israel time
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