Isaiah at Isaiah:
What Can We Learn from the Prophet Isaiah?
We refer to Isaiah constantly, as we talk about our temple and our community, but we rarely stop to ask: Who was Isaiah? What did he do? Why did we choose to name our synagogue after him? As part of our 50th anniversary celebration, our Scholar-In-Residence, Dr. Marc Brettler, will teach us about the prophet Isaiah and his continuing relevance to our modern lives.
Dr. Brettler is Dora Golding Professor of Biblical Studies at Brandeis University and past Chair of Near Eastern and Judaic Studies at Brandeis. He has been awarded the Michael L. Walzer Award for Excellence in Teaching and is the co-editor of the Jewish Study Bible (2004), which was awarded a National Jewish Book Award. He has a distinguished list of publications on biblical history and the prophets. He is an extremely popular and engaging teacher.
Friday, October 16 - 6:15 p.m. Shabbat Dinner
Please join us for a community Shabbat dinner, prepared by Via Lago Restaurant. Bring
your own wine! To reserve a space, send a check made out to Temple Isaiah for $18 per
adult to Marilyn (Star) Zieve, 38 Drummer Boy Way, Lexington, MA 02420 by
October 6. See reservation form for more details, including cost for children. Questions,
contact Marilyn at 781-863-0138.
8:00 p.m. Shabbat Evening Service - Introduction to the Prophet Isaiah
Dr. Brettler will kick off our Scholar’s Weekend with an overview of the prophet Isaiah
and the Book of Isaiah, addressing such questions as: Who was Isaiah? When did he
live? What was his main message? How was the book bearing his name formed?
Saturday, October 17 - 9:00 a.m. Minyan Service
Dr. Brettler will join us at the Minyan service to discuss the weekly Torah portion.
11:00 a.m. B’not Mitzvah, Andrea Mael and Sara Mael
2:00 - 3:15 p.m. “Holy, Holy, Holy, How Isaiah Became a Prophet”
Isaiah's inaugural vision, containing the words "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Hosts" is
among the most famous chapters of the Bible. Dr. Brettler will analyze this vision and
its meaning in relation to similar inaugural visions in other prophets so that we begin to
understand the nature of Isaiah as a prophet.
3:15 – 3:45 p.m. Refreshments
3:45 – 5:00 p.m. “The Lofty Place of Jerusalem in Isaiah”
One of Isaiah’s core beliefs is that Jerusalem is God’s city and cannot be destroyed. Dr.
Brettler will explore this belief , looking at the background history of the period, when
Assyria besieged Jerusalem in 701 BCE.
Sunday, October 18 - 9:30 a.m. Brotherhood Breakfast: “Social Justice in the Bible: The Jubilee Year and Isaiah”
A main theme of Torah literature, and of some prophets, is the centrality of social justice as
a religious value. Dr Brettler will explore this theme, looking at texts concerning the
Jubilee and texts from Isaiah and similar prophets who seem to say that right is more
important than rite.
Our Scholar’s Weekend has been generously sponsored by Charlie and Elaine Brenner.
October Yom Shabbat/Scholar’s Weekend Committee
Sydney Pearlman and Wendy Liebow, Co-Chairs
Eileen Asarkof, Judy Love, Susan Marx, Nancy Winsten, Marilyn Zieve