Tzemah Yoreh

As a Bible scholar and poet, Dr. Rabbi Tzemah most enjoys surprising people as they discover sides of the Bible they never knew and inspiring audiences with new prayers.

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About

Dr. Rabbi Tzemah Yoreh is a scholar of Bible and a composer of poetic liturgy. Among his most popular books are Love Song for Shabbat and Why Abraham Killed Isaac. His greatest joys are surprising people as they discover sides of the Bible they never knew and inspiring audiences with poetic prayer. He is a resident at the CLAL institute for Jewish Leadership and lives in New York.

Programs

Why Abraham Killed Isaac

When I was 21, I killed Isaac. (Not literally, of course!) What I did was to discover that the original Genesis account told a story in which the angel did not stop Abraham's knife, but let it cut through Isaac's flesh, severing his head and the patriarchal chain. How did I arrive at this reading? Come and find out.

Kohelet, the First Heretic

It has long been noted that Ecclesiastes is full of contradictions, and many scholars have broken their heads over why the book was written that way. In this session I will offer a partial answer. In close textual analysis we will find that every time Ecclesiastes the heretic said something too heretical, a later more pious author undermined him or contradicted him.

Do We Descend from Cain the Murderer?

In Genesis 4 Cain kills his brother Abel in cold blood. His punishment is wandering the earth with the proverbial mark of Cain. But is Cain's punishment actually carried out? He settles down and builds the first city, a sedentary life style par excellence, and enjoys God’s protection. Who then shall punish the first murderer?

Eat, Pray, Love: Poetic Blessings in Appreciation of Food

What would it look like to say blessings that not only give pause for reflection, but also make you laugh and cry? In this session I will share my poetic blessings and prayers (in Hebrew and English) that speak to a humanist outlook, evoke the senses, and draw deeply on the Bible and Jewish tradition.

A Love Song for Shabbat

In this session I will sing with you some of my personal love song for Shabbat. I will share with you my poetic blessings for wine and food, blessings for children, and prayers for peace that speak to a humanist outlook, yet continue to draw deeply on the Bible and Jewish tradition.

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Books

And the Goddess Said

Genesis in the Feminine (Th...

2014

CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform

Why Abraham Killed Isaac (Kernel to Canon)

2013

CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform

Journey To Sinai (Bilingual Edition) (Kernel to Canon) (Volume 4)

2013

Modern Scriptures

A Love Song for Shabbat (Humanist Prayer)

2013

Modern Scriptures

Isaac's Death and Resurrection (Bilingual Version) (Kernel to Canon)

2013

CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform

Interested in booking Tzemah Yoreh to speak at your next event? Contact Jewish Speakers Bureau (infREMOVEo@jewREMOVEishspeakerREMOVEsbureau.com), America's only speakers bureau for Jewish-interest speakers, authors, entertainers, and experts.