Selichot Adult Study & Reflection

In person only

Open to members & non-members

Please join us for our Selichot Study Session with Rabbi Dr. Lisa Grant of Hebrew Union College- Jewish Institute of Religion.

For many of us, the U’Netaneh Tokef prayer is the most theologically and existentially difficult prayer in the High Holy Day liturgy. And yet, it is the central reason we come together to mark this holy and awesome time. It forces us to acknowledge that this holy season is about life and death. We might try to avoid it, but there it is – stark and powerful.

What good does it do to confront this truth? We know the clichés – live life to the fullest, be grateful for the time we have on this earth, make your life count. Accept that there is much in life that is far beyond our ability to control. We may know this already, but do we really take heed to our own advice?

U'Netaneh Tokef says to us, yes, we really do need to pay attention to our precious life. Together, we will study the text of this prayer along with some contemporary poetry that explore these same themes as a way to more fully prepare for this holy season of repentence, forgiveness, and celebration of life.

This program is designed for adults, and both members and non-members are invited to join.

About Rabbi Dr. Lisa Grant Rabbi Lisa D. Grant, Ph.D. recently retired as Eleanor Sinsheimer Distinguished Service Professor in Jewish Education at the Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion. Lisa served on the faculty of HUC-JIR from 2000-2026 and as Director of the New York Rabbinical Program for seven years. Her research and teaching interests focus on adult Jewish learning, Jewish leadership development, and the place of Israel and Jewish Peoplehood in American Jewish life. In addition to numerous articles, book chapters, and curriculum guides, Lisa is co-author of three books and editor of The Year of Mourning: A Jewish Journey (CCAR Press, 2023). Lisa has a BA from the University of Michigan, an MBA from the University of Massachusetts, a Ph.D. from the Jewish Theological Seminary, and Rabbinic ordination from HUC-JIR.