Scholar in Residence

Our Scholar in Residence program brings top-notch scholars to Kol Ami to teach on important topics over Shabbat.

Past Scholars in Residence and Topics

• 2023 - Professor Kalman Weiser: "The Jews of Eastern Europe"
• 2021 - Rabbi Jeff Salkin: "The Secret Chord - Jewish Identity and Tradition in the Music of Leonard Cohen, Paul Simon and Bob Dylan"
• 2019 - Dr. Kalman Weiser, York University: "Antisemitism Then and Now"
• 2018 - Dr. Wendy Zierler, Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion: "#JewishWomenToo. Finding women's voices in our sacred texts in the #MeToo Generation"
• 2017 - Rabbi Larry Hoffman, Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion: "From Ethnicity to Identity: Who is Jewish and Why? - A conversation about who is included in the Jewish Tent in the 21st Century"
• 2016 - Rabbi Sally Priesand, First Ordained Female Rabbi in North America: "Women and Judaism"
• 2015 - Rabbi Steve Greenberg, First Openly Gay Orthodox Rabbi: "Constructing the Welcoming Tent: Judasim and the LGBTQ Community"
• 2013 - Rabbi Richard Sarason, Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion: "The Way We Pray"
• 2012 - Professor Frank Bialystock, University of Toronto: "The Jews of Canada"
• 2011 - Rabbi Elyse Goldstein, Spiritual leader of the City Shul, Toronto: "Israel: Reflections of an Outsider from the Inside"
• 2010 - Rabbi David Nelson, Bard College: "Judaism, Physics and God: Searching for a Sacred Metaphors in a Post-Einstein World"
• 2009 -  Rabbi Michael Cook, Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion: "Enhancing Jewish Well-being in a Christian Environment"
• 2008 - Rabbi Andrea Weiss, Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion: "The New Women's Torah Commentary"