Hanan Schlesinger

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Mar 29, 2018, 1:06 PM

From a Passover of alienation to a Passover of empathy

My Jewish Learning via JTA -- One of the most oft-repeated themes of the Torah is that we must remember that we were slaves and strangers in the Land of Egypt, and that God redeemed us with an outstretched...

Jun 19, 2017, 7:07 PM

A Jewish Prayer for the Muslim Holy Month Of Ramadan

This prayer is inspired by my experiences at Roots/Shorashim/Judur, an organization dedicated to bringing greater understanding between Israelis and Palestinians through face-to-face interaction. For more information, visit our site and follow us on Facebook. A Hebrew version of the prayer...

Sep 2, 2014, 3:11 PM

The Shocking Truth About Women in the Public Arena – Parshat Kee Tatza

If two men get into a fight with each other and the wife of one comes out to save her husband from his antagonist and puts out her hand and seizes the other by the genitals, you shall cut...

Aug 28, 2014, 7:37 PM

The Torah’s Protest Against Religion – Parshat Shoftim

Religion certainly encourages worship. It even appears correct to say that worship is at the core of religion as we usually know it. So how could it be that the Book of Deuteronomy, which we are now reading in...

Aug 14, 2014, 3:25 PM

Parshat Ekev: Freedom and Responsibility

Six weeks from now when the world and the Jewish People experience another Rosh haShana, we will stand before God and celebrate the creation and continued existence of the world. Again and again we will address the Creator as...

Aug 7, 2014, 7:03 PM

Fighting for Life Itself – Parshat V’etchanan

The meaning of the word Islam is submission. A Muslim is someone who submits to God. This was brought home to me very forcefully about a year and a half ago. I absolutely scandalized the Muslim theologian who...

Jul 29, 2014, 3:33 PM

The Riddle of Jewish Destiny – For the 9th of Av

As the days move forward, the most solemn day of the year in the Jewish calendar - the ninth day of the Hebrew month of Av - comes closer. The three-week period of mourning that began with the Fast...

Jul 24, 2014, 11:15 PM

Shall the Sword Devour Forever? – Parshat Masay

The war that presently engulfs us is not of our own choosing. It was forced upon us against our will. In this unredeemed world in which we live, sometimes violence must be met with violence. Pressed to the wall...

Jul 10, 2014, 9:39 PM

Covenant of peace as a response to violence

Violence breeds violence. It’s true on so many different levels. If we needed another proof of that, we have it at this very moment in my own backyard. The heinous kidnapping and murder of the three Israeli teenagers, Naftali,...

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About Me

Rabbi Hanan Schlesinger resides in Alon Shvut Israel. He serves as the Director of Memnosyne Israel, promoting interfaith, bridge building projects betweens Israeli settlers and local Palestinians. As the Executive Director and Community Rabbinic Scholar of the Jewish Studies Initiative of North Texas, he also flies to Dallas, Texas once a month to teach adult education classes within the Jewish community and to spearhead interfaith dialogue.