The Ten Commandments are central to Jewish faith and ethics—but they are also something more: the very wellspring of the moral and political ideas that shaped Western civilization. In this series, Rabbi Meir Soloveichik takes these ancient words seriously—as revelation, as philosophy, and as a living guide to the crises and confusions of our own moment. Across five illuminating episodes, he explores how the Decalogue gave the world its understanding of freedom, human dignity, family, and faith, and why these words, spoken at Sinai thousands of years ago, still ring with startling clarity today.

As we approach America’s 250th anniversary, Rabbi Meir Soloveichik examines key moments in the nation’s history—from the revolutionary era to World War II—through a set of iconic images that have shaped the American imagination. Through paintings and symbols both familiar and forgotten, Rabbi Soloveichik explores how Americans have understood themselves, and how visual culture has transmitted that understanding across generations.

In moments of triumph, tension, and transformation, “Images of America” reveals how art both reflects real life and articulates high ideals. Focusing on paintings like John Trumbull’s “Declaration of Independence” and Norman Rockwell’s “Four Freedoms,” Rabbi Soloveichik illuminates how theology, ethics, and political reflection converge in these snapshots of history. Ultimately, this course invites you to see not only what America has been, but what it might yet become.

Rabbi Soloveichik explores the history and hidden depths of Jewish ritual through the extraordinary art of Moritz Daniel Oppenheim. Oppenheim brought Jewish ritual to life as no other modern artist has. In this course, Rabbi Soloveichik will study his paintings to uncover the spiritual meaning, historical context, and enduring relevance of the Jewish practices and people he depicts.