Hot Off The Shtender Archives - SVARA: A Traditionally Radical Yeshiva

Two books are open on a dark wooden table. The first is opened to its title page, which reads, "What Judaism Teaches by Rebecca Namiat: Gems from Bible, Talmud, and other Literatures." The other book is not identifiable, but has an intricate wood-carved print on its page.

Note to Self: Choose Life

A large room is filled with SVARA-niks who are studying at long tables in the bet midrash.

And To the Students of Their Students

Two SVARA-niks learn together in the bet midrash. The table is crowded with dictionaries, masechtot, and Talmud resources.

Letting Go of Our Lizard

A group of SVARA-niks stand together in a circle outdoors, with tall evergreen trees behind them.

Mycelial Magic of Codification

A stack of masechtot sit on a windowsill, soaked in sunlight. A coffee cup sits beside them.

When Trying is More Than Enough

Rabbi Mónica hugs a learner at the registration table for Queer Talmud Camp.

Akiva, You Have Comforted Me

A learner sits in the bet midrash with a stack of materials beside them. Their notebook, as well as a masechet full of pink sticky notes, sits to the right of them.

Seeking an Incomplete Comfort

A SVARA-nik sits in the bet midrash, with a masechet, a dictionary, and an alef-bet ruler in front of them. They are looking intently at Benay who sits across from them.

A Season of So Many Questions

Lamenting Across Time

The Time-Traveling Talmud

A SVARA-nik sits in the bet midrash with their arms crossed over an open masechet.

To Know and Be Known

A learner studies Talmud at a large table in their home. Warm lights surround them, and an open masechet can be seen in front of them.

Love. Awe. Holiness. Wholeness.

Maggid Marques Hollie is spotlit while they speak at the virtual event, Shaping Tradition. They are smiling and wearing a light gray blazer. Several team members from SVARA can be seen in the gallery view, all of whom are smiling widely.

SVARA Is One of Those Spaces

Two people share a glance in the bet midrash. The person on the left is seated, and the person on the right is standing and wearing fairy wings. The two seem to be in cheerful conversation together.

Like Yehoshua, We Were Salty and Sassy

Where Is Mitzvah-Land?

Let the Waves

A close-up image of someone's Alef-Bet learning materials. There is a colorful alef-bet sheet that lists each letter and its definition, as well as a folder that says "queer talmud nerd", and a worksheet that has been underlined and highlighted.

Long Live the Fairies

A pair of SVARA fairy wings sit on a bench on a dark wooden deck. In the background, there is a road, and behind that, a row of trees.

Crip Wisdom and the Torah of the Bees

A Talmud sits on a table, propped up by a bookstand, open to a page. There are small, blue stickies marking the place on one of the pages.

And You Will Live By Them

A stone, rectangular monument carved with a sculpture of a Bundist fighter marching amidst flames and holding a rifle. In the background is a gravestone with Polish and Hebrew writing, and a snow-covered path.

Remembering Our Gevurah: How We Learn with G!D