Program Description

The release of Christopher Nolan’s Odyssey, the blockbuster movie of summer 2026, is a wonderful invitation to take up Homer’s original text. Together with the Iliad, Homer’s Odyssey formed the cultural backdrop of all subsequent Greek culture, and its dominant themes intersect with enduring themes in the Jewish tradition: the longing for return to a homeland, the relation of father and son, the inescapability of war, and the meaning of human mortality.

Tikvah is pleased to invite our undergraduate and young professional communities to join us in reading the Odyssey together this summer. The writer and Homer expert Jacob Howland will inaugurate our reading group with a special, extended session on July 7th. Thereafter, select participants will take responsibility for leading subsequent sessions, culminating in a night out to watch Nolan’s new film. 

Each meeting will take place in-person at Tikvah’s offices in midtown Manhattan, with Zoom accommodations for participants who are not located in New York this summer.

Program Schedule

• Meeting 1 with Dr. Jacob Howland – Tuesday evening, July 7th (Books 1–4)
• Meeting 2 – Tuesday evening, July 14th (Books 5–8)
• Meeting 3 – Tuesday evening, July 21st (Books 9–12)
• Meeting 4 – Tuesday evening, July 28th (Books 13–16)
• Meeting 5 – Thursday evening, July 30th (Books 17–20)
• Meeting 6 – Tuesday evening, August 4th (Books 21–24)
• Movie Night – Wednesday evening, August 5th

How to Join

To join the group and receive information about meeting location and exact times, please contact Juliana Castillo (jcastillo@tikvah.org) or Josh Tolle (jtolle@tikvah.org).