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Don’t Just Do Good – Talk About It!
 Mondays, October 19, 26,
November 2, 9 and 16 at 7:00 p.m.
This five week course led by Rabbi James Prosnit will look at Jewish tradition’s passion for repairing the world. From the ancient Hebrew Prophets to Pirkei Avot, and from the Musar Movement to Classical Reform, a philosophical and practical ethic underpins so much of our teaching and identity. A great discussion for the social activists among us who want to talk as well as do! |
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An Introduction to Islam for Jews
Mondays, November 23, 30, December 7, 14 and 21 at 7:00 p.m
Islam is a complex religious civilization that remains largely unknown to Jews. This course is based on the book of the same title by Dr. Reuven Firestone, professor of Medieval Judaism and Islam at HUC-JIR, Los Angeles. We will study the early history of the faith, Islam as a religious system with a theology, scripture, interpretative literature and law, and aspects of the practice of Islam. By looking at Islam through a comparative lens with Judaism we will come away with a deeper understanding of both. Taught by Rabbi Rachel Gurevitz
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The Holiness of Wholeness:
Exploring God and Ourselves with Andrea Rudolph
Mondays, January 4, 11 and 25 at 7:00 p.m.
 The Torah highlights what we might define as “positive” and “negative” attributes of God and our ancestors. We will explore the contrasting attributes of God’s anger, mercy, creative and destructive forces along with the very “human” nature of our ancestors and ourselves. Can we experience light without darkness, love without fear or are these seemingly contrasting elements based on our perceptions of goodness and perfection? In the morning prayers, we thank God for the “pure soul” implanted in us. Through exploration, discussion and introspection, we will define and deepen our understanding of a “pure soul” and ponder the “holiness of wholeness”.
Interfaith references will be included.
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 Ahad Ha’am’s Israel: World Jewish Cultural Center
Mondays, March 1, 8, 15 and 22 at 7:00 p.m.
Over a century ago, Zionist Ahad Ha’am wrote that he envisioned a Jewish nation that would serve as the central hub for worldwide Jewish culture. While his dream may not have come to full fruition, the State of Israel has flowed with poetry and music, drama and comedy, in addition to milk and honey. Join Ira Wise as we study the cultural contributions of the only Hebrew speaking nation in almost two thousand years!
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Rabbi David Nelson, Ph.D.
 Friday and Saturday, March 19 and 20
David Nelson serves as Rabbi and Visiting Assistant Professor of Religion at Bard College. He has been a congregational rabbi, a Senior Teaching Fellow at CLAL-The National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership and was the Associate Director of ARZA, the Association of Reform Zionists of America. He is the author of Judaism, Physics and God: Searching for Sacred Metaphors in a Post-Einstein World, published by Jewish Lights.
Kabbalat Shabbat
Friday, March 19
| 5:30 p.m. |
Pre-Oneg followed by Shabbat Worship
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| 7:15 p.m. |
Shabbat Dinner
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| 8:15 p.m. |
Judaism, Physics, and God: Searching for Sacred
Metaphors in a Post-Einstein World
Join us for services and dinner and then Rabbi Nelson will explore new metaphors for God drawn from the conceptual language of modern physics, including the Big Bang, Chaos Theory, String Theory, etc.
No background in physics is necessary.
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| Saturday, March 20 |
| 9:30 a.m. |
Torah Study with Rabbi Nelson
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| 4:30 p.m. |
Havdalah Happening
The Mythic and the Real in Israel
What do we think of when we hear the word “Israel”?
Jerusalem of gold? A land flowing with milk and honey? Soldiers standing teary-eyed at the Kotel? Or the Tel Aviv hi-tech corridor, high school teacher strikes, and endless public arguments about everything? This session will use texts to help us understand how we envision Israel, and will focus on the question, “What SHOULD happen in our heads when we hear about Israel?” |
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