This course will explore the age-old question of what makes this Jew different

from that Jew. For example, there are those that could be called Hasidic Jews who

see themselves as Lubavitch, and Hasidic Jews who see themselves as Satmar.

What is the difference? There are Liberal Jews who call themselves Reform or

Reconstructionist or Humanistic or Conservative, and what are their differences?

Finally, we will try to answer the question of what makes us all one people.

Course #2

The Internet, email and text messaging have created vast communication opportunities,

but are we using them in a sacred way? Are we acting Jewishly when we send an

unvetted news article or blog to others, or forward a copy of a personal email without

asking permission? As a basis of discussion as to how the rules can or should be applied

In this class we will delve into Melville’s gigantic epic about Jews, Jewishness and

the Zionist ideal to gain real insight into the role Jews played in the thinking of one

of the 19th century’s greatest American poets and novelists. Most people have read

“Moby Dick,” but how many Jewish readers have read “Clarel?” Yet, it is the

richest extended meditation on the place of Jews in American society and the relationship

of Jewish people to the land of Israel that anyone – and certainly any non-

Jew of real literary stature – has ever written.

Course # 2A

Explore the thinking of one of the greatest modern thinkers, Abraham Joshua

Heschel, who continues to influence the direction of American Jewish life. We will

read from his masterpiece, “The Sabbath,” and discuss his evaluation of Shabbat.

We will look at his philosophical treatise, “God in Search of Man,” and debate his

thinking about such theological questions as: the revelation of Torah, the meaning

of mitzvot and prayer, chosen people and why bad things happen to good people.

We will delve into his exploration of the state of Israel in “Israel: An Echo of

Eternity,” and discuss his social activism when he protested against the Vietnam

War and marched in support of civil rights with Martin Luther King.

Course # 3A

Stories are one of the best ways we impart lessons from one generation to the next.

In this class we will examine the importance of storytelling in Judaism – our own

stories and those of our tradition. Come prepared to laugh, to cry and to enjoy the

wisdom of Jewish lore.

Course # 4A

Why do we do certain things the way we do in our tradition? How did certain

customs and rituals originate and how are they understood today? Join us as we

explore rituals around various life cycle events such as birth, marriage and death.

We shall investigate the folk ways of our ancestors, investigating why certain

practices are so prevalent in our religious culture – be it covering the mirrors in a

shiva house, placing rocks on a gravestone, smashing a glass at a wedding or tying

a red string around a baby’s crib. At what point does Jewish law, tradition, custom,

magic and superstition intersect – and what does it mean for us as Jews today?

Course # 5 & 5A

Join Rabbis White and David for an unprecedented six-part course (Sessions 1 and

2) on Jewish Responses to Fundamentalism. Topics will range from the traditional

and textual to the modern and geo-political. How did the Rabbis of old respond

to extremist practices both within and outside of Judaism? How might their

thinking impact ours? What might Jewish theology have to say with regard to contemporary

fundamentalist ideologies in our own nation, in the Middle East and

beyond? Our discussions promise to be open, engaging and enlightening.