Who is happy? Who is the person who is considered wise? When should I consider

myself successful in life? These and many other questions are addressed in “Pirkei

Avot,” a work whose title is commonly translated as “Ethics of the Fathers.” This

Talmudic tractate is traditionally studied during the summer. In this course we will

delve into the book’s wisdom and whet our appetites for further study.

This is not a film class; it is a class about God. We will use clips from popular movies

as “triggers” to delve into discussion of God’s nature. We will also include quotes

from the Bible and from the Rabbis (ancient and recent) to give the Jewish perspectives

on God’s nature.

The Golden Age of Spain was a remarkable period in the life of the Jewish people.

This class will encompass the history and poetry of that era. We will examine the work

of Yehuda Halevy and Solomon Ibn-Gabirol and see if we have anything to learn for

contemporary times from this prolific period of Jewish and Muslim creativity.

Traditional thoughts on Jewish liturgy teach us that most of our prayers are based on

the formula of praise, petition and thanksgiving. In this course we will examine early

of the more contemporary interpretations. Are praise, petition and thanksgiving the

only ways we can connect to God through prayer, or can we find another way?

Many Jews today refer to themselves as “Reform,” “Conservative,” or “Orthodox,”

but what do these identifications really mean or entail? How do these movements

differ from each other and what are their philosophical and religious foundations? We

will explore their historical, sociological and theological development. We will also

delve into the reason why more and more people today choose not to affiliate with

any movement or identify as Jewish altogether, and what that might mean for the

future of Judaism.

During our sessions we will examine the ancient bond Jews share with the land of Israel.

We will then explore the close kinship the American Jewish community has shared with Israel

since its modern rebirth, and finally move on to some of the more contentious issues we face in

our relationship with Israel, i.e., the current struggle with Palestinian extremists, the anti-Israel

Course #1A

These lectures will consider the passages in the New Testament that recount the story

of Jesus’ trial and execution in light of modern scholarship, especially the work of

John Dominic Crossan and Haim Cohn. The goal will be to develop a clear sense of

whether these accounts constitute reliable history, embellished legend, or pure

midrash designed to make a theological point independent of historical reality. Also,

we will discuss what these core texts of Christian faith have to say about the future of

Christian-Jewish dialogue, and whether they deserve to be considered part of the

canon of ancient Jewish literature.

Course #2A

Does our ability to heal and our belief in God somehow relate to one another? In light

of the proliferation of healing services and great focus on prayers of healing, this class

will allow us to think together about how Judaism has approached healing over time.

what extent do present day theologians and doctors alike link healing and the presence

of religion in one’s life?

Course #3A

Course #4A

As Israelis cope with the pressures of everyday life, come and join us as we read how

this is expressed in Modern Hebrew Poetry. What does it mean to consider oneself

secular while writing in the Holy Tongue and using references directly from the Bible,

the liturgy and other sacred sources. We will read Yehuda Amichai, Natan Zach, Leah

Goldberg and others. No knowledge of Hebrew is needed.

Course #5A