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105: Living Prophetically: An Everyday Judaism of Justice
with Rabbi Yair Robinson
Wednesdays, March 5, 12, and 26. 7:30 pm
In an increasingly fragmented, unequal, and ambiguous world, a world seemingly driven by the pursuit of wealth and status at the expense of the wellness of the other, it becomes harder for us to find our moral center. The Prophets of our Tradition lived in such times; they reminded Israel of its obligations not only to God, the Tradition, or the Jewish people, but to any who were in need, to justice for its own sake. We’ll look at some of today’s challenges:such as poverty and globalization, ‘Green issues’ and the use of natural resources, and the apathy and cynicism of the modern age. How would our Prophets have responded? What action should we take? We’ll learn together.
106: Getting in Your Genes: Jewish Bioethics
with Rabbi Paula Goldberg
Wednesdays, April 2, 9, and 16. 7:30 pm
Bioethics concerns the relationships among biology, science, medicine and ethics, philosophy and theology. Jewish bioethics concerns the use of Jewish law and tradition to determine the morality or advisability of treatments or technologies, the use of scarce resources and other issues. Modern medical discoveries have placed new challenges before interpreters of Jewish tradition. Some issues have also taken on a political dimension: abortion, stem cell research and genetic technologies, organ transplant issues, funding research, new drugs, and unusual treatments. We will explore what Jewish tradition has to say about these issues, and discuss our own personal viewpoints. Course sponsored by Sandi Berger
107: Is There Such a Thing as a Moral War?
With Rabbi Elliot Strom
Mondays, April 28, May 5 and 12. 7:30 pm
Our country is torn apart today by arguments about the morality of the current conflict in Iraq. We ask: is this war moral? Is it just? Is it justified on ethical grounds? These are the same questions that arose over America’s conflict in Vietnam, over Israel’s battle with Hezbollah in the summer of 2006, over NATO’s conflict in the Balkans only a few short years ago. They arise whenever there is war and they are among the most important and perplexing questions we can ever ask. On what basis can we make these decisions? How do we know if a conflict is a “just war?” For millennia, our Jewish sources have been wrestling with these very issues so we will turn, in this course, to their time-honored wisdom for guidance, context and insight.
108: Beginning Hebrew, Part 2 With Cantor Neil Schnitzer
Wednesdays, January 9, 16, 23, and 30; February 6 and 13. 7:00 pm
This course is for students who are comfortable pronouncing Hebrew words, and want to become better acquainted with the form and meaning of the prayer book. It is open to those who completed the Fall, 2007 course as well as to any others who are at that stage of Hebrew learning.
109: Torah Cantillation
With Cantor Mark Elson
Wednesdays, April 30; May 7, 14, 21, and 28; and June 4 (if necessary). 7:00 to 7:45 pm Students will learn to read from the Torah scroll and to chant according to the traditional trope. Those who complete the course will be expected to chant a portion of three or more verses at a Chevrat Torah or other service.
Introduction to Judaism will meet at Shir Ami, Tuesdays 7:15-9:30 beginning on March 25, 2008 for 16 weeks.
Models of Manhood
This Year’s Topic is a “Jewish Understanding of Islam and Muslims” - A very timely subject with the current Middle East Situation. The text we will be using is “Children of Abraham: An introduction to Islam for Jews” by Khalid Duran. It will be provided by the Men’s Club at no charge. Rabbi Strom and Rabbi Robinson will present the program in four sessions on Sundays from 10:00 AM to 11:15 AM, December 2 with Rabbi Strom, January 13 with Rabbi Robinson, March 2 with Rabbi Robinson and April 6 with Rabbi Strom.
With the relevance of the topic, we are expecting a lively discussion. This course is open to the whole congregation. If you would like to reserve a copy of the text, please call or email: 215-752-9177 or NJKAUFFMAN@comcast.net.
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