Zivug: Transition to Marriage

Program: Hebrew College Open Circle Jewish Learning: Young Adults
Instructor: Rabbi Getzel Davis (Read bio)
Session: Summer
Day and Time: Thursdays, 8-9:30 p.m.
Dates: June 22, 29, July 6, 13, 20, 27, 2023 (6 sessions)
Location: Zoom
Fee: $108

Join Rabbi Getzel for a 6-class series directed toward couples on love, the meaning of “bashert” (our intended one), and the conscious transition to marriage. Through Jewish wisdom, guided exercises, and frank conversations, we will explore the growth and maintenance of vibrant relationships. Open to couples (all gender and multi-faith expressions of partnership strongly welcome) in the year preceding or following a wedding. Topics will include: What Changes When We Marry? How to Fight Better, Money, Assets, and Debt, Religious Differences, Sex and Intimacy, Sharing Responsibilities

Hebrew College Open Circle Jewish Learning is for learners of all backgrounds.

 

Sex and God: Hebrew Poems of Desire in Medieval Spain

Sex and God: Hebrew Poems of Desire in Medieval Spain

Program:  Hebrew College Me’ah Select
Instructor: Dr. Shari Lowin  (Read Bio)
Dates: 5 Wednesdays, 6/14, 6/28, 7/5, 7/12 & 7/19
Time: 7:15 – 9:15 p.m.
Cost: $190, generous financial aid is available
Location: Zoom
Hosted by: Hebrew College

From the 10th through 13th centuries, Islamic Spain experienced what is now called a “Golden Age.” Literature, music, philosophy, mathematics, science, medicine all flourished under the Muslim rulers and a spirit of religious coexistence and cooperation reigned. This period also saw the development of Hebrew religious poetry side by side with secular Hebrew poetry, often written by the same rabbinic hand. Surprisingly, not only did these religious poets utilize erotic themes in their secular poetry, they also used religious images in their erotic poetry.

Over 5 sessions, this course will familiarize students with the phenomenon – the patterns, tropes, topics and breadth — of medieval Andalusian poetry and investigate the particular phenomenon of the erotica of the scholar-poets. Among the questions we will address: In what ways did the Hebrew poets interact with the Muslim poets and vice versa? Why did such poetry arise? How did these religious scholar-poets justify the writing of such seemingly sacrilegious poetry — both the erotica itself and the religious use of erotic imagery? Were the poems reflections of reality?

Hebrew College Me’ah Select courses offer in-depth academically oriented adult learning experiences led by outstanding faculty.

Peshuto shel Mikra: the Relationship of the Oral and Written Torah from the Jewish Enlightenment to Today

Peshuto shel Mikra: the Relationship of the Oral and Written Torah from the Jewish Enlightenment to Today

Program: Hebrew College Me’ah Select
Instructor: Rabbi Benjamin Samuels, PhD  (Read Bio)
Dates: 5 Tuesdays, 6/20, 6/27, 7/11, 7/18 & 7/25
Time: 7-9 p.m.
Cost: $190, generous financial aid is available
Location: Zoom
Hosted by: Hebrew College

Peshat exegesis refers to the contextual literary reading of the Torah. Derash refers to layers of meaning derived through the interpretive rules and methods of rabbinic commentators. Together, peshat and derash conjoin the written and oral Jewish traditions of Torah. However, there has long been a tension between the two. As the modern era ushered in new approaches that separated peshat from derash, there were counter efforts to produce commentaries showing that they were inseparable.

In this course, we will study modern representations of peshat interpretation, and peshat and derash unitive commentaries, from the Jewish Enlightenment of the 18th Century until today. We will also delve into the controversy presently swirling around the legitimacy of peshuto shel mikra in religious bible study today.

Hebrew College Me’ah Select courses offer in-depth academically oriented adult learning experiences led by outstanding faculty.

The New Jewish Canon

The New Jewish Canon

Program:  Hebrew College Me’ah Select
Instructor: Rabbi Leonard Gordon  (Read Bio)
Dates: 5 Wednesdays, 8/16, 8/23, 8/30, 9/6 & 9/13
Time: 7 – 9 p.m.
Cost: $190, generous financial aid is available
Location: Zoom
Hosted by: Hebrew College

Our course will read and discuss select essays/responses from the new anthology, THE NEW JEWISH CANON*. Reflecting the best English language Jewish writing of the past decades, this collection organizes its essays under the headings: “Jewish politics and the public square,” “Religion and religiosity,” and “Identities and Communities.” Among other topics, we will discuss: American Jews and Israel, the future of denominations, the impact of changing gender roles, and the shifting political alignments within the American Jewish community.

* The New Jewish Canon (Emunot: Jewish Philosophy and Kabbalah) by Yehuda Kurtzer  (Editor), Claire E. Sufrin  (Editor) Paperback $39 – to be purchased by students for this course.

Hebrew College Me’ah Select courses offer in-depth academically oriented adult learning experiences led by outstanding faculty.

Who is Righteous?

Course Title: Who is Righteous?
Program:
Hebrew College Open Circle Jewish Learning: Texts and Traditions
Instructor:
Rabbi Eric Gurvis (Read bio)
Dates: July 11, 18, 23; August 1, 8, 2023 (5 sessions)
Day and Time: Tuesdays 7-8:30 p.m. Eastern Time
Location: Online via Zoom
Session: Summer 2023
Fee: $180 Generous Financial Scholarships available

In Deuteronomy tradition we are taught, “Justice, justice shall you pursue.” Early in the Rabbinic period the legend of a quorum of righteous person developed as our Sages understanding of what it takes to sustain the world. Over time, this evolved into the tradition that in each generation there must be at least thirty-six righteous persons for the world to be sustained. These people, often hidden, became known as the lamed-vavnikim (lamed+vav=36).

  • What do these teachings mean for us in our time?
  • What does it mean to be a righteous person?
  • Whom did tradition hold up as a model?
  • How can these teachings inspire us to pursue righteousness in our lives, and in our time?

We will explore texts from across the breadth and depth of Jewish tradition (in translation).

Hebrew College Open Circle Jewish Learning is for learners of all backgrounds.

Reading the Rabbis

Program: Hebrew College Open Circle Jewish Learning: Texts and Traditions
Instructor: Rabbi Natan Margalit (Read bio)
Partner Organization: Organic Torah, Aleph: Alliance for Jewish Renewal
Location: Online via Zoom

Reading the Rabbis: Pirkei Avot, Chapter Three (7 sessions) > New <
Session: Summer 2023
Day and Time: Wednesdays, 3:30 – 5 p.m. Eastern
Dates: June 7, 14, 21, 28; July 19, 26; August 2, 2023
Fee: $252 Generous financial scholarships available

If you have some Hebrew knowledge but have been wishing that you could “break the Sefer Barrier” and learn to read classic Jewish texts such as the Mishnah and rabbinic commentaries on your own, this is for you. We strike a balance between focus on Hebrew reading skills and commenting and discussing the fascinating ideas and content of one of the most beloved of rabbinic texts: Pirkei Avot. Pirkei Avot is a unique collection of ethics sayings and wisdom of the ancient rabbis. In this class we will focus on Chapter Three. We’ll mostly rely on the commentary of Ovadia Bartenura (1445-1515) as well as other classic commentaries and an occasional Hasidic commentary.

Hebrew College Open Circle Jewish Learning is for learners of all backgrounds.