Course Topic: Jewish Texts & Contexts

Judaism as Art: A Search for Congruity

*Program: Open Circle Jewish Learning: Arts and Culture
Instructor: Rabbi Elyssa Austerklein (see bio)
Day and Time: Wednesdays, 6-7:30 p.m. Eastern
Dates: 4/19, 4/26, 5/3, 5/10, 5/17, 5/24, 2023 (6 sessions)
Location: Online via Zoom
Fee: $108

Can Jewish spiritual practice be understood as a kind of art? How can the artistic process illuminate Jewish living? We will look at some of the themes that have occupied modern art production and consumption, in particular — the presence or absence of the author; the possibility of creations going out of control; the tension between discipline and creative spontaneity, and the poetics of darkness and light.

*This course is offered through the Hebrew College-IYUN Fellowship program.

Ancient Responses to Modern Challenges

Ancient Responses to Modern Challenges

Program: Hebrew College Me’ah Select
Instructor: Dr. Susie Tanchel  (Read Bio)
Dates: 5 Thursdays, 2/9, 2/16, 3/2, 3/9 & 3/16
Time: 9:30-11:30 a.m.
Cost: $190, generous financial aid is available
Location: Zoom
Hosted by: Hebrew College

Many parts of life have shifted since biblical times and yet parts of the human condition have remained the same. Like our ancestors before us, for example, we need to take initiative in some moments and innovate in others, we need to balance responsibility with authenticity, and we need to persuade people of our message and respond to tragedies. During this course, we will explore these topics by reading and discussing selected texts from different part of the Bible including Genesis, minor prophets, and the Book of Job, in order to discover what wisdom and guidance we can learn for our own lives. No prior knowledge of Hebrew is required. Please bring an open mind and heart.

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

Hasidic Narratives of Spiritual Growth, Loss, and Renewal

Hasidic Narratives of Spiritual Growth, Loss, and Renewal

Program: Hebrew College Me’ah Select
Instructor: Rabbi Or Rose (Read Bio)
Dates: 6 Thursdays, 2/23, 3/2, 3/9, 3/16, 3/23 & 3/30
Time: 7-9:00 p.m.
Cost: $228, generous financial aid is available
Location: Zoom
Hosted by: Hebrew College

In this course we will examine a variety of stories composed by Eastern European Jewish mystical leaders and their followers. These tales provide us with a window into the spiritual and cultural world of various teachers, preachers, and seekers, as they encounter the beauties, mysteries, and challenges of daily life. Our study will include materials by and about the Ba’al Shem Tov (d. 1760), Rabbi Levi Yitzhak of Berditchev (d. 1809), Rabbi Nahman of Bratslav (d. 1810), and other lesser-known figures (historical and fictional). As part of our learning, we will compare these narratives to other forms of Hasidic writing—homilies, conduct literature, letters, etc.—and make use of various scholarly studies.

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

From Marriage to the Messiah: Healthy Discussions on Divisive Topics

Program: Hebrew College Open Circle Jewish Learning: Young Adults
Instructors: Rabbi Joel Goldstein and Rabbi Matthew Ponak (read bios)
Day and Time: Wednesdays, 8-9:30 p.m. Eastern, 5-6:30 p.m. Pacific
Dates: Feb 8, 15, 22; Mar 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, 2023 (8 sessions)
Location: Online via Zoom
Fee: $144

Rabbinic literature is rife with honest and respectful debate and a willingness to confront difficult and controversial topics. Holding onto this tradition is vital to peaceful co-existence with our friends and neighbors in an increasingly polarized world. Join Rabbis Matthew Ponak and Joel Goldstein— two Rabbis and study partners with starkly different approaches to Jewish thought and practice- as they lead an exploration of controversial Jewish topics while modeling how to use controversy and disagreement as a way to sharpen one another’s thinking and friendship. Discover how all our differences, disagreements, and discomfort can actually make us better thought partners and help us refine and evolve our own beliefs in Judaism.

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

Canadian and other registrants from outside of the US: please email Cindy Bernstein to complete your registration. We apologize for the inconvenience.