Fall/Winter Semester: Wednesdays, Oct. 23, 30, Nov. 6, 13, 20, Dec. 4, 11, 18, Jan. 8, 15, 22
We are thrilled you will be learning with us. We are proud to be offering a number of classes for learners of all backgrounds and interests. The most important thing to us is that no one is excluded from learning! Scholarship pricing and monthly payment plans are readily available. Kim is readily available to help open the doors for you! Reach her by email or by phone at 954-249-8290. This fee does not cover all of our costs so, if you are able, we hope you will make a scholarship donation when you register, sponsor a Day of Learning or underwrite your favorite teacher’s class!
All of our Wednesday classes are held in the Katz Building on the Campus of the David Posnak JCC. Our fall line up includes:
FIRST HOUR: 9:30am-10:30am
Judaism's 10 Best Ideas with Rabbi Akiva Mann
In today's environment where race, ethnicity, and religion are under attack this course is designed to present 10 core Jewish ideas that represent our people's greatest contributions to human civilization. The "10" will be a twenty-first-century response to the ancient request "teach me the essence of Judaism - while standing on one foot." Wouldn't it be absolutely wonderful for us, to finally be able to encapsulate Judaism's fundamental messages and visions and with great feeling and dedication incorporate them into our daily lives? This course is not only for people beginning their Jewish journey but also for the initiated seeker who wishes to reinforce and strengthen their understanding and appreciation of Jewish wisdom and its basic value system.
Special Meaning for Special Seasons with Rabbi Mark Gross
An introduction to five unique books of the Hebrew Bible, with an exploration of their timeless spiritual meaning and of their respective application to five once-a-year holidays. Erotic Love Poetry as a Metaphor for Longing: Song of Songs, Ruth, a different kind of Love Story, with Messianic Overtones. The Pathway to Recover from Tragedy: Lamentations, The Grown-Up Book: Ecclesiastes and The One We (Think We) Already Know: Esther.
Great Debates with Rabbi David Paskin
Judaism is built on great debates. From Avraham debating God to contemporary thinkers debating the very nature of faith and religious practice, the passionate conversations and questions our people have engaged in have created a rich and diverse tapestry in which we can seek our own Jewish path of practice and belief. Join Rabbi David as we explore some of the greatest debates in Jewish history and engage in some of our own.
SECOND HOUR: 10:45am-11:45am
Jewish Reflections on Death and Dying with Rabbi Akiva Mann
There is hardly any topic or concept that challenges the human psyche more than the idea of our own mortality - death. This course is meant to encourage us to do some self-exploration of our attitudes concerning death - talk them out - and draw some thoughtful conclusions that we can "live" with. Gleaning from a plethora of Jewish sources - theological, mystical, practical and personal we will open our minds and hearts to new meaningful possibilities of understanding what life and death really mean. Text material from contemporary non-Jewish wisdom thinkers will be included. Some topics to be addressed: Fear of death; preparing for death; immortality of the soul; ethical wills; conscious dying; death as a homecoming; death as a supreme spiritual act...and more. Prerequisite for this class: BREATHING.
Biblical Family Dynamics - Contemporary Lessons with Bruce Greenberg
Exploration of our Patriarch's and Matriarch's perfections, imperfections and dysfunctions and we will see how these apply to our own lives today. We will start in the Garden of Eden and continue our exploration through to the children of Jacob.
Commandedness and Autonomy with Rabbi David Paskin
Perhaps the most difficult issue for liberal Jews who care about halacha (Jewish law) is the tension between two core values: mitzvah (the concept of commandedness) and autonomy. In this class, we will explore different understandings of the idea of commandedness throughout Jewish history and wrestle with how we can accept this core idea of Judaism while not abandoning our autonomy, which is fundamental to living in the modern world.
Scholarships are available. Please contact kim@ijkl.org for more information.
