BEYOND THE BASICS: DELVING DEEPER INTO JEWISH EXPERIENCE
This course is intended for graduates of “Intro” courses as well as for those who have a basic knowledge of Judaism but who wish to look more deeply into the introductory topics.
These three parts roughly follow the outline of topics in Introduction to the Jewish Experience, but they assume that students have been exposed to some basic vocabulary and concepts. We will review those concepts and then dive into deeper questions. The focus here is to look at these issues in such a way that the individual student can think about his choices for engaging more deeply in Jewish life.
Fall 2013
BEYOND THE BASICS: THE JEWISH YEAR
The cycle of the Jewish holidays has provided a framework for communal and individual spiritual growth for millennia. To those newly observing the Jewish holy days and celebrations, the holidays can be perceived as episodic. We will look at the ways that they flow into one another, and how they may contribute to the growth of the individual and the community. Connections and tensions between points on the calendar offer rich insights into the meanings of the days. We’re going to look more deeply into the holiday cycle for the roots of the festivals and the logic that informs their flow.
6 Thursdays, beginning October 3 – November 14 (no class 10/31)
7:30 – 9:00 pm at Beth El, 1301 Oxford Street, Berkeley
$85 for the public and $75 for members of Beth El.
Taught by a favorite Lehrhaus instructor, Rabbi Ruth Adar.
