Israel Current Events

Taught by Rabbi Adam Schaffer

This course is designed to help students engage in dialogue about current events in Israel. Some conversations will be about Israel-specific matters and some conversations will be about how the current events of the world are impacting Israel.

As our source material for this course, we will use the “Daily Alert,” which is a project of the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs. It does not have a political agenda, but rather seeks to provide the reader multiple perspectives on currently relevant issues.

Five Tuesday mornings starting May 7 on Zoom.

More Jewish Holiday Heroines

In this six-week program from Melton-favorite teacher and gynocentric Torah scholar Sivan Rotholz, we will explore the Jewish calendar through the lens of the women featured in the Jewish holidays. From the women of Passover as a model of civil disobedience to the medieval practice of remembering Jephthah’s daughter on the winter solstice, from Chag Habanot (the North African Jewish Festival of Daughters) to Lailah and the Tree of Souls for Tu B’Shvat, we will discover some of the lesser-known female heroines of the Jewish year. Through this discovery, we will gain insights into new role models and see the multi-dimensionality of some of our more famous Biblical women. And when we explore Esther and Vashti and the feminine origins of Hamantaschen, it will give you something unforgettable to share at next year’s Purim party!

Six Wednesday mornings starting May 1 on Zoom.

 

When Rabbis Became Our Teachers

The destruction of the first and second Temples in Jerusalem marked a profound period of trauma for the Jewish people. But how did they recover from such devastation? In this exploration, we delve into the remarkable journey of a group of passionate and dedicated individuals—the Rabbis—who played a pivotal role in rebuilding Judaism from its ashes. We’ll uncover how they not only revitalized Jewish practice but also made it adaptable and portable for generations to come. Join us as we discover how the teachings of these visionary leaders continue to shape and influence our Jewish lives today.

Four Tuesday Evenings  starting May 14 hybrid, choose to join in person or on Zoom.