Addressing the Challenges of Modernity

How has Jewish identity and religious expression been influenced by the historical and ideological developments of modernity? How has Judaism addressed hot-button topics like gender roles and intermarriage against the backdrop of 300 years of dramatic religious and social change? Delve into these topics and more in a fascinating 10-session study of the variety of voices that make up contemporary Judaism – where we are today, and how we got here.

10 Tuesdays, Jan. 7 – Mar. 11, 2025 | 7-8:30 p.m.
Virtual via Zoom

Led by Rabbi Adam Schaffer

Israeli Literature as a Window to a Diverse and Vibrant Society 

 Encounter Israeli society through the pens of Israel’s leading writers, discovering voices that are original, frank, contemporary, and heartfelt. This course takes you on a literary journey offering a fresh and fascinating examination of Israeli society. Together, learners will read poetry and prose that is challenging and self-critical, gaining insights into the Israeli national psyche through written reflections on themes including longing for Zion, War, Peace, Immigration, Land and Identity. Learners will interpret, analyze, and simply appreciate the works of classic Israeli writers such as Leah Goldberg, Yehuda Amichai, Dalia Ravikovitch and Amos Oz, as well as voices from outside the mainstream that have emerged and paint a multidimensional picture of a proud and complex nation.

10 Sessions Zoom only

10 Tuesdays, Jan. 7 – Mar. 11, 2025 | 10-11:30 a.m.
Virtual via Zoom

Led by Rabbi Shana Chandler Leon

Beyond Borders: The History of the Arab-Israeli Conflict Part I

Examine maps, media documents, original speeches and the famous “Balfour Declaration” with new eyes, as we study the roots of the conflict between Jews and Arabs over the modern State of Israel. These 10 sessions encompass the return of the Jews to the land, the role of the British, the Cold War, the rise of Palestinian nationalism, the 1967 War, and the post-1967 vision for a “Greater Israel” — including the initial rise of Islamic fundamentalism. From religion and culture to history, politics, economics, identity, and survival, the material is designed to encourage discussion and debate, challenging learners to appreciate the basis of the claims made by all sides.

10 Sessions hybrid, choose to join in person or on Zoom.

10 Wednesdays, Jan. 8 – Mar. 12, 2025 | 10-11:45 a.m.
Hybrid

Led by Benzy Kogen

Israel Current Events

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.

Dates and Times TBD
Virtual via Zoom

Led by Rabbi Adam Schaffer