Current courses by topic: Text and Thought

B500-TI Instructors: Freund Starting: 11/14/2010 Location: Temple Isaiah

Bible by the Bay brings the community together to discuss the Torah in ways that are relevant to life in the 21st century. Sunday, November 14 1:30 – 6 pm $15 pre-registration / $25 at ...

T100-SI Instructors: Perlstein Starting: 10/12/2010 Location: Congregation Sherith Israel

We'll read stories of Hagar, Rahab, the Queen of Sheba and Ruth from the Tanakh plus commentary from the book God's Others, available for purchase at the first class. Books in softcover will be sold ...

T200-KE Instructors: Booth Starting: 10/28/2010 Location: Congregation Kol Emeth

Our lives are all too short and at times we feel as if our efforts are of no value. The author of Kohelet explores these questions of meaning, asking if there can ever be anything ...

T200-CBE Instructors: Caine Starting: 10/13/2010 Location: Congregation Beth El

Midrash describes a wildly creative way of interpreting sacred text that is unique to Judaism. Midrash fills in the "gaps" in the Biblical text, re-imagines its stories, and elaborates the psychology of its characters. In ...

T200-CBS Instructors: Sunshine Starting: 10/12/2010 Location: Congregation B'nai Shalom

Do not miss this opportunity to study Torah in the traditional hevruta style! We will spend the first hour in the beit midrash (hall of study) delving into some of the most “spicy” Biblical stories ...

T250-JCL Instructors: Alter Starting: 10/19/2010 Location: BJE Jewish Community Library

Robert Alter’s translations of the Torah, the Psalms, and Samuel I and II have deepened the English reader’s encounter with the Hebrew Bible, offering tremendous insight into the Hebrew text and restoring the poetic voice ...

P200-TS Instructors: Birnberg Starting: 10/13/2010 Location: Temple Sinai

This class will be experiential in nature, focusing on what Martin Buber has to teach us about having I-Thou relationships. We will learn from Buber, as if he were our Hassidic Rebbe, the practice of ...

T200-NS Instructors: Newmark Starting: 10/07/2010 Location: Congregation Netivot Shalom

This class is designed to introduce students to the mussar (ethics) classic The Path of the Just. Written by the renegade Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzatto ('The Ramchal') and first published in the Netherlands in 1740, ...

T100-SI Instructors: Perlstein Starting: 10/12/2010 Location: Congregation Sherith Israel

We'll read stories of Hagar, Rahab, the Queen of Sheba and Ruth from the Tanakh plus commentary from the book God's Others, available for purchase at the first class. Books in softcover will be sold ...

T200-CBE Instructors: Caine Starting: 10/13/2010 Location: Congregation Beth El

Midrash describes a wildly creative way of interpreting sacred text that is unique to Judaism. Midrash fills in the "gaps" in the Biblical text, re-imagines its stories, and elaborates the psychology of its characters. In ...

P150-BE Instructors: Melamut Starting: 11/28/2010 Location: Congregation B'nai Emunah

We will begin with a brief introduction to the discipline of Musar, and then dive into the practice, reflection, and discussion of some of the values that can help guide our daily lives. These will ...

T250-NS Instructors: Shaked Starting: 10/18/2010 Location: Congregation Netivot Shalom

"MiMoshe leMoshe, lo kam k'Moshe,"* says the famous quote about Rambam. In this course we will start with a short introduction of Rambam's life and philosophy followed by a study of selections of halakhot from ...

T250-JCL Instructors: Alter Starting: 10/19/2010 Location: BJE Jewish Community Library

Robert Alter’s translations of the Torah, the Psalms, and Samuel I and II have deepened the English reader’s encounter with the Hebrew Bible, offering tremendous insight into the Hebrew text and restoring the poetic voice ...

H230-JCL Instructors: Gitlin Starting: 12/01/2010 Location: BJE Jewish Community Library

Gitlin and Leibovitz argue that what unites the United States and Israel as allies in a “special friendship” is less common strategic interests than the deep-seated belief that they were chosen by God. In Chosen ...

T200-JCL Instructors: Seidman Starting: 10/14/2010 Location: BJE Jewish Community Library

How did modern Jewish literature modernize Jewish sexual practices, marital structures, and erotic experiences? Modernity brought with it a host of changes that included the transformations of gender roles and erotic practices, from arranged marriages ...

T250-JCL Instructors: Alter Starting: 10/19/2010 Location: BJE Jewish Community Library

Robert Alter’s translations of the Torah, the Psalms, and Samuel I and II have deepened the English reader’s encounter with the Hebrew Bible, offering tremendous insight into the Hebrew text and restoring the poetic voice ...