5785 Course Highlights
AFTER FAITH
BREAKS with Rabbi Menachem Creditor
HOMILETICS with Rabbi Scott Glass
TEACHING ISRAEL with Rabbi Anat Levin Katzir
Faith is often imagined as unshakable, but what is faith? And what happens when it is challenged, fractured, or even lost? This course explores the ruptures in faith through Jewish texts, theological reflections, and contemporary voices. Through selections from Tanakh, Midrash, and Talmud, alongside Hebrew poets and the writings of figures such as Gershom Scholem, Viktor Frankl, James Fowler, Jill Hammer, David Hartman, Hayim Soloveitchik, Shalom Auslander, Paul Tillich, Louis Ginzberg, and Mara Benjamin, we will examine personal and communal confrontations with and crises of faith.
Whether at worship services, life cycle events, interfaith gatherings, congregational meetings, or civic occasions, preaching and public speaking are ongoing responsibilities and challenges. For hundreds of years, Jewish leaders have used their words to influence their communities’ actions. In this course, we will discuss sources, techniques, obstacles, and the opportunities that community leaders experience as they pursue this time-honored practice.
The Israel Education course will look into some of the major questions and challenges when approaching Israel programs and curricula. We will begin with an initial understanding of why Israel education is important in spiritual communities, and include issues such as what Israel content do we introduce to our community, and how to handle challenging conversations and complex emotions when discussing Israel.
MYSTICISM with Dr. Yakir Englander
This course seeks to bridge the rich world of Jewish mysticism with the challenges and questions facing Jewish spiritual leaders in the modern era. Rather than focusing on a historical-chronological approach, the course is structured around central themes that engage contemporary Jewish community life. Students will be exposed to diverse mystical voices while gaining practical experience in spiritual practices and critically examining their boundaries. Special emphasis will be placed on the relevance of mystical insights to modern communal life, while examining the costs and risks associated with employing mystical tools.
JUDAISM AND THE FAR EAST
with Dr. Job Jindo
This course offers a comparative study of Judaism and Buddhism, revolving around the themes of mindfulness and the cultivation of humanness. We will focus on distinct qualities of awareness that each tradition cultivates in its practitioners. Although historically unrelated, the two traditions share features and concerns that prove fruitful for a trans-cultural dialogue. The nature of discussions is both theoretical and practical( e. g., we will also consider if and how you can practice some of the mindfulness exercises with your family / shul members).
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