The Shabbat Circuit

If you didn't come to BJ (B'nei Jeshurun) last shabbat, you missed out on a lot of singing. But never fear, you can still come this week. Check out http://jaking1979.googlepages.com/shabbatcalendars to find out where we're going next.

Josh

Wednesday Night Intro to Judaism

you can now place your comments on the blog - Any question that you left with last week that you would like to ask? Are you enjoying the readings. Periodically I will post link on the blog so you can go into more depth on a partiular topic. If you received the Devar Torah I email - what did you think about it. If you have not heard from me for some reason, just email me and I will respond.

shavua tov, have a good week

rabbi josh

Welcome: Introduction to Judaism

This is just a brief note to get us started. I believe one of the central questions of last week's class went something like this: If we essentially follow Jewish ethics and ritual behavior then why do we have to go through a conversion process? Any responses?

New York Kollel Tikkun Leil Shavuot

June 1st at the New York KOLLEL

Free Entrance Free Food Free Torah

The Jewish Book of the Dead at 10 p.m.

Torah and Tantra at 2:00 a.m.

Come late - Come early - Stay all Night

On Thrusday, June 1st, Rabbi Josh Saltzman will be teaching 2 classess at the New York Kollel for Tikkun Leil Shavuot.

Ma'ariv services begin at 8:30 p.m. Classes begin at 9:00 p.m.

There will be classes offered all night until 5:00 a.m.

Come for an hour, stay all night.

The New York Kollel is inviting you to join them for a night of study commerating the receiving of Torah at Mount Sinai.

Everything is FREE - no prior registration necessary. Bring I.D.

My 10 p.m. class is called DEATH AND DESIRE: THE JEWISH BOOK OF THE DEAD.

We will explore several classic Jewish texts on death and dying, including Ma'avor YaBok, written by Rabbi Aaron Berechiah b. Moses of Modena, first published in 1626 in Mantua, Italy. While many scholars reference this text, it has never fully been translated into English.

For the first time ever, you will have the opportunity to study key portions of it in a new english translation. Like other "books of the dead" (the most famous of these being the Tibetan Book of the Dead) the Jewish Book of the Dead was written to be used as a guide for both the living and the dying.

As a text for the living, it offers us the possibility to explore territories of the psyche prior to our actual biological death.The experiential practice of dying, or "dying before dying" has several important consequences for us today. First of all, it empowers us to begin to liberate ourselves from the fear of death and helps to transform our attitude towards death and dying.

Thus it prepares us to live a fuller, deeper life. And, it helps pave the way for understanding and insight not only into our own biological demise but the death of others as well. In this way, it allows us to explore our own psychological and spiritual confrontation with death, on the one hand, and provides a unique glimpse into the art of death and dying from the heart of the Jewish spiritual tradition. We explore several other texts as well.

For those brave souls who would like to study all night
i guess you have to be a mystic or an insomniac or drink many cups of coffee and eat lots of cheese cake.

my second class will begin at 2 a.m.

Torah and Tantra: An Ongoing Dialogue

The interest in Eastern Religions continues to be a widespread phenomenon among Jews across the spectrum. Where does the voice of Torah unfold in this conversation? What can Tantra learn from Torah? Some Jewish scholars working in the culture of questions go beyond the known and seek to elicit new revelations of Torah - hiddushei Torah.

The art of the question in the Jewish tradition, represented by such amazing thinkers as
Rabbi Abraham Abulafia, whose kabbalistic techniques of zerufim essentially created what we now call "ecstatic or prophetic kabbalah" was influenced by several religious traditions. Rabbi Abulafia was clearly influenced by Sufi writings - and used very similiar teaching techniques developed and emphasized by the Sufi tradition. And he was also, probably indirectly, influenced by the Indian shunya, which by the time of Rabbi Abulafia was known as the number zero.

Just like other numerals, zero had many synonyms in Hinduism - ananata, the infinitie, vishnupada, Vishnu's foot just to name a few. And the Shunya-chakra, meaning literally "emptiness circle" is still currently used in most notations in India and southeast Asia.

The shunya-bindu, literally the zero dot, used in the regions of Kashmir, represented the archetypical symbol of the dot - the universe in its non-manifested form before its transformation into the world of appearance not unlike Ein SoF in the Kabbalistic tradition.

If you are still awake, we might actually discover and interpret one of the fundemental tools of humankind - alphabets that also have a written position numeration. Perhaps we can stand again, for one brief moment, at Sinia, and on the banks of the Ganges rivers, looking and listening to find a hiddush Torah amid the lightening and thunder iand the flowing rush of the holy river.

Some contemporary Jewish scholars explored uncharted territories of the mind and soul as they travelled through India and South East Asia, particularly - Burma and Thailand. Working in the culture of questions, several of them became a generative part of contemporary Western Indology - thus learning to articulate the mediation of Judaism, Buddhism and Hinduism. They began to make connections between Jerusalem, Benares and Bankok.

Tonight, we will seek - through the wisdom of questions, to explore the emerging cross-cultural resonances among several highly developed modes of being that are reached through certain rituals and meditation, study and prayer in all three spiritual traditions

The culture of questions keeps the door open, always allowing an expanding dialogue between diverse spiritual traditions.

So come and imagine - Torah and Tantra - and join in the infinite joyous dance of Shiva, Shechinah and Samadhi.

Hope to see you there.

The New Yew York Kollel is located at the Hebrew Union College, One West 4th Street between Broadway and Mercer.

Subway W,R to 8th Street; a,C,E,F, V to West 4th Street; 6 to Astor place.

For more information see: New York Kollel Spring 2006HUC.edu Kollel Home or contact me at jsaltzman1@yahoo.com

New York Kollel " Torah Study for the city that never sleeps"

Questions on the Edge

Shalom,


Welcome to the first virtual meeting of Jews on the Edge (JOE).

JOE is co-sponsored by www.TheFullHit.com - promoting Spiritual and Intellectual nourishment for the Jewish World (managed by Elyakeem)

Let’s get started.

Please feel free to bring up any questions, suggestions, observations that will help move the conversation along.

Here are some of the ideas and questions that I would like to ask.
Hopefully these questions will stimulate a dialogue and provide a broader framework to address different issues and raise new questions.

But that depends on each of you.

1) Jews on the Edge is an experiment in creating a network of people who will be able to share their professional experiences, share stories and raise questions.

2) We also hope to further expand whatever network you have already established.

3) Provide an opportunity for many of us to learn how to engage in the practice of “spiritual marketing.” in order to earn parnasah and at the same time be immersed in the words and world of Torah.

4) Provide “working” stipends for your project – go build an ark!

Comments can be posted anonymously,
but we invite you to join the new community of
Jews on the Edge

· Request an invitation to join the BLOG

· Tell us who you are and what you do, teach, create etc… .

· Add comments to postings and new topics to the discussion.

· Be part of the new JOE e-newsletter


I. Stories, Experience and Needs

How are you surviving???

What painful experiences have you been through and how can the community help?

What has helped you in your professional career?

What do you need from JOE to improve or enhance your situation?

How successful have you been in networking with different people and institutions?

Where and what kind of problems have you encountered?

What audiences are you reaching? How?





II. How to Get Involved

Would you like to be part of a small cadre of individuals who help organize, research, write grants and raise money for JOE?

Would you be willing to share your network contacts with other people?

Would you like to receive a stipend from JOE in order to ease the financial burden?


III. Spiritual Marketing

Can you learn to be a successful entrepreneur.

Do you want to learn how to improve your marketing skills?

Would you be interested in a seminar on spiritual marketing online?

Would you attend a seminar on spiritual marketing?

Can you teach any of the skills necessary to create a personal brand?

Do these kinds of questions make you uncomfortable?

What other information would help you to be more successful or financially stable?




What are the first actions steps?

Jews on the Edge to meet Wednesday May 24th at 8p.m. Brooklyn time

JEWS ON THE EDGE rebels, misfits and mystics

www.jewishwisdomcircle.blogspot.com

co-sponsored by www.TheFullHit.com

Virtual Jewish Networking Meeting on

wednesday, May 24th at 8:00 brooklyn time

Those who are interested in joining a small group of people who will help incubate and teach, write grants and organize the network may be able to receive a number of additional benefits including office space, telephone, computer, For more information please contact jsaltzman1@gmail.com as soon as possible. There are only a limited number of spaces available.


Are you interested in joining a network of Jewish scholars, teachers and other professionals who find themselves working outside the conventional Jewish framework?

Are you dedicated to Talmud Torah Lishmah but also need to make a parnasah?

Are you always looking for the next gig, worrying about the rent, or otherwise caught up in economic woes which prevent you from writing, teaching, creating or learning?

If so, than this meeting is the place for you!

Please respond to this email/blog by letting us know of your desire to have a place to come and share ideas, network and provide support and encouragement to those of us working on the margins. It is about time we get together and figure out new and innovative ways to earn a living and do what we love most - Teach, Write, Learn and Play (the Arts) TORAH

UPDATES:

Wednesday May 24th at 8:00 p.m.

We go virtual for our first meeting.

Jews on the Edge is co-sponsored by www.TheFullHit.com
Please join us.

If you are busy, come to the blog later and add you comments.
Come to ask your questions, share your experience, create community and more.

We will also have a land meeting - date to be determined by the virtual participants in the tri-state area. The more people we reach, the more new possibilites will unfold.

You will receive an invitation to join this blog so we can have a conversation in real time on our virtual network if you contact jsaltzman1@gmail.com

Please send this announcement to people you know so we can reach as many Jews on the Edge as possible. Every person adds a new node to the network. Many of you already have mailing lists that you use for events - please email out on your lists.

And please SPREAD THE WORD AROUND TOWN

JEWS ON THE EDGE

Jews on the edge,

the network is growing incredibly fast and we are now international. Please, in order to continue to create an effective network we must continue to send out the message to as many people as we can. I ask you to rethink all your network connections, resend the invitation to the network meeting on May 24th at 8p.m new york time.

todah and kol tov,

peace,

R. Josh

Jews on the

JEWS ON THE EDGE rebels, misfits and mystics

www.jewishwisdomcircle.blogspot.com

co-sponsored by www.TheFullHit.com

Virtual Jewish Networking Meeting on

wednesday, May 24th at 8:00 brooklyn time

Those who are interested in joining a small group of people who will help incubate and teach, write grants and organize the network may be able to receive a number of additional benefits including office space, telephone, computer, For more information please contact jsaltzman1@gmail.com as soon as possible. There are only a limited number of spaces available.


Are you interested in joining a network of Jewish scholars, teachers and other professionals who find themselves working outside the conventional Jewish framework?

Are you dedicated to Talmud Torah Lishmah but also need to make a parnasah?

Are you always looking for the next gig, worrying about the rent, or otherwise caught up in economic woes which prevent you from writing, teaching, creating or learning?

If so, than this meeting is the place for you!

Please respond to this email/blog by letting us know of your desire to have a place to come and share ideas, network and provide support and encouragement to those of us working on the margins. It is about time we get together and figure out new and innovative ways to earn a living and do what we love most - Teach, Write, Learn and Play (the Arts) TORAH

UPDATES:

Wednesday May 24th at 8:00 p.m.

We go virtual for our first meeting.

Jews on the Edge is co-sponsored by www.TheFullHit.com
Please join us.

If you are busy, come to the blog later and add you comments.
Come to ask your questions, share your experience, create community and more.

We will also have a land meeting - date to be determined by the virtual participants in the tri-state area. The more people we reach, the more new possibilites will unfold.

You will receive an invitation to join this blog so we can have a conversation in real time on our virtual network if you contact jsaltzman1@gmail.com

Please send this announcement to people you know so we can reach as many Jews on the Edge as possible. Every person adds a new node to the network. Many of you already have mailing lists that you use for events - please email out on your lists.

And please SPREAD THE WORD AROUND TOWN posted by Reb Josh @ 6:22 PM

Torah and Tantra at 2 a.m, June 1st - The Jewish Book of the Dead at 10 p.m. Come late - Come early

Dear friends,

On Thrusday, June 1st, I will be teaching 2 classess at the New York Kollel for Tikkun Leil Shavuot.

Ma'ariv services begin at 8:30 p.m. Classes begin at 9:00 p.m.

There will be classes offered all night until 5:00 a.m.

Come for an hour, stay all night.

The New York Kollel is inviting you to join them for a night of study commerating the receiving of Torah at Mount Sinai.

Everything is FREE - no prior registration necessary. Bring I.D.

My 10 p.m. class is called DEATH AND DESIRE: THE JEWISH BOOK OF THE DEAD.

We will explore the classic Jewish text on death and dying, Ma'avor YaBok, written by Rabbi Aaron Berechiah b. Moses of Modena, first published in 1626 in Mantua, Italy. While many scholars reference this text, it has never fully been translated into English.

For the first time ever, you will have the opportunity to study key portions of it in a new english translation Like other "books of the dead" (the most famous of these being the Tibetan Book of the Dead) the Jewish Book of the Dead was written to be used as a guide for both the living and the dead.

As a text for the living, it offers us the possibility to explore territories of the psyche prior to our actual biological death.The experiential practice of dying, or "dying before dying" has several important consequences for us today. First of all, it empowers us to begin to liberate ourselves from the fear of death and helps to transform our attitude towards death and dying.

Thus it prepares us to live a fuller, deeper life. And, it helps pave the way for understanding and insight not only into our own biological demise but the death of others as well. In this way, it allows us to explore our own psychological and spiritual confrontation with death, on the one hand, and provides a unique glimpse into the art of death and dying from the heart of the Jewish spiritual tradition.


For those brave souls who study all night (i guess you have to be a mystic or an insomniac or drink many cups of coffee -)

my second class will begin at 2 a.m.

Torah and Tantra: An Ongoing Dialogue

The interest in Eastern Religions continues to be a widespread phenomenon among Jews across the spectrum. Where does the voice of Torah unfold in this conversation? What can Tantra learn from Torah? Some Jewish scholars working in the culture of questions go beyond the known and seek to elicit new revelations of Torah - hiddushei Torah.

The art of the question in the Jewish tradition, represented by such amazing thinkers as
Rabbi Abraham Abulafia, whose kabbalistic techniques of zerufim essentially created what we now call "ecstatic or prophetic kabbalah" was influenced by several religious traditions. Rabbi Abulafia was clearly influenced by Sufi writings - and used very similiar teaching techniques developed and emphasized by the Sufi tradition. And he was also, probably indirectly, influenced by the Indian shunya, which by the time of Rabbi Abulafia was known as the number zero.

Just like other numerals, zero had many synonyms in Hinduism - ananata, the infinitie, vishnupada, Vishnu's foot just to name a few. And the Shunya-chakra, meaning literally "emptiness circle" is still currently used in most notations in India and southeast Asia.

The shunya-bindu, literally the zero dot, used in the regions of Kashmir, represented the archetypical symbol of the dot - the universe in its non-manifested form before its transformation into the world of appearance not unlike Ein SoF in the Kabbalistic tradition.

If you are still awake, we might actually discover and interpret one of the fundemental tools of humankind - alphabets that also have a written position numeration. Perhaps we can stand again, for one brief moment, at Sinia, and on the banks of the Ganges rivers, looking and listening to find a hiddush Torah amid the lightening and thunder iand the flowing rush of the holy river.

Some contemporary Jewish scholars explored uncharted territories of the mind and soul as they travelled through India and South East Asia, particularly - Burma and Thailand. Working in the culture of questions, several of them became a generative part of contemporary Western Indology - thus learning to articulate the mediation of Judaism, Buddhism and Hinduism. They began to make connections between Jerusalem, Benares and Bankok.

Tonight, we will seek - through the wisdom of questions, to explore the emerging cross-cultural resonances among several highly developed modes of being that are reached through certain rituals and meditation, study and prayer in all three spiritual traditions

The culture of questions keeps the door open, always allowing an expanding dialogue between diverse spiritual traditions.

So come and imagine - Torah and Tantra - and join in the infinite joyous dance of Shiva, Shechinah and Samadhi.

Hope to see you there.

The New Yew York Kollel is located at the Hebrew Union College, One West 4th Street between Broadway and Mercer.

Subway W,R to 8th Street; a,C,E,F, V to West 4th Street; 6 to Astor place.

For more information see: New York Kollel Spring 2006HUC.edu Kollel Home or contact me at jsaltzman1@yahoo.com

New York Kollel " Torah Study for the city that never sleeps"

Jewish Networking Meeting - for Jews On the Edge

Jewish Networking Meeting
for misfits, rebels and mystics

Are you interested in joining a network of Jewish scholars, teachers and other professionals who find themselves working outside the conventional Jewish framework?

Are you dedicated to Talmud Torah Lishmah but also need to make a parnasah?

Are you always looking for the next gig, worrying about the rent, or otherwise caught up in economic woes which prevent you from writing, teaching, creating or learning?

If so, than this meeting is the place for you!

The call is going out.

Please respond to this email/blog by letting us know of your desire to have a place to come and share ideas, network and provide support and encouragement to those of us working on the margins. It is about time we get together and figure out new and innovative ways to earn a living and do what we love most - Teach, Write, Learn and Play (the Arts) TORAH


UPDATES:

Wednesday May 24th at 8:00 p.m.
We go virtual for our first meeting.

Jews on the Edge is co-sponsored by TheFullhit.com

Please join us.

If you are busy, come to the blog later and add you comments.

Come to ask your questions, share your experience, create community and more.

We will also have a land meeting - date to be determined by the virtual participants in the tri state area. The more people we reach, the more new possibilites will unfold.


You will receive an invitation to join this blog so we can have a conversation in real time on our virtual network if you contact jsaltzman1@yahoo.com

Please send this announcement to people you know so we can reach as many Jews on the Edge as possible. Every person adds a new node to the network.

And please SPREAD THE WORD AROUND TOWN

Jewish Book of the Dead

Dear friends,

On Thrusday, June 1st, I will be teaching a class at the New York Kollel for Tikkun Leil Shavuot.

Ma'ariv services begin at 8:30 p.m.

Classes begin at 9:00 p.m.

There will be classes offered all night until 5:00 a.m.

Come for an hour, stay all night. The New York Kollel is inviting you to join them for a night of study commerating the receiving of Torah at Mount Sinai. Everything is FREE - no prior registration necessary. Bring I.D.

My class is called DEATH AND DESIRE: THE JEWISH BOOK OF THE DEAD. We will explore the classic Jewish text on death and dying, Ma'avor YaBok, written by Rabbi Aaron Berechiah b. Moses of Modena, first published in 1626 in Mantua, Italy. While many scholars reference this text, it has never fully been translated into English.

For the first time ever, you will have the opportunity to study key portions of it in a new english translation (I am still in the process of translating the book with Henry Resnick.)

Like other "books of the dead" (the most famous of these being the Tibetan Book of the Dead) the Jewish Book of the Dead was written to be used as a guide for both the living and the dead. As a text for the living, it offers us the possibility to explore territories of the psyche prior to our actual biological death.

The experiential practice of dying, or "dying before dying" has several important consequences for us today. First of all, it empowers us to begin to liberate ourselves from the fear of death and helps to transform our attitude towards death and dying.

Thus it prepares us to live a fuller, deeper life. And, it helps pave the way for understanding and insight not only into our own biological demise but the death of others as well. In this way, it allows us to explore our own psychological and spiritual confrontation with death, on the one hand, and provides a unique glimpse into the art of death and dying from the heart of the Jewish spiritual tradition.

It is an experience you don't want to miss!

The New Yew York Kollel is located at the Hebrew Union College, One West 4th Street between Broadway and Mercer. Subway W,R to 8th Street; a,C,E,F, V to West 4th Street; 6 to Astor Place.

Time of Class TBA

for more information see: New York Kollel Spring 2006HUC.edu Kollel Home or contact me at jsaltzman1@yahoo.com

New York Kollel " Torah Study for the city that never sleeps"



Back to top

posted by Reb Josh @ 7:19 PM

introduction to judaism - additional readings for May 8

Introduction to Judaism

additional readings for next week
click on the links below:

The Bible as Ancient Literature (Relevance:100) -->
Canonization of the Hebrew Bible (Relevance:100) -->

Dear friends,

On Thrusday, June 1st, I will be teaching a class at the New York Kollel for Tikkun Leil Shavuot.

Ma'ariv services begin at 8:30 p.m.

Classes begin at 9:00 p.m.

There will be classes offered all night until 5:00 a.m.

Come for an hour, stay all night. The New York Kollel is inviting you to join them for a night of study commerating the receiving of Torah at Mount Sinai. Everything is FREE - no prior registration necessary. Bring I.D.

My class is called DEATH AND DESIRE: THE JEWISH BOOK OF THE DEAD. We will explore the classic Jewish text on death and dying, Ma'avor YaBok, written by Rabbi Aaron Berechiah b. Moses of Modena, first published in 1626 in Mantua, Italy. While many scholars reference this text, it has never fully been translated into English.

For the first time ever, you will have the opportunity to study key portions of it in a new english translation (I am still in the process of translating the book with Henry Resnick.)

Like other "books of the dead" (the most famous of these being the Tibetan Book of the Dead) the Jewish Book of the Dead was written to be used as a guide for both the living and the dead. As a text for the living, it offers us the possibility to explore territories of the psyche prior to our actual biological death.

The experiential practice of dying, or "dying before dying" has several important consequences for us today. First of all, it empowers us to begin to liberate ourselves from the fear of death and helps to transform our attitude towards death and dying.

Thus it prepares us to live a fuller, deeper life. And, it helps pave the way for understanding and insight not only into our own biological demise but the death of others as well. In this way, it allows us to explore our own psychological and spiritual confrontation with death, on the one hand, and provides a unique glimpse into the art of death and dying from the heart of the Jewish spiritual tradition.

It is an experience you don't want to miss!

The New Yew York Kollel is located at the Hebrew Union College, One West 4th Street between Broadway and Mercer. Subway W,R to 8th Street; a,C,E,F, V to West 4th Street; 6 to Astor Place.

Time of Class TBA

for more information see: New York Kollel Spring 2006HUC.edu Kollel Home or contact me at jsaltzman1@yahoo.com

New York Kollel " Torah Study for the city that never sleeps"



Back to top

Introduction to Judaism On-Line


BEGINS THE WEEK OF April 2006 AND LASTS UNTIL END OF August 2006

TAUGHT BY
Rabbi Joshua Saltzman

This course may be used in fulfilling the partial requirements of most Conversions. You will receive a Certificate of Completion and will be eligible to receive discounts on future on-line courses. (You will still need to find a sponsoring Rabbi to perform the Conversion Ceremony)

It also is a wonderful way to find your way back into Judasim. Learn to read and write HEBREW.


When you register for this course you will be put on a list and will notified of your password and how to the class will work on-line. You will also receive a packet of reading material in addition to the books listed here upon receipt of payment. Checks or Money Orders ONLY made out to:

HOCHMAH: THE CIRCLE OF JEWISH WISDOM

SEND TO:
HOCHMA/SALT
299 13TH STREET
BROOKLYN N.Y. 11215


OTHER ON-LINE COURSES ARE AVAILABLE
FOR MORE INFORMATION EMAIL:
JOSHYONI@YAHOO.COM


Each week, through assigned readings, group study, on-line lectures and discussions (including live chat once a week) we will explore the beliefs and customs basic to Judaism.

Expectations:

Prepare: Please make sure to do assigned readings for each class

Journal: Class members are asked to maintain a weekly journal, to be turned into the instructor each week. Topics are listed on the syllabus, but feel free to write on other relevant topics. Journals are private unless approval of student is granted.

D’var Torah: Each class member will prepare and present a brief d’var Torah (words of Torah). Your presentation should be brief and should include a summary of the contents of the Torah portion, and one or two relevant insights.

Tzedakah: Please collect tzedakah at home every week. You may want to buy a tzedakah box. At the end of the course, we will decide as a group which Jewish organization should receive our money.

Questions: Please feel free to ask questions.

The important thing is to never stop questioning.
-Albert Einstein

Class Schedule and Reading Assignments

Abbreviations for course readings

IJ: Introduction to Judaism
IS: An Invitation to Shabbat
FG: Finding God
JL: Jewish Literacy
CJ: Choosing Judaism
CGJ: A Christian’s Guide to Judaism
TNK: The Holy Scriptures (Please read Torah portion every week)



April 10 Beginnings: What is Judaism?

Journal: Why am I taking this class.? What is my current level of religious commitment? What do I hope to learn? What are my questions and doubts?

April 17 Cycle of the Jewish Year: Passover

Readings: IJ: pp. 138-151
JH: pp.57-74
JL: pp. 619, 641-647
(Handout)
(Bring to class item(s) which you volunteered for model seder.)

Journal: If you were able to attend a seder, describe your reactions to it. What kind of experiences have you had where you moved toward some kind of freedom or liberation?

April 24 Cycle of the Year: Shabbat

Readings: IS: Read through book. Listen to CD; follow along pp. 37-40
JH: pp. 3-13
IJ: pp.223-231
JL: pp.292, 316
(Yom Hashoah-IJ: 350, JL:647)

Journal: What does the concept of Shabbat mean to me? How can I observe Shabbat in the modern world?


May 1 Jewish Beliefs: Jewish Views of God

Readings: FG: Read though book
(Yom Ha’Atzmaut-IJ:305, JL:650)

Journal: What do I believe about God.? Has my view of God changed over time? If so, how? Does my belief affect my actions? What if I don’t believe in God?

Research Topic Due

May 8 Jewish History: Torah, Prophets, and Writings

Readings: IJ: pp.269-274
JL: pp.3-107
(Handout)

Journal: Who is a biblical character who intrigues me? Why? Do I believe the Bible can guide us in how we live today? If so, how?

May 15 Jewish History: Rabbinic and Medieval Periods, Oral Law, Talmud, Mysticism

Readings: IJ: pp. 274-289
JL: pp. 110-234
(Lag B’Omer: JL: 651)

Journal: What is the importance of inquiry and interpretation in Judaism? Give an example of an interpretation that you found helpful in your own life? What questions are you asking yourself about Judaism now?


May 22 Prayers and Worship (Jewish Texts and Study)

Readings: IJ:pp.200-218
JL:pp.333-348, 525-542
(Handout)

Journal: What kind of prayer life do I have?. What role does regular worship play in my life?








May 29 Receiving the Torah
(Shavuot: JL:653, JH:80-89)
TaNaH: Book of Ruth
Try to attend Tikkun Leil Shavuot (Torah study classes for Shavuot)

Journal: If you were able to attend a Tikkun Leil Shavuot, what do you learn? Do you think the Torah was revealed at Mount Sinia? What kind of relationship exists between Ruth and Naomi? Why is the Book of Ruth so important?

June 5 Jewish Life Cycle: Birth, Brit Milah, B’nei Mitzvah, Education, Marriage, and Divorce

Readings: IJ: pp.6-23
JH: pp.90-158
JL: PP.671-685

Journal: What is the role of ritual and custom in your life? What are some of the important passages we go through in the life cycle? How do you celebrate these occasions?

June 12 Jewish Life Cycle: Sickness, end of life issues, death and mourning

Readings: pp. JH:159-208
IJ: 75-90
JL: 277, 690-694
(Handout)

Journal: Why is the mitzvah to visit the sick so important in Judaism? How have rituals been of comfort to me when someone is sick or at the time of death of someone close to me? What is my 11view of the afterlife?

June 19 Jewish Beliefs: Mitzvot, Ethics, Gemilut Hasidim

Readings: JL:545-612
(Handout)

Journal: The concept of Mitzvot is central in Judaism. What actions do I consider to be mitzvot? How might the obligation to perform Mitzvot affect my actions at home, at work, and in the community?



June 26 Jewish Beliefs: Judaism and Christianity

Readings: CGJ: all
IJ: pp.377-391

Journal: Judaism does not recognize Jesus as the Son of God or as the Messiah, nor does Judaism include the New Testament in the Holy Scriptures. How do you feel about this?



July 3 Jewish History: Early Modern Period – Europe and America

Readings: JL:237-269, 425-459
Handout

Journal: What does it mean to live in a free society? What approaches to Judaism did the Reform movement institute? Why?


July 10 Jewish History: Anti-Semitism, Holocaust

Readings: IJ: pp.350-360
JL pp. 88,189,191,192,194,196,205,217,260,262, 373-421, 507-519
(Handout)

Journal: Why have Jews been a focus of discrimination throughout much of their history? Does anti-Semitism still exist? Does genocide still exist?





July 17 Jewish History: Zionism, Israel and the Arab-Israeli Conflict

Readings: IJ:309-349
JL: 273-368

Journal: What are my feelings about the modern state of Israel? What role should Israel play in the lives of American Jews?





July 24 Conversion/ Creating a Jewish Home

Readings CJ: all
IJ: 54-74
Handout

Journal: In what ways can I see myself making a Jewish home? If I am considering conversion, what are some of the hopes I have for the future. What are some of the challenges I will face? If I am the partner of someone who is considering conversion, how do I feel about my partner’s potential conversion?



July 31 Cycle of the Jewish Year: Chanukah, Tu Beshvat, Purim ( Tishah B’Av)

Readings: IJ :24-35, 152-154, 300-304
JH: 38-44, 49-56
JL : 300.301,302,


Journal: What issues do Chanukah and Purim raise about my own spiritual identity? What challenges do I face in affirming my past and nevertheless embracing a new future? What is a miracle - have you seen one lately?


August 7 Review and Questions: Have My Questions changed since I began this course? What dream I am still waiting to fulfill?

Journal: Be creative?




August 14 Cycle of the Jewish Year: High Holidays

Readings: IJ: 162-168, 364-365
JH: 14-26
JL: 283, 293-295

Journal: What do I believe about sin? Is true atonement possible? Am I able to forgive myself? Am I able to forgive others?


August 21 Cycle of the Jewish Year: Pilgrimage Festivals: Sukkot (Simchat Torah)

Readings: IJ: 266-269
JH: 27-32

Journal: What does it mean to dwell in a temporary shelter? Are Jewish holidays fun?

August 28 Contemporary Judaism – The American Jewish Community

Handouts

Journal:
Creating our own Torah

Questions and Innovations: Circles of Wisdom

Asking questions is a powerful tool. It is said that it is easier to give answers than ask good questions. Even before Socrates used the Socratic question (what is the Socratic question? ) wise teachers sought to steer humans away from easy answers and toward the discovery of wise questions.

Some do not like questions. In fact, they dislike questions and tend to call them noisy and heretical. Socrates himself, choose to drink hemlock because he asked too many subversive questions and yet would not abandon the question. Life or the Question?

So what are good questions?

Let us start with the golden mean, since it is a question that suggest both gold or value and mean or balance and meaning.

“BECAUSE QUESTIONS ARE INTRINISICALLY RELATED TO ACTION, THEY SPARK AND DIRECT ATTENTION, PERCEPTION, ENERGY, AND EFFORT, AND SO ARE AT THE HEART OF THE EVOLVING FORMS THAT OUR LIFE ASSUMES…Creativity requires asking genuine questions, those to which an answer is not already known. Questions function as open-handed invitations to creativity, calling forth that which doesn’t yet exist.”{THAT IS, INNOVATIONS.}

Before we get back to the question of the golden mean, let us imagine a circle of wisdom, where diverse people join in conversation. The members of the conversation are just beginning to introduce themselves as they take their seats.

Questioner: Welcome to the circle of questions. There will be three rounds of conversation in which people will join different groups. One person will remain where they are from each group to share the questions and dialogue of the previous group. Individuals from other conversations will be brining seed ideas from their past conversation to the next round of discussion. Try to capture the essence of what has been said in drawings, symbols and words on your paper tablecloths (with colorful markers). Continue to link ideas and questions. Certain patterns may emerge around common themes. Some will lead to “aha” moments.

-(a brief silence ensues, then the conversation at one of the tables begins)

David C: I am David Cohan. I am not from New York City. I am from France. Why don’t I start. I think questions open doors to discovery. Doesn’t the word question come from “quest” – to be on a journey, to search for something important?
Tanita: I am Verna’s partner. I am from Brooklyn. For me, a good question opens that search into the realm of possibilities. I wonder weather wise questions which are framed after a series of questions are asked creates an opening for everyone to think about their questions. What are the questions they ask? What would they like to know?
Ann: Hi, I’m Ann Wallace. I was born in the Midwest but have lived in Manhattan for most of my adult life. I think that sometimes we try to hard to find the solutions before we have even asked effective questions. But when you begin to ask questions, when you set out on an exploration, it deepens the collective understanding of each other’s perspective.
Peter: I suppose you can tell by my accent that I am not American. I am Danish and am here with my daughter, Becca. When I think about questions I wonder what questions I should ask my child? I know that I have to ask a question that is alive and energetic so I can catch her attention.
Tanita: Do you agree with that Becca.
Becca: When I ask a question I am very practical. I would like an answer.
Ann: Effective questions do produce answers. But, that does not have to be the primary goal of a question. I have found that the most energizing questions engage people’s values, hopes and ideals – questions that relate to something larger than themselves to which they can connect or contribute. The energy level goes was down when there are only questions about removing pain or fixing problems.
David: But that comes up.
Tanita: I think you can address questions about pain. But the context can in which the question is asked can help evoke different possibilities rather than more pain.
Ann: I think questions create a certain tension that pulls us forward from our current knowledge, perspective, and understanding to new learning possibilities. New ways of approaching our questions.
David: And it is not just one question. It is more likely to be a series of related questions that build on each other. You have to be aware of what questions are evolving in the group so you can find the next question that will take the inquiry forward and deeper.

(Tanita raises her hand quietly. She asks groups to switch and people quietly move around for the next round of conversations.)


Looking at questions that have worked for others or seem to keep popping up again in history stimulate our creativity and allow us to learn new information that may be useful as a form of wisdom, providing us with a personal or collective insight.

What is the Golden Ratio (or Phi)?

The golden ratio was a question asked by the circle of Pythagoras. They were seeking order and harmony in the universe. To find this order they needed to study numbers. This was the foundation of arithmetic. The science of numbers was different, they insisted, from logistics, the art of pure calculation. By creating this separation, they gave arithmetic a special place outside of the needs of merchants.

The story of Pythagoras and his journey is fascinating. Clearly he, or someone from his circle encountered the Kabbalists. But to get to the heart of the story. Surely you have heard of pi, it is one of the most famous numbers in mathematics. What has alw3ays fascinated mathematicians is that a number defined on the basis of a geometric shape as simple as the circle bears so many mysteries and is rich with complexity. But less is heard about the golden number phi, the sister of pi.

Phi was used by the Egyptians who gave it a value of 1.614. and used it in build the pyramids. In Egypt, the golden number was part of a secret knowledge kept by the priests. But Euclid discovered its geometric demonstrations. The Greeks, who used it for the Parthenon, attributed the discovery of the golden number to Pythagoras.


The golden number often plays a key role in the balance of a painting or a construction. Phi can be applied to the human body to discover harmonious dimensions. Plato claimed that when calculating the golden number, human thought reached the mysteries of how God had decided to order the universe.

It seems that the questions that has troubled and aroused interest for quite a long time is whether phi represent an equation and a geometrical counterpart which can be found in the universal fabric of our cosmos. This is what makes it such a fascinating question for mathematicians, architects, painters, scholars and cabbalists throughout history.


Should this be one of the questions of the circle of wisdom? That is up to you. Join a circle of wisdom and bring your questions and your patience. Listening and dialogue offer you a new opportunity to learn and grow, perhaps even gain some wisdom. What do you have to loose?