(RE)INTRODUCTION TO JUDAISM – UPDATED AND CORRECTED

THIS IS AN UPDATED AND CORRECTED SCHEDULE AND CURRICULUM

Chaverim nichbadim/Dear friends:

I am pleased to provide an outline of my adult education course, suitable for anyone post-bar/bat mitzvah age, “(Re)Introduction to Judaism”. This is a wonderful opportunity to learn or relearn everything they should have taught you in Hebrew School - and a whole lot more! The course includes workshops for enhancing Shabbat and Holiday observances. Participants may need to purchase some books; the only course requirements are that you attend with an open mind and a willingness to share your ideas.

 

Our motto: An educated Jew is our best customer! I look forward to learning with you this year.

 

B’virkat shalom / With the blessing of peace,

 

Rabbi Richard Flom

 

 

(RE)INTRODUCTION TO JUDAISM – AN ADULT EDUCATION COURSE AT BETH MEIER

 

Course Goals:

1.       Expand participants’ knowledge of Judaism – its history, theology, holy texts, life cycle, holy days, rituals, laws, customs, culture, and liturgy.

2.       Encourage further study of Judaism in all its richness.

3.       Encourage greater participation in Jewish life, both communal and personal.

4.       Encourage greater Jewish observance.

5.       To prepare for conversion to Judaism those who are considering that step.

 

Course Texts:

 

Jewish Literacy, by Joseph Telushkin (2008 edition preferred; earlier editions are fine)

 

Tanakh – one of the following: Tanakh (Jewish Publication Society); Jerusalem Bible (Koren Publishing); The Stone Edition Tanach (Mesorah Publications); or, The Jewish Study Bible (Oxford University Press)

 

It’s A Mitzvah, by Bradley Shavit Artson

 

The Shabbat Seder, by Ron Wolfson, or a complete Shabbat bentscher

 

A Jewish calendar which includes all holidays and Torah readings

 

Hagaddah Shel Pesach (Passover Hagaddah) – Any complete traditional hagaddah in Hebrew/English

 

Siddur – one of the following: HaSiddur HaShalem (Birnbaum); Siddur Sim Shalom (Rabbinical Assembly); Siddur Ahavat Shalom – The Complete Artscroll Siddur (Artscroll)

 

Choosing a Jewish Life: A Handbook for People Converting to Judaism and for Their Family and Friends, by Anita Diamant (this book or Kling is REQUIRED for those considering conversion to Judaism – otherwise not necessary)

 

Embracing Judaism, by Simcha Kling, revised by Carl M. Perkins

 

Additional Suggested readings (in no particular order):

 

Mitzvah Means Commandment, by Elliott Dorff

 

Service of the Heart, by Evelyn Garfiel

 

Entering Jewish Prayer, by Reuven Hammer

 

My People’s Prayer Book, Rabbi Lawrence Hoffman, ed. (10 volume series)

 

The Observant Life, Rabbi Martin Cohen, ed.

 

The Jewish Catalog (three volumes, Strassfeld et al.)

 

Days of Awe, by S. Y. Agnon

 

The Synagogue Survival Kit, by Jordan Lee Wagner

 

Seasons of Our Joy, by Arthur Waskow

 

The JPS Holiday Anthologies, Jewish Publication Society

 

Course Work:

 

There are regular reading assignments for each class. Additional materials will be distributed in class. Virtually every class is self-contained. You can attend any one or more of the classes without having attended others, although previous attendance and preparation of the assigned readings will provide a far better learning experience. Each session, we will discuss the parshiot (the Torah portions) since our previous meeting, the Torah readings for the upcoming Shabbat and holidays, and the reading assignments for the current topic. Participants, particularly those considering conversion or adult b’nai mitzvah, are strongly encouraged to keep a diary of their studies, activities, progress, emotions, etc. This is strictly for personal use.

 

Classes meet on Wednesdays, all at 7:30 pm, for a total of 22 sessions, starting October 16 and concluding on May 14. The rest of the schedule and readings will be posted after the first class meeting.

 

October 16: Organizational Meeting. Review of curriculum, book ordering, field trip planning.

 

October 23: Jewish History – The Second Commonwealth, Mishnah and Talmud.  Readings: Genesis 1:1 – 25:18 (a lot of Torah reading, in order to catch up with the weekly parashah.); Telushkin – sections 1-13 and 64-84

 

October 30 – NO Class

 

November 6: The Concept of Mitzvah – Part 1.  Readings: Genesis 25:19 – 32:3; Telushkin – sections 256-269; Artson – pp. 2-31

 

November 20: Hanukkah Workshop and The Jewish Calendar.  Readings: Genesis 32:4 – 40:23; Telushkin – sections 296-319; Handouts from Waskow and Hanukkah Anthology. Bring a wall-type Jewish calendar if you have one.

 

November 27 – NO Class

 

December 4: Mitzvah – Part 2.  Hanukkah Celebration - 6:30 pm. Latkes and sufganiyot! Class at 7:30. Readings: Telushkin – sections 270-295; Genesis 41:1 – 47:27

 

December 11: Torah Study.  Readings: Genesis 47:28 – 50:26; Artson – “Talmud Torah: Study and Learning”; Telushkin – Section 295 – Torah Study.

 

December 18: Shabbat Workshop.  Readings: Exodus 1:1 – 6:1; Telushkin – sections 320–323 and 14-24; Artson – pp. 130-147; Wolfson (entire)

 

December 25 – NO Class

 

January 1 – NO Class

 

January 8: More Jewish History – The Early Medieval Period.  Readings: Exodus 6:2 – 17:16; Judges 4:4 – 5:31; Telushkin – sections 85-104; a discussion of Jewish liturgical poetry

 

January 12 (SUNDAY): (Optional) A Tu B’Shevat Seder - 10:00 am – 12:00 noon. Congregation Beth Meir and Religious School celebrate the New Year of the Trees!

 

January 15: The Ten Commandments (The Ten Suggestions?). Readings: Exodus 18:1 – 20:22 and Deuteronomy 3:23 – 7:11; Telushkin – section 22; handouts

 

January 22: Kashrut.  Readings: Exodus 21:1 – 24:18; Artson – “Kashrut: The Dietary Laws” and “Tza’ar Ba’alei Hayyim: Compassion to Animals”; handouts

 

January 29: Even More Jewish History – The Late Medieval Period.  Readings: Exodus 25:1 – 27:19; Telushkin – Part 4 – sections 105-116

 

February 5 – NO Class

 

February 12: Zionism and Israel.  Readings: Exodus 27:20 – 34:35; Telushkin – Part 6 – sections 133-184 - a lot of reading!

 

February 19: The Jewish Life Cycle – From Birth to Death and Beyond. Readings: Exodus 35:1 – 38:20; Telushkin – Part 14 – Sections 324-336

 

February 26 – NO CLASS

 

March 5: Jewish History – Still More! The Modern Period.  Readings: Exodus 38:21 – 40:38; Leviticus 1:1 – 5:26; Telushkin – Part 5 – sections 117-132

 

March 12: Purim Workshop. Readings: Leviticus 6:1 – 8:36; Deuteronomy 25:17-19; Book of Esther; Telushkin – sections 56-63; handout from Purim Anthology.

 

March 19: Anti-Semitism and the Shoah.  Readings: Leviticus 9:1 – 11:47; Telushkin – Part 7 (sections 185-206) and Part 10 (sections 240-247)

 

March 26 - NO CLASS

 

April 2: Pesach Workshop – A Stroll through the Seder.  Readings: Leviticus 12:1 – 15:33; Telushkin sections 25-26; Haggadah shel Pesach; Mishnah Pesachim 10 (handout); handouts from Waskow and Passover Anthology.

 

April 6 (SUNDAY): A Kasher L’Pesach Tour of the Market – meet 10:00 am at Cambridge Farms Market

 

April 9 - NO CLASS

 

April 16 - NO CLASS – Happy Passover!

 

April 23: Prayer and the Jewish Prayer Book.  Readings: Leviticus 16:1 – 20:27; Artson – “Tefilah: Prayer, Tallit, Tefillin, Mezuzah”; Siddur Sim Shalom – Introduction and Selected Prayers(handout); handouts from Hammer book

 

April 30: The Toughest Mitzvot.  Readings: Leviticus 21:1 – 24:23; Artson – “Sh’mirat ha-Lashon: Guarding Your Tongue” and “Teshuvah: Repentance and Turning”

 

May 7: Shavuot Workshop.  Readings: Leviticus 25:1 – 27:34; Book of Ruth; handouts from Waskow and Shavuot Anthology.

 

May 14: Summing Up