Lifelong Jewish Learning Catalog of Classes (Page 1)
Through the magic of the internet,
participants in multiple locations can join together
for Jewish Education and Torah Learning.
Click on any of the types of classes below
for the catalogs of other available courses:
· Basic Judaism
· Lifelong Learning
· Adult Hebrew
· Shabbos Afternoon Weekly Classes
Custom Jewish Education courses can also be designed for you.
Lifelong Jewish Learning Courses
All sessions are 75 minutes
The following is a list of available Lifelong Learning courses
click on any Jewish Education course to view it’s full description:
(Click here for Custom and Semi-Custom Classes)
(Click here for Adult Hebrew Classes)
(Click here for Basic Judaism Classes)
(Click here for Weekly Shabbos Afternoon Classes)
click here to view the fee schedule
Introduction to Mussar:
Mussar is the Jewish literature dedicated to evaluating and improving one’s internal character. Based on the understanding that each person fundamentally IS a soul, and that each person’s soul carries the imprint of every choice in their life, Mussar gives us both the opportunity and the challenge to find holiness in every moment of every day. By exploring the foundational texts of Mussar, participants will have an opportunity to engage in this life-changing genre of Jewish sacred texts:
(1) Bachya Ibn Pakuda—The Duties of the Heart
(2) Moshe Hayim Luzzato—The Path of the Just
(3) Mussar in the Yeshiva—The Ways of the Righteous (Tzaddikim)
(4) Cheshbon Ha-Nefesh, Climbing Jacob’s Ladder, & Everyday Holiness—Modern Programs for Mussar Study.
Basic Kabbalah (4 sessions):
These four sessions will give a basic understanding of key concepts in Kabbalah (Jewish Mysticism—and no, not whatever it is that Madonna and Demi Moore are studying):
(1) The Zohar—Fundamental text of Kabbalah
(2) The Sefirot, Tree of Life & Tzimtzum—the Kabbalah of Isaac Luria
(3) The Four Worlds of Kabbalah—Personal Spiritual Development
(4) the Ein Sof and other Kabbalistic concepts of G-d
Exploring Kabbalah (2 sets of 4 sessions):
These 2 sets of 4 sessions will explore key Kabbalistic concepts in sufficient depth to give participants the tools for their own continued learning. Sets of 4 sessions may be taken consecutively or independently:
Foundations of Kabbalah:
(1) Sefer Yetzirah & Sefer Bahir—early Kabbalistic Texts
(2) The Zohar—Fundamental text of Kabbalah
(3) The Sefirot, the Tree of Life—Lenses on the World
(4) The Four Worlds of Kabbalah—spiritual development
Modern Kabbalah:
(5) Tzimtzum & Sh’virah—the Mainstream Kabbalah of Isaac Luria
(6) The Orchard—Kabbalah & Torah Study
(7) Gematria & Hebrew Letters—Meanings and Connections
(8) G-d’s names in Kabbalah—Encountering the Ultimate
Exploring Jewish Philosophy & Philsophers (3 sets of 4 sessions):
These 3 sets of 4-sessions will explore give a meaningful introduction and exploration to Jewish Philosophy & Philosophers through the ages, and a strong foundation for students’ continued exploration:
Early Jewish Philosophy:
(1) The Torah—Early Jewish Theology
(2) The Prophets—Advent of Monotheism
(3) The Talmud—Philosophy of Law
(4) Saadia Gaon—“First Philosopher of Judaism”
Medieval Jewish Philosophy
(5) Moses Maimonides—Judaism Meets Aristotle
(6) Yitzhak Luria—The Philosophy of Mysticism
(7) Baruch Spinoza—Naturalism and Rejection
(8) Moses Mendelssohn—Bridge to Modernity
Post-Enlightenment Jewish Philosophy
(9) Hermann Cohen—Founding Philosopher of Movement Judaism
(10) Theodore Herzl—Political Judaism
(11) Franz Rosenzweig—The Star of Redemption
(12) Martin Buber—I/Thou and the Philosophy of Relationships
Modern Jewish Philosophy & Philsophers (8 sessions):
These 8 sessions will explore key Jewish philosophers of the 20th and early 21st centuries, giving participants the opportunity to find their own place within the spectrum of Jewish philosophies & theologies:
(1) Theodore Herzl—Zionism and Political Judaism
(2) Emil Fackenheim—Response to the Shoah (Holocaust)
(3) Abraham Joshua Heschel—Radical Amazement & Civil Action
(4) Eugene Borowitz—Informed Choice & Covenant Theology
(5) Zalman Schachter Shalomi—Neo-Chassidism & Renewal
(6) Harold Kushner—Popularizing Ancient Teachings
(7) Lawrence Kushner—Modern Mysticism
(8) David Hartman—Post-Denominationalism
Torah Commentary through the Ages (2 sets of 4 sessions):
Nothing has been more foundational to the ongoing development of Judaism than Torah Study and Torah Commentary. These 4 sessions will introduce participants to key figures, texts, and concepts in Torah Commentary:
Classical Commentary
(1) Rashi, Ibn-Ezra, and Beyond—Classical Torah Commentary
(2) Kabbalistic—Peeling the Layers of the Onion
(3) Chassidic—Each Soul is a World
(4) Soncino Chumash & Harvey Fields—Modern Access to Traditional Commentaries
Modern Commentary
(5) Nechama Leibowitz—Torah Study through Questions
(6) Nahum Sarna—Analysis of the Text
(7) Richard Elliot Friedman—Jewish Literary Bible Scholarship
(8) Harold Kushner—Modern Lessons from Biblical Texts
click here for page 2 of the Lifelong Learning Class Catalog
(Click here for Adult Hebrew Classes)
(Click here for Basic Judaism Classes)
(Click here for Ongoing Weekly Classes)
click here to view the fee schedule
