This past Wednesday evening, Jan 11, we had our first class meeting for “Torah, Memory & History” in Oakland. There were familiar faces, and new faces, and I’m looking forward to exploring Torah and history with you! Class members should have received by now a copy of the class syllabus and other “welcome” materials by [...]
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Tuesday, October 18, Introduction to Jewish Life, a shorter version of Intro to the Jewish Experience, will meet for the first time at the Osher Marin Jewish Community Center in San Rafael, CA. The class is suitable for anyone who wants some basic information about Jewish life: Jews who didn’t get a Jewish education as children, someone who loves a Jew, anyone curious about Judaism.
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Food is an important part of Jewish life and culture, and our class period allowed us only to scratch the surface. “Jewish Food” is a huge category: it’s what Jews eat, be it kosher or un-kosher, holiday brisket or the lowly bagel.
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Wednesday night, March 23, at 7:30 we will begin the third part of the “Intro” series, “The People Israel” at Congregation Beth El in Berkeley, CA. If you have not taken Parts I or II, no problem! — each part stands on its own, and you can take the series in any order.
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This past week we looked at some American Jewish history. As with everything else, we only had time for the headlines. But the takeaway is, North America really is different for the Jews, and it has been from the first Jewish arrivals here.
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Where did all the rules come from? If we look only at the written Torah, the 5 Books of Moses, it isn’t at all clear where “Jewish Law” came from. This week we walked through the ongoing process of Torah using a single question: What does a good Jew do with a lost object?
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We talked about Tu B’Shevat, the New Year of the Trees.
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We’re going to talk about the High Holy Days, and then end our term with the Tzedakah Project. The image above is of a shofar, a trumpet made from the horn of a kosher animal. Shofarot (that’s the plural) are blown at various times on the High Holy Days, and are associated with the yom tov (festival) of Rosh HaShanah.
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This coming Wednesday we’ll celebrate the first night of Chanukkah together. If you like, bring your own chanukkiyah [the lamp with nine candles, for celebrating the holiday, also called a menorah.] We will light the lamps together, and I will have a handout for you with the blessings.
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