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Lunch & Learn Series ArchiveNorthern Virginia Lunch & Learn
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| March 2, 9, 16, 23, 2010 12 - 1:30pm From Hester Street to Hollywood Rabbi Benjamin Shalva This course will look at the images of the Jew in the History of American Cinema. |
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April 13, 20, 27, May 4, 2010 12 - 1:30pm Jewish Philosophers From the First to the Twentieth Century John Rybicki This course will cover such philosophical greats as Philo, the unknown author of Fourth Maccabees, Maimonides, and Buber. |
| May 11, 18, 25, June 1, 2010 12 - 1:30pm Jewish Music From all Periods and Places: A Series of Lecture-Recitals Cantor Sharon Steinberg Over the centuries Jews have traveled the globe, and in the process created a rich musical tradition full of variety. This course will uncover the wonderfully varied musical history of the Jews. |
2009
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Jan. 13, 27 and Feb. 3, 2009 (snow date Feb. 10) Note: no class on January 20; special extended class times 12:00 lunch, 12:10-1:30 study Forgiveness: Traditional and Contemporary Texts About Forgiving Ourselves and Others Rabbi Rosalind Gold |
| Feb. 17, 24 and March 3, 2009 The Last Lecture of Randy Pauch Rabbi Bruce Aft What is important to us in life from the perspective of Jewish tradition? What if we had only 5 months to live? |
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March 10, 17, 24 and 31, 2009 - CANCELLED Finding Relevant Lessons for Modern Living in Leviticus Rabbi Marvin Bash Using the prosaic text of Leviticus for developing high moral standards applicable to Jewish Living. |
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SPECIAL SUNDAY SERIES For all students, especially those who cannot attend the traditional weekday series. Four sessions over two days: March 15 from 2:00 – 3:00 pm and 3:30 – 4:30 pm March 29 from 2:00 – 3:00 pm and 3:30 – 4:30 pm One G-d and the Commandment to Love Him: Deuteronomy 6:4-5 Gideon Amir These two verses, central to Judaism(and Christianity) can be read many different ways and translated from the original Hebrew in more than 1,000 ways. Included will be discussion of Oneness of G-d, loving your neighbor and loving G-d. Bring a full Bible. |
| Passover Break April 7 and 14 No Classes | |
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April 28 and May 5, 12, 2009 The Origins of the Jewish People Part III: Settlement in the Land of Israel Paul Forbes The historical and archeological evidence. |
| May 19, 26 and June 2, 2009 Faith and Religion-Partners? Exploring the Different Meanings Given to “Faith” and “Belief” in Judaism Rabbi Brett Isserow From the classical Rabbis’ suspicion of claims made for faith over observance and reason to the inability over history to create a summary of core Jewish beliefs satisfying to all |
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June 9, 23, 30, 2009 (skip June 16) Traditional Biblical Stories: Fact or Fiction? Paul Forbes The archeological evidence available about the Garden of Eden, Noah’s Ark and Sodom & Gomorrah. |
| September 8, 15, 22, 29, 2009 12:30-1:30 pm Why Does God Do What He Does? Rabbi Bruce Aft Why does G-d do what he does? Why do we have to prove ourselves to G-d? A comparison of the books of Jonah and Job |
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October 6, 13, 20, 27, 2009 12:10 – 1:30 pm The Various Messianic Expectations of the Hebrew Prophets and Their Interpreters John Rybicki This class examines the promise that Israel will be restored in all its glory, leading all nations to the One True God. Should this be understood as an Earthly Kingdom or an apocalyptic, spiritual one? |
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November 3, 10, 17, 2009 12:10-1:30 pm The Best Part of Waking Up: The Morning Blessings Rabbi Rosalind Gold We will look at the origins of a series of short blessings that Jews have included in daily and Shabbat worship for thousands of years, and how these blessings can help focus our minds and direct our days. |
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November 24, December 8, 15, 2009 (snow make-up December 22) 12:10 – 1:30 pm What Happens Next? Jewish Perspectives on the Afterlife Rabbi David Kalender Throughout history, Judaism has offered a wide spectrum of responses to the question of life after death. We will look at answers from the Biblical period, Rabbinic literature, and Modern Jewish Thinkers. |
2008
The Origins of the Israelites, Part ll; Their Egyptian Background Sin, Punishment and Divine Justice in the Hebrew Bible The Evolution of the Creation Stories in the Bible Messengers of G-d by Elie Wiesel
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Rockville Lunch & Learn Series
Wednesdays
Jewish Community Center of Greater Washington
6125 Montrose Road
Rockville, MD
301-881-0100
2010
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January 6, 13, 20, 27, 2010 |
| February 10, 17, 24, 2010 12:30 -1:50pm The Musical Heritage of the Sephardim Cantor Abraham Lubin The musical legacy of the Sephardic Jews is a rich tradition of sacred and secular songs that spans many centuries in widely scattered communities. The course will explore the musical history of the Sephardim and illustrate its fascinating and colorful repertoire of song. Each of the three classes will run from 12:30 -1:50 to account for a 4th class. |
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March 3, 10, 17, 24, 2010 In Memory of Dr. A. Ross Lerner |
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April 7, 14, 21, 28, 2010 |
| May 5, 12, 26, June 2, 2010 12:15 -1:30pm Above and Beyond: The Origin of Ethics and Piety Out of the Pages of the Jewish Legal Tradition Rabbi Michael Feshbach Judaism functions, in the main, as a tradition of law. Yet from the very beginning there have been hints of a meta-halakha, something "above and beyond" the law. We are also required to do something beyond a legal requirement "for the sake of peace". Bachya ibn Pakuda wrote about the "duties of the heart." and Israel Salanter founded a "mussar" movement based on ethics and attitudes, rather than actions. Explore the ethics and piety that go "beyond the bounds" of stricture and see at what some would consider the hidden heart of Jewish life. |
2009
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January 7, 14, 21, 28, 2009 - CANCELLED How Torah Speaks to the Generations: Traditional and Modern Midrash Rabbi William Rudolph This class looks at a variety of midrashim from classical and current sources to see how rabbis and teachers over the ages have hammered out contemporary meaning and relevant messages from ancient Torah passages. Included are how rabbis expand the akeydah (binding of Isaac)to provide new meaning to the High Holidays, how battle with the Amalekites is interpreted as proof of the power of faith, and how the building of the Biblical altar with unhewn stones speaks to us about advertising and individual differences. |
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February 4, 11, 18, 25, 2009 What Happened to Joseph’s Bones and Other Stories from Egypt Rabbi Michael Safra This class will explore some of the most interesting of midrashim from the Exodus narrative with the goal of adding new meaning to our celebration of the Passover seder, the most universally observed of all Jewish rituals. |
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March 4, 11, 18, 25, 2009 The Original Top Ten Before David Letterman: Why the Ten Commandments Captured the Imagination of the World The A. Ross Lerner Memorial Course Rabbi Stuart Weinblatt Before David Letterman, the top 10 referred to the Ten Commandments. Why have these commandments captured the imagination of the world? What is their meaning for our time? This class will take an in-depth look at the Ten Commandments, including rabbinic and midrashic perspectives. |
| April 22, 29, May 6, 13, 2009 From Golem to Genome: Jewish Ethics and Artificial Life Rabbi Jack Luxemburg Using texts drawn from Rabbinic writings, Jewish folklore and contemporary sources, this class will explore the moral, social and spiritual questions surrounding the creation of artificial life, with discussion about the impact of science on our understanding of human nature, biological technologies and how Jewish values speak to these modern day challenges. |
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May 20, 27, June 3, 10, 2009 Elisha Ben Abuya: The Heretic and His Torah Rabbi Lyle Fishman Elisha ben Abuyah embodies the struggles of many contemporary Jews. He searched for his path to God within Jewish texts and also within the Greco-Roman world in which he lived. He always remained a master of Jewish sources even as he challenged God’s judgment and questioned his peers, the scholars of his age. We will closely read many of the Rabbinic sources about Elisha aka Acher/The Other in search of our own evaluation of his place among or outside the Rabbinic society of the first centuries CE. |
| September 9, 16, 23, 30, 2009 12:30 – 1:30 pm Savoring Four Periods of Jewish Musical History Cantor Abraham Lubin The course will identify and illustrate the earliest example of Jewish music in the 12th century, as well as the 17th, 18th, 19th centuries. The diversity of Jewish music will be sampled and discussed. |
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October 7, 14, 21, 28, 2009 12:30 – 1:30 pm From Strength to Strength Erica Brown Brute force, a love of foreign women, political oppression and outrageous hair – it all sounds like a popular novel but it’s not. It’s the story of Samson, arguably the Bible’s most curious leader. This four part exploration of the Samson narratives will offer an overview of the biblical book of Judges and then delve into close readings of the texts of Samson’s life, from his remarkable birth to the intriguing elements of his leadership. |
| November 4, 11, 18, 25, 2009 12:30 – 1:30 pm The Oral Law: The Transmission of the Oral Tradition from Mount Sinai Until Today Rabbi Yaacov Benamou The Torah, the essence of Judaism, includes both the Written Law and the Oral Law. What do we mean when we refer to the Oral Law? How do we trust the veracity of something that has been passed down by “word of mouth”? Learn how the corpus of knowledge known as the Oral Law has developed over time and how the information has been passed down, unadulterated, through the generations. |
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| December 2, 9, 16, 23, 2009 12:30 – 1:30 pm A Second Moses? Maimonides' Radical Reorganization of Torah Law Rabbi Joshua Maroof Moses Maimonides transformed the methodology of Jewish study and education with an eye to making advanced Torah learning accessible to every Jew. Through becoming "students" of Maimonides, we can discover the principles behind his revolutionary approach to Jewish Law and their implications for all levels of contemporary Jewish education. |
2008
Coping Skills in the Bible and Applying them in Today’s World CANCELLED
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Downtown Lunch & Learn
Thursdays
The Sixth and I Historic Synagogue
600 I Street, NW.
202-408-3100
(Chinatown metro stop on the Red Line)
2010
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February 4, 11, 18, 25, 2010 12:30 – 1:30 pm The Rule of Law in the Book of Esther Nathan Lewin If the text of the Book of Esther is read closely, it reveals much that is not immediately apparent about the role of law in the society in which the Jews of Persia lived. What rights did religious minorities have? Were there limits on the royal prerogative? How was government business transacted? How were laws promulgated? How were criminals punished? |
| March 4, 11, 18, 25, 2010 12:30 – 1:30 pm Poetry and Art Surrounding the Forefathers and Foremothers Rabbi Toby Manewith Traditional interpretation of Biblical characters often focuses on words and meanings. Learn about the characteristics and foibles of our Biblical role models through the expression of The Arts. |
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April 8, 15, 22, 29, 2010 12:30 – 1:30 pm Judaism’s Relation to Christianity and Islam Rabbi Harold White This four class course will cover: views of Jesus; views on the Revelation: Divine or human; theological similarities and differences; and the interpretation of the book of Genesis, including views on human sexuality. These four topics will be discussed in relation to how Judaism, Christianity, and Islam view these subjects. |
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May 6, 13, 27, June 3, 2010 12:30 – 1:30 pm Women in the Apocrypha Rabbi Ben Mintz The Apocrypha—the Jewish books in the Greek Bible which were not included in the Hebrew Bible—features a gallery of remarkable women: Esther, much different than the Esther we know from the Book of Esther; Hannah, mother of the seven martyred sons; Judith, seducer and slayer of Holofernes, enemy of the Jewish people; and Susanna, object of the gaze of the Elders. We will explore the portrayal of each of these women. |
2009
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January 8, 15, 22, 29, 2009 Genesis: Traditional & Modern Midrash Rabbi Harold White This class will cover the following areas: January 8 – The Creation Epic (Genesis 1 & 2) January 15 - The Garden of Eden narrative (Genesis 3) January 22 – Cain and Abel, the generations of Cain and Seth (Genesis 4 and 5) January 29 - The Noah Flood Epic (Genesis 6-9) |
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February 5, 12, 19, 26, 2009 - CANCELLED The Rule of Law in the Books of Esther & Ruth Nathan Lewin Episodes in the Books of Esther and Ruth apply principles of law, both secular and religious, that governed the conduct of protagonists in the Biblical account. This class will derive the legal rules from the text and consider their application. |
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March 5, 12, 19, 26, 2009 Complex Figures in the Book of Judges Rabbi Jack Bieler The book of Judges (Shoftim) features descriptions of Jewish leaders who for one reason or another were atypical and therefore draw to themselves considerable attention. Among these intriguing Biblical figures are Devora, Gidon, Yiftach and Shimshon. We will study their personalities, achievements and failures in order to attempt to understand the period during which they lived and the challenges that each in turn faced during this curious period of Jewish history. |
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April 23, 30, May 7, 14, 2009 Too Dangerous for Publication: Censoring the Bible Norman Shore The Talmud considers suppressing some passages in the Bible that should be kept from too wide an audience. The stories of David and Bathsheba, the rape of Tamar, the golden calf, the curses and the blessings and many others. Should they only be read publicly in Hebrew but not translated? Should they not be read at all? Is Translation too dangerous? Entire books were considered for exclusion, e.g. The Song of Songs and Ezekiel. This course will discuss some of these dangerous or problematic passages: are there sections of the Bible that need to be downplayed today, kept from children, or are they too great a challenge to our beliefs? |
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May 21, 28, June 4, 11, 2009 Kabbalistic Origins of Traditional Shabbat & Festival Customs Dedicated to the memory of Dr. Nathan A. Pelcovits Rabbi Morris Faierstein This course will examine the mystical origins of Kabbalat Shabbat, Tikkun Leyl Shavuot, Ushpizin, and Tu B’Shevat and consider their contemporary significance. |
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September 10, 17, 24, October 1, 2009 The Torah: Recent Translations and “Modern” Commentaries Rabbi Benjamin Mintz There are several published editions of the Torah designed to be used as part of the Synagogue service. The most important of these are: The Torah: A Modern Commentary (Reform); Etz Hayim (Conservative); The “Hertz” Chumash (Orthodox); and the Art Scroll Edition (Orthodox). We will explore the differences between these various editions, particularly as to the translations, the commentaries, and the accompanying essays and notes. |
| October 8, 15, 22, 29, 2009 The Power of Amen Rabbi Joel Tessler “Amen” is the most popular word used in the world. We will analyze its source, meaning and usage in Jewish law and prayer. |
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November 5, 12, 19, December 3, 2009 Four Relevant Post-Modern Talmudic Stories Rabbi Ethan Seidel We’re tempted to think that our modern philosophies lie outside the imagination of the Talmudists, especially if we study Talmud only in carefully selected anthologies. The fact is; the relativism, confusion, acknowledgment of chaos, and distrust of authority can all be found in the unsettling stories we will study in this class. |
2008
Torah Readings for the Holiday Season: Why We Read What We Read
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King David: The Women of His Life Washington DC JCC Lunch & Learn
(jointly sponsored with The Foundation for Jewish Studies and the Jewish Study Center)
Washington DC JCC
1529 16th Street, NW
202-518-9400
2009
| Wednesdays, January 7, 14, 21, 28, 2009 The Politics of Sexuality in the Bible Rabbi Toby Manewith 12:15 pm, brown-bag lunch 12:30 – 1:30 pm, study session This provocative course will examine ethical incidents in the Bible such as: passing off your wife as your sister; giving your concubine to your husband; offering your daughters to strangers; the Tamar and Judah story of marrying your brother’s wife; Joseph and Potiphar’s wife; Samson and Delilah. |
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Tuesdays, March 3, 17, 24, 31, 2009 - CANCELLED |
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Tuesdays, May 5, 12, 19, 26, 2009 Lessons of a Lifetime: Exploring Jewish Ethical Wills Rabbi Jonathan Perlman 12:15 pm, brown-bag lunch 12:30 – 1:30 pm, study session The class will examine the origin of Jewish ethical wills in the Bible and study examples of this literature from Rabbinic, Medieval and Modern times including the Holocaust. In addition, participants will receive guidance on creating their personal ethical will to leave as a family legacy. |
| September 8, 15, 22, 29, 2009 Thinking Positively – A Torah Perspective Aviva Tessler Sources from the Torah and Tanach literature will highlight the mandate and importance to strive for happiness, and to think positively in our journey through Jewish life. Often, we look for outside sources in trying to help ourselves, when in fact the sources are in our backyard. |
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October 6, 13, 20, 27, 2009 To Everything There is a Time: Time and the Calendar in Jewish Tradition Norman Shore This is year 5770 since the creation of the world as we reckon time. The class will examine Jewish concepts of the calendar and how it developed; examining the interplay of history, nature, ritual, political power, and our relations with non Jewish cultures. The class will read biblical and rabbinic texts. |
| November 3, 10, 17, 24, 2009 Above and Beyond: The Origin of Ethics and Piety Out of the Pages of the Jewish Legal Tradition Rabbi Michael Feshbach Judaism functions, in the main, as a tradition of law. Yet from the very beginning there have been hints of a meta-halakha, something "above and beyond" the law. We are also required to do something beyond a legal requirement "for the sake of peace". Bachya ibn Pakuda wrote about the "duties of the heart." and Israel Salanter founded a "musar" movement based on ethics and attitudes, rather than actions. Explore the ethics and piety that go "beyond the bounds" of stricture and see at what some would consider the hidden heart of Jewish life. |