Classes

Learning to Lead: Theories of Leadership
Leadership is the new citizenship. We all want to be leaders, but not everyone makes the grade. We will explore multiple models of Jewish leadership to answer the perennial question: Are leaders born or are they made?

Justice and Redemption
This session will look at the Exodus as a political paradigm of oppression and redemption, using both artwork and the biblical text to look at the way that the Exodus narratives create the underpinnings of the Jewish legal system.

Tikkun Olam: Fixing the World, Fixing Ourselves
Tikkun olam, or repairing the world, is a foundational idea of Jewish law and spiritual activism. We will try to define the terms, talk about the history of the expression and its limitations.

The Sacred Canvas: Jews and Art
This class will explore the difficult and evolving relationship of Jews to art and discuss the dearth of noted Jewish artists. Following a general introduction, we will look at artistic renditions of powerful scenes from the Bible (including the question: Did Moses have horns?) and discuss how artists viewed these stories as we offer our own insights.

Family Dynamics in Genesis
Sibling rivalry. Motherhood. Infertility. Inheritance. We will look together at some of the tense interactions of famous biblical figures and the legacy of lessons they have left for us.

Jewish Mysticism or a Class about Nothing
Kabbalah has become a popular study for famous celebrities. We will discuss some of the foundational ideas in Jewish mysticism and why it has become such a popular discipline for people of all faiths.