Classes at Congregation Eitz Chayim
Three part series in preparation for Rosh Hashanah, studying Sarah, Hagar, Abraham, Hannah and Elkanah, whose stories are contained in the Torah and Haftarah portions for the first day of Rosh Hashanah.
Category Archives: Classes_taught
ANCESTORS OF RUTH AND BOAZ (2008)
Classes at Congregation Eitz Chayim
Ten part series on biblical women, culminating in an in depth study of Ruth in preparation for Shavuot. Focus on the relationship of Tamar, Lot’s daughters, Rachel and Leah to Ruth and Boaz. Six class members went on to teach at Shavuot.
HAFTARAH FOR ROSH HASHANAH (2007)
Classes at Congregation Eitz Chayim
Four part series looking at Hannah’s story in the haftarah for the first day of Rosh Hashanah.
Hannah was a remarkably independent biblical woman who was among a small and elite group of women who were called prophets in the Jewish tradition. She was barren until her prayers were answered and she gave birth to Samuel. Her story has resounding relevance to Jews of every age.
- Bible – Close study of I Samuel 1:1 – 2:10 in English with reference to Hebrew
- Rabbinics – Selected texts (in English) from Talmud and Midrash.
- Hasidism: R. Nachman of Breslov on Rosh Hashanah
- Contemporary commentary.
GARMENT OF TORAH (2006)
Classes at Congregation Eitz Chayim
Three part series, introducing source materials from the Jewish tradition (in English) and posing questions about values
- What does our Tradition say about Oral Torah and about Torah study? Maimonides on studying Torah, and the Sefat Emet on Genesis and the Oral Torah.
- How do we deal with texts that conflict with our values? Judith Plaskow on Hosea, and Art Green on the Sefat Emet
- How do the texts help us to find and/or live with our values? Concepts of tikkun olam and tzedakah; teachings from modern Jewish social activists