A community-wide Jewish Adult Education program under the auspices of the North Shore Fellowship of Rabbis and sponsored in part by:

• The Union for Reform Judaism
• The United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism

Tuesdays, February 6, 13 & 20, 2007

Location:

• North Suburban Synagogue Beth-El
  1175 Sheridan Road, Highland Park, Illinois

Participants:

• Am Shalom
• B’nai Tikvah Congregation
• Congregation Beth Or
• Congregation B’nai Torah
• Congregation Solel
• Congregation Sukkat Shalom
• Jewish Community Center
• Lakeside Congregation for Reform Judaism
• Moriah Congregation
• North Shore Congregation Israel
• North Suburban Synagogue Beth-El
• Olin-Sang-Ruby Union Institute
• Temple Jeremiah

Kallah Course - Learn to Read Hebrew

• "Learn to Read Hebrew." This course is an introduction to Hebrew. Walk in a beginner
  and walk out reading!
  Sharon Morton, RJE, Am Shalom

Kallah Courses - Early Session

• “Jewish Feminist Theology: What does it say? What does it mean for all of us?”
  Rabbi Lisa Greene, North Shore Congregation Israel
• "Medieval Jewish Philosophy and Its Relevance for Us Today." An introduction to the work of Saadya Gaon, Moses Maimonides, Bachya Ibn Pakuda and other central figures of Medieval Jewish thought and their efforts to integrate ancient Greek philosophy with Judaism.
  Rabbi David Oler, Congregation Beth Or
• “Preserving Our Legacies.” Each generation is transformed through the lessons and wisdom transmitted by previous generations – both communally and personally. Discover, through experiential learning, how to preserve and record your legacy for future generations.
  Rabbi Nina Mizarahi, Jewish Community Center
• "What Are We Teaching Our Children About Sex and the Care of Their Bodies?" Participants viewed and discussed the materials provided by the Union for Reform Judaism, free to congregations, Sacred Choices and Kedushat HaGuf (The Holiness of the Body).
  Vanessa Ehrlich, Lakeside Congregation for Reform Judaism
• "Beyond the Crimson Thread: A Serious Look at Kabbalah"
  Rabbi Sam Gordon, Congregation Sukkat Shalom
• "Musar: The Path to Spiritual Insomnia." Musar is literature, a philosophy, a movement and a practice. Beginning in the earliest periods of Jewish experience various spiritual masters have addressed the problem of internalizing the central values of religious teaching. Our Sages of Blessed Memory have addressed the difficulties involved in resisting the tendencies we are born with that act against our accepting the responsibilities inherent in the grandeur of our humanity: care for ourselves, care for those closest to us and care for the world itself. Despite our possession of a record of Divine and human encounters, the Torah, we tend to “fall asleep” rather than face the full demands of these obligations. Musar is a “path to spiritual insomnia,” a way of staying awake to these obligations. We learned about Musar, the practical wisdom that has guided us. Using the book The Jewish Moral Virtues by Eugene Borowitz and Frances Schwartz, together we explored how to apply these virtues to contemporary life.
  Rabbi Paul F. Cohen, Temple Jeremiah

Kallah Courses - Late Session 8:15 – 9:15pm

• “Ethics and Mysticism: Ethical Tales for the Kabbalah.” What is the nexus of spirituality and social justice? The tales from the mystical literature provide an answer.
  Rabbi Ike Serotta, Lakeside Congregation for Reform Judaism
• "The Kuzari." The Kuzari is a treatise written by one of Jewish history’s greatest writers, Yehudah Ha Levi. We explored this magnificent text.
  Rabbi Dan Rabishaw, Regional Director, Union for Reform Judaism
• "Come Learn the Wisdom of the Rabbis." Study the original debates held and the stories told by our sages as they pondered how to best live a meaningful and holy life, The group looked at the inspirational and thought-provoking debate by the rabbis of the Talmud about topics of no less importance than what our values should be, how to actualize justice in the world, how to seek truth, how to understand death and sickness, and how to best connect with God.
  Rabbi Michael Schwab, North Suburban Beth-El
• "Comparative Zionism." Join in a conversation on the different philosophies of Zionism and how differences and conflicts are reflected in events today.
  Rabbi Robert Feinberg, Congregation B’nai Torah
• "Martin Buber – A Hero for Our Times." Week 1 – Buber the Religious Philosopher, I and Thou and the Power of Dialog; Week 2 – Hassidic Mystic – Traditional Stories of Modern Soul; and Week 3 – Zionist Activist – Putting Faith into Action.
  Cantor Michael Davis, Lakeside Congregation for Reform Judaism
• "Did Stephen King Really Write the Talmud?" Study contemporary issues found in the Talmud such as capital punishment.
  Jerry Kaye, Director, Olin Sang Ruby Union Institute