Introduction to Judaism Fall/Winter, 2023-24
Taught by Rabbi David Krishef
First Class: Monday, December 11, 7:00 – 8:30 p.m.
Meets every Monday (except as noted on the syllabus) through March 25, 2021, 15 sessions.
Cost:
- $50/members and B’nai Noah affiliates
- $75/non-members
A basic introduction to Jewish history, beliefs, rituals, holidays, and life cycle celebrations. The syllabus can be download here. Contact the Ahavas Israel office, 616-949-2840 or office@ahavasisraelgr.org to register.
Hebrew Classes
Contact the teachers if you are interested in the following Hebrew classes:
- Conversational/Biblical Hebrew with Joe Korn, joekorn86@gmail.com
- Reading with Elisabeth Rosewall, eclairerosewall@gmail.com
- Torah / Siddur-based Hebrew with Dovid and Connor ben Avroham, dovid.bavrohom@gmail.com or connortheodorehess@gmail.com. Shabbat afternoons; schedule to be determined.
Survey of Mishnah
Sunday mornings, beginning October 22
10:30 – 11:30 a.m. during UJS at Temple Emanuel
Why study Mishnah? The Mishnah is the first written record of post-Biblical Judaism. It deliberately seeks to build a Judaism that is centered around Torah but transcends the institution of the Temple, the priesthood, and the monarchy. It touches on virtually every area of Jewish life and codifies the principles that remain, to this day, the backbone of Judaism.
There are 63 tractates in the Mishnah, covering civil and criminal law, holidays, prayer, agriculture, and other ritual laws. We’ll study approximately one mishnah from each tractate, to get a sense of the variety of material from the entire Mishnah. The class does not require Hebrew (the text will be both Hebrew and English), but some Hebrew will be helpful.
Each class will be self-contained. Although it is helpful to use cumulative insights to understand later material, please feel free to come as you are able, even if you have missed some sessions.
Schedule:
- October 22, October 29
- November 5, November 12
- No Class – November 19, 26
- December 10, December 17
- No Class, December 24, January 1 – Winter Break
- January 7, 14, 21, 28
- February 4, 11
- No Class February 18, mid-winter break
- February 25
- March 3, 10, 17
- No class – March 24 – Purim Megillah reading/programming
- No class – March 31, April 7, Spring Break
- April 14, 21, 28
- No Class – May 5 – Yom Hashoah speaker/program
- May 12, 19