Front cover - Lehrhaus Judaica
Transcription
Front cover - Lehrhaus Judaica
Winter | Spring 2013 | 5773 Spring Retreat Marconi Conference Center Tomales Bay Lehrhaus 360 Actress Mayim Bialik Marin JCC 70th Anniversary Warsaw Ghetto Uprising JCCSF lehrhaus.org Lehrhaus Arts: Music Takes Center Stage A collaboration with the Jewish Music Festival Opening Night of 28th Jewish Music Festival The Past and Future of Jewish Music in Poland: Polesya and Shofar • Hear Polesya from Poland’s deep historical roots and Shofar representing Poland’s contemporary Jewish scene. • Enjoy a pre-concert discussion with Ruth Ellen Gruber. Saturday, March 2 Berkeley Repertory Theatre Shofar A Special Tribute to Lyricist Yip Harburg: The Man Who Put the Rainbow in the Wizard of Oz With musical theatre maven, Bonnie Weiss Sunday, January 27 JCC East Bay, Berkeley Veretski Pass Workshops Talks and performances by an internationally known trio highlight Jewish music from the land where the Ottoman East met Europe. JCC East Bay, Berkeley Klezmer Music and Hazzones Thursday, February 7 Busting the Myth of Klezmer Monday, February 11 Look inside for details on these programs! The Reutlinger Center 2736 Bancroft Way Berkeley, CA 94704 (510) 845-6420 (510) 845-6446 FAX [email protected] Contents STAFF Executive Director Jehon Grist, Ph.D. Founding Director Fred Rosenbaum Senior Educator Rabbi Peretz Wolf-Prusan Program/Associate Director Erika Staiti Director of Communications Debbie Rosenfeld-Caparaz Business and Student Services Manager Vernita Lyons Project Coordinator Abra Greenspan Director Building Jewish Bridges Dawn C. Kepler BOARD OF DIRECTORS Eve Bernstein President Eda Pell Founding President Prof. Marc Dollinger Academic Vice President Martin Aufhauser Treasurer Jo-Ann Jacobson Executive Board Rabbi Ted Alexander Ed Epstein Janis Sherman Popp Dr. Barbara Rosenberg Guide to Catalog About Lehrhaus ......................................................................... 2 Co-sponsors and Locations .................................................. 3 Registration Form.................................................................... 32 Courses, Workshops, and Lectures Lehrhaus 360 .............................................................................. 4 Community Events ................................................................... 7 Ancient & Modern History .................................................... 8 Classic & Contemporary Texts ........................................... 10 Contemporary Issues ............................................................ 12 Back to the Torah..................................................................... 14 The Arts ....................................................................................... 15 Jewish Music Festival ............................................................ 16 Intro to Judaism ....................................................................... 18 Building Jewish Bridges........................................................ 19 Spirituality & Kabbalah ......................................................... 23 Hebrew......................................................................................... 24 Yiddish.......................................................................................... 29 Summer Program..................................................................... 30 A beneficiary of the Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin and Sonoma Counties The Lehrhaus Judaica Course Catalog Volume 39, No. 1— January 1, 2013 — Published twice yearly Lehrhaus Judaica — The Adult School for Jewish Studies The Reutlinger Center, 2736 Bancroft Way, Berkeley, CA 94704 JFCS Holocaust Center, 2245 Post Street, San Francisco, CA 94115 Howard Simon Design: Frisco Graphics | www.friscographics.com Ruthellen Toole Front cover: Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, photo courtesy of United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, courtesy of National Archives and Records Administration, College Park Susan Wallach Dr. Murray Zucker lehrhaus.org About Lehrhaus Bay Area's Non-Denominational Jewish Studies Adult School Every course is open to the general public, and all interested adults are welcome, regardless of age, religion, or ethnicity. Our faculty is made up of local university professors, advanced Ph.D. students, rabbis, and other experienced educators, as well as visiting scholars from major universities in the United States and abroad. We offer engaging seminars and lecture courses throughout the Bay Area on Jewish history, philosophy, sociology, theology, literature, Hebrew and Yiddish, and the arts. Whether you’re looking for a basic introduction to Judaism course, a modern Hebrew conversation class, a history of the Middle East conflict, or an in-depth exploration of classic Jewish texts, we have something for you! We also provide national and international study tours, and our 5,500-volume Jewish studies library is open to the public in Berkeley. Founded in 1974 by historian Fred Rosenbaum, Lehrhaus took its name (meaning “house of learning”) and inspiration from a school for Jewish studies founded by philosopher Franz Rosenzweig in Frankfurt, Germany, in 1920. Attracting scholars such as Martin Buber, S.Y. Agnon, A.J. Heschel, Gershom Scholem, and Erich Fromm, the original Lehrhaus, until its closure by the Nazis, was Franz Rosenzweig the focal point of a Jewish Franz Rosenzweig intellectual revival between the wars. Dialogue between the student and teacher was the primary method of learning, which, according to Rosenzweig and Buber, “could restore something genuinely Jewish to the Western intellectual.” Special Thanks Lehrhaus expresses its deepest thanks for the generosity and vision of two family foundations: The Laszlo N. Tauber Family Foundation With special thanks to Dr. Ingrid Tauber The Goodman Family Foundation With special thanks to Richard A. Goodman Major Support Provided by The Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin and Sonoma Counties The Ingrid D. Tauber Philanthropic Fund of the Jewish Community Federation and Endowment Fund Additional Support (alphabetical order) The Koret Foundation R.M. Cohen Foundation with special thanks to Diane and Howard Zack Libitzky Family Foundation Robert Engel Eda and Joseph Pell Fleishhacker Foundation Irving Rabin, z"l, and Varda Rabin Estate of Mort Fleishhacker Dr. Barbara and Richard Rosenberg Eve Bernstein and Alex Gersznowicz Sinai Memorial Chapel Fred Isaac and Robin Reiner The Taube Foundation for Jewish Life and Culture The Jewish Community Federation and Ruthellen Toole and the Toole Family Foundation of the Greater East Bay 2 Register at lehrhaus.org Lehrhaus courses are made possible through the cooperative efforts of synagogues, Jewish Community Centers, and other organizations throughout each of the regions we serve. This reference page helps you find the location for the classes you’d like to attend. Addison-Penzak JCC 14855 Oka Road, Los Gatos 408-357-7419 svjcc.org Congregation Netivot Shalom 1316 University Avenue, Berkeley 510-549-9447 netivotshalom.org Jewish LearningWorks 639 14th Avenue, San Francisco 415-751-6983 jewishlearningworks.org Asilomar Conference Center 800 Asilomar Boulevard, Pacific Grove 831-372-8016 visitasilomar.com Congregation Sha'ar Zahav 290 Dolores Street, San Francisco 415-861-6932 shaarzahav.org Kevah 748A Gilman Street, Berkeley 510-280-5656 www.kevah.org Berkeley Rep 2025 Addison Street, Berkeley 510-647-2949 berkeleyrep.org Congregation Sherith Israel 2266 California Street, San Francisco 415-346-1720 sherithisrael.org Marconi Conference Center 18500 State Highway One, Marshall 415-663-9020 marconiconference.org Beth Jacob Congregation 3778 Park Boulevard, Oakland 510-482-1147 bethjacoboakland.org Congregation Shomrei Torah 2600 Bennett Valley Road Santa Rosa 707-578-5519 shomreitorah.org The Marsh Center 2120 Allston Way, Berkeley 510-704-8291 themarsh.org Building Jewish Bridges 2736 Bancroft Way, Berkeley 510-845-6420 buildingjewishbridges.org Congregation Beth Am 26790 Arastradero Road Los Altos Hills 650-493-4661 betham.org Congregation Beth El 1301 Oxford Street, Berkeley 510-848-3988 bethelberkeley.org Congregation Beth Israel 1630 Bancroft Way, Berkeley 510-843-5246 cbiberkeley.org Congregation Kol Emeth 4175 Manuela Avenue, Palo Alto 650-948-7498 kolemeth.org Congregation Kol Shofar 215 Blackfield Drive, Tiburon 415-388-1818 kolshofar.org Contemporary Jewish Museum 736 Mission Street, San Francisco 415-665-7800 thecjm.org Contra Costa Jewish Day School 3836 Mt. Diablo Boulevard, Lafayette 925-284-8288 ccjds.org Il Fornaio 223 Corte Madera Town Center Corte Madera 415-927-4400 ilfornaio.com JCC East Bay 1414 Walnut Street, Berkeley 510-848-0237 jcceastbay.org JCCSF 3200 California Street, San Francisco 415-292-1200 jccsf.org Jewish Community Library 1835 Ellis Street, San Francisco 415-567-3327 bjesf.org Register at lehrhaus.org Co-Sponsors Co-Sponsors and Locations Osher Marin JCC 200 N. San Pedro Road, San Rafael 415-444-8000 marinjcc.org Oshman Family JCC 3921 Fabian Way, Palo Alto 650-223-8700 paloaltojcc.org Pacific School of Religion 1798 Scenic Avenue, Berkeley 510-849-8200 psr.edu Peninsula Temple Sholom 1655 Sebastian Drive, Burlingame 650-697-2266 sholom.org Temple Sinai 2808 Summit Street, Oakland 510-451-3263 oaklandsinai.org Workmen's Circle/Arbeter Ring of Northern California 415-566-7235 circle.org/northern-california 3 Lehrhaus 360 Lehrhaus and the Osher Marin JCC Present Free Ranging Communities: Jewish Life in Marin and Hollywood It's no secret that Marin Jewish culture is unique and free ranging. But is it sustainable? Come to a gathering of diverse voices and learn how they identify themselves, relate to their communities, balance their lives in seemingly contradictory environments, and navigate through the various spaces of Marin Jewish life. Join us, and lend your own voice to the conversation. What are you balancing? Are you joining traditional institutions or seeking new models? Are you living in a multicultural Jewish family? Explore the characteristics of your life that transcend easily defined categories by hearing voices from your communities and adding your own voice to the discussion. Keynote Experience With Mayim Bialik Being Jewish and Observant in Hollywood: What Are the Values That Keep Me Sane? A conversation and Q&A will follow the keynote, with Mayim Bialik and Maya Bernstein, director of education and leadership initiatives at Upstart Bay Area. Voices From Our Communities • Geraldine Barr. I am a traditional, Jewish, lesbian mother in search of the perfect chicken soup recipe. • Dove and Zviki Govrin. We are hosts of BEYTI (Beit Tarbut Ysraeli, House of Israeli Culture), a place where Marin Israelis can gather together, sing Hebrew songs, and celebrate holidays like back home in Israel. We have family in the Bay Area and in Israel. Dr. Mayim Bialik, Emmy-nominated Best Supporting Actress for her role as Amy Farrah Fowler on The Big Bang Theory, will discuss how she balances her life as a religiously observant Jew working in Hollywood. Bialik holds a Ph.D. in neuroscience, has two young children, is a spokesperson for the Holistic Moms Network, and recently published her first book. • David Knepler. I am co-founder of Gan HaLev (The Jewish Congregation of San Geronimo Valley), adoptive father of two, and facilitator of the Jewish American Fiction Book Club. Sunday, March 17 1:00 - 5:00 pm | $10 Osher Marin JCC, San Rafael • Supported by: Ingrid D. Tauber Philanthropic Fund of the JCF Eda and Joseph Pell A Conversation With Founders • Marlene Saritzky. My life has fluctuated in and out of Judaism with stops at camp, rebellion, un-affiliation, NITA, and back again. • Natalia Straus. I have a Christian mother, a Muslim father, a Jewish husband, and a life in the Jewish community. I am the director of individual gifts at the Osher Marin JCC. Gina Waldman. I was born in Libya, fled to Italy, immigrated to San Francisco, and settled in Marin. I was the director of the Bay Area Council for Soviet Jewry, vand I am the co-founder of JIMENA (Jews Indigenous to the Middle East and North Africa). I am a human rights activist. San Francisco State Professor Marc Dollinger will be in conversation with founders of the Marin Jewish community, including Rabbi Michael Barenbaum, Elliot Levin, and others. They will discuss their hopes for the Marin Jewish community, will reflect on what has worked and what hasn’t, and what remains to be done. What Have We Learned? We will conclude with an open community conversation wrapping up the day's discussions. Results will be posted on the Lehrhaus and Osher Marin JCC websites. 4 Register at lehrhaus.org Lehrhaus Spring Retreat Join us for Lehrhaus’ first retreat at the Marconi Conference Center on beautiful Tomales Bay, and study a range of intriguing topics with master faculty. Professor Deena Aranoff Maimonides on Shabbat How the Nurse Got Lost and Other Mysteries of Creation Rachel Brodie Land Mine: Nationalism and Other Unnatural Disasters in the Poetry of Yehuda Amichai Deena Aranoff Cain and Abel: An Investigation of Crime Scene Art from Frescoes to Photos Rabbi Lavey Derby Freed from Suffering The Way of the Mystic Jehon Grist, Ph.D. Where Did the Goddess Go? The Divine Feminine in Biblical Religion Why Egypt Matters Rachel Brodie Rabbi Dorothy Richman Singing Shabbat: What is Piyyut? Lavey Derby Parsha Poetry: The Accused Woman Fred Rosenbaum Fighting Back Against Radical Evil: Jewish Partisans in the Forests of Eastern Europe, 1942-44 How the Bay Area is Different: Major Trends in Jewish Life from the Gold Rush to the Present Rabbi Peretz Wolf-Prusan Walk and Learn: The Poetry and Power of Rav Kook Jehon Grist Dorothy Richman A Tribe of Amazons, Alexander the Great, Caesar, and a Rabbi Walk Into a Bar, No, a Cave Friday-Sunday, May 17-19 Marconi Conference Center, Marshall Regular Rate: Double: $550 / Single: $650 Early Registration: Double: $475 / Single: $575 (before Jan. 14) Deposit: $100 non-refundable deposit secures early registration rate until Feb. 21. Supported by: Ingrid D. Tauber Philanthropic Fund of the JCF. Fred Rosenbaum Peretz Wolf-Prusan Register at lehrhaus.org 5 Lehrhaus 360 Lehrhaus, JCCSF, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, and JFCS Holocaust Center present They Did Not Stand Idly By Yom HaShoah and the 70th Anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising Warsaw Ghetto Uprising Study Sessions — 1:30 pm The Warsaw Ghetto Uprising in Context John M. Efron, Koret Professor of Jewish History at the University of California, Berkeley, will describe and illuminate the formation of the ghetto, its internal politics and culture, Nazi policy, and how the revolt emerged out of those conditions. The Coming of the Holocaust A Holocaust survivor and native of Hungary, Peter Kenez is a scholar of the history of Russia and the former Soviet Union. He is currently working on a book-length study investigating the preconditions for mass murder in countries occupied by the Nazis during the Second World War. He will discuss how anti-Semitism in the pre-industrial world was different from that of the 19th century, and how Nazi anti-Semitism was dependent on the economic, political, and social success of the European Jewish community. What is our Legacy? Morgan Blum, director of education with the JFCS Holocaust Center and March of the Living alumni (1998), will hold a round table discussion for young adults and college-aged students on identity, responsibility, and legacy of the Holocaust. What role will we, as the future generation, play in shaping the narrative when the survivor generation passes? The workshop will examine different Holocaust memorials, literature, and film. "It's Not My Problem: Why Get Involved?" — 3:00 pm The U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum presents a provocative panel discussion that challenges us to think about the motivating forces behind individual acts during the Holocaust. Who were the people who risked great personal danger in trying to save friends, acquaintances, and strangers? What influenced the vast majority of ordinary people to look away, do nothing, or comply with the Nazis? What can we learn from these events as individuals and as a society? This panel will be moderated by Rabbi Peretz Wolf-Prusan, and includes Museum Historian William F. Meinecke, Dr. Philip Zimbardo of Stanford University, and Dr. Samuel Oliner, author of Do Unto Others: Extrodinary Acts of Ordinary People. Reading of the Names — 4:30 pm By B’nai B’rith youth from our community Yom HaShoah Program and Commemoration — 5:00 pm The JFCS Holocaust Center presents the San Francisco Community Yom HaShoah Program and Memorial Service. Join our community’s survivors and their families for an hour of music, memories, and learning. Sunday, April 7 | 1:30 - 6:00 pm | Free JCCSF, San Francisco Top: Jewish resistance fighters captured by SS troops (U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum); Middle: Morgan Blum; Below: Philip Zimbardo (Photo: Rod Searcey) 6 Register at lehrhaus.org Co-sponsored by Jewish LearningWorks, Kevah, and Lehrhaus Judaica Join adults from all denominations, levels of knowledge and observance in a monthly learning community. Once each month a different Bay Area Jewish educator will offer a class on a topic of his or her choice. We’ll match you with a topic of your choice, such as the weekly Torah portion, Jewish ethics, Kabbalah or another compelling theme guided by one of our source sheets. Bring your own hevruta (study partner), or come by yourself. Engage and explore Jewish texts with Open Sources educators as your guides. The faculty includes: Joshua Fenton (monthly), David Kasher (January 8), Gavriel Strauss and Peretz Wolf-Prusan (February 12), Shayna Orfus (March 12), Daniel Isaacson (April 9), and Joel Abramovitz (May 7). Registration requested. More at jewishlearningworks.org Five Tuesdays, January 8 – May 7 | 7:00 - 9:00 pm | Free Jewish LearningWorks, San Francisco Jewbilee 2013: A Day of Learning and Celebrating Jewish Community Jewbilee offers a broad range of thoughtful as well as authoritative perspectives on the Jewish experience that encompass all forms of Jewish life and expression. Presentations include lectures, workshops, and performances by Bay Area rabbis and educators, as well as artists, performers, and authors, with special events for children, film screenings, a teen zone, and more. Lehrhaus’ Rabbi Peretz-Wolf Prusan is offering two workshops. The keynote speaker is world-renowned scholar Jonathan Sarna, who will be discussing his new book When General Grant Expelled the Jews. Community Events Open Sources Tickets and more details at siliconvalleyjcc.org/jewbilee Sunday, January 27 | 1:00 - 8:00 pm | $10 / $7 for seniors and students Addison-Penzak Jewish Community Center, Los Gatos Limmud Bay Area Limmud is a conference, a festival, a gathering of Jews from all parts of the Bay, from all walks of life, all Jewish backgrounds, all lifestyles, and all ages. Limmud Bay Area is two+ days of lectures, workshops, text-study sessions, discussions, exhibits, performances and much more, in a retreat like setting, over an extended weekend — all planned and produced by a network of “volunticipators”. Lehrhaus’ Rabbi Peretz Wolf-Prusan is leading two levels of Talmud workshops. Tickets and more details at limmudbayarea.org Presidents’ Day Weekend | Sunday-Monday, February 17-18 / Saturday night stay option Asilomar Conference Grounds, Pacific Grove The Manovill Conversations LOADED: Jews & Money Join us for lively, no-holds-barred conversations with leading journalists, intellectuals, artists and rabbis, who will peel back the layers of stereotype, obfuscation and shame to open an honest dialogue around a topic loaded with angst. The series features Eliot Spitzer, Rabbi David Wolpe, Rabbi David Ellenson, Robert N. Bellah, Matthew Yglesias, Daphne Merkin, and Todd Gitlin. Tickets and more details at jccsf.org/arts March 8 – May 28 | JCCSF, San Francisco Top: Lone Cypress near Asilomar; Below: Rabbi David Wolpe Register at lehrhaus.org 7 Ancient & Modern History The Arab Spring: Middle East Politics of the Past and Present Jehon Grist, Ph.D., Professor Farid Senzai, and Professor Eran Kaplan In January 2011, the self-immolation death of a Tunisian fruit-stand owner lit the flames of revolt throughout the Arab world. In a region where absolute rule from the top has been the norm for millennia, what triggered this unique wave of democratic reforms, and where will it go from here? These questions and more will be taken up by our series speakers. In the first session, Jehon Grist will explore patterns of rule in the Middle East from ancient times into the 20th century. In the second session, Professor Farid Senzai will delve into the processes that led to this revolution and its prospects for the future. We will conclude with Prof. Eran Kaplan, Goldman Chair in Israel Studies at San Francisco State University, who will discuss the challenges and opportunities Israel faces with regard to the changing Middle East. H350-TS | Wednesdays, January 30 - February 13 | 7:00 - 8:30 pm | $40 / $30 members Temple Sinai, Oakland Jewish Eastern Europe: A Family Journey Professor Marc Dollinger Co-sponsored by KlezCalifornia Three profound stories animate Eastern European Jewish history. For centuries, the Pale of Settlement served as the world’s center of Jewish life. In Russia, Poland, and its neighboring (and ever changing) countries, Jews lived, studied, and developed a vibrant Yiddish-speaking culture. The Shoah destroyed that world, with the vast majority of its Jews murdered by the Nazis. Facilitated by the fall of Communism, a new, third chapter is emerging, as a generation of hidden Jews seeks knowledge about their Jewish ancestry. This past summer, Professor Marc Dollinger journeyed with his family to six Eastern European countries, a Bat Mitzvah trip that would enable his daughter, Shayna, to learn what it means to have a Yiddish name. Using pictures, videos, and stories from his trip, Dollinger will discuss Eastern European history as well as current efforts to revitalize Jewish life. Thursday, January 17 | 7:00 - 8:30 pm | Free Jewish Community Library, San Francisco Presented by the Jewish Community Library of Jewish LearningWorks Middle: Prof. Farid Senzai; Below: the Dollinger family outside of Chelm. Opposite Above: Jerusalem Synagogue, Prague; Below Left: Cave for Qumrun 8 Register at lehrhaus.org A Jewish Journey: The Beth Am Pre-Tour Course for Prague and Israel Jehon Grist, Ph.D. We will preview the panorama of history, culture, and sites you’ll discover in both Israel and the Czech Republic. Focusing on Prague, we’ll explore the dynamic heart of Central Europe’s Jewry, from its birth in the 10th century to its near extermination by the Nazis in the 1940s, closing with its renaissance over the last 30 years. Our virtual visit to Israel will span the centuries from the biblical era to the vibrant Israel of today. For both countries, our course will include visual introductions to most of the sites you’ll visit. The class is open to students not part of the tour. For tour participants, an expanded version of the course (with recommended readings) will be available on a flash drive. H205-BA | Tuesday, February 12 and Thursday, February 21 7:30 - 9:00 pm | $30 / Free for tour participants Congregation Beth Am, Los Altos Hills Discovering Biblical Israel: History, Archaeology, and Dead Sea Scrolls Jehon Grist, Ph.D. This primer on Israel's biblical heritage will start with a visual overview of the timeline of biblical era history, from the Patriarchs around 1800 BCE to the beginning of Roman control in the 1st Century CE. In our second session, we'll travel to the most important Biblical era sites for virtual walking tours, including Dan, Hazor, Megiddo, Khirbet Qeiyafa, Jerusalem, and Beersheba. Our final session will introduce the world of the Dead Sea Scrolls, with an exploration of the Scrolls village of Qumran, and introductions to the key texts and controversies. H250-ST | Wednesdays, March 6 - March 20 | 7:00 - 8:30 pm | $35 / $25 members Congregation Shomrei Torah, Santa Rosa Register at lehrhaus.org 9 Classic & Contemporary Texts Excluded from Religious Authority: Sorcery, the Source of Women's Power Maggie Anton Co-sponsored by JCC East Bay, Congregation Beth Sholom, and Congregation Beth El Maggie Anton will talk about the research behind her new book, Rav Hisda’s Daughter: A Novel of Love, the Talmud, and Sorcery. Set in Babylonia and Roman Palestine during the third century, a critical period in the history of the four monotheistic religions, this historical novel focuses on rabbinic families struggling to establish new Jewish traditions in the aftermath of the destruction of Jerusalem’s Holy Temple. At the same time, Zoroastrian Persia battles Rome fast becoming Christian for world dominance. Against this backdrop, women excluded from their religion’s hierarchy, including our heroine, find spirituality as enchantresses in the very land where the word ‘magic’ originated. Rav Hisda's Daughter, Book 1: Apprentice brings the world of the Talmud to life from a woman's perspective. Anton will be the scholar-in-residence at Congregation Beth Sholom in San Francisco earlier in the weekend. T300-CBE | Sunday, February 10 | 2:00 - 3:30 pm | Free Congregation Beth El, Berkeley Tasting the Talmud: A Talmud Circle Extravaganza Rabbi Peretz Wolf-Prusan This is not a metaphor, its an interactive lunch and learn! Yes, come and eat the foods of second century Tzipori, meet Judah HaNasi as we recreate the world of the Mishna in art, food, and literature. This special event is open to anyone interested in understanding the world of the Talmud: its settings, personalities, and customs. T800-LJ | Sunday, January 20 1:00 - 2:30 pm | $10 Lehrhaus Judaica, Berkeley Top: Maggie Anton; Below: 2011-12 Bay Area Community Talmud Circle students 10 Register at lehrhaus.org The Three Testaments: Torah, Gospel, and Quran Rabbi Ruth Adar The Three Testaments: Torah, Gospel, and Quran is a revolutionary book: the first time that the Torah, the New Testament, and the Quran have been published in a single volume. The texts and their accompanying essays appreciate the three Abrahamic traditions as distinct entities, separate and beautiful in their differences as well as their common elements. This class will examine passages from each of the three great texts, as well as a fourth source that the editor, Brian Brown, suggests may link the three: the Zoroastrian tradition. Copies of the book will be available for purchase at the first class. T300-TS | Thursdays, April 4 - April 18 | 7:30 - 9:00 pm | $30 / $20 members Temple Sinai, Oakland Wild Women of the Bible Rabbi Carol Caine The Hebrew Bible contains stories of some extraordinary women: Tamar, a seemingly powerless widow whose bold trickery changed history; Deborah, a wise and powerful head of state; Hannah, who asserted her right to pray as she wished; and Yael, a fierce and courageous warrior. We will discuss how these and other Biblical women claim power and the limitations of their power. We will also look at midrashim, or imaginative reconfigurations of these stories, from both traditional and contemporary perspectives. Please join us as we explore what these amazing biblical women can teach us about our inner lives as women and men today. T250-LJ | Thursdays, February 21 - March 7 | 7:00 - 8:30 pm | $35 Lehrhaus Judaica, Berkeley What We Talk About When We Talk About Nathan Englander Rabbi Peretz Wolf-Prusan Co-sponsored by Jewish LearningWorks Join us for a lively discussion about Nathan Englander's book What We Talk About When We Talk About Anne Frank. We'll talk about the individual stories and the collection as a whole. This program is part of the Jewish LearningWorks One Bay One Book project. Please read the collection prior to our gathering so all attendees can engage in the conversation. Read reflections on the book from a variety of community members, including "Story 8" by Rabbi Peretz WolfPrusan at jewishlearningworks.org. T100-LJ | Tuesday, March 5 | 7:00 - 8:30 pm | Free Lehrhaus Judaica, Berkeley Right: Nathan Englander (photo by: Juliana Sohn) Register at lehrhaus.org 11 Contemporary Issues California Conversations: Farmers in the Bay Sue Fishkoff, Lisa Gottreich, Scott Gerber, and Vivien Straus Engage in the rich history of the Jews who came to the Bay Area to farm the land. From the Petaluma chicken farmers to modern organic dairies, Jews have been agricultural innovators in the Bay Area. In this lively conversation led by j. editor Sue Fishkoff, join representatives of three generations of farmers: Scott Gerber, the Yiddish Cowboy; Bohemian Creamery’s Lisa Gottreich, and Straus Family Creamery’s Vivien Straus. This event is presented in conjunction with California Dreaming: Jewish Life in the Bay Area from the Gold Rush to the Present, on view at the Contemporary Jewish Museum. Advanced reservations suggested at thecjm.org Friday, February 1 | 1:00 - 2:30 pm | Free with museum admission Contemporary Jewish Museum, San Francisco Tzedakah's Roots Are in the Land Deborah Newbrun "Where there is no flour, there is no Torah; Where there is no Torah, there is no flour.” —Pirkei Avot 3:17-21 Modern industrial farming methods have inflicted harsh, sometimes irreversible damage on our environment. Hazon, America's largest Jewish environmental organization, has focused much of its work on issues of food sustainability, food justice, and food education. Deborah Newbrun, Hazon's Bay Area director, will speak about her organization’s efforts to brand and promote the New Jewish Food Movement through its food conferences and other programs. She will discuss how we in the Jewish community can help to create healthier and more sustainable farming systems, transforming not only ourselves but what it means to be Jewish in the 21st century. T200-BA | Wednesday, January 30 | 7:00 - 8:30 pm | $8 / Free for members Congregation Beth Am, Los Altos Hills 12 Register at lehrhaus.org Is There Such a Thing as the Jewish People? Rethinking Jewish Membership for a Global Era With Osher Marin JCC Visiting Scholar Noam Pianko What is “Jewish Peoplehood” and how is it changing in both the United States and Israel? Tremendous intellectual and financial resources have been invested to try to preserve the ties that connect Jews to one another. However, the assumptions about what peoplehood is are unclear and based on outdated paradigms of identity. Technological, social, and political transformations have altered the landscape in this global area and the theory of Jewish collectivity lags behind. These talks will explore probing questions about peoplehood past, present, and future to reassess the possibilities and limitations of Jewish identity today. For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit marinjcc.org/visitingscholar. The Problem with “The Jewish People” One of the crucial issues facing Jewish life in the U.S. and Israel is the perceived dissolution of “Jewish Peoplehood.” Is the problem that Jews today have rejected their obligation to other Jews? Perhaps. But there is another possibility: existing models of Jewish membership make assumptions based on outdated identity paradigms with limited practical or moral relevance in an increasingly globalized world. Thursday, February 7 | 7:00 – 9:00 pm | Osher Marin JCC, San Rafael Friday, February 8 | 7:30 – 9:00 am | Il Fornaio, Corte Madera Can Historical Models Expand the Possibilities for Sustainable Jewish Life Today? How did pre-modern Jews think about what connected Jews to one another? We’ll explore the diverse meanings of the “Jewish People” before the social and political transformations of the modern period. Long forgotten notions of Jewish identity and solidarity can help us imagine new models of Jewish life today. Thursday, March 7 | 7:00 – 9:00 pm | Osher Marin JCC, San Rafael Friday, March 8 | 7:30 – 9:00 am | Il Fornaio, Corte Madera Israeli Nation or Jewish People? Zionism and the Transformation of Jewish Identity Many of the assumptions about what it means to be a Jew today have been shaped by modern theories of nationalism and Zionism. This lecture explores how modern political thought transformed popular and scholarly conceptions of the Jewish people. Thursday, April 4 | 7:00 – 9:00 pm | Osher Marin JCC, San Rafael Friday, April 5 | 7:30 – 9:00 am | Il Fornaio, Corte Madera Is Peoplehood Possible (Or Desirable) in a Global Era? Can (and should) the idea of a shared set of criteria linking all Jewish people around the globe be preserved? The final lecture explores the possibilities and limitations of making collective claims about Jewish unity and identity today. Thursday, May 2 | 7:00 – 9:00 pm | Osher Marin JCC, San Rafael Friday, May 3 | 7:30 – 9:00 am | Il Fornaio, Corte Madera Opposite Top: Lisa Gottreich; Below: Deborah Newbrun; This Page Top: Noam Planko Register at lehrhaus.org 13 Back to the Torah Back to the Torah: The Book of Deuteronomy: “And You Shall Love…” Ken Cohen This winter, we continue our study of D’varim: the Book of Deuteronomy. Moses, speaking in his final addresses to Israel, expresses the essential nature of Israel’s relationship to God: Shema Yisrael! We will study the Shema, in depth, to understand its power as the statement of faith of Israel for all time. We'll also examine just what it means to “Love the Lord your God.” In fact, we will discuss the Bible’s concept(s) of love on many levels. For the more aggressive, our chapters will also cover war, defiance, and the soon-to-be conquered land of Israel. This is not a weekly “torah-study” class, but an in-depth exploration of each chapter and verse, uncovering the religious and cultural messages of the author, and the historical context of the book’s composition and its first audiences. Our class' methods are eclectic, including text-critical and literary approaches. These are enriched by archaeological information and contemporary scholarship, and are spiced and profoundly enriched with classic midrash and later Jewish interpretations of biblical messages. We will read and study in English with occasional references to the original Hebrew (fully explained for non-Hebrew speakers). Class members will be expected to read a chapter or so each week in preparation for class discussions. Bring a Jewish Bible (Tanakh) to class. The more translations the merrier! T106B-CCD | Thursdays, January 17 - March 21 | 7:30 - 9:15 pm | $150 / $130 members Contra Costa Jewish Day School, Lafayette Back to the Torah: The Book of Deuteronomy: Of Kings and Kosher Meat Ken Cohen This spring, we focus on Moses’ third and final discourse in our study of D’varim: the Book of Deuteronomy. It is these chapters that zero in on Jerusalem as the future unique nexus of Jewry and Judaism, presaging a three-millennium centrality of that city to the Jewish world. The concepts of biblical justice will be explored, and the nature of prophecy and political leadership discussed. Deuteronomic conceptions of the calendar and kashrut will also be addressed. This is not a weekly “torah-study” class, but an in-depth exploration of each chapter and verse, uncovering the religious and cultural messages of the author, and the historical context of the book’s composition and its first audiences. Our class' methods are eclectic, including text-critical and literary approaches. These are enriched by archaeological information and contemporary scholarship, and are spiced and profoundly enriched with classic midrash and later Jewish interpretations of biblical messages. T106C-CCD | Thursdays, April 4 - June 13 7:30 - 9:15 pm | $150 / $130 members Contra Costa Jewish Day School, Lafayette 14 Register at lehrhaus.org Charlie Varon Award-winning playwright and actor Charlie Varon performs the latest in his series of comic short stories about elderly Jews living in San Francisco. "Charlie Varon’s short stories are deep, funny, thrilling works that illuminate what it is to be alive and Jewish and American in the 21st century. They are a gift to the Bay Area Jewish community and to the world." — Rabbi Dorothy Richman The Arts The Listener Tickets at themarsh.org Sunday, March 10 | 3:00 - 4:30 pm | $10-$35 sliding scale / $50 reserve seats The Marsh Arts Center, Berkeley The Drama of Yiddish on the Hebrew Stage Dr. Donny Inbar Co-sponsored by KlezCalifornia Official Zionism frowned upon the spoken Yiddish of the Diaspora, fearing it would interfere with the efforts to transform Hebrew from a frozen religious tongue into a living secular modern language. At the same time, however, Yiddish culture maintained a strong presence in Eretz Yisrael. Drawing from his own extensive research, Dr. Inbar will share anecdotes, shatter some myths, pay homage to Abraham Goldfaden (the father of Yiddish theater), and discuss the love-hate relationship between Hebrew and Yiddish. Thursday, January 10 | 7:00 - 8:30 pm | Free Jewish Community Library, San Francisco Presented by the Jewish Community Library of Jewish LearningWorks Contemporary Art in the Middle East A Lecture Series by Michal Gavish Contemporary Art in Iran Iranian imagery, which is traditionally colorful and imaginative, has developed into a set of rich and bold contemporary expressions. We will explore the development of the Iranian art scene in the past two decades, in spite of the many restrictions in its way. We will place the current art within the context of the rich history of Persia/Iran and examine Jewish aspects through the story of Purim. This lecture will also be offered in Hebrew on Thursday, February 21 at 8 p.m. Both Hebrew and English lectures will be in Room F-401. Tuesday, February 19 | 8:00 - 9:30 pm | $18 at the door / $15 pre-registration $12 members | Oshman Family JCC, Palo Alto Contemporary Palestinian Art This talk will survey the development of contemporary Israeli-Arab art in Israel and abroad. We will discuss the thought process behind the making of Israeli-Arab art and the immense variety of subjects and media that it covers with an emphasis on its mutual relationship to Israeli art. This lecture will also be offered in Hebrew on Thursday, April 25 at 8 p.m. Both Hebrew and English lectures will be in Room F-401. Tuesday, April 30 | 8:00 - 9:30 pm | $18 at the door / $15 pre-registration $12 members | Oshman Family JCC, Palo Alto Register at lehrhaus.org Top: Charlie Varon 15 Jewish Music Festival Opening Night at the Jewish Music Festival The Past and Future of Jewish Music in Poland: Polesya and Shofar Shofar, Olga Mieleszczuk (Polesya), and Ruth Ellen Gruber Join us for opening night of the 28th Jewish Music Festival as we explore the past and future of Jewish music in Poland. We'll hear Polesya, representing music from Poland's deep roots, and Shofar, a band of the contemporary moment. Historically one of the most mysterious and wild regions in Europe, Polesya was the ancient cradle of the Slavic people and a center of Hasidism. This unique project of Olga Mieleszczuk is inspired by the repertoire of Mariam Nirenberg, a pre-War Jewish folksinger born in this multicultural region. Direct from today's Poland: Shofar brings a Polish twist to Jewish music, with a mix of Hassidic cantorial “nigunim” or wordless melodies and free jazz. This is a great introduction to Poland's contemporary Jewish scene. There will be a pre-concert discussion with Ruth Ellen Gruber, an award-winning journalist who specializes in contemporary Jewish life in Eastern Europe. Tickets at jewishmusicfestival.org Saturday, March 2 | 7:30 - 10:00 pm | $30 Berkeley Repertory Theater, Berkeley This program is co-sponsored by the Polish Cultural Institute, Taube Foundation for Jewish Life and Culture, Israel Center of San Francisco, Consulate of Poland, and Consulate of Israel. A Special Tribute to Lyricist Yip Harburg The Man Who Put the Rainbow in the Wizard of Oz With Musical Theatre Maven, Bonnie Weiss Although Yip Harburg’s name is not as easily recognizable as other lyricists such as Lorenz Hart, Ira Gershwin and Oscar Hammerstein, his songs certainly are! With composer Harold Arlen, he wrote the lyrics to the entire score of one of Hollywood’s most beloved films, The Wizard of Oz. The American Film Institute ranked one of its tunes, Over the Rainbow, the number one song to emerge from a Hollywood film. Harburg also penned the lyrics to the hit Broadway musical Finian’s Rainbow (with composer Burton Lane). With Harold Arlen he wrote such classics as It’s Only a Paper Moon, Happiness is Just a Thing Called Joe, and the Groucho Marx comic gem, Lydia the Tattooed Lady. With composer Vernon Duke, Harburg penned the words to the haunting April in Paris. In this presentation, you’ll learn about Yip’s early years as a poor Jewish kid growing up in the Lower East Side of Manhattan and how his struggles influenced his creative vision. You’ll also get to see Yip, himself, performing many of his own songs in an engaging and charming manner. What’s more, you’ll see performances of his work by such legends of the stage and screen as Judy Garland, Ray Bolger, and Groucho Marx, plus Tony Award winners Barbara Cook and Audra McDonald Tickets at jewishmusicfestival.org Sunday, January 27 | 2:00 - 3:30 pm | $15 / $12 members, seniors, and students JCC East Bay, Berkeley Top: Olga Mieleszczuk; Middle: Yip Harburg; Below: Bonnie Weiss 16 Register at lehrhaus.org Veretski Pass Join the 28th Jewish Music Festival for two workshops by Veretski Pass, an internationally known trio that highlights Jewish music from the land where the Ottoman East met Europe. Attend both workshops for $25. Tickets at jewishmusicfestival.org Klezmer Music and Hazzones The relationship of klezmer music and Hazzones (hazzanut — cantorial singing) is one of mutual exchange. Hazzones makes use of klezmer motives and gestures and klezmer music uses liturgical prayers and modulations. Because klezmer music is seemingly more tolerant of change and quicker to absorb it, and because its functions are more widespread than the prayer function of Hazzones, the process of transformation occurs in an elliptical fashion. The promiscuity that klezmer music exhibits in accepting musical gestures from outside of Jewish culture also presents unique problems in the Jewish music field. This lecture will show in detail how klezmer music transforms cantorial gestures into its own framework and how cantors respond to this process. Thursday, February 7 | 7:30 - 9:00 pm | $15 | JCC East Bay, Berkeley Busting the Myth of Klezmer What we call “klezmer music” today may differ radically from what it was 100 years ago. Since the mid 1990s, stylistically specific music has been introduced into the Klezmer scene from the regions of Hungarian-influenced Maramures, and Kalotaszeg — regions that had perhaps little to do with what we used to call “klezmer.” Following the lead of the Táncház movement of Hungary, first non-Jews, then Jews began to redefine what were formerly considered the stylistic and repertoire parameters of Klezmer music. In this lecture, we contextualize these processes historically and then pose questions as to what is jjjaccurate in the relationship between the promotion and actual content of the music of the participants in order to distinguish what is truth and what is hype. The lecture will explore processes common to many types of music in today’s landscape with the hope of understanding the mechanisms that serve to alter musical styles in time. Monday, February 11 7:30 - 9:00 pm | $15 JCC East Bay, Berkeley Top: Cookie Segelstein; Below: Veretski Pass Register at lehrhaus.org 17 Intro to Judaism Introduction to the Jewish Experience with Rabbi Ruth Adar These two classes are part of a three-unit series. The third part can be taken next fall. Please visit the class website at jewishexperienceonline.com. Israel and Texts The land of Israel has been central to Jewish history, both ancient and modern. Even during the years of galut (exile) the Jewish heart was “in the east,” in the words of medieval poet Yehudah HaLevy. This class will examine the history of ancient Israel, the beginnings of rabbinic Judaism, and the modern return to the land. With that history as a backdrop, we will learn about the great texts of Judaism: Tanach (Bible), Midrash, Talmud, the Prayer Book, and the Codes of Jewish Law. I100B-CBE | Wednesdays, January 16 - March 6 | 7:30 - 9:00 pm | $95 / $80 members Congregation Beth El, Berkeley Traditions of Judaism There have been multiple expressions of Judaism since the days of the Second Temple. In this class, we will study the varieties of Judaism in the late antique and early medieval period, Ashkenazi Judaism, Sephardic Judaism, and the modern streams of Judaism. We will also look at some of the elements that make Judaism in America, in California, and in our local Jewish community so distinctive. The class will finish with a look at food traditions in Judaism: kashrut (keeping kosher) and other Jewish food traditions. I100C-CBE | Wednesdays, April 3 - May 29 | 7:30 - 9:00 pm | $95 / $80 members Congregation Beth El, Berkeley More Jewish Experience with Rabbi Ruth Adar More Jewish Experience is a new series, designed to expand one's Jewish knowledge beyond the basics in the areas of Jewish prayer, Jewish texts, and Jewish ethics. While it is designed as a follow-up to Introduction to the Jewish Experience, all interested students are welcome. Prayer: Erev Shabbat There is an internal logic to the order in which Jews say the prayers in the service, but it is not always easy to see. Have you ever wished that you understood what we are doing in the service? This class will examine the Friday evening Erev Shabbat service as well as some of the key prayers. No Hebrew is required. I150-TS | Thursdays, February 7 - February 28 | 7:30 - 9:00 pm | $50 / $40 members Temple Sinai, Oakland Texts: Pirkei Avot Pirkei Avot, the Sayings of the Fathers, is one of the most beloved portions of the Mishnah. It includes ethical teachings and good advice from the ancient rabbis on such diverse topics as business, government, and self-improvement. It's traditional to study it during the Counting of the Omer. Join us as we read "Avot" and discover old and new favorite passages. No Hebrew is required. I175-TS | Thursdays, April 25 - May 16 | 7:30 - 9:00 pm | $50 / $40 members Temple Sinai, Oakland This program is made possible with the generous support of Fred Isaac and Robin Reiner. 18 Register at lehrhaus.org Dawn Kepler Interfaith/intercultural couples often face difficult questions and decisions. Make the process easier by engaging with other couples facing similar concerns. Create an outline of how to approach a conversation with your partner that is honest, caring, and supportive. Exchange ideas about such issues as: Holiday Observances — Which holidays will be celebrated in our home? Dealing With Our Families — How will we talk to our parents about our choices? Raising Children — How can we make sure our child is part of each of us? Spiritual Concerns — How do we satisfy our needs and recognize our partner’s? Cultural Differences — How do communication styles and familial expectations impact our relationship? There is a sliding scale. No one will be turned away. Contact Dawn at dawn@buildingjewishbridges for reduced tuition. P250-LJ | Wednesdays, February 20 - April 3 | 7:30 - 9:00 pm | $120 per couple Lehrhaus Judaica, Berkeley Joys and Challenges of Raising Jewish Children in Interfaith Families Dawn Kepler For interfaith and intercultural families, and those who love them... Children offer us the remarkable opportunity to become our better selves. They challenge our assumptions, our patience, and our certainty. They also fill us with pride, worry, joy and a reason to make sacrifices. In a generation that has tried to balance freedom with discipline, children’s needs with parental desires, what are the unique strengths and weaknesses of interfaith families? Join us for a discussion of how to find your family’s comfort point including with religion. We’ll talk about the challenges of parenting and the long term implications of the daily choices you make for your children. Building Jewish Bridges Discussion Series for Interfaith/Intercultural Couples P250-OFJ | Wednesday, February 3 | 9:15 - 10:45 am | Free Peninsula Temple Sholom, Burlingame Asian and Jewish Panel: Hear Their Stories Dawn Kepler Hear a panel of local Asian Jews (born Jewish or converted) discuss the challenges they meet daily and ways that we, their fellow Jews, can be better advocates, allies, and family members. They'll share stories ranging from funny to frustrating. Join us for a thoughtful and intimate conversation about how it feels to be Asian and Jewish. P250-SI | Sunday, May 5 | 10:00 - 11:30 am | $5 / Free for members Congregation Sherith Israel, San Francisco Opposite Top: Rabbi Ruth Adar Register at lehrhaus.org 19 Building Jewish Bridges DIY Judaism: Let's Make Challah! Dawn Kepler Everyone loves the smell of baking bread or the taste of warm homemade bread from the oven. Do you wish you could make delicious challah for Shabbat, but don’t consider yourself a baker or are short on time? Join us in the kitchen, and we’ll quickly put your mind at ease. We’ll talk about the secrets of baking, the power of food as a part of ritual, and favorite recipes for challah. Everyone will go home with a loaf of bread. Register early as space is limited to eight participants. We'll meet in a private home in Oakland; students will receive the address upon registration. P200-LJ | Sunday, January 27 | 1:00 - 3:00 pm | $20 A Private Home in Oakland This program is made possible with the generous support of Fred Isaac and Robin Reiner. Passover Made Easy with Dawn Kepler Not everyone who holds a seder grew up with Passover traditions. Dawn Kepler will share tasty Passover recipes, shortcuts and tips for engaging children and spouses of all ages in the holiday. A300D-CMV | Thursday, March 14 | 9:30 - 11:30 am | $20 Congregation Kol Shofar, Tiburon Cooking Jewish Whether You’re Jewish or Not: Passover Dawn Kepler Passover is the most observed Jewish holiday in America. The central element of the holiday is the seder — a ceremonial meal with symbolic foods. Recipes and rituals come together to build memories and strengthen family bonds. Most Jews have warm, fuzzy memories of seders with their family. This class is for Jews and non-Jews with all levels of experience. We'll cover how to create a wonderful, festive meal for your family and friends, and help you make the holiday more joyous, meaningful and delicious. You must pre-register by March 6 so that we have enough food! For more information, call Dawn at 510-845-6420 x11. P150-BA | Sunday, March 10 | 1:00 - 3:00 pm | $25 Congregation Beth Am, Los Altos Hills 20 Register at lehrhaus.org Deepening Your Jewish Experience Rabbi Menachem Creditor Do you pray that you might be able to pray? Do you bless your food with gratitude that a stooped worker picked it for you? Do you breathe in the rest of the Sabbath with ecstatic peace? Or, do you just wish you could? Join Rabbi Creditor to explore how you can deepen your personal Jewish practice. We will explore three key areas: Shabbat, food, and prayer. Come exactly as you are and honestly determine what you would like more of in your life. P100-NS | Wednesdays, April 17 - May 1 | 7:30 pm | $20 / Free for members Congregation Netivot Shalom, Berkeley Secrets of the Sanctuary Rabbi Andrew Straus Have you ever been to a synagogue and have been too scared to just pop in? Or, maybe you’ve been, but you don’t really know what all the parts are. Ease your synagogue worries by learning the key elements of the service and the role of the different ritual objects such as head coverings and prayer shawls. Join Rabbi Straus and other inquisitive people to learn the secrets of the synagogue sanctuary. P150-TS | Thursday, February 7 | 7:30 - 9:00 pm | Free Temple Sinai, Oakland Shifting Traditions Dawn Kepler Three interfaith couples take three different approaches to religion in their family. Rabbis reflect differing views. Come see a short film, Shifting Traditions, and discuss the concerns and choices that are open to every interfaith couple in today’s Jewish community. This program is free but please RSVP by emailing Linda at [email protected]. P200-TS | Sunday, February 10 | 10:00 am - 12:00 pm | Free Temple Sinai, Oakland Middle: Temple Sinai sanctuary Register at lehrhaus.org 21 Building Jewish Bridges Below the Belt: Circumcision and Hatafat Dam for Conversion Rabbi Andrew Straus When a man converts to Judaism, he must consider whether he will have a ritual circumcision or the ceremony of Hatafat Dam (the ritual drawing of a drop of blood). These procedures bring up a lot of confusion, concern, and even fear. This program will clear up myths and answer questions such as: Why does Judaism require circumcision? How is a mohel trained? Is he a doctor? What happens when you are with the mohel? What exactly happens with an adult circumcision and with hatafat dam? Is anesthesia used? Does it hurt? The first 30 minutes of the program we welcome women to come and ask their questions. Then all females will move into the social hall for refreshments while the men have an all male discussion. A man who has experienced adult circumcision will describe the experience and answer questions. A mohel, Dr. Joel Piser, and Rabbi Andrew Straus will also be present. P100-TS | Thursday, February 28 | 7:30 - 9:15 pm | Free Temple Sinai, Oakland I Converted to Judaism, Can I Start A Tradition Too? Male Converts Creating Jewish Family Rituals Dawn Kepler This program was conceived by a man who married a born-Jewish woman and has worked to integrate his own Judaism into their marriage. We will explore questions about negotiating and expressing a unique Jewish identity with family, starting new family traditions, putting your own twist on celebrations, and saying no, I want to celebrate this way. The goal is open and honest dialogue so that you have confidence to put down your luggage and celebrate your budding Jewish identity! P250-TS | Thursday, May 9 | 7:30 - 9:15 pm | Free Temple Sinai, Oakland Mysteries of the Mikvah Rabbi Judah Dardik What does it mean to "go to the mikvah" when someone converts to Judaism? Traditionally, the mikvah has many uses, though most people think of the mikvah in terms of conversion. The mikvah is a ritual pool where one immerses oneself in a spiritual ceremony that makes one a Jew. Join Rabbi Dardik and other curious individuals to see a real mikvah and find out what happens there. Rabbi Dardik will cover other uses of the mikvah like koshering dishes, preparing for significant events and the traditional Jewish ritual of family purity. You can ask anything, so come on over! P150-CBJ | Thursday, January 24 | 7:30 - 9:00 pm | $7 Beth Jacob Congregation, Oakland 22 Register at lehrhaus.org Estelle Frankel Co-sponsored by Kevah Recent research from the field of positive psychology has shown what religious traditions have always taught, that 'being good' is good for you. Virtues such as gratitude, generosity, patience, compassion, equanimity, and humility have been shown to contribute to a sense of well being and resilience. These findings have inspired many practitioners to incorporate the cultivation of these core virtues in their psychotherapeutic work. Judaism also offers a treasure trove of teachings on this foundational inner spiritual work known as tikkun ha'middot – the cultivation of character. In this four-part seminar, we will study teachings from the Kabbalah and Musar traditions along with contemporary sources that illuminate the inner journey towards wholeness. MFT’s and LCSW’s can earn up to 6 hours of Continuing Education for attending this series. PCE Provider #2550. ($10 fee for CEU certificate) The drop-in fee for single sessions is $40, and by permission only. Call Lehrhaus at 510-845-6420 to be put on a list for session drop-in. This is a continuation course from the fall, but new members are welcome to join. P350-LJ | Tuesdays, February 12 and 26; March 12 and 19 | 7:00 - 8:30 pm | $100 Lehrhaus Judaica, Berkeley Crown and Mystical Kabbalah Spirituality & Kabbalah The Spirit of Integrity: Exploring the Intersection of Judaism & 'Positive Psychology' Ira Steingroot Beginning with a brief discussion of the meaning and definition of mysticism, we will quickly focus on the unique characteristics and history of Jewish mysticism. We will look at a variety of texts including the Sefer Yetzirah (Book of Creation), Sefer Bahir and texts from the school of Abulafia before looking more intensively at the great 13th century classic of Kabbalah, the Zohar. After an overview of the architecture and literary qualities of this enormous library of esoteric books, we will begin reading passages from the Zohar with an emphasis on understanding the theosophical constructs of the book, how it views the life of God in the universe, and how we are included in that life. Using the 10 sefirot of the Tree of Life as a key should open up this abstruse and mythic text to any interested reader. We will end with a reading of one of Rabbi Nachman's tales. H400-TS | Wednesdays, April 17 - May 8 | 7:30 - 9:00 pm | $50 / $40 members Temple Sinai, Oakland Register at lehrhaus.org 23 Hebrew Hebrew with Rachel Valfer Congregation Beth El, Berkeley Co-sponsored by Congregation Beth El, Congregation Netivot Shalom, and Congregation Beth Israel Intermediate Modern Hebrew This class is for individuals who can read and write, but have little or no knowledge of Hebrew vocabulary and grammar. Learn to create simple sentences, verbally and in writing. Required text: Hebrew with Pleasure. Please purchase the book before the first session. L200-CBE | Wednesdays, January 30 - April 3 | 6:30 - 7:30 pm | $150 / $135 members Advanced Modern Hebrew This class is for individuals with some knowledge of Hebrew vocabulary and grammar. Students learn to read and understand short texts, improve their listening comprehension, expand their vocabulary, and increase their speaking ability. L300-CBE | Wednesdays, January 30 - April 3 | 7:30 - 8:30 pm | $150 / $135 members Hebrew with Orna Morad Congregation Beth Am, Los Altos Hills Co-sponsored by Congregation Beth Am, Congregation Etz Chayim, Congregation Kol Emeth, and Oshman Family JCC Level A2 Level C Level A3 Level D L105-BA | Tuesdays, January 8 - April 16 $225 / $210 members 6:15 - 7:30 pm L300-BA | Tuesdays, January 8 - April 16 $225 / $210 members 7:30 - 8:45 pm L150-BA | Wednesdays, January 9 - April 17 L400-BA | Thursdays, January 10 - April 18 $225 / $210 members $225 / $210 members 10:00 am - 11:15 am 6:15 - 7:30 pm Level B Level E L200-BA | Wednesdays, January 9 - April 17 L405-BA | Tuesdays, January 8 - April 16 $210 / $195 members $225 / $210 members 7:00 - 8:15 pm 11:00 am - 12:15 pm Advanced Conversational Hebrew L500-BA | Thursdays, January 10 - April 18 | 7:30 - 8:45 pm $225 / $210 members Prayerbook/Biblical Hebrew This is a continuation of the fall semester Prayerbook/Biblical Hebrew class. Students continue to learn basic prayerbook vocabulary. L100A-BA | Wednesdays, January 9 - April 17 | 5:45 - 7:00 pm | $210 / $195 members See summer section for Orna’s summer courses. Below: Orna Morad 24 Register at lehrhaus.org Hebrew with Nirit Zach JCCSF, San Francisco Modern Hebrew I Winter L100A-SJ | Tuesdays, January 8 - March 12 | 6:15 - 7:45 pm | $185 / $175 members Spring L100B-SJ | Tuesdays, April 9 - June 18 | 6:15 - 7:45 pm | $185 / $175 members Modern Hebrew I Matinee Winter L150A-SJ | Tuesdays, January 8 - March 12 | 10:15 - 11:45 am | $185 / $175 members Spring L150B-SJ | Tuesdays, April 9 - June 18 | 10:15 - 11:45 am | $185 / $175 members Modern Hebrew II Winter L200A-SJ | Tuesdays, January 8 - March 12 | 8:00 - 9:30 pm | $185 / $175 members Spring L200B-SJ | Tuesdays, April 9 - June 18 | 8:00 - 9:30 pm | $185 / $175 members Modern Hebrew II Matinee Winter L250A-SJ | Tuesdays, January 8 - March 12 | 12:00 - 1:30 pm | $185 / $175 members Spring L250B-SJ | Tuesdays, April 9 - June 18 | 12:00 - 1:30 pm | $185 / $175 members Modern Hebrew III Winter L300A-SJ | Wednesdays, January 9 - March 13 | 6:15 - 7:45 pm | $185 / $175 members Spring L300B-SJ | Wednesdays, April 10 - June 19 | 6:15 - 7:45 pm | $185 / $175 members Modern Hebrew III Matinee Winter L350A-SJ | Wednesdays, January 9 - March 13 | 10:15 - 11:45 am | $185 / $175 members Spring L350B-SJ | Wednesdays, April 10 - June 19 | 10:15 - 11:45 am | $185 / $175 members Modern Hebrew IV Winter L400A-SJ | Thursdays, January 10 - March 14 | 6:15 - 7:45 pm | $185 / $175 members Spring L400B-SJ | Thursdays, April 11 - June 13 | 6:15 - 7:45 pm | $185 / $175 members Top: Nirit Zach Register at lehrhaus.org 25 Hebrew Modern Hebrew IV Matinee Winter L450A-SJ | Wednesdays, January 9 - March 13 | 12:00 - 1:30 pm | $185 / $175 members Spring L450B-SJ | Wednesdays, April 10 - June 19 | 12:00 - 1:30 pm | $185 / $175 members Modern Hebrew V Winter L500A-SJ | Thursdays, January 10 - March 14 | 8:00 - 9:30 pm | $185 / $175 members Spring L500B-SJ | Thursdays, April 11 - June 13 | 8:00 - 9:30 pm | $185 / $175 members Hebrew with Ophira Druch Temple Sinai, Oakland Hebrew in One Day Join us for this three-hour introduction to Hebrew. Whether you are beginning from scratch or needing a refresher, this course will teach you the aleph-bet, vowels, and essential pronunciation and sight-reading skills. We'll prepare you for a six-session Hebrew class beginning in March. See below. L100-TS | Sunday, February 10 | 1:30 - 4:30 pm | $35 / $25 members Beginning Prayerbook/Biblical Hebrew This course introduces students to all the basic elements of prayerbook Hebrew: the alphabet, vowels, vocabulary, sight-reading skills, and basic grammar. This course also provides a strong grammatical basis and some of the vocabulary for modern Israeli Hebrew. Start off with a preview course, Hebrew in One Day, on February 10. Required text: Prayerbook Hebrew the Easy Way. L150-TS | Thursdays, March 7 - April 18 | 7:00 - 8:00 pm | $85 / $70 members Intermediate Prayerbook/Biblical Hebrew 2B This course covers the more complex features of the language commonly found in biblical and siddur (prayerbook) texts. After a brief review of material covered in the fall semester, we will continue to introduce features of the verbal system and new grammatical components. Students will begin to translate simple biblical passages and more lengthy prayerbook passages to develop reading and comprehension skills. We’ll also read and translate a selection from the Hagadah which will prepare us for the Passover seder. This course will also benefit students seeking to brush up on established biblical grammar and reading skills in preparation for more advanced work. Prerequisite: Lehrhaus Judaica's Beginning Prayerbook/Biblical Hebrew 1B, or equivalent. Required text: Prayerbook Hebrew the Easy Way. L200B-TS | Wednesdays, January 16 – April 3 | 4:00 - 5:00 pm | $140 / $120 members Middle: Ophira Druch 26 Register at lehrhaus.org Hebrew with Jehon Grist, Ph.D. Congregation Netivot Shalom (Winter) and Congregation Beth Israel (Spring), Berkeley Co-sponsored by Congregation Netivot Shalom, Congregation Beth Israel, and Congregation Beth El Beginning Prayerbook/Biblical Hebrew 1A-B This class introduces students to all the basic elements of prayerbook Hebrew: the alphabet, vowels, vocabulary, sight-reading skills, and basic grammar. You'll learn some of the key prayerbook melodies and discuss the meaning of the prayers. In-class instruction will include group practice with CD-ROM software (projected on a screen) that speeds the learning process. This course also provides a strong grammatical basis and some of the vocabulary for modern Israeli Hebrew. This course is the continuation of Fall 2012 Hebrew 1A. Required text: Prayerbook Hebrew the Easy Way, available at Afikomen Judaica. L100AB-NS | Sundays, January 27 - March 24 | 3:00 - 4:55 pm | $115 / $100 members $85 full-time students and learning for life (age 65+) / $75 for fall 2012 Hebrew 1A students Congregation Netivot Shalom, Berkeley Intermediate Biblical/Prayerbook Hebrew 2C (Winter) This course introduces the more complex verb patterns of classical Hebrew and the irregular verb system, while building Hebrew vocabulary. Students will also translate passages from the Hebrew Bible and learn to use Hebrew research references. Text will be provided free of charge by instructor. L200C-NS | Sundays, January 27 - March 24 | 5:00 - 6:25 pm | $100 / $90 members $80 full-time students and learning for life (age 65+) Congregation Netivot Shalom, Berkeley Advanced Biblical Hebrew 3 The Temple Before the Temple: The Wilderness Tabernacle (Mishkan) What was the Tabernacle (Mishkan)? Was it truly a tent shrine that traveled with the Israelite tribes in the Wilderness? What happened to it when the tribes arrived in the Promised Land? Was there more than one Mishkan? Did it really exist at all? Drawing on recent archaeology, Near Eastern texts and history, we’ll reconstruct the available evidence to discover what it may have looked like, how it was used and what happened to it. In the process, we’ll translate key biblical texts that tell its story, using Bibleworks 9 software to project onscreen and analyze Hebrew, Septuagint Greek and Latin Vulgate biblical texts. L310-NS | Sundays, January 27 - March 24 | 6:00 - 7:30 pm | $100 / $90 members $80 full-time students and learning for life (age 65+) Congregation Netivot Shalom, Berkeley Right: Jehon Grist Register at lehrhaus.org 27 Hebrew Intermediate Prayerbook/Biblical Hebrew 2A (Spring) The third semester of the introductory sequence of biblical Hebrew grammar, this course covers the more complex features of the language commonly found in biblical and siddur (prayerbook) texts. After a brief review of material covered in the previous semester, we will continue to introduce features of the verbal system and new grammatical components. Students will begin to translate simple biblical passages and more lengthy prayerbook passages to develop reading and comprehension skills. Prerequisite: Lehrhaus Judaica's Beginning Prayerbook/Biblical Hebrew 1A-1B, or equivalent. Required text: Prayerbook Hebrew the Easy Way, available at Afikomen Judaica. Please purchase the book before the first session. L200A-CBI | Sundays, May 12* - June 23 | 4:30 - 5:55 pm | $80 / $70 members $60 full-time students and learning for life (age 65+) Congregation Beth Israel, Berkeley *The first session will be pre-recorded by the instructor and available for online viewing at home. Registration before May 8 is required in order to receive the first session, which will be sent May 12. The first in-person class is May 19. Advanced Biblical Hebrew 3: The Mysterious Micah Of all the minor prophets, Micah is among the earliest, most impressive, and most mysterious. He was a partial contemporary of Isaiah, confronting the gloomy years of the fall of Samaria (722-21 BCE) and the Assyrian threat to Judah. Portions of his book reflect the impending doom of his time, but others race far into the future, indicating that the Book of Micah, like Isaiah, grew as pseudepigraphers added more material to the original text. Our class will search out the original Micah, ponder his obscure and famous sayings, and delve into his life and times, using Bibleworks 9 software to project onscreen and analyze Hebrew, Septuagint Greek and Latin Vulgate biblical texts. L315-CBI | Sundays, May 12* - June 23 | 6:00 - 7:30 pm | $80 / $70 members $60 full-time students and learning for life (age 65+) Congregation Beth Israel, Berkeley *The first session will be pre-recorded by the instructor and available for online viewing at home. Registration before May 8 is required in order to receive the first session, which will be sent May 12. The first in-person class is May 19. Hebrew with Rabbi Me'irah Illinsky Understanding Biblical Hebrew Experience the Torah in Hebrew, and understand the meaning in its own idiom. Immerse yourself in the biblical vocabulary and grammar and read the story in its original form. We begin with Genesis 1:1, the first day of creation. The only prerequisite is having learned the aleph-bet. L125-SJ | Thursdays, February 21 - March 28 | 10:30 am - 12:00 pm | $60 / $50 members JCCSF, San Francisco 28 Register at lehrhaus.org Anna Elena Torres All Yiddish classes on this page co-sponsored by KlezCalifornia This class is a continuation from the fall semester of Beginning Yiddish, an introduction to Yiddish language, literature, and culture. With particular focus on the basics of Yiddish grammar, we will develop reading, writing, speaking, and comprehension skills. In so doing, we will also have an opportunity to explore simple Yiddish songs, stories, and dialogues as reflections of Yiddish culture and history. Yiddish Beginning Yiddish 1B L150-BJ | Wednesdays, January 30 - March 20 | 7:00 - 8:15 pm $105 / $90 if registered by Jan. 14 | JCC East Bay, Berkeley Reading Yiddish Texts Yael Chaver In this course, we will read and discuss selections of Yiddish prose and poetry from the 19th and 20th centuries. The class will focus on comprehension, based not only on the lexicon and syntax of the Yiddish language, but also on the cultural contexts in which the texts are embedded. Given the relatively late prevalence of standardized spelling in Yiddish, some texts will be studied in their 19th and early 20th-century versions to provide practice in decoding non-standard orthography. Prerequisite: Students should have completed at least a year of college-level Yiddish language or the equivalent L350-BJ | Mondays, January 28 - May 6 | 7:15 - 9:15 pm $180 / $145 if registered by Jan. 14 JCC East Bay, Berkeley Intermediate Yiddish Part Two Jon Levitow This is a continuation of the fall semester's Intermediate Yiddish class. New students are welcome, but the course will assume some ability on the student’s part to speak, to ask others in Yiddish about themselves and objects in the world (the classroom, work, home, and family) and to read and write simple Yiddish texts. Students should be familiar with the Yiddish alphabet and also with basic grammatical principles. L350-KE | Thursdays, February 7 - April 11 | 7:00 - 9:00 pm | $200 / $180 members Congregation Kol Emeth, Palo Alto Yiddish Women Writers in America and Their Feminist Legacy Shaina Hammerman Co-sponsored by the Workmen's Circle/Arbeter Ring of Northern California This course explores the selected writings (in English translation) of early 20th century Yiddish-American women writers, and their mid-century Jewish feminist successors. In the fiction and poetry of Kadya Molodowsky, Celia Dropkin, Tillie Olsen, and Grace Paley, we’ll encounter the immigrant experience from a female perspective. We'll examine how the writers depart from earlier Jewish literary forms to critique or reiterate prevailing cultural modes and values. Thursdays, January 31 - February 28 | 7:30 - 9:00 pm | $40 Congregation Sha’ar Zahav, San Francisco Top: Anna Elena Torres; Below: Yael Chaver Register at lehrhaus.org 29 Summer Program Prayerbook/Biblical Hebrew Ulpan Jehon Grist, Ph.D. Want to 'read' the Hebrew prayers at High Holiday services? Want to start exploring the Bible in the original Hebrew? Then this course is your first step. Starting with the aleph-bet and vowels, you'll learn how to sight read Hebrew texts, pick up a lot of the basic grammar, master key prayers and their melodies. But best of all, you'll start to discover the Bible in its original language. We'll also delve a bit into the history and archaeology of biblical Israel. No previous Hebrew knowledge required. L100U-LJ | Mondays and Thursdays, June 17 - August 5 | 7:00 - 9:00 pm | $295 / $270 if registered by June 10 / $270 full-time students / $250 learning for life (age 65+) $175 Dynamic Duos (ages 12-17, with parent enrolling) Lehrhaus Judaica, Berkeley Witness to the World of Jesus: The Life and Times of Flavius Josephus Jehon Grist, Ph.D. Flavius Josephus stands as a towering figure who reported the first century world of Roman and Jewish cataclysm with passion and some accuracy. He also stands as a traitor to his own people, a claim that leaves a bitter taste among some writers of Jewish history to this day. Josephus himself understood his own contradictions and worked hard to defend his legacy as well as that of the Jewish People. Our class will survey his major works and assess his achievement as an historian, including his comments about earliest Christianity. We will also explore his Antiquities of the Jews to appreciate his early commentary on the Hebrew Bible. Finally, we’ll use archaeological discoveries to rebuild the world he inhabited and test the accuracy of some of his claims. To register at the specially reduced Lehrhaus tuition: psr.edu/summer H210-PSR | Monday-Friday, July 15 – 19 | 1:30 - 5:30 pm | $200 Pacific School of Religion at GTU, Bade Museum, Holbrook Hall, Berkeley Co-sponsored by Pacific School of Religion at GTU Below: Flavius Josephus; Opposite Top: Joey Weisenberg; Opposite Below: Orna Morad 30 Register at lehrhaus.org Singing Communities Intensive Rabbi Dorothy Richman and Joey Weisenberg Join music director and Ba’al Tfilah Joey Weisenberg and Rabbi Dorothy Richman for four interactive days of energetic singing as we explore the connections between Jewish music, prayer, spirit, and text. For questions, please email [email protected]. P800-LJ | Monday, June 17 - Thursday, June 20 | 9:00 am - 4:30 pm | $700 $600 if registered by March 1 / $300 students Lehrhaus Judaica, Berkeley Summer Modern Hebrew with Orna Morad Congregation Beth Am, Los Altos Hills Level A2 L105S-BA | Tuesdays, May 21 - July 30 | 6:15 - 7:30 pm | $170 / $160 members Level A3 L150S-BA | Wednesdays, May 22 - July 31 | 10:00 am - 11:15 am | $170 / $160 members Level B L200S-BA | Wednesdays, May 22 - July 31 | 7:00 - 8:15 pm | $170 / $160 members Level C L300S-BA | Tuesdays, May 21 - July 30 | 7:30 - 8:45 pm | $170 / $160 members Level D L400S-BA | Thursdays, May 23 - Aug 1 | 6:15 - 7:30 pm | $170 / $160 members Level E L405S-BA | Tuesdays, May 21 - July 30 | 11:00 am - 12:15 pm | $170 / $160 members Advanced Conversational Hebrew L500S-BA | Thursdays, May 23 - Aug 1 | 7:30 - 8:45 pm | $170 / $160 members Register at lehrhaus.org 31 Registration Online registration encouraged: lehrhaus.org Please register well in advance! Courses with insufficient pre-enrollment may be cancelled. Student Information For additional students, provide same information on a separate sheet. Use the Student #2 line only for the same address. Student #1: First Name_________________________________ Last Name________________________________________________ Student #2: First Name_________________________________ Last Name ________________________________________________ Street Address_ _______________________________________________________________________________________________ City_ __________________________________________________ Zip_ __________________________________________________ Home Phone _______________________________________ Work Phone_ ______________________________________________ Email________________________________________________________________________________________________________ I wish to receive Lehrhaus Judaica’s e-newsletter. I heard about the course(s) I am taking from... (check all that apply) Catalog mailed to my house Catalog picked up at_ _____________________________________________________________ Flyer E-newsletter Ad (where?)_ _____________________________ Temple newsletter Website Friend Rabbi Other_ _______________ Course Enrollment Need help? Call 510-845-6420, or email [email protected] I am eligible for the following tuition discounts, if available for the course(s) I have chosen: Learning for Life (age 65+) _ ________ Full-time student Co-sponsor member (where?)_ _____________________________ Dynamic Duos: Name and age if teen____________________________________________________________________________ I am applying for a need-based scholarship. (For a scholarship form, please call 510-845-6420 ext. 10.) Example Course code here Course title here Fee Course Code__________________________Title _ _____________________________________________________ $ ____________ Course Code__________________________Title _ _____________________________________________________ $ ____________ Course Code__________________________Title _ _____________________________________________________ $ ____________ _ __ Tax-deductible donation to help underwrite Lehrhaus’ courses and library $ ____________ _________________________________________________________________________________________ Total $_ ___________ Payment Information _________________ NOTE: Lehrhaus Judaica accepts Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover. Payment method: Visa / Mastercard / AmEx / Discover _ Check enclosed (payable to Lehrhaus Judaica) Credit Card Information: Card Type ___________________________________ Expiration Date _______________________________ Credit Card # _ ____________________________________________________ Security Code_ _______________________________ Signature_ _______________________________________________________ Mail your completed form and payment to: Lehrhaus Judaica, 2736 Bancroft Way, Berkeley, CA 94704. You may also register on the web: www.lehrhaus.org, by phone: 510-845-6420, or via fax: 510-845-6446. NOTE: Lehrhaus does not send confirmation of enrollment. If you require confirmation, please enclose a stamped, self-addressed envelope or check here to request confirmation via e-mail. 32 Register at lehrhaus.org Tours Lehrhaus – JCCSF Jews, Blues, and Jazz Jewish Life on the Mississippi from Memphis to New Orleans Photo: Institute of Southern Jewish Life November 14-22, 2013 Jehon Grist, who holds a Ph.D. from UC Berkeley in Mediterranean history and archaeology, is executive director of Lehrhaus Judaica. A university professor and educator of adults and children for 35 years and tour leader for 16, Grist produces Lehrhaus' Digital Classroom pretour courses. Fred Rosenbaum, founding director of Lehrhaus Judaica, is an awardwinning educator, teacher and author. A specialist in American-Jewish history and Jewish communities throughout the world, Rosenbaum has taught many courses on the Jews of the Bay Area, New York, and the American South. In the land of bagels and grits, we will explore Jewish life in the Deep South: its rich history from Colonial Times, the war between the states, Civil Rights, and the new South. We will enjoy the music, food, and hospitality that makes the Delta home sweet home to a historic Jewish community. The tour includes stops in Memphis, Tenn.; Cleveland, Greenville, Indianola, and Greenwood, S.C.; Vicksburg, Port Gibson, Lorman, and Natchez, Miss.; and New Orleans, La. Enjoy Graceland, the National Civil Rights Museum, The French Quarter, visit local synagogues, and much more. Tour leaders: Fred Rosenbaum, Peretz Wolf-Prusan, and Ariel Goldstein Rabbi Peretz Wolf-Prusan, senior educator at Lehrhaus Judaica, has been a Bay Area Jewish educator for 37 years. The national Covenant Award winner offers innovative programs throughout the Bay Area, featuring text study, family education, and retreats, and has led many Israel tours. Ariel Goldstein, tour manager of the JCCSF, was born and raised in Uruguay and lived for 10 years in Israel where he studied tourism at Hebrew University. He speaks four languages fluently and has led tours on five continents. Lehrhaus – JCCSF Israel at the Dawn of Modernity January 21-30, 2014 Explore the Land of Israel through the lens of the Greco-Roman period when Judaism and Christianity were young. Learn about the emergence of an innovative, adaptive, and multi-faceted Judaism where it happened. Walk in the footsteps of Rabbi Akiba and Jesus, and their followers in the time of the Talmud. The tour features learning opportunities with Israeli scholars in the leading pluralistic centers of today: The Steinsaltz Center and The Shalom Hartman Institute. Engage in field study in Jerusalem, Katzrin, Qumran, Masada, Caesarea, Acco, Tzipori, Bet She'arim, Tiberias, and the Sea of Galilee. Tour leaders: Jehon Grist, Peretz Wolf-Prusan, and Ariel Goldstein Clockwise from top left: "Shabbat Cotton" by Bill Aron; Gemiluth Chassed in Port Gibson, Miss.; Mona Lisa of Zippori; Capernaum More info on both tours: [email protected] or 415-276-1506 Special thanks to the Ingrid D. Tauber Philanthropic Fund of the JCF. Lehrhaus Judaica N on - Profit O rg U . S . P ostage Reutlinger Center P 2736 Bancroft Way A I D P ermit N o . 13 5 3 O ak land , CA Berkeley, CA 94704 What We Talk When We Talk About A Nathan Engla bout nder More at lehrhaus.org Sohn Maggie Anton discusses her new book Rav Hisda’s Daughter Contemporary Art in Iran Contemporary Palestinian Art Photo: Juliana Roots Tzedakah's and Are in the L : versations n o C ia n r o f Cali the Bay Farmers in