Jewish Learning as a Spiritual Practice

Part 1: The Landscape of our Texts

Faculty Rabbi Debra Rappaport
Tuition $120 for 8 sessions
Dates Wednesdays, Oct. 18, 25; Nov. 1, 8, 15, (not Thanksgiving week,) 29; Dec. 6, 13
Time 7-8:15 pm
Location Zoom and in-person, location TBD (Mpls and/or St Paul JCC)

Part 1, offered this fall, is for anyone who wants to know more about the key works of Jewish literature and the contexts in which they were written. We will look at the TaNaKh (Hebrew Bible), Midrash, Talmud, Medieval Torah Commentators, the Kabbalistic and Hasidic mystics, and the Siddur (prayer book.) Our lens of inquiry will focus on:

1. What makes these texts foundational for meaningful and relevant lifelong learning?
2. What relationships have Jews had with their texts over time?
3. What is transformative about how we approach Jewish texts?
4. How is Jewish learning a spiritual practice?

We ask that participants commit to reading a designated article or book chapter between sessions, so that everyone is on a level playing field for the discussions, and we may use class time to experience what the texts awaken within us. Please acquire a copy of Back to the Sources: Reading the Classic Jewish Texts, edited by Barry Holtz, before our first session.