Sinai Adult Learning Brochure 2009-2010

CON

ION

2009-2010 5770

Adult Learning

Rabbi David B. Cohen

Cantor Rebecca Robins

Dr. Sherry H. Blumberg, Director of Lifelong Jewish Learning

Adult Education Kickoff Tuesday, October 6th @ 6pm Come Eat, Meet & Greet Your Friends!

6:00 pm Info will be available, Hebrew Classes will begin 7:30 pm Come help us build our vision for Adult Learning.

Meet the teachers, learn about your options and sign-up for classes. Coffee and nosh provided.

ONGOING CLASSES

• SENIOR HAVURAH •

"Who, exactly, is a senior?" It depends on who you ask: AARP considers anyone of 50 to be a senior. Others say 65. Some even say 65 is the new 45. We, on the other hand, refuse to label. Instead, we use the following definition: A senior can be anyone, of any age, who values the wisdom that accrues over decades of living. If you appreciate good conversation, peppered with penetrating insights, the Senior Havurah is for you. Every fourth Tuesday of the month.

The Senior Havurah Returns with a Book Review Join Us Tuesday, October 27 - 1:00 until 2:30 pm

Rabbi Cohen discusses Pulitzer Prize-winning author, Dexter Filkins’ book, The Forever War. Winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award, as well as the New York Times Book Review, Best Book of the Year, The Forever War documents the experience of LA Times and New York Times correspondent Dexter Filkins, who reported on the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in the late nineties, through the Iraq War, beginning in 2003. See Sinai News and the website for upcoming month’s topics!

ONGOING CLASSES

ONGOING CLASSES ARE FREE FOR MEMBERS

• $36 PER SEMESTER FOR NON-MEMBERS

• SPIRITUALITY •

Men's Spirituality Discussion Group

Share coffee and bagels and discuss spiritual and practical matters concerning God, work, family and more Day: 3rd Thursday of each month Time: 7:45 am With: Rabbi David B. Cohen and Joe Glassman

• TORAH STUDY •

Shabbat Morning Torah Study

verse by verse, line by line, word by word... Day: Saturdays Time: 8:00 am Facilitator: Rabbi Jay Brickman, Rabbi David B. Cohen

A Modern Rabbi's and Jungian Analyst's Approach to the Bible

Day: Wednesdays Time: 9:30 am Facilitator: Rabbi Jay Brickman

• NEW THIS YEAR • Ways of Reading the Biblical Text:

From traditional to modern including feminist readings and modern midrash Day: Fridays Time: 9:30 am Facilitator: Dr. Sherry Blumberg

Lunch & Learn:

Parashat ha'shuvuah through many and varied commentaries found in Torah La'Am (Class sponsored by Eva Jolton) Day: Fridays Time: 12:00 pm Facilitator: Dr. Larry Hurwitz

BEIT HAMIDRASH CLASSES ALL CLASSES HELD ON TUESDAYS AT 7:30PM

BEIT HAMIDRASH CLASSES ARE FREE FOR MEMBERS

• $36 PER SERIES FOR NON-MEMBERS

“I Hope You Have Children Just Like You!” The Torah’s Take On Judaism’s First Families

Dates: November 3,10, 17, 24 Facilitator: Rabbi David Cohen Register at: http://sinainovemberadultlearning.eventbrite.com

The first family of Judaism – Abraham, Sarah, their kids and grandkids – present a portrait of psychodynamic complexity: sibling rivalry, brothers trying to kill brothers, fathers attempting to sacrifice sons, not to mention husbands passing off wives as sisters and daughters-in-law passing themselves off as harlots in order to sleep with their fathers-in-law. These are just some of the extraordinary stories the Torah tells. We'll explore these narratives and ask the question: why does the tradition expose in such detail what went on behind closed doors? And what lessons, pray tell, are we supposed to learn?

Our Covenant, Our Life Cycle, Our People

Dates: December 1, 8, 22 Facilitator: Cantor Rebecca Robins Register at: http://sinaidecemberadultlearning.eventbrite.com

Brit, or covenant, is a defining element of Jewish peoplehood. While we encounter that covenant through experience, story and memory on a daily basis, we are provided with opportunities to restate, reaffirm and re-experience it in some of the most significant moments of the Jewish lifecycle. Looking at the liturgy, traditions and rituals surrounding birth (December 1), marriage (December 8), and death (December 22), we will explore how the Jewish lifecycle is yet another frame for understanding and identifying Jewish peoplehood, and the diverse, challenging and beautiful rituals surrounding these moments. You may choose to come to the series of classes, or the individual class(es) that interest you most.

Who Is the “Other” and How Should We Treat Them? Dates: January 12, 19, 26 Facilitator: Dr. Sherry Blumberg Register at: http://sinaijanuaryadultlearning.eventbrite.com

What Judaism says about who is “other” to our people and how we should treat those who are not within our circle is the subject of Bible,Talmud, Midrash, Medieval Hanhagot texts and Modern Philosophy. We will examine these texts and try to develop a modern approach by close reading, debate and discussion.

Jewish Poetry in Song – A Cantorial Recital Date: February 2 Facilitator: Cantor Rebecca Robins Register at: http://cantorrobinsinrecital.eventbrite.com

Cantor Rebecca Robins, soprano, and Karen Horwitz will present a lecture-recital celebrating Jewish poetry in song. Join us for this festive, beautiful and educational evening as Cantor Robins takes us on a journey of music and text from Jews and Jewish experiences around the world. The recital will include works by Ravel, Sargon and Janowski, as well as songs from the folk tradition. Surely, this is an evening not to be missed! Reception to follow.

What’s Got Madonna and Demi All “A-Twitter” A Taste of Hasidic Mysticism Dates: February 9, 16, 23 Facilitator: Rabbi David Cohen Register at: http://sinaifebruaryadultlearning.eventbrite.com

The first three generations of Hasidic teachers brought a powerful, accessible mysticism to their followers. Join us as we take a look at some well known Biblical texts and reread them through a mystical lens. Rationalists welcome!

Repairing Our People Through Literature

Dates: March 2, 9 Facilitator: Dr. Sherry Blumberg Register at: http://sinaimarchadultlearning.eventbrite.com

An exploration of several stories that have indirectly used the theme “Tikkun Ami” as a way of identifying who we are as Jews and who we can become. We will read writers such as S.Y. Agnon, Shalom Aleichem, and I.L. Peretz and share our favorite Jewish writers with each other.

Seders and Songs: Preparing for Pesach

Dates: March 16, 23 Facilitator: Cantor Rebecca Robins Register at: http://http://passoverpreparationatsinai.eventbrite.com

Few things connect, restore and refresh a people more than a holiday focused on miracles and new beginnings. On March 16, join Cantor Robins for a hands-on opportunity to create lively and meaningful Passover seders; with whomever you celebrate, wherever you celebrate. Bring along your family’s own creative traditions for sharing, and a desire to take your family’s seder to the next level. On March 23, spend some time studying the text Shir HaShirim, the Song of Songs. Read the Shabbat morning during Passover, Shir HaShirim’s vivid and descriptive love poetry enables us to look at the refreshing and restorative power of love and passion, in our own intimate relationships, in our relationships with one another, and in the relationship between God and Israel.

~ Look for these Upcoming Classes ~ Tim Crain - How Jews got to where they were/are in the world David Blumberg - How the Hebrew language grew and developed

SHABBAT LIMUD

THIRD SHABBAT OF THE MONTH

Dennis Prager

Dennis Prager is a well known author and radio/tv host from Southern California. His book Nine Questions Jews Ask (written with Rabbi J. Telushkin) and his provocative and incisive thinking make him a challenging and important speaker. You won’t want to miss it!

Register at: http://dennisprageratsinai.eventbrite.com

The Religious Non-Orthodox Jew Date: Friday, October 16 Time: 6:15 pm Kabbalat Shabbat services

How Judaism differs from Christianity and Humanism Date: Saturday, October 17 Time: 12:00 pm Lunch 1:30 pm Lecture Cost: Lunch $18 members - $25 non-members Sponsorship $36

From December through May:

Shabbat Limud (A Sabbath of Learning)

Come worship and learn with us at 6:15 PM. Each of these services will feature a speaker, sermon, text study or other learning experience to help enhance our Shabbat prayer with the gift of learning. Check out our calendar on the website for topics.

Scholar In Residence

Dr. Rachel Baum coordinates the Jewish Studies major at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s Center for Jewish Studies and Department of Foreign Language and Linguistics. She is a very popular professor with expertise in Holocaust Studies, Modern Jewish Philosophy and Jewish Identity. Along with her academic responsibilities, Dr. Baum is also the faculty advisor at Hillel Foundation Milwaukee. Her recent publications include: “The Post-Holocaust Jewish Heart” in After-words: Post-Holocaust Struggles with Forgiveness, Reconciliation, Justice. University of Washington Press, 2004. She is currently working on another publication.

Jewish Identity in a Time of Mixed Marriage or Are We Still a Tribe? Three Opportunities to learn with our Scholar in Residence Register at: http://rachelbaumatsinai.eventbrite.com

Date: Friday, November 20 Time: 6:15 pm Kabbalat Shabbat services Date: Saturday, November 21 Time: 12:00 pm Lunch 1:30 pm Lecture Cost: Lunch $18 members - $25 non-members Sponsorship $36 Date: Sunday, November 22 Time: 10:30 am

ADULT HEBREW CLASSES

Classes begin the week of October 6 and run through the week of May 11 (schedule to be distributed) Cost: $225 for members -$325 for non-members Register at: http://sinaiadulthebrew5770.eventbrite.com

Beginning Hebrew

Day: Tuesdays Time: 6:00 pm Instructor: Marilyn Kraar

Intermediate Hebrew

Day: Tuesdays Time: 6:00 pm Instructor: Shlomit Germanski

Conversational Hebrew Day: Thursdays Time: 2:30 pm Instructor: Marilyn Kraar

Advanced Biblical Hebrew Day: Thursdays Time: 7:15 pm Instructor: David Blumberg

Advanced Conversational Hebrew

Day: Tuesdays (Starting January 2010) Time: 7:30 pm Instructor: Yael Gal

SUNDAY MORNING CLASSES The December Dilemma: Parenting Jewish Children in December Date: December 6 Time: 10:30 am Facilitator: Cantor Rebecca Robins Register at: http://decemberdilemma.eventbrite.com Whether you visit the music and light spectacular at the Christmas tree in the square at Bayshore Town Center, or share a warm and joyful Christmas dinner at your child’s grandparents, or find yourself wrapping gift after gift for endless holiday grab bags at school – December presents a few challenges for parents raising a Jewish child. If you are a member of an interfaith family, or if you find the December holiday season a challenging time, join us as we share experiences, techniques and ideas from scholars and one another on creating a celebratory, peaceful, and joyous December! Sunday Roundtable Discussions Day: Selected Sundays Time: 10:30 – 11:30 am Instructors: Rabbi David Cohen, Cantor Rebecca Robins, Dr. Sherry Blumberg and guests Topics:

October 4:

What are Ethics?

November 8:

Business Ethics

October 18:

December 20: January 19: March 14:

Medical Ethics and Healthcare War and Peace Personal Ethics

Environmental Ethics

COMMUNITY WIDE EVENTS Day of Discovery

The Day of Discovery, a community-wide day of learning, is a unique opportunity for adults, young adults and families to discover the richness and diversity of Jewish learning available within greater Milwaukee.

Date: Sunday, January 17, 2010 Time: Starts at 8:30 am Sponsored by: Coalition for Jewish Learning Contact: Alice Jacobson (414) 963-2727

Jewish Book and Culture Fair

This entertaining and educational series of events features an eclectic line-up of internationally renowned authors who bring global issues to center stage.

Date/Time: varies throughout month of November Sponsored by: Harry & Rose Samson Family JCC Contact: Dorene Paley (414) 967-8217

Interreligious, Intergenerational Program on Love Date: February 14, 2010 Time: TBA Location: Sikh Temple of Wisconsin

7512 South Howell St, Milwaukee WI 53154

For upcoming event information, be sure to watch for the Sinai e-newsletter or check our website www.congregationsinai.org Community event listings can also be found at www.jewishmilwaukee.com

REGISTRATION FORM

For online class registration, go to www.congregationsinai.org and click on the ONLINE REGISTRATION tab.

Name: _______________________________

Phone: _______________________________ Email: _______________________________ Course Title

Cost

a.) b.) c.) d.) Total: _______

Checks (made payable to Congregation Sinai) and registration forms can be mailed or returned to the office at Congregation Sinai • 8223 N. Port Washington Rd. • Fox Point, WI 53217 If you have any questions or concerns, please contact: Dr. Sherry Blumberg, Director of Lifelong Learning [email protected] Jeri Danz, School Administrator [email protected]

www.congregationsinai.org

Phone: 414-352-2970 - Fax 414-352-0944