BASIC JEWISH CONCEPTS /5776. Curriculum and Reading List. A twelve-month program of Adult Jewish Learning

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BASIC JEWISH CONCEPTS 2015 5775/5776 Curriculum and List A twelve-month program of Adult Jewish Learning Gain insight into the most important concepts that underpin Judaism and the Jewish people.

1 BASIC JEWISH CONCEPTS /5776 Curriculum and List A twelve-month program of Adult Jewish Learning Gain insight into the most important concepts that underpin Judaism and the Jewish people. INSTRUCTORS: Rabbi Jeffrey Kamins Rabbi Jacqueline Ninio Rabbi Jordan Cohen Sandy Hollis Yuval Nemirovsky REQUIRED TEXTS: A Siddur A A Jewish Calendar How to Run a (Blu ) The How To Handbook For Jewish Living (Kerry Olitzky and Ronald Isaacs), The Complete Guide to Jewish Belief, Tradition & Practice (Rabbi Wayne ) RECOMMENDED TEXTS: (Louis ) (Louis ) A Chumash Please note: complementary learning experiences are marked with an asterisk. Contact the synagogue office on: or at info@emanuel.org.au for more information.

2 TERM ONE INFO SESSION: BASIC JEWISH CONCEPTS INFORMATION AND ORIENTATION EVENING 5 February 2 April: 7:30 9:00pm COVENANT Week 1 Our People s Story The : The Hebrew Bible and Its Mitzvot. The Rabbinic Writings, the Siddur and an overview of the Talmud and later Rabbinic writings, the contrast of halakha and midrash. Eban Genesis 12:1-6 The Ancient World pp pp 7-23 pp19-37; 46-76; pp 12-27; pp Week 2 Shabbat Spiritual concepts to ideas such as K dushat Shabbat, Sh mirat Shabbat (Malacha) and Oneg Shabbat. Shabbat in the Home Genesis 2:1-4; Exodus 16:2-24; 20: 8-11 The How to Handbook for Jewish Living pp pp 5-6; pp 29-31;49-51; Week 3 God The development of Jewish thought and belief about God. pp 1-19 * Basic Jewish Concepts Shabbat Dinner an opportunity to meet each other, form community and experience a Shabbat dinner with all the traditions involved.) Week 4 Purim The festival of fun with dark undertones: the destruction of the enemy who would destroy us. Includes an overview of the Jewish lunar/solar calendar. The Book of Esther pp ; pp pp pp * Megillah and Purim Spiel join us for the reading of Megillat Esther and the hilarious Purim Spiel. 2

3 Week 5 The Jewish Home and Synagogue Mezuzah, Objects of Prayer etc. The different objects that give meaning to the rituals practised in the Jewish home. Week 6 Blessings: Daily Connections to God and Art of Prayer Jewish tradition encourages us to recite 100 b rakhot (blessings) each day. This session will strive to understand why?, by tackling such areas as: Communicating with God, Keva vs Kavannah, the minyan, the times of prayer (Shacharit, Mincha and Ma'ariv), the structure of Berakhot, their spiritual impact on our lives, and an introduction to the blessings for food. Bring a siddur to class and an item of food. pp pp pp pp ; pp 49-63; Week 7 Week 8 Shema, Tefillin, Mezuzot. Kashrut in Text and Tradition A guide to the laws, traditions, religious significance and varieties of dietary discipline. Genesis 1:29-30; 9:1-7; Leviticus 11 pp pp pp pp pp Week 9 Pesach Freedom and Redemption. Background to Exodus Story and the developments of the traditions of the festival. Exodus 1-5 pp pp pp pp 5-46 * Second Night Seder Join our community for a traditional second night celebration and commemoration of Pesach. Contact the Emanuel Synagogue office to reserve your place or book online. * Yom HaShoah You are encouraged to join one of the community commemorations for Yom HaShoah. Details will be provided in class. Please call Board of Deputies for details of morning and evening program (10:30 am and 7:30 pm). 3

4 TERM TWO 23 April 25 June: 7:30 9:00pm MEMORY Week 1 Counting of Omer, Yom Hashoah, Yom Ha atzmaut, Yom Hazikaron Dosic Exodus 1-5 The How To Handbook for Jewish Living pp pp pp Week 2 From Abraham to Joshua Promise to Conquest (JBK) Week 3 First Temple Kings and Prophets Destruction Week 4 Week 5 Temple II Greeks and Romans Tisha B Av Shavuot The concept of Revelation of Torah, Aseret Hadibrot, a discussion of Torah as the first fie Books of the Bible and also our entire teaching tradition with an introduction to Jewish Literature. Exodus pp pp pp 47-56; pp * Tikkun Leil Shavuot Week 6 Rise of Rabbinic Judaism, Mishna, Gemara and the Sages Week 7 Riding the wave of Islam Week 8 Week 9 Christian Europe Ashkenaz a journey through the culture and development of Ashkenaz 4

5 Week 10 Modernity and Enlightenment * Israel Day of Learning * Holocaust Visit to Sydney Jewish Museum. An introduction to the Shoah: We have arranged for the museum to open exclusively for our class. We will visit the downstairs exhibition to learn about the first Jewish communities of Sydney. Australia, after Israel, has the highest per capita rate of Shoah survivors. A survivor will then give us a personalised tour of the upper floors of the museum. pp pp pp

6 TERM THREE 16 July 17 September: 7:30 9:00pm ISRAEL Week 1 Israel: The Land When Israel was again to be re-established as a Jewish homeland, one needed to define what is a Jewish homeland, its language, character, legal system and rationale for existing. We will meet various early Zionist leaders, such as Herzl, Achad ha Am, Ben Gurion and Rav Kook and appreciate their competing cultural, political, religious and nationalist ideologies. : HaTikva Gn12:1-6; Ex6:2-9; Dt:26:1-10; Joshua:24 The Jewish Holidays pp ; pp Week 2 Israel: The Future Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Week 6 Israel: The Peace Process Israel: Answering the Difficult Questions Inside Israel the movie Life Cycle I Brit Milah, Brit HaBat, Education and B nei Mitzvah We look at the symbolism of the brit milah or brit habrit, welcoming the baby into the covenant. We look at the significance of one s chosen name and the ceremony of Pidyon Haben for some 30-day-old boys. Jewish education and the real significance of becoming Bar/Bat Mitzvah is also explored. : Gn 17:1-16; Nm 3:44-51 The How to Handbook for Jewish Living Second Jewish Catalogue pp 17-19; pp ; ; pp pp 11-59; 61-83; Week 7 Life Cycle II Marriage and Divorce The Jewish wedding ceremony, its symbols and ceremony are discussed. Marriage as a sacred bond is explored and the place of divorce within Jewish thought (the get and the agunah) is examined. : Gn 1: 24-28; 2:18; 21-24; Dt 24:1-5 Second Jewish Catalogue pp ; pp ; ; pp

7 Week 8 Life Cycle III Death and Funeral The Jewish attitude towards death, the treatment of the deceased (Chevra Kadisha, Tahora and Tachrichim), the stages of mourning (onen, shiva, sheloshim, yahrzeit and yizkor). The afterlife is also considered. : Gn 34:5-8; Nm 20:22-29 The How To Handbook for Jewish Living pp pp pp pp pp Week 9 Elul: Rosh Hashana, Teshuva Yom Kippur Tefilla A discussion of the traditions of Elul, Selichot and the concepts of teshuvah and cheshbon hanefesh. Rosh Hashana, with all its symbolism and meaning is discussed. Bring a Machzor. An introduction to the Mahzor and prayers such as U'nataneh Tokef and Avinu Malkeinu, the Shofar service, special customs of the day. The lead up to Yom Kippur (Aseret Yamei Teshuvah, Yamim Noraim), the Prayers of Confession, afflicting one's soul, the five prayer services and the scriptural readings. : Lv :23;16 The How To Handbook for Jewish Living pp ; pp ; pp pp Week 10 Sukkot, Simchat Torah The festival of Sukkot, its symbols, rituals and deeper meaning will be discussed. The skills required for waving the four species (Lulav, Etrog, Aravah and Hadas) will be taught. : Ex 23: 12-17; Dr: 16: 1-17 The How To Handbook for Jewish Living pp pp pp pp * BJC in the Sukkah 7

8 TERM FOUR 8 October 10 December: 7:30 9:00pm COVENANT Week 1 Lashon HaRa and Peace Literally meaning the evil tongue this refers to the transgressions of gossiping and slander and the evils that can result form these two acts. The Jewish attitude to Peace. pp Week 2 Tzedakka, Gemilut Chassadim The central precepts of righteous giving, both of money and self pp 1-19 Week 3 Week 4 Tikkun Olam, Tsa ar Ba alei Chayim Contemporary Understandings Two of the greatest concerns for us at this time are the human relationship with our fellow animals and the environment we share. The Torah s teachings on animal rights (Tza ar Ba alei Chayim) and environment (Ba al Tashchit) continue to develop to meet these concerns, as part of an overall teaching of Tikkun Olam, repairing the world. Contemporary Schools of Judaism An explanation of the three main streams of Judaism Orthodox, Conservative and Progressive, that offer a diversity of practice today. pp pp Week 5 Week 6 Week 7 Week 8 Week 9 Structure of Synagogue Service Choreography and etiquette of Synagogue Service Gender Issues Being Jewish in Australia Chanukah this latter Jewish holiday has intriguing roots, rich symbols and a plethora of tales explain its significance in Jewish life. pp pp Week 10 Ask the Rabbis 8

Judaism is. A 4000 year old tradition with ideas about what it means to be human and how to make the world a holy place

Judaism is. A 4000 year old tradition with ideas about what it means to be human and how to make the world a holy place Judaism is A 4000 year old tradition with ideas about what it means to be human and how to make the world a holy place (Rabbi Harold Kushner, To Life) A covenant relationship between God and the Hebrew