Jewish Study Center Bob Rovinsky, President Rachel B. Miller, Exec. Director

Transcription

1 Jewish Study Center Bob Rovinsky, President Rachel B. Miller, Exec. Director Spring Semester, May June 2006 Selections include: Become a part of the story! Jewish Identity in American Film Jewish Cultures Across the Globe Behind the Frame: Jewish Art and Artists Dancing Camels And Other Classic Jewish Sayings The Best of Tradition in an informal setting The Jewish Study Center is an independent nonprofit center for adult Jewish education in the Washington D.C. area. Founded in 1978, it has a reputation for teaching and learning in an open, participatory environment. Engage with traditional texts and topics, contemporary Jewish culture and concerns, and faculty from across the community. We welcome teachers and students of all backgrounds. Now Playing at Five DC Locations: Dupont Circle, Cleveland Park, Chinatown, Capitol Hill, and Upper 16th Street Please register at info@jewishstudycenter.org or call

2 2 Jewish Study Center Kickoff event Thursday, April 27 At the Religious Action Center, 2027 Massachusetts Ave, one block from Dupont Circle Metro Sunday Thursday April 27 7:00 8:30 PM Members: $5 non-members: $7 So Jewtastic! Sunday class in Chinatown First class will meet at the 7th and H St exit of the Chinatown Metro May 7 and May 21 1:00 2:30 PM Members: $10 non-members: $15 Join the Jewish Study Center as we kick off our Spring Semester by watching the hilarious documentary So Jewtastic, a 2006 VH1 production. The hour-long video covers the contributions Jews have made to pop culture, from the connections between Jews and hip hop and heavy metal music to the involvement of Jews in comedy. The audience will nosh on tasty snacks as they watch the movie and afterwards, we will discuss the show and schmooze. Rachel Miller is the director of the Jewish Study Center and a pop culture maven. Jewish Architectural Photography If you ve been looking for an opportunity to get a beautiful photograph of a giant Star of David, Hebrew cornerstone, or mezuzah, or have wondered whether it s okay to photograph Jews in prayer or other religious settings, then bring your camera and sharp eye for this fun hands-on class. In this two-day field course, photographers of all ages will learn the Jewish customs and rules regarding photography and apply what they have learned. We will visit local, metro-accessible destinations such as current and former synagogues, community centers, historical sites, museum displays, and commercial establishments, and photograph a wide range of Jewish symbols and architecture. This class will be fun for all levels of photographers. So come experience Judaism and Jewish DC through the lens of your camera! Michael Bloom is an award-winning nature photographer, an attorney, and a former Walt Disney Pictures writer. He has served as a volunteer architectural assistant at a Jewish historical society and has a Masters in City and Regional Planning from Harvard. Sunday class at the Religious Action Center 2027 Massachusetts Ave, NW, one block west of the Dupont Circle Metro s North exit Sunday, May 7 OR Sunday, June 4 1:00 4:00 PM Members: $30 non-members: $35 **This one-day class will be held twice; students should pick which day to attend. Saving Lives with CPR CPR may not strike you as a religious obligation, or something inherently Jewish, but saving a life, or pikuach nefesh, is one of the highest values of Judaism. Join us for a one-day hands-on class where you will learn how to recognize and respond to life-threatening emergencies. For example, we will learn the classic warning signs of choking, cardiac arrest, heart attack, and stroke for adults and children. Participants will be certified in adult and pediatric CPR and choke saving, and will receive a CPR text and certificate. This class has limited space and requires advance registration. Students should state which day (5/7 or 6/4) they wish to attend when registering. Peggy Miller has 12 years of experience in pre-hospital emergency medical services in basic and advanced life support. She is a nationally registered EMT-Intermediate, an American Heart Association CPR instructor, and a University of Maryland Level II Fire/Rescue Instructor. Become a member of the Jewish Study Center For $36 a year for individuals or $72 for households, you can support the mission of the Study Center and the community. By becoming a member, you will gain access to exclusive events and closed-out classes and pay discounted rates all year at the Jewish Study Center. All contributions to the Study Center are tax-deductible.

3 Monday classes at Adas Israel, 2850 Quebec St, Cleveland Park One block north of the Cleveland Park Metro. Parking is available. 3 May 8 June 26 (7 sessions) No class May 29 Members: $75 non-members: $85 May 1 June 5 (5 sessions) No class May 29 All 5 classes: Members: $55 non-members: $65 individual classes: members: $15 Non-members: $20 May 15 June 12 8:15 9:30 PM Basic Judaism Learn about the fundamentals of Judaism in this class as we discuss traditional Jewish beliefs, history and customs. We will study Jewish life cycle events, Jewish holidays and classical Jewish texts, taught from the perspective that Jews come from different religious backgrounds and practice Jewish traditions in a variety of ways. The objective of this course is to become acquainted with Jewish life, culture, and history so that students can engage in deeper study and gain a personal connection to the tradition. This course welcomes all students Jews, people of other faiths, and curious learners. Daniella Kolodny is a rabbi and military chaplain. She has taught throughout the Jewish community. Jewish Cultures Across the Globe Join us for a five-part series that looks at Jewish life in communities around the world. May 1: The Evolution of Sephardic Names in the Diaspora Jeffrey Malka is a U.S. orthopedic surgeon with Sephardic and Ashkenazi ancestry who has lectured all over the world about Sephardic genealogy. May 8: The Jews of Iraq from the Establishment of the State of Israel until Now Maurice Shohet is the president of Congregation Bene Naharayim, a synagogue for the Iraqi Jewish community in New York City. He has worked on the Iraq out-of-country voting program and currently serves as an Arabic-English translator for political analyses. May 15: Judaism in Transylvania: History, Legends and Myths Larry Stern is an "off the boat" immigrant to the U.S. from Transylvania, the land of Dracula, with Hungarian/Romanian origin, whose life and family have been touched by the Shoah and Satmar. He is currently a practicing engineer in the missile defense field and lives in Bethesda. May 22: The Jewish Community of Nigeria Rabbi Howard Gorin is the rabbi at Tikvat Israel Congregation and has done extensive work with the Jewish communities in Nigeria and Uganda. June 5: The history, customs and art of the Jewish community of Turkey Amalia S. Levi, archaeologist and art historian, has an extensive background in Jewish art and ethnography, and was the founding curator of the Jewish Museum of Turkey in Istanbul. Reading Isaiah for Insights on the Modern Jewish Condition After the destruction of the first temple in the 6th century B.C.E., the biblical poet-prophet Isaiah gave comfort and meaning to Jews in exile, stressing G-d s promise for a restoration in Jerusalem. We shall read the translated text and discuss what that may mean for us after the Holocaust and the creation of the State of Israel. Max Ticktin teaches Judaic Studies at George Washington University and is a member of Fabrangen. Monday June 12 June 26 Sounds of Milk and Honey: The Music of Israel Take a musical journey through Israel's history! We will explore how the country's music developed as Israel developed, starting with settlers who brought music and culture from their homelands in the 1800s through today. We will hear and discuss music that reflects Israel s vibrant culture and on the last class, we will have a mini-concert and an Israeli buffet. Cantor Gabi Arad was born in Beer Sheva, Israel, and moved to the U.S. when she was seven. She became a cantor three years ago and will be ordained as a rabbi in May. Gabi is married to Rabbi Joshua Burrows of Washington Hebrew Congregation.

4 4 Tuesday at Sixth & I Historic Synagogue: 606 I St, NW, Chinatown Two blocks from Chinatown Metro Station, four blocks from Mt. Vernon Metro Station Tuesday April 25 Members: $7 non-members: $10 Rapid Response May 2 Members: $7 non-members: $10 Rapid Response May 2 May 23 6:45 8:30 PM The Hamas Government in Power Three months after the Palestinian parliamentary elections resulting in the startling victory of Hamas Israelis and others are still sorting out the implications. Nathan Brown served as an observer for the elections and returned to the West Bank in April to see how the Hamas government was beginning to affect politics in the region. He will share his impressions of what a Hamas government means for Palestinians and Israelis. Nathan J. Brown is Senior Associate at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, and Professor of Political Science and International Affairs at The George Washington University. This course is a part of the Rapid Response series, which has one-night classes on current events. Post-Election Israel: An Emerging Vision What are the implications of the March 28 Israeli elections? Larry Garber will draw upon his recent visit to Israel, and speak about what the election results mean. He will specifically focus on Israeli relations with the Palestinians, prospects for future evacuations from the West Bank, the growing economic and social gaps, and challenges facing the social change movement in Israel. Larry Garber has served as Executive Director of the New Israel Fund since July 2004 and directed the USAID West Bank/Gaza Mission from This course is a part of the Rapid Response series, which has one-night classes on current events. Introduction to Hebrew Join us for a crash course in Hebrew! You will learn to read and write the Hebrew alphabet as well as basic vocabulary. Spoken and written Hebrew will be covered. Students will use the book Teach Yourself to Read Hebrew, by Ethelyn Simon and Joseph Anderson, which will be available for purchase at the first class. Jordan Brinn has taught beginner Hebrew twice for the Jewish Study Center. May 9 May 23 6:45 8:45 PM All 3 films: individual films: Members: $15 Non-members: $20 Aspects of Jewish Identity in American Film What does it mean to be an American Jew? We will explore this and other questions concerning Jewish identity and self-awareness through three modern American films. In each session, a movie will be shown and followed by discussion. The first film will be The Last Greeks on Broome Street, a documentary about the Greek Jewish community in New York directed by Ed Askinazi, who will lead the discussion and Q&A afterwards. Rabbi Yosef Edelstein will lead the discussion on the other two films, Avalon (about a Russian Jewish family) and The Believer (about a young Jewish man who becomes intensely anti-semitic). May 9: The Last Greeks on Broome Street (2005) May 16: Avalon (1990) May 23: The Believer (2001) Ed Askinazi is a filmmaker, producer, and editor, whose films have been shown throughout North America, Europe, Australia, and Asia. Currently a producer for Public Television, he has also edited more than two dozen children's programs shown on HBO, Showtime, and PBS. Rabbi Yosef Edelstein is a teacher and outreach director with MesorahDC and has a lifelong love of film. He was ordained as an Orthodox rabbi in Jerusalem, has worked in Jewish adult education for eight years, and has taught several film courses for the Study Center.

5 Wednesday classes at Adas Israel: 2850 Quebec St, Cleveland Park One block north of the Cleveland Park Metro. Parking is available. 5 May 3 May 24 May 3 May 17 7:00 8:30 PM May 3 May 31 8:30 9:45 PM (5 sessions) Members: $55 non-members: $65 May 10 May 24 Sexuality and Judaism American pop culture sends us many messages about sexuality. What does Jewish tradition say about this fascinating topic? What values can we glean from the tradition to influence our sexual choices? How can Jewish values and wisdom enrich our sexual lives? Come join us for a voyage into an often avoided topic with the help of traditional and contemporary sources. We'll explore the tradition and consider how it can bring meaning to our individual lives. Suzanne Feinspan is a professional sexuality educator who works in both secular and Jewish contexts. She has done research on many related topics including sexual education curricula, female sexual dysfunction and biblical sources on sexuality. How to Have a Jewish Wedding Planning a wedding can be overwhelming, even before parents get involved. This class will help you navigate your way through Jewish traditions and common practices, and will discuss the variations you can do on each. We will also provide you with lots of ideas to spark your imagination in creating your own unique ceremony. This class is suited for Jewish as well as interfaith couples. Rabbi Harold White will be present at the final class for a discussion and Q&A. Tracy Schwartz and Rita Bloom are wedding planners at Creative Parties and have lectured at many colleges and seminars. Washingtonian highlighted them recently for their work with Jewish weddings. Rabbi Harold White is the Senior Jewish Chaplain at Georgetown University and taught this class with Tracy and Rita in February Dancing Camels and Other Classic Jewish Sayings In Sefer Aggadah (the book of legends) by H. N. Bialik and Y.H. Ravnitsky, there is a list of over 2,300 popular epigrams and proverbs. They are taken from rabbinic literature and have become part of the Hebrew language and culture. The class will look at a few dozen of these one-liners, tag lines, and clichés, that range from quips to important legal principles, and will discuss the texts they come from, their meaning, and their usage. Some examples: Entertaining guests is greater than welcoming God s presence, The prosecutor can't become the attorney for the defense, No pain, no gain, Na eh doresh he talks a good game, The new is prohibited by the Torah, and In Media a camel can dance on a dime. The sayings will be picked somewhat arbitrarily by the teacher, with additional suggestions welcomed. Some knowledge of Hebrew is definitely helpful in appreciating the sayings, but is not necessary. Norman Shore is a veteran teacher for the Jewish Study Center and elsewhere in the Washington Jewish community. Lies my Bubbie Told Me: Misconceptions about Judaism Remember those things you learned about Judaism when you were a kid? Odds are they were wrong. For example: A shofar is a ram s horn, people with tattoos can t be buried in Jewish cemeteries, and dropping the Torah requires fasting for 40 days. All wrong. Official Judaism differs considerably from the folk religion of American Jews. Come learn the most common myths, study the original sources, and show your Bubbie what a maven you are. Rabbi Ken Cohen is Director of American University Hillel and met his wife, Joanne Kenen, at the Jewish Study Center. Wednesday Volunteer for the Study Center! The Jewish Study Center runs almost entirely on volunteer effort, and we are always looking for people to help us out with various tasks. As a thank you, volunteers get to take classes for free. Check out our website at or call us at (202) for ways on how you can help out and examples of tasks you can do.

6 6 Wednesday classes at Adas Israel: 2850 Quebec St, Cleveland Park One block north of the Cleveland Park Metro. Parking is available. Wednesday May 31 June 21 June 7 June 21 June 7 June 28 8:30 9:45 PM Behind the Frame: Jewish Art and Artists Jewish art is often based on biblical sources, folk sayings, and local genre imagery. In America, it is also a bridge to the mainstream culture, showing the artist adopting and adapting yet incorporating elements of Jewish life and culture. Join us for four sessions that deal with different aspects of Jewish art. The course will include a visual overview of Jewish art and artists, followed by sessions about Jewish women artists, Jewish American photographers, and Jewish American artists. Myrna Teck, Ph.D., is a former art teacher and art museum educator. She currently serves as a visual arts consultant, with an emphasis in Jewish art. Jewish Perspectives on Supreme Court Jurisprudence This course will consider some recent Supreme Court controversies from varying Jewish perspectives. Why do Jewish groups sometimes advocate contrary positions before the Supreme Court? How broadly should the First Amendment s guarantee to free exercise of religion be construed? Does public display of the Ten Commandments inappropriately establish a national religion? The class will review constitutional principles and specific case studies, but is addressed primarily to non-lawyers. Jack Achiezer Guggenheim graduated from Columbia Law School in 1996 and has written numerous law review articles, including four on the intersection of law and religion. Daniel Juceam graduated from Harvard Law School in Jack and Dan are practicing attorneys in Washington DC. Savoring the Psalms The one hundred and fifty mysterious and passionate religious poems that comprise the Book of Psalms are an enticing invitation to read, untangle, and savor. The psalmist's voice addressing G-d is emotional and immediate; the ideas and language are difficult, literary and complex. In this class, we will spend some time on psalms central to the literary and liturgical tradition, compare various translations, and look at the Hebrew to a limited degree, depending on the preferences and fluency of class members. Amy Schwartz, a Washington journalist, has taught many Study Center courses on poetry. Thursday Thursday classes at the St. James Church, 222 8th St, NE, on Capitol Hill Six blocks north of Eastern Market, six blocks southwest from Union Station. Parking is available. June 1 June 29 (5 sessions) 8:15 9:30 PM Members: $55 non-members: $65 Basic Judaism on the Hill This course offers an overview of the joys and comforts of Judaism. We will discuss major texts, practices, history, as well as holidays and lifecycle celebrations. The course will be taught from the perspective that Jews are a diverse group of people who choose to be Jewish in different ways. Our goal is to give individual participants the means to develop a personal connection to Judaism that is meaningful. Sybil Wolin is an educational psychologist and a member of Adas Israel Congregation. She founded the Adas bereavement committee and the High Holiday service for family and children, and she also chairs the congregation s food drive. We want to hear from you. Visit for information on other semesters and events and to make suggestions for future classes. If you have a subject in mind that you d like to learn or teach, let us know at info@jewishstudycenter.org, and we ll try to make it happen.

7 Classes at Ohev Sholom-The National Synagogue, 1600 Jonquil St, NW On the S2 and S4 Metrobus lines, short ride from Silver Spring Metro Station. Parking is available. 7 May 1, 8, 22, June 12, 19, 26 (6 sessions) 7:30 8:30 PM May 1, 8, 22, June 12, 19, 26 (6 sessions) 8:30 9:15 PM All Ohev Sholom classes are free, but with a suggested donation of $25 to the Study Center May 4 May 25 7:45 8:30 PM May 4 May 25 8:30 9:15 PM The Book of Ruth Together we'll explore the story of Ruth, Naomi, and Boaz. We'll examine its connections to the holiday of Shavuot, and learn about the historical, literary, and halachic significance of this fascinating story about the most famous convert in Jewish history. Yossi Pollak is a new rabbi at Ohev Sholom the National Synagogue and a 2005 graduate of Yeshivat Chovevei Torah in New York City. Sfas Emes, a Chasidic Master Study the Chassidic commentary of the Sfas Emes on the weekly Torah portion. The Sfas Emes uses spiritual concepts to explain elements of the weekly portion. Learn mystical and Chassidic concepts while broadening your understanding of the Torah portion. Yossi Pollak is a rabbi at Ohev Sholom the National Synagogue and a 2005 graduate of Yeshivat Chovevei Torah in New York City. Gates of Repentance This ethical work by Rabbi Jonah of Geronah focuses on how one can repent and come closer to G-d. The class will study the text from the 13th century and discuss it in depth. Shmuel Herzfeld is a rabbi at Ohev Sholom the National Synagogue. Sefer Hachinuch This class focuses on the mitzvot contained in each week's Torah portion. Studying this work is an excellent way to gain a broader and deeper understanding of the 613 commandments. Shmuel Herzfeld is a rabbi at Ohev Sholom the National Synagogue. Monday Thursday May 21 2:00 5:00 PM Free Walking Tour of Southwest Washington See the roots of Washington Jewish community in Southwest D.C., where many members of the Jewish community lived from 1900 to Local historian Larry Rosen will lead a tour through the old neighborhood. The tour will begin at the Waterside Mall, 4th and M Streets, SW, (right at the Waterfront Metro Station) and there will be buses from Ohev Sholom Talmud Torah that leave earlier in the day. Larry Rosen is a historian and lived in Southwest D.C. when it was the home of the Jewish community. His father was the recording secretary of Talmud Torah from 1933 to Sunday Support the Jewish Study Center by: becoming a member donating to the general Study Center fund sponsoring a class, a JSC project, or an event (contact us for the wish list) contributing through United Way/CFC our number is #8366 Donations to the Jewish Study Center, a tax-exempt non-profit, enable us meet administrative expenses, provide scholarships, and more importantly support the Jewish community of Washington, D.C. All contributions are tax-deductible. For more information, call Director Rachel Miller at

8 Sign up for classes: JSC Spring 2006 Amount Name: Address: City, State, Zip: Daytime Phone: Course name: $ Become a Jewish Study Center member: Evening Phone: $36 individual, $72 household $ I ll support the JSC with a donation $ I pay discounted rates as a member of Study Center Adas Fabrangen TOTAL ENCLOSED: $ Hill Havurah Bet Mishpachah To RSVP, call us at , I first learned about the JSC from: this information to info@jewishstudycenter.org Or mail this to: 1634 I St, NW, Suite 700 Washington DC Board of Directors Bob Rovinsky, President Amy Schwartz, Vice President Ken Goldstein, Secretary Farrell Bloch, Treasurer Scott Berg, Events Chair Roberta Boam Steven Braun Jay Caplan Stefan Gunther Daniel Juceam, Curriculum Chair Leslie Limmer Lindsay Lassman, Fundraising Chair Michael Pinck David Salem Sybil Wolin Executive Director Rachel Miller