- Pacific Time
Rachel Biale: Sex and Furniture in Jewish Tradition (Zoom Only)
Sex and furniture, really? Really! Beds (of course), tables, lamps, and ornaments: rabbinic texts illuminate attitudes towards sexuality in key texts where furniture appears—either as literal objects or as metaphors.
Read moreInstructor
- Pacific Time
Rabbi Harry Manhoff: Without Jews There Would Be No (Comic Book) Superheroes (Zoom Only)
Superman, Batman and the Fantastic Four were all created by young Jewish men. In fact, almost all of the original DC and Marvel superheroes, except Wonder Woman, were created by Jewish writers and were drawn by Jewish artists. We will discuss the many theories of why this may be true. We will consider why, until five or ten years ago, the comic book industry was dominated by Jewish men and women, as writers, artists, pencilers and publishers. We will also look at the Jewish roots for some of these superheroes and supervillains, and the handful of characters who are identified as Jewish today. We may even read a graphic novel!
Read moreInstructor
- Pacific Time
Prof. Michael Hoberman—"The World to Begin Againe:" Jews and the American Revolution (Zoom only)
Fewer than two thousand Jews lived in North America during the American Revolution. Some were Tories, some sided with the rebellion, and a significant number couldn't make up their minds whose side they were on. Whether they took part in the fighting, held down the homefront, or tried to steer clear of all the trouble, they couldn't help but be implicated by the war's turmoil and outcome.
Read moreInstructor
- Pacific Time
Prof. Jeremy Popkin—The French Revolution: Was It Good for the Jews? (Zoom only)
The French Revolution offered Jews the opportunity to become citizens, but at the cost of abandoning their communal autonomy. Was it a good deal?
Read moreInstructor
- Pacific Time
Prof. Naomi Seidman—Tu be’Av: The Little-known Jewish Summer of Love (In person only)
Part of “LEHRHAUS ALEHOUSE” at Beer Baron in Rockridge. First drink is on us!
The Mishna speaks of Tu Be’Av, an ancient matchmaking festival, one that disappeared until the modern period, when it was revived in the Land of Israel and in the Orthodox world. On the holiday, great rabbis pray, without charge, for unmarried men and women to find their mates. But who revived this festival? Neither Zionists nor Orthodox rabbis. Join us to discuss the role of a divorced woman... Read more
Instructor
- Pacific Time
Rabbi Peretz Wolf-Prusan: What REALLY Happened on Tish’ah Be-Av (Zoom only)
Eicha, “how,” is the first Hebrew word of the Book of Lamentations, and its Hebrew title. Lamentations is read on Tish’a B’Av, but what really happened/happens on the 9th of Av, Tish’a Be-Av?
Read moreInstructor
- Pacific Time
David Biale Shloshim Memorial (Zoom only)
In partnerships with the Jewish Studies Program at UC Davis and the Centers for Jewish Studies at UC Berkeley and the Graduate Theological Union.
The 30th day of mourning (Shloshim) marks the end of the first month after a death, when the bereaved return to most daily ac... Read more