History & Thought
Wed 22

- Pacific Time

Rachel Biale: Sex and Furniture in Jewish Tradition (Zoom Only)

Virtual Program

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.

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Instructor

Thu 20

- Pacific Time

Rabbi Harry Manhoff: Without Jews There Would Be No (Comic Book) Superheroes (Zoom Only)

Virtual Program

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!

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Instructor

Tue 02

- Pacific Time

Prof. Michael Hoberman—"The World to Begin Againe:" Jews and the American Revolution (Zoom only)

Virtual Program

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.

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Instructor

Sun 14

- Pacific Time

Prof. Jeremy Popkin—The French Revolution: Was It Good for the Jews? (Zoom only)

Virtual Program

The French Revolution offered Jews the opportunity to become citizens, but at the cost of abandoning their communal autonomy. Was it a good deal?

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Instructor

Sun 18

- 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

Location

Beer Baron Whiskey Bar & Kitchen

5900 College Avenue
Oakland, CA 94618 + Google Map

Instructor

Sun 11

- Pacific Time

Rabbi Peretz Wolf-Prusan: What REALLY Happened on Tish’ah Be-Av (Zoom only)

Virtual Program

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?

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Sun 25

- Pacific Time

David Biale Shloshim Memorial (Zoom only)

Virtual Program

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

Mon 30

- Pacific Time Series

Prof. Mira Z. Amiras—How the Middle East Works: Four Models

Virtual Program
In partnership with Congregation Beth Am, Los Altos Hills

We will explore four models for understanding the Middle East today, beginning with Ibn Khaldun’s 14th-century Introduction to History and his anticipation of European colonial ambitions before they’d begun. We'll also investigate German-American historian Karl Wittfogel, who argued that civilization emerged first in the ancient Near East because of the reliance on larg... Read more

Instructor

Tue 01

- Pacific Time Series

Eleanor Shapiro—Israel/Palestine: A Dual-Narrative Approach (on Zoom)

Virtual Program
The current war between Israel and Hamas can make the situation feel too complex and painful to contemplate. Addressing the roots of the conflict, this multimedia history course introduces a perspective that ultimately offers an alternative to the despair that comes with hopeless headlines. All levels of learning welcome.

September 11, 18, 25 and October 1 @ 7–8:30pm

Instructor

Sat 21

- Pacific Time Series

Dr. Rivka Amado: Ladino History, Culture, Music & Language (In person only)

In partnership with Sha'ar Zahav 

After over two thousand years of Jewish life in the Iberian Peninsula, the Jews were expelled from Spain in 1492. Most of them, known as the Sephardim (“Sepharad” is Spain in Hebrew), left with only two types of possessions: their language—Ladino—and their music. This program explores Ladino culture: its historical account, language and music found in ballads, lyrical songs (cantikas), c... Read more

Location

Sha'ar Zahav

290 Dolores St.
San Francisco, CA 94103 + Google Map

Instructor

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