From its very beginning, Judaism has been an evolving spiritual tradition shaped, in part, by contact with other cultures and belief systems, and designed to meet the spiritual needs of the Jewish communities of the time. While some Jews find a spiritual home in the different Jewish denominations, so many others are yearning for a Jewish spirituality that will speak to their hearts, minds, and souls and will reflect the psychological, spiritual, and political understandings of our time.

The course will address the eternal question, "Why Do Bad Things Happen To Good People?" If God is a compassionate and loving God, why do people suffer? In an attempt to answer these questions, we will look at the Biblical books of Deuteronomy, Job, and Ecclesiastes, as well as looking at modern theologians. Bring a Bible.

Nourish your body, calm your mind, and nurture your soul, through embodied Jewish devotion.

In partnership with Urban Adamah

In partnership with Cong. Beth Israel

Learn about the aesthetic-theology of kabbalistic diagrams—full of trees, circles, spirals, lines, and letters—and use these as models to map your own relation to that which is essential but intangible (what might be called spirit, soul, or the divine). Our first two classes will focus on the history of these diagrams, and the final sessions on how to create your own kabbalistic diagram. 

Eleanor Shapiro: Jewish Music Matters

In partnership with JCCSF and Congregation Sha'ar Zahav

3 sessions

Apparently uncomfortable with various portions of the Torah, the rabbis provide interpretations that tend to neutralize the troubling aspects of those texts.  In this class, we will engage in close readings of texts from the Torah and corresponding Talmudic passages.

Mathematicians, theologians, and even children ponder the inspiring and surprising nature of the infinite. Dr. Lesser will explore—in a lively, interactive way—how math concepts can help illuminate some big ideas in Judaism, including the value of life, the value of commandments, and the coexistence of God's transcendence and immanence. While parts of this realm can get technical, have no fear: our session will maintain a liberal arts, general adult audiences sensibility to keep it accessible to a broad diversity of backgrounds in mathematics and in Judaism.