Profs. David Myers & Nomi Stolzenberg, 1/27/2025—There has been discussion over the past thirty years about the vision of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state, as well as the compatibility of observant Jewish life and American democracy. Can the two—Jewish and democratic—be reconciled? The two presenters, one a Jewish historian, the other a scholar of American law, will explore the consonances and tensions between Jewish and democratic values in Israel and the U.S.

Rebecca Kaplan, 1/23/2025—Learn to find Torah in unexpected places, from the Liberty Bell to area murals, contemporary community work, and Kaplan's years of work (and some recent battles) at the Oakland City Council.

Nicholas McGegan, 1/21/2025—The Bible has been a font of inspiration for composers throughout the ages. This course pairs passages highlighting dramatic Biblical stories with their interpretations in opera and oratoria spanning Baroque to 20th-century music. In this segment Nicholas McGegan leads a musical discussion on Saul, David & Jonathan.

Profs. Robert Alter and Ron Hendel, 1/14/25—The Bible has been a font of inspiration for composers throughout the ages. This course pairs passages highlighting dramatic Biblical stories with their interpretations in opera and oratoria spanning Baroque to 20th-century music. In this segment, we discuss Saul, David & Jonathan (1 Samuel Chapters 17-20, 24, 31, and 2 Samuel Chapter 1).

Janis Plotkin, Karen Davis & Naomi Seidman, 12/19/2924—Ultra-orthodox Jewish life has long been surrounded by secrecy from within and intense curiosity from without. This course will focus on four films that present Haredi Jewish life from multiple perspectives. Critical, compassionate and profoundly humane, these films offer an expanded view of the complexities of living within and beyond the strictures of Ultra-Orthodox Jewish life. Our film selection includes two fiction feature films and two documentaries, from the US, Israel and the United Kingdom, including two films directed by women.

Rabbi Greg Marcus, 12/10/2024—The “Chesed voice,” which prioritizes Acts of Chesed (Lovingkindness) over Jewish Law, can be traced all the way back to the Torah itself. You will learn why in the Talmud a rabbi was executed because he only studied Torah and did not engage in acts of Chesed. Join us for an extraordinary exploration of the age-old (yet totally contemporary) tension between the strict letter of the law and unbounded acts Chesed.

Janis Plotkin & Karen Davis, 12/6/2024—Ultra-orthodox Jewish life has long been surrounded by secrecy from within and intense curiosity from without. This course will focus on four films that present Haredi Jewish life from multiple perspectives. Critical, compassionate and profoundly humane, these films offer an expanded view of the complexities of living within and beyond the strictures of Ultra-Orthodox Jewish life. Our film selection includes two fiction feature films and two documentaries, from the US, Israel and the United Kingdom, including two films directed by women.

Rabbi Greg Marcus , 12/3/2024—The “chesed voice,” which prioritizes acts of chesed (lovingkindness) over Jewish law, can be traced all the way back to the Torah itself. You will learn why in the Talmud a rabbi was executed because he only studied Torah and did not engage in acts of chesed. Join us for an extraordinary exploration of the age-old (yet totally contemporary) tension between the strict letter of the law and unbounded acts chesed.

Janis Plotkin & Karen Davis, 11/21/2024—Ultra-orthodox Jewish life has long been surrounded by secrecy from within and intense curiosity from without. This course will focus on four films that present Haredi Jewish life from multiple perspectives. Critical, compassionate and profoundly humane, these films offer an expanded view of the complexities of living within and beyond the strictures of Ultra-Orthodox Jewish life. Our film selection includes two fiction feature films and two documentaries, from the US, Israel and the United Kingdom, including two films directed by women.

Prof. Fred Rosenbaum, 11/14/2024—Recorded following the screening of the film "Vishniac," at the East Bay International Jewish Film Festival. (Video courtesy of EBIJFF)

Rabbi Greg Marcus , 11/19/2024—The “chesed voice,” which prioritizes Acts of chesed (lovingkindness) over Jewish law, can be traced all the way back to the Torah itself. You will learn why in the Talmud a rabbi was executed because he only studied Torah and did not engage in acts of chesed. Join us for an extraordinary exploration of the age-old (yet totally contemporary) tension between the strict letter of the law and unbounded acts chesed.

Prof. Daniel Boyarin, 10/22/2024—Simchat Beit Hasho'eva ("The Rejoicing at the Place of Water-Drawing") takes place during Sukkot. The Talmud says: "He who has not seen the rejoicing at the Place of the Water-Drawing has never seen rejoicing in his life." This "water holiday" brought thousands to the Temple courtyard for a water libation ritual followed by music and dance, burning-torch tossing, handstands, feasting, and a bit of mayhem as men and women mingled. Prof. Daniel Boyarin will offer his original interpretation of the Talmudic text.