FALL 07

9/4: getting acCUSTOMed
Why customs matter. Plus Rosh Hashanah packets.

9/11: understanding steve JOBs
Torah source texts connected to Steve Job’s 2005 Stanford commencement address
and his JOB story

9/18: Temptations
Lust, desire and fantasy. What’s the Jewish take?

10/2: Late Night Torah Study
Hoshana Rabba (7th night of Sukkot) is for late night study.
10pm to Midnight with coffee and refreshments.

10/9: Jewish History Panorama
Part 1 - Get the bird’s eye view in chart form.

10/16: Jewish History Panorama
Part 2 - Even in a nutshell, one class won’t cut it.

10/23: Secrets of Jewish Intimacy
Jewish themes on “Shalom Bayit” relationship harmony.

10/30: Secrets of Jewish Intimacy
Join Mendel and Raizy for a frank eye and heart-opening discussion
on “Taharat HaMishpacha” Family Purity.

11/6: Torah from Jerusalem
Guest presenter from Israel via JERNY topic TBA

11/13: Do Stones Speak?
Genealogist and historian Rabbi Avraham Laber on reading history from gravestone inscriptions.

11/27: Challenge
Inspiring and humorous video of the Rebbe on kicking it up a notch. Plus Chanukah packets.

12/4: Represent!
by Ariel Lipper - in the spirit of Chanukah’s Maccabees, on representing our heritage and our people. 8:30 only along with Menorah, Latkes and Chanukah Party.
 

SPRING 2007

1/23: Halacha Trace
Tracing Torah > Talmud > Halacha texts using “Synagogue Mezuzah” as a sample

1/30: Basi L’Gani
Cliff-Notes of a classic Chassidic Discourse (1950)

2/6: Seussian Talmud
by Craig Messer ('09) and Justin Hirsch ('07)
mock-up of Talmud page template based on Seuss to learn commentator styles

2/13: Yours Truly
on Truth in Relationships (between us and G-d, and between people).

2/27: Sleepless in Shushan
Insomnia & the Purim Story plus Holiday packets packing night

3/13: Special Sevens
Class by Moshe & Rabbi Mendel for Moshe’s 7th birthday

3/20: Talmud VS. US Law
on Principals and Agents

3/27: Seder Song Symbolism
One Goat, Happened at Midnight etc...

4/17: Jewish Medical Ethics
by Laura Novello ('07)
Stem-cells, Transplants etc. in Halacha

4/24: Building Momentum
Keeping it going strong! 3rd generation Zionism, or all good things in life.

FALL 2006

9/12: Why Shofar?
Background of Rosh Hashana’s Shofar (and High Holiday Packet Packing)

9/19: Jewish Standard Time
Timelessness of Jewish time & calendar, understanding key concepts & features

9/26: Jews Sing the Darndest Things
Profound themes behind traditional popular songs sung at all synagogues

10/24: Matisyahu’s Lyrics I
Chassidic texts behind his reggae

10/31: Matisyahu’s Lyrics II
Chassidic texts behind his reggae

11/7: Hillel the Psychologist
an in-depth reading of three Talmudic Aggadah stories in Tractate Shabbos

11/14: Vicarious Relationships
Empathy in Jewish thought & living

11/28: Jacob’s Ladder
exploring commentary on weekly Parsha

12/5: Alternative Energy
Quantifying and qualifying the Menorah miracle (and Chanukah Packet Packing)

FALL 2005
Unless otherwise noted, all classes:
* are text-study and discussions geared for ALL levels of Jewish learning,
prepared and presented by Rabbi Mendel Rubin
* will be studied twice: 5:30 and 7:30
to accommodate class schedules
* will be held at Shabbos House

8/30: “Holy Quads”
Holy: what comes to mind? If you think Jerusalem, synagogue, etc, think again.

9/20: “Jewish Identity” (Note date change from 9/13..)
The things you don’t have to do.

9/27: “Bee-Keeper Rabbi”
Rabbi Laber, a bee-keeping Rabbi on why honey is Kosher if bees aren’t & more. 6pm. (Pre-Rosh Hashana Packets for all Quads will be packed at SH this night as well).

11/1: “Sympathy Suite”
Rachel Serkin (‘08) learned this at her Summer ‘05 internship (CLIP) and will present an interactive lesson on dealing with death and mourning, i.e. Shiva House.

11/8: “Kosher Hypocrisy”
When its good to be a hypocrite.

11/15: “Torah by Trugman”
TAGAR (sa) sponsors Rabbi Avraham Trugman of the Carlebach Moshav in Israel

11/29: “Rashi on Shema”
This year (2005) marks 900 years since the greatest Biblical and Talmudic commentator.

12/6: “Soulful Melodies”
The local Kleine Klezmer Orchestra will accompany Rabbi Israel Rubin on a short journey through Chassidic music. 6pm.

• Spiritual DNA (visual learning of the 10 Sefirot)
• Inside Prayer - Jacob's Ladder
• Tackling a Tough Piece of Talmud (BM 2b-3a - Sumchos on "Money in Doubt")
• Shabbos: Law and Custom
• The Anatomy of a Blessing
• Passover Notes - Laws and Customs in a Nutshell
• Joy in Judaism
• The Struggle in Significant
• Lights and Letters (commentary on a video-cartoon)
• Machzor Notes - overcoming the Prayerbook Blues on Yom Kippur
•  "Tzedakah - a prospectus" - classic texts on Tzedakah in financial format
• "Torah on Self-Esteem" -
•  "Jewish Wedding Ceremony and Rituals"
• A Jewish Birthday
• The Number "4" in Judaism
• 4 Seasonal Torah Readings
• Vessels of the Holy Temple
• The Mystical Meaning of Meatballs and Spaghetti
• POM is Wonderful
• L'hadlik Ner, Shabbat Candle-Lighting
• Say No to Chametz, from Talmud to Halacha
• Jewish Memory
• Israel's Holy Sites (powerpoint)
• Crown Heights - a Virtual Tour
• "Roll Your Own"
• Love, Legacy and Lasagna
• Jewish Dorm Essentials
• "We Need To Talk"
• Yiddish-Fun

* We redo some of these classes in new cycles, every 3-4 years, as students graduate.

 

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