Thought
Jewish Thought/Philosophy/Theology
Courses on Biblical, Rabbinic, Medieval, Modern and Contemporary Jewish theology and thought. In addition, our approach requires that we understand Judaism in the context of world religions. Thus, courses in what we call Deep Ecumenism with emphasis on the emergence of Christianity and its roots in Second Temple Judaism; the emergence of Islam and its relationship to Judaism; our connections with Eastern paths of practice and meditation, as well as earth-based traditions, are also crucial parts of the knowledge we expect our students to seek. We also hope that students will acquaint themselves with the New Cosmology by studying authors including Thomas Berry, Brian Swimme, Ken Wilbur, Rupert Sheldrake, Matthew Fox, Amit Goswami, Gary Zukav, and others.
Conversations with Jewish Thinkers: Resources for Jewish Renewal Thinking
This course will look at the foundational thinkers and their contribution to what has become renewal theology. We will look at Rosenzweig, Buber, Hartman, Heschel, Green.
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Elective
Deep Ecumenism
The course begins with the questions raised by a close reading of Reb Zalman’s writings on “deep ecumenism.” We study comparatively the spiritualities / mysticisms of Judaism, Christianity, Islam and Buddhism utilizing insights from Ken Wilber’s writings to help our comparisons. Each student partakes in an ecumenical experience and reports to the class.
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Cantorial: ALEPH Required
Hashpa’ah: ALEPH Required
Rabbinic: ALEPH Required
RP: ALEPH Required
Foundations of Jewish Philosophy and Theology
Introduction to philosophical thinking in a Jewish idiom through selected writings by Philo, Saadia Gaon, Yehudah HaLevi, the RaMbaM, and Spinoza. Discussion of their work on its own terms, and its relevance to Jewish Renewal and spiritual development.
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Rabbinic: Content Required
RP: ALEPH Required
Foundations of Jewish Practice
In this course, we will survey the Jewish traditional practices pertaining significant aspects of Jewish life, including Shabbat, Kashrut, and practices concerning the body. The course will be organized according to eight different dichotomies intrinsic to the system of applied halachah (Jewish Law and Custom). As we explore such categories as the permitted and the forbidden; the pure and the impure (tahor/tamei); liability and exemption; we will simultaneously frame and examine specific practices pertaining to Shabbat, kashrut, sex, mikveh, tallit and tefillin. A major goal of this course is to introduce a Renewal perspective on rabbinic concepts, thus giving students the building blocks to continue learning and using Rabbinic Literature as an integral part of there Jewish outlook and practice.
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Cantorial: ALEPH Required
Hashpa’ah: ALEPH Required
Rabbinic: ALEPH Required
RP: ALEPH Required
Introduction to Jewish Renewal & Reb Zalman’s Thought
Crucial to a full understanding of Jewish Renewal is knowledge of the history and development of the movement, its structures, its leaders and their thought, including the principles and development of Paradigm Shift, Integral Halachah, and Davvenology.talmidim will be introduced to the rabbis and teachers who embraced Reb Zalman’s thought and invitation to renew Judaism with their own unique gifts.
Rabbinic Pastor talmidim may choose either this course or Transformative Themes in Reb Zalman’s Writings to fulfill the requirement.
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Cantorial: ALEPH Required
Hashpa’ah: ALEPH Required
RP: ALEPH Required
Elective
Introduction to Jewish Thought
Jewish Thought touches on universal themes of spirituality, ethics, psychology, and society – using a uniquely Jewish vocabulary drawn from Torah. Every historical era creatively uses Torah stories, metaphors, and teachings to advance our understanding. In this course we will become acquainted with these “faces of Torah” as they appear across Jewish history. We will sample classic texts from TaNaCh, Mishnah, Gemara, Midrash, Philosophy, Medieval Torah commentary, Kabbalah and Hasidut. When we learn the language and style of Jewish thought, we gain keys to vast resources of spiritual teaching.
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Elective
Jewish Traditions of Sacred Time
This course will cover shalosh regalim and yamim noraim, paying attention to the ways that seasons give way to seasons and moods and foci shift through time. Course goals:
- To understand the patterns and moods of the Jewish calendar as they express agricultural, mythic-historical, halakhic, and mystical points of view.
- To become familiar with the particular practices and liturgies associated with each of the festivals and their seasons.
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