Global Day of Jewish Learning
What would it be like if there was a single day around the world for people to engage in Jewish Learning? What would it be like if it happened at SJCS?
Come and find out on Sunday, 11/7 from 1:30 - 6:00 p.m. when SJCS hosts the Global Day of Jewish Learning!
Reminder! Daylight Savings Time ends Sunday, 11/7. Don't forget to set your clocks back 1 hour before going to bed Saturday night!
Schedule:
1:30 - Doors open ($5 suggested donation)
3:15 - Panel discussion - "What does Jewish Life rest on in 2010?"
5:30 - Schmooze and depart
Early reservations are being accepted. Please contact BlairF@JewishInSeattle.org
For more Global Day of Jewish Learning on the Eastside, click here.
2:00 Learning Session Options:
| Topic: | Presenter: | Organization, Position: | ||||
| God: An Evolution. The Idea of God in Talmudic Times Compared to Modern Times | Rabbi Olivier Benhaim | Bet Alef, Rabbi | ||||
| Celebrating the Talmud | Rabbi Harry Zeitlin | Beth Haari, Rabbi | ||||
| Spirituality: A Positive Impact on Aging | Don Armstrong | Jewish Family Service, Director of Home Care and Community Based Services | ||||
| The Power of Symbols in Jewish Life | Rainer Waldman Adkins | Kadima Reconstructionist Community, Program Director | ||||
| Making a Mensch: 21st Century Parenting with Timeless Jewish Wisdom | Marjorie Schnyder | Jewish Family Service, Director of Family Life Education | ||||
| Discovering Sh'ma, an Interactive Exploration for Parents and Children | Shoshi Bilavsky & Jessica Smith | Seattle Jewish Communith School, Head of School & Teacher | ||||
| Jewish Views on Other Religions: The Triumphs and Tribulations | Joel Goldstein | Congregation Beth Shalom | ||||
|
Song and Story Time for Children 5 and Under and Their Caregivers *Starts at 2:15 |
Jeff Stombaugh | Seattle Jewish Community School, Teacher |
| Topic: | What Does Jewish Life Rest on in 2010? | |
| Panel Facilitator: | Diane Douglas - Executive Director of CityClub | |
| Panelists: |
Rabbi Jill Borodin of Congregation Beth Shalom Rabbi Olivier Benhaim of Bet Alef Wendy Marcus of Temply Beth Am Rabbi Harry Zeitlin of Beth Haari Shoshi Bilavsky of Seattle Jewish Community School |
| Topic: | Presenter: | Organization, Position: | ||||
| God: An Evolution. The Idea of God in Talmudic Times Compared to Modern Times | Rabbi Olivier Benhaim | Bet Alef, Rabbi | ||||
| What's With All The Ritual: A Kaballistic Understanding of How Mitzvot Affect Us and The World | Rabbi Harry Zeitlin | Beth Haari, Rabbi | ||||
| Torah From the Eyes: Deepen Your Understanding of Torah Using Artistic Midrash | Rainer Waldman Adkins | Kadima Reconstructionist Community, Program Director | ||||
| The Divine Song: Jewish Music in Our Time | Wendy Marcus | Temple Beth Am, Music Director/Drash Editor | ||||
| Discovering Sh'ma, an Interactive Exploration for Parents and Children | Shoshi Bilavsky & Jessica Smith | Seattle Jewish Community Schoo, Head of School & Teacher | ||||
| G'milut Hassidim Adin Steinsaltz: Relationship of Mishnah and Torah | Pablo Stanfield | Congregation Eitz Or | ||||
| Song and Story Time for Children 5 and Under and Their Caregivers | Jeff Stombaugh | Seattle Jewish Community School, Teacher |
God: An Evolution. The Idea of God in Talmudic Times Compared to Modern Times
Does God evolve or does God remain eternally the same? What about our idea, our understanding of God? If God remained eternally the same then it would make sense that how we understood God 2000 years ago in Talmudic times, would still be unchanged in our days. Theology, however, does not appear to be a fixed, unmoved, field of study; and theologians, in different eras, have offered many different theories.
Join Rabbi Olivier to consider the theology that our Talmudic ancestors might have held in their days and compare it to our understanding of God today.
We'll study a section of Talmud (Berachot, Chapter 4) that begins with the status of prayer (whether it's obligatory or optional) and then describes a popular revolution against the communal leadership, the opening up of participation in the debates, the reformation and reinstatement of the now chastened leader and a discussion of the value of not following the rules!
Spirituality: A Positive Impact on Aging
Donald Armstrong, JFS Director of Home Care and Community Based Services, will define spirituality and what it means within the context of aging. He will discuss the impact of spirituality on our emotional well being, our physical health and our life expectancy. He will offer ideas to help maximize the "Second Half" of our lives.
The Power of Symbols in Jewish Life
Question: What is the oldest symbol for the Jewish people? Wrong Answer: the Star of David. Burning bushes, ladders, the Evil Eye, cherubim, eggs, snakes and much more... The Torah and Jewish holidays are filled with symbols. Why are symbols such a big deal for Jews, anyway? Learn the answers, discuss how symbols function culturally, spiritually and aesthetically, enrich your symbolic vocabulary, and be inspired to bring more creativity into your Jewish practice.
Making a Mensch: 21st Century Parenting with Timeless Jewish Wisdom
How do parents today raise their children in "Torah, Prayer and Acts of Kindness?" How do these pillars of our tradition fit with cutting edge research on child development and parenting? Jewish values fit beautifully with the needs of today's parents and children-and correspond to significant findings in the social sciences. Join us in considering how to integrate values and practices into your family's daily life thatthat enhance your child's humanity and make them "a true mensch."
Discovering Sh'ma, an Interactive Exploration for Parents and Children
If there is one phrase we know as Jewish people, it is probably “Sh’ma Yisrael – Hear O’Israel.” Some of us even recite it nightly with our children as part of a bedtime ritual. What is behind this most famous and central of Jewish prayers? What potential does Sh’ma have to shape our relationship with God? What impact can it have on individual identity? This interactive exploration of Sh’ma is designed for families to explore the prayer with one another. What potential can parents and children unlock together to connect the omni-God of Sh’ma with a personal experience of the Divine?
This session is for families with children in 1st - 6th grades, and is for adults and children to study together.
Song and Story Time for Children 5 and Under and Their Caregivers
Geared for young children (through kindergarten) and their parents, Jeff will tell stories and sing songs with his guitar in this Jewish-themed story-time. Each interactive performance will be approximately 30 minutes.
What's With All The Ritual: A Kaballistic Understanding of How Mitzvot Affect Us and The World
Using the framework developed by the Ramchal (Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzatto), we'll re-vision the commandments and the ritual. Rather than arbitrary actions meant to create uniformity and to consolidate power, we'll examine how the system in general, and several mitzvot in particular, help us build channels of energy and communication between ourselves and the Divine. Rather than rules and regulations, they're more like the routing guides we get with Google Maps!
Torah From the Eyes: Deepen Your Understanding of Torah Using Artistic Midrash
Visual art is a powerful and relevant tool for understanding Torah, enabling a deeper relationship to inspiring and provocative text. Focusing on the Akeda, the Binding of Isaac, close reading of selected Torah text, rabbinic and non-traditional interpretations will be expanded through our ‘midrashic’ and artistic critique of historically and culturally diverse art inspired by text - from ancient to modern Israel, from Rembrandt to Chagall to modern Israeli artists.
The Divine Song: Jewish Music in Our Time
Songs of faith, yearning and love – American Jewish music obediently followed European Jewish composers until the 1960s and 1970s, when contemporary Jewish musicians came to realize there was, and still is, much inspiration between tradition and innovation. Examples, song sheets and a few sing-alongs included in the presentation.
G'milut Hassidim Adin Steinsaltz: Relationship of Mishnah and Torah
We will consider the model Reb Adin has given us and connection between our two primary guidebooks.