Hod veHadar Adult Education
Program for 2018-19
English classes
Keva & Kavanna: Text & Meaning in Prayer
The routine saying of blessings sometimes misses the mark of truly expressing gratitude. This series will help us understand the blessings better, and hopefully make them more meaningful in our lives.
Tuesdays at 19:30, in the Library.
9 April: Wine at the Seder: How many cups and how many blessings?
30 April: Blessings to start the day
14 May: Identity blessings
28 May: Blessings for Torah
Instructor: Shoshana Michael Zucker
Language: English
Weekly Torah Portion
Friday mornings at 9:30 (note new time) in the library. The weekly Torah portion from varied perspectives, with observations about how it relates to today’s world. The sessions are led by instructors from the community.
Coordinators: Stephen Kramer and Barbara Schwartz
Language: English
Tazria – 5 April: Baruch Krauss
Metzora – 12 April: Naomi Leitner
Passover recess: 19 and 26 April
Kedoshim – 3 May: Lee Diamond
Emor – 10 May: Mark Okrent
Behar – 17 May: Shoshana Michael Zucker
Bechukotai – 24 May: David Zisenwine
Bamidbar – 31 May: Baruch Krauss
Hebrew classes
Talmud
Sundays, at 19:45, in the classroom downstairs.
We are studying Tractate Berachot, chapter 9, closely reading the text, incorporating classic learning with modern thinking and research. The course also focuses on the relevance of the text to today’s world. The sessions are open to both men and women alike. Please check the Events page to confirm dates.
Instructor: Rabbi Lionel Levy
Language: Hebrew
Halakhic Determination of Jewish Identity
At 20:00 Wednesday, 3 April; Monday, 29 April;
Wednesdays 29 May and 19 June
plus a special class on Shavuot night, 8 June
Download sources here.
Instructor: Rabbi Tzvi Graetz
Language: Hebrew
Admission: Members: Free; Guests: NIS 30 or 4 classes for NIS 100 (no charge for Shavuot)
Halakhic Challenges in the 21st Century
Video recordings of these Hebrew lectures can be viewed on YouTube by clicking here.
- Introduction: What is Jewish law? + The question of providing supervision for restaurants that are open on Shabbat.
- Tattoos and earrings: What is permitted and what is forbidden according to Jewish law?
- Entering mosques and churches: the position of halakhah
- Status of Women in halakha (partition between genders during services, women’s service in the IDF, leading prayer services)
- Fasting Tisha B’Av in our day: how should we relate to the fast now that Jerusalem is in our hands again?
- Separation between Jews and non-Jews in burial
- Wearing a kippah – a halakhic obligation or custom?