Module 1:
Pray It Forward: God, Gratitude, and Gathering Together
Prayer provides a means to express gratitude. Prayer can be silent. Prayer can be communal. Prayer expresses our deepest needs and appreciation.
This course follows the development of prayer, from the Tabernacle in the wilderness of Sinai, to the Temple in Jerusalem, to the Synagogue of today. The course will also explore some of the concepts behind prayer and blessings, as well as the power of meditation, as we link our past, present, and future, to the immediate and the transcendent. This is a journey of the soul — start today.
Table of Contents
Lesson 1 – On a Wing and a Prayer: Why People Pray
Lesson 2 – Minyans, Mishkan, and the Mobile Community
Lesson 3 – Breathing Berakhot into Life, and Life into Berakhot
Lesson 4 – Intention, Connection, and Introspection
Lesson 5 – Praying the Part: Special Prayers for Ordinary Days
Lesson 6 – Shal-Ohm: Mysticism, Meditation and Meaning
Module 2
Press Pause: Rest, Assured
The Jewish approach to mindfulness and self-care traces back to the roots of creation. The concept of a week comes from the Jewish marking of six days of work and one day of rest. For six days each week, we actively interact with the world. On the seventh, we reflect on our actions. We pause, rest, reflect and reboot. In this unit, we will explore Shabbat and the role of time in Judaism. Along with other prescribed Jewish practices that ask us to pause, reflect and refrain from business as usual. Together, we will reflect on the practices that allow us to start anew, week after week, and year after year.
Table of Contents
Lesson 1: Let There Be Life: The Beginning
Lesson 2: Shabbat: Much more than a Day Off
Lesson 3: R&R: A Day of Rest and Ritual
Lesson 4: A Break in the Bounty: A Year to Deepen Roots
Lesson 5: Tending to the Garden: Preserving Planet Earth
Lesson 6: Recalculating: Finding the Right Way after Taking the Wrong Turn
Module 3
Between the Lines: From Text to Life
Jewish texts have informed Jewish thought and practice for over 3,000 years. But how do we connect to words written so long ago? What do they reveal today? And how do they inspire action?
In this course, we will examine the many ways that we bring the words of our texts into our daily lives. We’ll look at the hints and clues in the letters of sacred Jewish texts: the Torah, the Prophets, the Talmud (no previous Hebrew knowledge required). We’ll exam structure and authorship. We’ll discuss the commentary of yesterday. We’ll share where we stand today. Dive into a sea of knowledge—register here
Lesson 1 – A Learned People: Connecting through Jewish Texts
Lesson 2 – Depths of Learning: The Roots of Jewish Texts
Lesson 3 – Who Wrote the Torah: Why Does It Matter?
Lesson 4 – From Text to Context: The Evolution of Jewish Practice
Lesson 5 – Open Your Hand and Your Heart: Tracing Jewish Values from Text to Life
Lesson 6 – Mussar and Middot: Ethics, Character Traits, and Being a Good Jew
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