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Proudly presents the 58th Annual Adult Institute of Jewish Studies

October 17, 24, 31, and
November 7, 2006
Tuesday evenings, 7:30-9:15 p.m.
Chizuk Amuno Congregation, 8100 Stevenson Road, Pikesville

Made possible by a generous grant from Sol Levinson and Bros.

 

The Adult Institute of Jewish Studies is unique in the U.S. because it brings together
Jewish adults spanning the spectrum of communal life, young and old, to study with some
of the best rabbinic minds in Baltimore. The rabbis represent the major streams of
American Jewish life, and are committed to promoting klal yisrael, the integrity and cohesiveness of Jewish Baltimore.

Session One: 7:30-8:15 p.m. I Session Two: 8:30-9:15 p.m. I Register Now

Session One: 7:30-8:15 p.m.
#1 Ghosts of the Past That Inhabit Our Present
Rabbi Alan Yuter, B’nai Israel Congregation
Travel back in time and survey the world of the Ancient Near East — Sumer, Babylon, Egypt and Israel. This course will examine their religious and cultural ideas, some of which endure to this day, and some of which have been forgotten. Most notably, students will discover how the spirit of that ancient era resonates throughout the Hebrew Scriptures.
#2 A Time For Every Purpose Under Heaven
Rabbi Bradd Boxman, Har Sinai Congregation; Rabbi Batsheva Meiri,
Temple Emanuel
Kohelet (a.k.a. Ecclesiastes) was a renegade thinker within the Biblical canon. For nearly 2,500 years, his provocative style has offered both Jews and non-Jews spiritual insights for living a meaningful life. Aided by such classical commentaries as Rashi, Ibn Ezra and Maimonides, we will explore this literary masterpiece to understand better Kohelet’s theology and what Ecclesiastes uniquely contributes to the Tanach.
#3 Probing the 23rd Psalm in the 21st Century
Rabbi Elan Adler, Moses Montefiore Congregation
Millions of people recite this ancient poem daily. Its opening words, “The Lord is my Shepherd…” uses such images as “green pastures,” “still waters,” and “rod and staff ” that are not part of our everyday experiences any longer. This course asks the question: Can King David’s literary gem be updated for readers of this millennium?
#4 The Book of Jonah—More Than Just a Fishy Story
Rabbi Michael Meyerstein, Baltimore Board of Rabbis, Adat Chaim Congregation
This course poses some of humankind’s eternal questions prompted by that age-old story of Jonah and the whale: Can “human nature” be changed? Why do some people believe in G-d after having critical experiences? Are there circumstances when one ought to deny his or her identity as a Jew? What could Heschel have meant when he asserted that “G-d is in search
of man?”
#5 Questions and Answers To Modern Medical Dilemmas
Rabbi Gavriel Newman, Beth Jacob Congregation
This course examines the difficult questions of medical ethics from a Jewish perspective. The course will track the legal process from the Bible through modern responsa in medical ethics. We will try to define the commencement of life, moment of death and the matters between them.
#6 The Best of Times, The Worst of Times: A History of German Jewry
Rabbi Steve Fink, Temple Oheb Shalom
Turning to art, music and text, this course will examine the history and culture of German Jewry from its origin to contemporary times. Special attention will be paid to the modern period and the understanding of how and why this successful community of writers, scientists, thinkers, activists and businesspeople came to be perceived as a deadly
threat to Germany’s national integrity.
#7 Telling the Tale of our Lives Through Midrash
Rabbi Rex Perlmeter, Baltimore Hebrew Congregation
Midrash signifies study and interpretation as it seeks to explain Biblical texts from both ethical and spiritual points of view. But midrash is much more. Its pithy maxims and stories offer insightful teachings and values. Our survey will generate considerable discussion about the universality of the human experience. We may discover that the more things change, the more they stay the same!
#8 Sacred Words: Sources and Sentiments
Rabbi Steve Schwartz, Beth El Congregation
How did prayer originate in Judaism? What were the earliest prayers uttered by our
ancestors? We’ll journey back in time to answer these questions about the origins and evolution of Jewish prayer. Our inquiry will give us a deeper sense of the power of prayer in our tradition and an understanding of its form, function, and connection to our faith.
# 9 Understanding Christianity Through Jewish Eyes
Rabbi Ariel Walsh, Sinai Hospital
As an off-shoot of Judaism, Christianity resonates with nuances of Jewish influence, and
understandably so. Just what are those teachings and practices that reflect Jewish thinking? How can we look dispassionately at Christianity to understand its origins, and subsequent development? By examining relevant texts, we’ll gain some insights into the events that gave rise to early Christianity’s split from Judaism.
#10 Judaism’s View of Psychology: Religious Conflict or Support?
Rabbi Dr. Tsvi Schur, Jewish Family Services
Is religion an obsessive neurosis? We’ll answer that question in the first two sessions by
looking at a fictional clinical case with a few commentaries. What we’ll discover is a
fascinating connection between religion and mental heath. In the last two sessions we’ll
probe Judaism’s take on extra-terrestrial life. We’ll also explore immortality and the soul, and “meeting the real you”!
#11 Hebrew Reading For Beginners
Mrs. Ellen Marks
Don’t quite remember your alef-bet? This is the class for you. If you are not sure, then
come to the first class, and your teacher will help you decide.

 

Session Two: 8:30-9:15 p.m.
#12 Is THIS My Judaism?
Rabbi Chaim Landau, Ner Tamid Congregation
This series of talks on interpersonal relationships will provoke, intrigue, and get you
thinking about the everyday issues we confront in our private and professional lives including:
1) Who dies so that someone else may live?
2) When it's a mitzvah to lie!
3) Acceptable cheating practices in business dealings
4) Honoring parents: what's the big deal?
#13 This Millennium’s Hottest Issues
Rabbi Amy Scheinerman, Beth Shalom Congregation, Carroll County
What do you think? Should we condone physician-assisted suicides? Can Jewish Sumptuary Laws contain public displays of ostentatiousness? Are prisoners suspected of terrorism entitled to humane treatment? Is bankruptcy ‘kosher’? What are Judaism’s insights into stem cell research and cloning? The values and methodology of our halakhic tradition offer insights to these hot-button issues confronting modern science, ethics, and philosophy.
#14 Pirke Avot (Ethics of the Sages): Dead or Alive?
Rabbi Gila Ruskin, St. Francis Academy
Some might argue that Pirke Avot, the Ethics of the Sages, is merely a tractate that subtly
established the authority of the Pharisees after the destruction of the Temple. Others maintain
Pirke Avot is an enduring volume of universal wisdom and truth whose kernels hold the secret
to the survival of civilization. You be the judge as we unlock these teachings together.
#15 Shema Yisrael: The Essence of Jewish Faith and Purpose
Rabbi Ron Shulman, Rabbi Deborah Wechsler, Rabbi Stuart Seltzer and
Rabbi Paul Schneider, Chizuk Amuno Congregation
What makes the Shema our prayerbook’s core statement of Jewish belief? What are its
theological insights and ethical purposes? What are its practical and halakhic implications
for Jewish observance? Are there family and educational applications? What are its implications for our children and grandchildren? Finally, we’ll look at stories and moral lessons that illustrate this prayer’s centrality to Jewish identity and belief.
#16 If It’s Good Enough For Madonna…Discovering Kabbalah
Mr. Jay McCrensky, Baltimore Hebrew University
Get turned on to Kabbalah just like Madonna! Peek into the spiritual and mystical world of the
Kabbalah, especially its historical origins, basic concepts, its ‘fall’ from mainstream Judaism,
and contemporary developments. As we develop a deeper personal identification with Judaism by understanding Kabbalistic concepts, we’ll uncover the Kabbalistic interpretation of prayer,
Shabbat, Jewish holidays, rituals, and the Passover Seder.
#17 Bereavement, Grief, and Mourning Practices in Judaism
Rabbi Mitchell Ackerson, Sinai Hospital; Mr. Robert Grossman,
Sol Levinson & Bros., Inc.
The psychic trauma of losing a loved one is an inevitable part of the human experience.
We will examine historically how Jews responded emotionally and spiritually to death and dying. What are the psycho-social issues common to this life-cycle experience? What rituals can assuage the pain of losing a loved one? We will also consider some case studies and find alternative responses.
#18 Transforming Doubt Into Certainty
Rabbi Joshua Neely, Beth Israel Congregation
Among other things, the Talmud holds the keys to understanding the unknown. Do we rely on
authority, and, if so, whose? If we try and reason things out for ourselves, can we rely on our solutions? Through the lens of selected Talmudic passages, we will learn ways both to remove doubt and live with doubt as a cornerstone of our faith.
#19 “Out of the Depths Have I Cried Unto You”
Rabbi Elissa Sachs-Kohen, Baltimore Hebrew Congregation
Ten Psalms, written nearly 3,000 years ago and designated by R’ Nachman of Bratslav
as “healing Psalms,” have enabled humankind to cope with the “troubled waters” of life. Exploring them in detail by using traditional and modern commentaries, we’ll seek to understand how the magical, calming power of these poems can lead to a richer spiritual experience of our world.
#20 Gone But Never To Be Forgotten: The Cultural Legacy of the Shoah
Rabbi Mark Loeb, Beth El Congregation
The Holocaust destroyed millions of lives and a 1000-year culture at its apogee of intellectual,
spiritual, scientific and artistic greatness. We will probe the incredible genius of our people’s culture, including the intellectual legacy of scientists and humanistic scholars, and the artistic legacy in film, theatre, music, and painting. We will also discuss the lives of those who perished during the war, and those who escaped.
#21 The Talmud as Storyteller, Par Excellence
Rabbi Avram Israel Reisner, Chevrei Tzedek Congregation
The Talmud is much more than a repository of 2000-year old legislation. Embedded within its
complex legal analysis and argumentation you will find an occasional story, some historic in
nature, some personal, some practical, and some far-fetched. As we look at examples of these marvelous Talmudic stories and dig a little deeper, we’ll see just how they illuminate some fascinating themes.
#22 Reading Hebrew in the Prayerbook
Mrs. Frances Richman
This course is for students who want to polish up their reading skills, re-familiarize themselves
with prayers once learned, or practice reading some new ones.

REGISTER NOW!

To register online, click here. To download a registration form, click here.