Rabbi Aaron S. Gold Institute of Adult Jewish Studies

Class Schedule 2011/2012

New Spring Class:

We are now offering Café Kavanah – Studies in Zohar in April and May. Click here to learn more about this class and its instructor, Rabbi Sheryl Nosan-Blank.

Previous offerings this year included:

Are you Jewish or Jew-ish?

This will be a series of workshops focused on the burning issues of Jewish identity. These forums will include background material, the personal stories of community members, and ample opportunity for freewheeling and open discussion. Click here to learn more about these engaging opportunities.

Mini-Course: War and National Security

Is there such a thing as a “just war?” Is “all fair in love and war,” or are there limits to appropriate behavior by countries and their armed forces? What constitutes torture and is it ever justified? Our primary text for this class will be “Jewish Choices, Jewish Voices – War and National Security” by Elliot Dorff and Danya Ruttenberg. We will compare Judaism’s stance on critical issues compared to those of the United States, Israel, and other nations.

Instructor:  Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal.

Basic Judaism (offered yearly)

This course explains Jewish concepts, values, and rituals. It provides a good review of subjects learned in Torah School on an adult level, and is a required course for conversion to Judaism.

Instructor:  Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal.

Advanced Talmud Seminar

Are you interested in studying the Talmud in the original Hebrew/Aramaic? A small chevruta (study group) will be available to a limited number of participants. No previous experience is necessary, but Hebrew reading ability is a prerequisite. The days and times of the chevruta will be set in accordance with the needs of the participants. For more information, please call (619) 697-6001 or email Rabbi Rosenthal.

Hebrew

You are welcome to join whatever part of the Hebrew sequence fits your needs! The instructor for all our Hebrew classes is Zev bar-Lev, professor of linguistics at SDSU, and founder/director of the Language Bazaar.

Hebrew Mini-Course 1: Aleph-Bet Crash Course for Scaredy-Cats

This course will be especially welcoming, to attract and keep as many “scaredy-cats” as possible, with plenty of review, and a nice easy pace.  You’ll use fun associations like the “Pirate with a Pin” to learn the 22 letters. (And you’ll learn a few useful words, too.)

Hebrew Mini-Course 2: Intermediate Hebrew

This course is designed for students who know the alphabet and want to improve their reading and comprehension skills. Our primary text will be the Siddur  (Hebrew Prayer Book) which will make your participation at services easier and clearer.

After two years of Russian, you may still struggle to read literary classics, but as you will see in Intermediate Hebrew, Jewish texts can be studied and interpreted in interesting ways almost from the very beginning of study.