Creating Jewish Traditions for Young Children

Whether you are just starting out as a new parent or already have young children and want to learn how to raise joyful children within the rich traditions of Judaism, this class is for you. With hands-on activities and opportunities to form connections with other families, you will leave this class with tangible ways to create personalized Jewish rituals, celebrations and traditions for your family.

The History of Torah Tradition: Breaking Down the History and Developments of Judaism’s Laws and Customs

Have you ever read the Torah and wondered how Judaism today originated from there? Where in the Torah does it say to wear a kippah or the process of keeping kosher? Where did it all come from, and how did we get to the traditions and rules of today? Meet the heroes of our history who have shaped our heritage and practice. From Moses to Hillel and Miamonodies to Rabbi Iserelis, we will explore the core of Torah law from its beginnings until the modern day.

The Israeli Intelligence: Between Failure and Success

This course will provide an in-depth exploration of the Israeli intelligence community, covering its core functions, capabilities, successes and shortcomings. The course will place special emphasis on two critical moments of reckoning in Israel’s history: the Yom Kippur War of 1973 and the Hamas attack of October 7, 2023. Through these case studies, we will analyze how failures in understanding the enemy’s intentions led to Israel’s most devastating crises. Students will gain a deeper understanding of how such failures occur and consider how intelligence agencies may improve their assessments.

Joshua Leifer’s “Tablets Shattered” – A Bookclub Discussion about Our Jewish Future

We will use Joshua Leifer’s new book Tablets Shattered as a prism for assessing our Jewish community’s past and envisioning its future. Students must purchase Leifer’s book and read the first third prior to the first class session. 

These are the Days of Our Lives: Exploring the Jewish Calendar

We will examine the intricate structure of the Jewish calendar, its origins in Jewish texts and its development throughout the centuries.

Egypt and Israel in the Biblical World

We will examine the influence in the Bible of Israel’s and Judah’s southern neighbor, the ancient and illustrious civilization of Egypt. We will consider the biblical stories of Israelite origins in Egypt, including Moses and the Exodus; several key episodes of Egyptian military intervention in the Levant and the reactions of biblical prophets like Isaiah and Jeremiah; and the influence of Egyptian intellectuals on the creation of the Bible.