Congregation Beth Shalom

Spring, 2012 Classes

Introduction to Kabbalah & Jewish Mysticism

This class will meet for six successive Wednesday evenings at 6:00 p.m., beginning March 21. Many of us grew up thinking of Judaism in all sorts of ways, but few of us understood at its core, Judaism contains a deeply spiritual path that is found in the Jewish mystical tradition, called kabbalah. Kabbalah contains many overlaps with Buddhism and native American traditions, but is more extensive in some ways. In this class, we will learn both through the head and the heart, examining some texts, but also doing some kabbalistic practices. The goal is to begin thinking about G!d and our relationship with the Oneness in the universe in a whole new way.

Here are comments from a couple of last year’s participants:

“I was kind of intimidated to go to class at first because I thought I would have to know a lot about Judaism. But the way Rabbi Ed teaches and engages everyone is so warm and accessible. It’s more like an interesting discussion about complex ideas in a way that is relevant to everyone. I learned so much and left every class with a deeper connection to my self, my heritage, my community and the universe. It’s very grounding. We are blessed to have these opportunities here in Bozeman.” — Surale

“I might need to take the class again. .. After taking the class, I became more keenly aware of a larger Mystery and I felt gratefully tiny.” — Ellen

“I learned that the paths of the Tree inform the whole of the Jewish calender, that all of our holidays are reflected in the qualities of the Tree. Rabbi Ed rekindled my excitement for our faith.” — Shelly

“Kabbalah or Jewish spiritual mysticism is no longer a hidden mystery. That which is within us, the yearning to know our G!D and come into a deeper relationship is real. Through Rabbi Ed’s class, I have taken a few baby steps with the hopes to run and leap spiritually” — Barb

Pirkei Avot: Sayings (Ethics)  of the Fathers

Pirkei Avot — the 2000+ year old collection of core ethical statements of Judaism —  is traditionally studied in the Spring and summer, from Passover to Rosh Hashanah. We will study these fabulous short sayings, and discuss how they resonate in our lives, on six Tuesday evenings at 6:00 p.m., beginning on March 20.

The main topics of these ancient rabbinic sayings are how we show kindness to others, respect others, ourselves, and G!d, how we seek peace, become humble, use our speech, judge others, and much more. This famous Jewish text contains many of the most frequently-quoted rabbinic sayings, such as “If I am not for myself, who will be for me? And when I am for myself, what am ‘I’? And if not now, when?” Another famous saying from Pirkei Avot: “It is not incumbent upon you to complete the work, but neither are you at liberty to desist from it.” And ”The day is short, the labor vast, the toilers idle, the reward great, and the Master of the house is insistent.”

With this class, you will learn the ethical backbone of Judaism and become conversant in its most important principles.  We will use the following texts: Pirke Avot: A Modern Commentary on Jewish Ethics, by Leonard Kravitz and Kerry M. Olitzky: http://www.amazon.com/Pirke-Avot-Modern-Commentary-Jewish/dp/0807404802/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1331098417&sr=8-3, and Ethics of the Sages: Pirke Avot–Annotated and Explained, by Rabbi Rami Shapiro: http://www.amazon.com/Ethics-Sages-Avot–Annotated-Explained-Illuminations/dp/1594732078/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1331098417&sr=8-5

Biblical Hebrew for Beginners

Thursday mornings 8:30-10am

This class is for both people who have no background as well as for those who have taken one or more classes. The first half of the class (8:30-9:15) will be aimed at those with no prior experience, while the second half (9:15-10:00) will be aimed at those who have a little background. Both groups are invited to stay for the entire class. Please purchase The First Hebrew Primer, 3rd Edition: www.amazon.com/dp/0939144158. You may wish to also purchase the associated answer key, as well as the Brown, Driver, Briggs dictionary.

Zohar Reading Group

Friday mornings, 10-11:30am

The Zohar is the primary text of Jewish mysticism, written in the 12th century. We are slowly winding our way through it, as we learn these deep teachings about the nature of G!d and the world. Although this class began last semester, we are still in the Introduction and the book in non-linear, so it is easy to jump in. Please purchase The Zohar, Pritzker Edition, Vol. 1, by Daniel Matt: www.amazon.com/dp/0804747474. A good intro for beginners is Art Green’s A Guide to the Zohar: www.amazon.com/dp/0804749086.

Weekly Torah Study

Most Saturday mornings 9:30-11am

Our weekly Torah study explores the weekly portion from the Hebrew Bible with the aid of ancient and modern commentators. There is most always a lively and interesting discussion. No prior experience is needed to join in. Coffee, bagels, and other goodies are served.

Interfaith Forum

First Wednesdays of each month, 11:30am-12:30pm Oct-May

Each month our panelists, Fath Leo Proxell, Reverend Jody McDevitt, Dr. Ruhul Amin, Rabbi Ed Stafman, and occasional guest panelists explain how their respective faith traditions view a particular issue. Following brief presentations, there is an opportunity for questions, answers and discussions.
View a PDF schedule of the 2011-2012 panel topics here.

Spring 2011

“Rumi the Poet (as a Jewish mystic) and Seeing Jewish prayer through Rumi’s Eyes”

Each of five sessions will deeply explore some of the writings of Rumi the Sufi poet and see how it ties in with analogous Jewish mystical concepts, as expressed in Jewish prayer. For the seeker and those interested in the intersection of religious traditions, this is the course for you! Mondays, beginning April 4 through May 9 (passing over Passover on April 18).

WEDNESDAY WINTER SEMINARS

Beth Shalom’s Winter adult education program featured Wednesday seminars, from 6:00-7:30pm. The topics spanned the cultural, practical, and theological aspects of Judaism. Each seminar was a stand alone unit, and participants could so come to one or as many they liked.

Kabbalah — The Next Class

Thursday evenings at 6:30-7:45

After two semesters of teaching “Intro to Kabbalah,” Rabbi Ed will offer the next class to those who took the first class. For those that missed the first class, a one-session primer that will allow you to take this class. Please enroll by sending an e-mail to Rabbi Ed atbozemanrabbi@gmail.com with Kabbalah in the subject line.

Taste of Judaism: Are You Curious?

Three Monday evenings, February 21,28 & March 7, 6-8 pm

This class, which is designed by the Union of Reform Judaism and has been successfully offered nationally hundreds of times, will offer “a taste of Judaism” to those with little or no background, especially designed for interfaith couples, unaffiliated Jews, non-Jews with Jewish connections, and others wanting to explore Judaism. The three session will explore Jewish Community, Spirituality, and Ethics. Official enrollment has not yet begun, but you may pre-enroll by e-mailing the class coordinator attasteofjudaismbozemangmail.com.

Study of Maimonides’ Guide for the Perplexed

Thursdays twice a month at noon — see calendar for dates
Class is Ongoing, But May be Joined at Any Time

Are you perplexed? If so, you’re not alone. For the first time in Bozeman, this is an opportunity to learn together from Rambam’s Guide of the Perplexed, one of the most important philosophical texts within all of Judaism, authored in the late 12th century, but amazingly relevant today. This is a brown bag lunch class, meaning you are invited to bring your lunch. The class meets on two Thursdays per month at noon for one hour, depending on the availability of those enrolled. We read about a chapter a session (about 5 pages) and discuss. To enroll, please send an e-mail to Rabbi Ed at bozemanrabbi@gmail.com with “Rambam course” in the subject line, containing your name and phone number.

Introduction to Biblical Hebrew

Wednesday mornings at 9:00 am

Have you ever wanted to learn to read and understand simple Biblical (and prayerbook) Hebrew? You can do it. This class meets once per week. If you are interested, please e-mail Rabbi Ed at bozemanrabbi@gmail.com, place “Hebrew” in the subject line, and include your name and phone number.

Adult Bar/Bat Mitzvah
Times and dates to be announced.

Perhaps you did not have a bat mitzvah because you are a woman who grew up in a time when women did not have this opportunity or you grew up in the Orthodox world where women still are not permitted to read from the Torah, lead a service, or have their voices heard in public? Or perhaps you grew up in an environment where bar/bat mitzvah was not considered important? Or perhaps you are a Jew by Choice ready to take the next step and become bar/bat mitzvah? Or maybe you had a bar/bat mitzvah at a time where it lacked meaning for you and you want to do it again, maybe on the anniversary of the first time? Whatever the reason, now is your chance. We will do some Jewish learning together which will culminate in a bar/bat mitzvah for each of the participants.

Fall 2010 classes

Parting of the Ways: The First Century Split Of Judaism & Christianity

This class was taught be Rabbi Ed and offered through Wonderlust. The early first century was a time of religious upheaval in which we find many varieties of Jewish communities. One such movement was Jesus’ movement; another was Rabbinic Judaism. Both religions were birthed out of this turmoil. The two religions struggled with one another. Eventually, the ways parted and the result was modern Judaism and Christianity. We’ll use an historical/sociological approach to explore these religions and their parting.

Introduction to Kabbalah & Jewish Mysticism

This class consists of six successive 1-1/2 hour sessions. Many of us grew up thinking of Judaism in all sorts of ways, but few of us understood at its core, Judaism contains a deeply spiritual path that is found in the Jewish mystical tradition, called kabbalah. Kabbalah contains many overlaps with Buddhism and native American traditions, but is more extensive in some ways. In this class, we will learn both through the head and the heart, examining some texts, but also doing some kabbalistic practices. The goal is to begin thinking about G!d and our relationship with the Oneness in the universe in a whole new way.

Here are comments from a couple of last year’s participants:

I was kind of intimidated to go to class at first because I thought I would have to know a lot about Judaism. But the way Rabbi Ed teaches and engages everyone is so warm and accessible. It’s more like an interesting discussion about complex ideas in a way that is relevant to everyone. I learned so much and left every class with a deeper connection to my self, my heritage, my community and the universe. It’s very grounding. We are blessed to have these opportunities here in Bozeman. — Surale

I might need to take the class again. .. After taking the class, I became more keenly aware of a larger Mystery and I felt gratefully tiny. — Ellen

I learned that the paths of the Tree inform the whole of the Jewish calender, that all of our holidays are reflected in the qualities of the Tree. Rabbi Ed rekindled my excitement for our faith. — Shelly

Kabbalah or Jewish spiritual mysticism is no longer a hidden mystery. That which is within us, the yearning to know our G!D and come into a deeper relationship is real. Through Rabbi Ed’s class, I have taken a few baby steps with the hopes to run and leap spiritually — Barb

Spring 2010 classes

Jewish Eldering

Co-Taught by Dr. Kathryn Borgenicht & Rabbi Ed

This six session weekly offering is designed for the elders among us (and those who will soon be elders) who are willing to explore issues of aging and eldering in their lives. While in much of modern culture, aging is a negative to be avoided, in the Jewish and some other traditions, the elder is revered for his/her wisdom.We will discuss the medical, ethical, and spiritual issues that one faces in the November and December years of our lives. How do we harvest all that we have experienced and learned during a life time and pass it on to those we love? How do we make the most of those years? What work is there to do that must be addressed in the time remaining? As Jews and some other traditions have done for millenia, we will each learn to write, and actually write, our own ethical will, a document designed to pass on our cherished values, hopes, and aspirations to those we love.

Dr. Borgenicht is a member of our congregation and also a geritrician and head of Palliative Care at Bozeman-Deaconess Hospital.
Meeting times TBA based upon interest.

Introduction to Kabbalah

taught by Rabbi Ed

This six week class will give you an introduction to, and an overview of, kabbalah, the world of Jewish mysticism. The Orthodox tradition says that only happily married men (women prohibited!) of age 40 or older and with at least two children may study the real kabbalah, but in the progressive world, we make the real thing accessible to all. Of course, this will only be an introduction, but come learn the hidden part of Judaism. Meeting times TBA based upon interest.