Adult Education at Dorshei Emet - Fall 2012

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Deadline for Registration is Oct 4th

Re-Engaging with the State of Israel

(Mondays 7:30-9:00pm)

This class is based on The Shalom Hartman Institute’s very successful video series that targeted worldwide Jewry across the religious and political spectrum. ``The iEngage curriculum elevates the conversation about Israel by rooting it in Jewish values and ideas rather than in a response to crisis, exploring key questions such as:

• What are the benefits of Jewish sovereignty?
• How should a Jewish state exercise military power ethically?
• How can Israel create and maintain a Jewish democracy?
• What values should a Jewish state embody?
• Why should American Jews care about Israel, and what should be the nature of our relationship with the Jewish state? ``

The course is seen as especially important for the younger generation who may not have the visceral connection to Israel that the Holocaust and post-Holocaust generations instinctively feel. The course consists of 5 lectures in the fall semester and 4 lectures in the spring. Each lecture includes a video introduction and a dialogue among experts exploring the complexities of the topic (approx. 50 min). This will be followed by a discussion guided by prominent Montreal religious and academic leaders. (More information at http://www.iengage.org.il/DVD_View.asp)

Registration: $36 per semester (plus $20 for a comprehensive source guide)

Touchstones of Jewish Civilization

(Mondays 7:00-8:15pm)

Rabbi Ron’s survey course is a wonderful introduction to the basic concepts, history and practices of Jewish culture and religion. The course consists of eight classes in the fall:

1.    God, Torah and Israel: How do we understand the essential concepts of Judaism?

2.       Who Wrote the Bible and How Do We Read It Today?

3. Shabbat: How does Jewish spiritual practice differ from Buddhist meditation?
4. Kashrut and Eco-Kashrut: A spiritual-ethical diet for ourselves and our planet
5. Tzedakah: The Spirituality of Money
6. Talmud: How the Rabbis transformed the Bible into Judaism
7. Judaism and Christianity, Similarities and Differences: Life after death and the Messiah
8. The History of Hanukkah Through its Songs

The class continues in the winter but there is no obligation to commit to both semesters:

Registration: $72 members, $100 non-members per semester

Basic Hebrew

(Mondays 8:30-9:30pm) and

Intermediate Hebrew

(Mondays 7:00-8:15pm)

By popular demand, Glenda Stoller will again be leading the classes. The classes have been very effective in quickly getting even those with no knowledge of Hebrew to learn to read.

Registration: 6 classes, offered free.

Enriching our Jewish Lives

(Tuesdays 7:00-8:30 pm)

This class consists of a series of mini-courses of one to two sessions, designed to help you develop a stronger, more meaningful Jewish synagogue and home life. Based on your interests, you can choose which of the classes to attend. Below is the tentative schedule that will be confirmed through the weekly emails in the fall:

1. “Creating and Enhancing your Shabbat at Home“Oct 16. This class will provide you with simple ideas for making your family Shabbat more meaningful and special.
2. “Making Prayer Real” ,Oct 23, Oct 30, and Nov 6 by Rabbi Ron

- God Talk and God Experience

- Prayer: What are we praying for?

- Geography of the Siddur

3. “Synagogues and Their Communities“, Nov 13, A conversation with Rosanne Moss, architect for the Dorshei Emet synagogue, and Sara Ferdman Tauben, author of Traces of the Past: Montreal’s Early Synagogues. Historic synagogues of Europe and immigrant communities will form a background for presentation and discussion of the conception and construction of Dorshei Emet
4. “Put yourself in the driver's seat: Roadmap to the Shabbat Services and Prayerbook“, Explore the Shabbat prayer through the structure, meaning, and congregational tunes of our morning service., Nov 20, Nov 27, Dec 4, Cantor Heather
5. “Revisiting Spinoza and his Legacy“, Dec 11

Registration: The classes are free but you need to register with the office for those classes you plan to attend.

Time and Eternity: Jewish Heroes that Transformed the History of our People

(Tues 7:30-9:00pm)

Typically our heroes faced great challenges in their struggles to build a better future. The class will discuss their legacy as well as how they were shaped by their times. 

This celebration of our 20 th century heroes comes at a time when many in the Jewish world have forgotten
their heroism and great achievements. We will follow a seminar approach. Class members will make brief
presentations, course material will be provided for each session, and discussion will follow.
The cost of eleven (11) sessions is$18.00. The last session will be a celebration.

October 16, 2012 7:30 pm Theodore Herzl 
The patriarch of Eretz Israel. His vision, his heroic struggle, that founded the World Zionist
Movement and led to the birth of the state 44 years after his death. 

October 23, 2012 7:30 pm Chaim Weitzman
The “Joshua” who led us to the promised land and became the first president of Israel.

October 30,2012 7:30 pm Vlademir Jabotinsky
The leader of the “Revisionist Zionists”, the prophet who warned of the impending Shoa,
who helped save many Jews , and who inspired a generation of Jewish leaders.

November 6, 2012 7:30pm Franz Rosenzweig
Considered the “greatest Jewish theologian of the 20 th century”. His heroic life and achievement.

November 13, 2012 7:30pm Rabbi Leo Baeck
The heroic leader of German Jewry, who survived Theresienstadt concentration
camp and led the revival of Jewish life that culminated in the state of Israel.

November 20, 2012 7:30pm David ben Gurion
The life and leadership of Israel’s first Prime Minister

November 27, 2012 7:30pm Menachem Begin
The survivor of the “Gulag”, leader of the Irgun and Likud, prime minister of
Israel, statesman and peace maker.

December 4, 2012 7:30pm Rabbi Mordecai Kaplan
Rabbi, eminent teacher, founder of Reconstructionism, in word and deed,
a great American Jew.

December 11 ,2012 7:30pm Golda Meir
Zionist, Kibbutznik, teacher, “ the only man in my cabinet” (ben Gurion)
Fourth Prime Minister of Israel.

December 18, 2012 7:30 pm Abba Eban
Israel’s greatest spokesman, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Deputy Prime Minister,
Ambassador to the United Nations.

December 25, 2012 Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel

Rabbi, theologian, prolific author, fighter for American Civil Rights.

Shabbat Morning Study with Carmela

(Shabbat Morning, 9:00-10:00 am)

Start off your Shabbat right with Carmela’s Shabbat morning course called “David’s Story: A literary analysis of the flawed moral character of Israel’s greatest king.” Using Robert Altar’s English translation of Samuel I and II and Israeli novels on the life of King David, we will talk about David’s greatest achievements, his tragic end, and his immortal place in Jewish tradition. Six sessions beginning Oct. 20.

Registration: Free and everyone is welcome.

All classes begin the week of Oct 15th. Please call or email the office

(514-486- 9400 or info@dorshei-emet.org) to register.

Wonderful tea and coffee is included in your registration fee.

If you have any questions or suggestions please email them to the office