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PROGRAM 2008 -2009 - ACADEMIC YEAR 5769

Registration: Each class listed below meets for 8 weeks from 7:45 to 8:45 on consecutive Monday evenings from November 3 through December 22 at North Shore Synagogue. Register for one course only. You may use the form to register by mail or you can register in person on October 27th or November 3rd (between 7:30 p.m. and 8:45 p.m.)
Course # 1 • JUDAISM AT THE MOVIES – ALL NEW! NEVER BEFORE SCREENED!
Instructor: Rabbi Raphael Adler, Woodbury Jewish Center
Explore the culture…the celebrations…the lifecycle moments… selected from the Silver Screen and Television with clips capturing the Jewish People in every imaginable situation and then some!

Nov 3: A Picture’s Worth a Thousand Words – the Jewish movie and television experience: Introducing the incredible world of stereotypes, laughter and tears
Nov. 10: Blacks and Jews: Friction and friendship ripped from the headlines and caught on screen
Nov 17: The Oldest Illness: Anti-Semitism uncovered on film – the more things change the more they remain the same
Nov 24: But He Was Good to His Mother – The Jewish Underworld Exposed: Hebrew criminals and Jewish cops, who would have believed?
Dec. 1: The Land of Milk And Honey: Israel on film from Independence to Intifada
Dec. 8: Judeos and Juiffs: The Mexican, Argentinean and French Jewish Cinematic Kaleidoscope
Dec 15: From across the Pond – British Jews on Screen: Movies with an English Yiddish accent
Dec 22: Mystical Movies – Kabala Meets Hollywood: Jewish magic and mysticism at the movies

Course # 2 • PIRKE AVOT: ETHICS OF OUR FATHERS
Instructor: Rabbi Marvin Demant, Oyster Bay Jewish Center

Course # 3 • BIRTH OF A NATION: A JOURNEY OF DISCOVERY IN SEFER SHEMOT (BOOK OF EXODUS)
Instructor: Rabbi Reuven Mann, Rinat Yisrael
The Jewish People is unique among the nations. What is it that makes us so special? How did this nation come into being? Why were they enslaved? Did they acquire a slave mentality? What does it mean to be a chosen people? How are we to relate to other peoples? These and many other questions are germane to understanding Jewish identity on the personal and national levels. The Book of Exodus contains fascinating episodes about the characters and events which transformed a family of seventy souls into a people who witnessed the Revelation on Mt. Sinai.

In our voyage of discovery we will study the major personalities and happenings in Sefer Shemot. Our in-depth study of the text and classical commentators will shed new light on matters of enduring consequence to the survival of Judaism and the Jewish people.The topics below are just a sampling – other topics will be added as we move along. Parallels between Biblical events and contemporary life will be emphasized.

• “A new king arose in Egypt who did not know Joseph”: How friendship was transformed into hatred (again and again and again).
• In the merit of righteous women: The story of the midwives and other unsung heroines.
• Betrayal from within: The miraculous birth of Moses, his heroic deeds and his betrayal at the hands of his brethren.
• The encounter between Moses and Pharaoh: Why did it take ten plagues to release the Jews? Was Moses too soft on Pharaoh? Are Jews too easy on their enemies?
• “They will not leave empty handed.” Were the Jews guilty of deception in “borrowing” clothing and jewelry from their Egyptian acquaintances? Why was there such a focus on
materialism when the real goal was spiritual freedom?
• “Are there not enough graves in Egypt?” What caused the Jews to have a meltdown? What was unique about the splitting of the Red Sea? Why is G-d extolled as a “Man of War”?

Course # 4 • EVERYTHING YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT HALACHA, BUT WERE TOO SCARED TO ASK
Instructor: Rabbi Marvin Richardson, Jericho Jewish Center
Topics: Kashrut, Shabbat, Passover, Conversion

Course # 5 • THE MARVELOUS MAGIC OF MIDRASH
Instructor: Rabbi Rafi Rank, Midway Jewish Center
Midrash is from a Hebrew root word meaning “search,” and it is a form of rabbinic literature which focuses on the “search” for ultimate truth in our daily lives. Can’t figure out the meaning of life? Read some midrash and you’ll move a little closer to an answer (or perhaps – the answers!). As the rabbis pored through the biblical literature and pondered the fundamentals of Jewish life, they created stories which either illustrated why we do what we do or why we should be doing something else. The midrashic world can be fantastic, incredible, and wild, which is the reason why it is so thoroughly enjoyable. Subjects such as the world to come, the reasons for suffering, the nature of sacredness, the benefits of charity, the mystery of commandments, will all figure prominently into this course. We will explore Midrash in its various forms and ponder our own complicated lives in modernity as filtered through the lens of the rabbis’ midrashic
minds. Some knowledge of Hebrew would be helpful, but is not necessary, and there is no required textbook for the class.

Course # 6 • CONVERSATIONAL HEBREW
Instructor: Rabbi Yacob Gil, Hebrew Academy of Nassau County
Requirements are a familiarity with very basic Hebrew vocabulary, an ability to read Hebrew, and a desire to formulate and express ideas in this beautiful language.

Course # 7 • BEGINNERS HEBREW
Instructor: Cila Klingher, Solomon Schechter Day School of Nassau County
Come learn how to read Hebrew the Sephardic way along with its vocabulary words which will help you pray with Kavannah (sincerity). At the end of the course you will feel comfortable at any daily and Shabbat services held throughout the world and in your very own community. *Required Text: Men’s Club Shalom Aleichem (available for purchase through the IAJS)

Course # 8 • ISRAELI FOLK DANCING
Instructor: Ellie Tepper
Ellie Tepper teaches Israeli dancing at the Suffolk JCC and at Stony Brook University. She attends weekly sessions, camps and weekends to enjoy and enhance her knowledge of new and older dances.