Take a look at our recent summer programmes
Summer '08
In-Depth Tanach
A seven-week in-depth course on Deuteronomy
Dr Raphael Zarum
How do you follow a book without a story?
Why the soporific detail of animal sacrifice?
Discover the little-known underlying ideas that give structure to the central book of Torah. We will do a close reading of key texts in Vayikra and introduce a wide range of rabbinic commentaries. The literature of Tennyson and Wilde, the anthropology of Douglas, and the scholarship of Weinberg and Millgrom will enable us to make sense of this jewel of a book.
Evening and afternoon study options:
10:00am to 12:00pm and 8:00pm to 10:00
Psychology within Judaism
An eight-week course on psychological readings of traditional Jewish texts
Dr Sue Gessler and Prof Stephen Frosh
The contemporary culture in which we live has been profoundly influenced by psychological concepts and approaches. Learn how insights from this the modern science can deepen our understanding of Jewish texts and practices with leading Clinical Psychologist, Dr Sue Gessler.
Creative connections will be explored between the psychological and rabbinic readings of issues such as repentance, dreaming, the symbolism of the Mezuzah, and the biblical books of Esther, Jonah and Job. In addition, Professor Stephen Frosh will give two guest lectures on Judaism & Psychoanalysis and How Jewish was Freud?
8:00 to 9:30 pm Eight Wednesday evenings
Modern Jewish History
A seven-week course on the myth and reality of Jewish unity
Dr Charles Landau
Starting in 1700, this course will explore conflicts between the Jew and his fellow Jew in a world of modern ideas and modern antisemitism. Witness the struggle between traditional Judaism and Chasidism, Enlightenment and Reform. Follow the struggle of Emancipation and Zionism. Who was a Jew and what was Judaism, and how do the struggles of the past influence and define Jews and Judaism of today?
Seven Wednesday evenings 8:00 to 9.30pm
Torah for Everyone
The internationally acclaimed six-week Torah crash course
Maureen Kendler
Discover the fascinating structure of the entire Torah with its multiple layers, levels and themes. You will also learn a step-by-step method for giving a Torah talk. Hundreds of people have enjoyed this course in Israel , America and all over the UK . ‘The crown of Torah is for every Jew,’ said Maimonides. Let it be yours...
Afternoon option: (Mondays only)
Mondays from 1:00 to 3:00 pm
Tuesdays from 8:00pm to 10:00pm
Advanced Ulpan
A six-week course in modern conversational Hebrew for advanced students
Daphna Witztum
This course is designed for able students who can speak Hebrew but need more fluency. We will discuss issues such as the role of literature, ideas and ideals, the history of Israel, and poetry and stories from Hebrew literature. Students should already know the present and past tenses and some verbs in the future tense. We will read newspapers and articles on different topics as well as improving grammar and syntax.
Six Tuesday mornings 10:00am to 12:00pm
Hebrew Reading Crash course
The innovative five-week approach to cracking Hebrew
Jean Shindler
For the first time, LSJS is offering the acclaimed Hebrew Reading Crash Course. It is designed to teach the entire Hebrew alphabet and basic Hebrew reading skills in just five 90-minute sessions. The course is aimed at complete beginners as well as people who have not succeeded with other programmes. It has empowered and enabled thousands of adults to learn and read Hebrew successfully.
A limited number of people will be in each class in order to maximise learning.
Morning and evening study options:
10:00am to 12:00pm and 8:00 to 10:pm
British Museum Tours
Lindsey Taylor-Guthartz
Founded in 1753, the British Museum is one of the greatest museums in the world, housing countless treasures from the biblical era. But how do you find them and what is the significance of each? To complement the popular LSJS Tanach courses, we are repeating both of our successful tours of the museum. They are designed to transform your understanding of the Bible through ancient texts and unique artifacts.
Torah Tour (5 options)
Explore the surprising themes of idolatry and monotheism, writing and literacy, and kingship and power in the five books of Moses.
Nevi’im Tour (5 options)
Explore the politics of Israel’s monarchy, the Assyrian annihilation of northern kingdom and the Babylonian destruction of the southern kingdom.
Lindsey Taylor-Guthartz is an LSJS Teaching Fellow. She studied archaeology at Cambridge University and the Hebrew University and lived in Israel for 17 years.
These tours are produced in association with the Jewish Community Centre for London.
Future Tense
Chief Rabbi Sir Jonathan Sacks
In the past few years, the situation of Jews throughout the world has been transformed. We have seen the breakdown the Middle East Peace Process, a campaign of terror against Israel, and the transformation of the opposition to the State from political to religious. There has been a systematic intellectual assault on Israel’s right to be, and it has spilled over to the media and university campuses of the West. At the same time, and relatedly, a new strain of the age-old virus of antisemitism has appeared, seemingly capable of penetrating the immune systems of Western cultures.
In a major series of six keynote lectures, Chief Rabbi Sir Jonathan Sacks will be speaking on all these topics and others: the persisting challenge of Jewish continuity, the nature of Jewish identity and spirituality, and the task of strengthening Jewry as a global people in a global age.
The Chief Rabbi will also be setting out his own personal vision of Torah ve-Chokhmah, the interaction between Divine revelation and human wisdom, as well as universality and particularity and the place of Jews and Judaism in the world.
Demonizing Zionism: British anti-Zionism from Herzl to Hamas
DR RORY MILLER
For over half a century, British anti-Zionist movements and individuals have attempted to demonize and de-legitimize Zionism. This talk draws out the similarities between the anti-Zionism of those who were active in opposing the establishment of the State of Israel, and today's British anti-Zionists. The lecture will show how this historical continuity uncovers the real motives and objectives of today's anti-Zionist activists. Rabbi Dr Michael Harris will give a response to the lecture.
Tikkun Leil 2008
We have invited eight great teachers to each choose a text that surprises, inspires and challenges them. On this night they will all share them with you...
Rabbi Binyamin Tabory
Lindsey Taylor-Guthartz
Rabbi Warren Kaye
Dr Raphael Zarum
Dr Daniel Reisel Alastair Falk
Elie Jesner Maureen Kendler
Sunday night 8 June 2008
Starts 12:00 am
Four choices every hour — something for everyone
Shacharit at 3:15 am approx
Organized by the Alei Tzion Community
Refreshments of luscious ice cream, and Fairtrade coffee, tea and herbal drinks served through the night.
A one man biblical drama
MARCUS J FREED
This rollercoaster of a play, written by Marcus J Freed and Raphael Zarum, has toured 15 countries. Described by Joseph Telushkin as "smart, utterly original and deeply insightful", it explores the life of the man who built the 1st Temple in Jerusalem, wrote 3 books of the Bible, established peaceful borders across Israel and kept 700 wives. After the show the playwrights will discuss the piece and take questions.
Marcus J Freed has been acting for ten years and trained at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art. His work includes broadcasts for BBC Radio, commercials for Sony and the feature films Merchant of Venice and Eichmann. He recently developed Bibliyoga®, a technique for exploring spirituality through the body. His other plays include Elijah: First Action Hero and The Madness of King Saul, and he directs corporate theatre with his company City Drama.
Date: Thursday 3 July 2008 8:00 to 9:30pm | 
