Visiting Scholar Stefan Reif
How did we get to the Siddur today? Tuesday 9th February
Professor Stefan Reif
A unique presentation on what the Cambridge-housed Genizah Fragments teach us about how our Siddur was formed from the world expert in the field.
8-10 pm Lecture
Fee: £10
What is Europe's problem with Israel?
A three-week course explaining the growing hostility towards the State of Israel
Israel is rapidly becoming a pariah state: not in the Arab and Muslim world, where it has long been so, but now in the mainstream cultural, political and religious leadership of the West. Accused of racism and criminality, its very legitimacy is questioned. How did it get this bad? Can this all be put down to a revival of anti-Semitism? How does Israel’s conflict with the Palestinians affect global politics?
Based on his recent and important book, A State Beyond the Pale, Robin Shepherd will explain the roots of anti-Israeli sentiment in Europe and how they expose the West’s worrying inability to stand up for its the values. You will hear a lucid and even-handed lecturer set out all the issues clearly and thoughtfully.
Robin Shepherd wrote this book while running the Europe programme at Chatham House, The Royal Institute of International Affairs in London. He is now Director of International Affairs at the Henry Jackson Society. He is regularly quoted in and writes commentaries for newspapers around the world and appears frequently on the BBC and CNN. He studied Russian at The School of Slavonic & East European Studies, University of London, and has a Masters in Political Theory from LSE. He speaks Russian, French, Slovak and Czech.
8pm to 10pm
Three Mondays
8, 15, 22 February 2010
Course fee: £25
This course is in partnership with the Zionist Federation
The Piacetzna Rebbe
Study the potent writings of the rebbe who challenged accepted ideas and inspired future generations
You will study select writings of Rabbi Kolonymos Kalmish Shapira, the Piacetzna Rebbe. He was a radical educational theorist, teacher of meditation and a profound student of the psychological horrors of the Holocaust, in which he perished.
This course will examine his educational methodology, his programme for building an inspired religious community, and his Holocaust diary, discovered in the ruins of the Warsaw Ghetto.
Rabbi Harvey Belovski is the rabbi of the Golders Green Synagogue. He graduated in Mathematics from University College, Oxford. He studied at the Gateshead Yeshivah, where he gained semichah, and at the Gateshead Beis HaTalmud Kollel. He lectures and counsels widely, contributes frequently to the Jewish Chronicle, and has authored two books. He is currently a postgraduate research student in the Dept. of Religious Studies at Birkbeck College, where he is writing a PhD dissertation on the thought of the Chassidic school of Sochaczew.
8pm to 9:30pm
Six Wednesday evenings
20 January to 24 Feburary 2010
Course fee: £65
Bible-based poetry reading and writing workshop
A seven-week course bringing Biblical stories to your creative writing
We begin with a class in the essential elements of the craft of poetry. Then we will write poems that draw on biblical narratives and characters. For inspiration, we will look carefully at poems that come out of classic Jewish texts and learn how the poets (such as Emily Dickinson, Marie Howe, Robert Frost, Ben Jonson, Yehuda Amichai, Jean Valentine, Dan Pagis, Langston Hughes, and others) wove familiar stories and words into freshand genuine work.
We will write poems from the perspective of biblical characters, re-imagine well-known narratives in our poems, and write lyrics based on prompts from biblical language. In addition to doing
writing exercises in class, we will formally workshop student poems. All are welcome.
Eve Grubin was born and raised in New York City. She is the author of Morning Prayer (2006) and is the Poetry editor of Lyric Poetry Review. Her poems have appeared in many journals including The American Poetry Review, The New Republic, Conjunctions, Pleiades and The Virginia Quarterly Review. She has lectured at The New School University and the City College of New York.
Eve was a fellow at the Drisha Institute for Jewish Education and studied at Midreshet Rachel in Jerusalem. She has a BA from Smith College, an MA from The Bread Loaf School of English, and an MFA from Sarah Lawrence College.
Morning and evening study options:
10am to 12pm and 8pm to 10pm
Seven Mondays
25 January to 22 March 2010
(no classes on 15 Feb. & 8 March)
Course fee: £75
Responses to the Shoah
How do we memorialise the Shoah? What are the ways in which we have tried, failed and succeeded in grappling with the legacy of events that devastated European Jewry in the Second World War? What are the most appropriate ways to pass on the legacy of the Shoah to future generations?
In this course we will read the works of writers such as Elie Wiesel and Primo Levi as well as children’s books, graphic novels and memoirs. We will explore the thoughts of Holocaust theologians and philosophers including Fackenheim and Berkowitz, discuss films made in response to the Shoah and study the responsa literature rabbis gave to survivors.
The Holocaust Survivors’ Centre in Hendon is for those who bear the memory and trauma of the Shoah daily. To create this course we listened to their stories and will transmit them to future generations.
Maureen Kendler is Head of Educational Programming at LSJS. A born communicator with a gift for teaching, she often broadcasts for BBC Radio and writes for the Jewish Chronicle. Simon Cooper recently submitted his PhD thesis on Jewish Covenantal Theology in the Dept. of Theology & Religious Studies at King’s College, London. He lectures all over the Jewish community on contemporary Jewish thought, and on medieval and modern Jewish philosophy.
Morning and evening study options:
10am to 12pm and 8pm to 10pm
Seven Tuesdays
19 January to 9 March 2010
(no class on 17 February)
Course fee: £75
How to have a Super Seder
A completely new three-week course packed with material to enhance your Seder nights
Why were our ancestors enslaved in Egypt in the first place?
Who should read the four sons at the Seder table this year?
Why does it matter if there were more miracles at the crossing of the Red Sea than in Egypt?
The Seder is for young and old alike. This course will mine the Haggadah text for deeper insights into the Pesach story. It will provide creative and fun ways to spark the imagination and fascination of the adults and children gathered around your Seder table.
Dr Raphael Zarum is Chief Executive and Head of Faculty at LSJS. He has a PhD in Physics from KCL and an MA in Adult Education from the Institute of Education in London. Raphael is a graduate of the prestigious Mandel Leadership Institute in Jerusalem and is the creator of educational programmes which are used across the Jewish world.
Afternoon and evening study options:
1pm to 3pm and 8pm to 10pm
Three Tuesdays
9, 16, 23 March 2010
Course fee: £25
The Book of Shemot
Study the weekly sedra with great rabbis, scholars and educators
The Book of Shemot begins with the Exodus from Egypt, moves on to the Revelation at Mt. Sinai and ends with the construction of the Mishkan (Tabernacle). Study the deeper themes of this incredible book with some of the best teachers in our community. You will experience a truly diverse range of approaches and you will always be prepared for the coming Shabbat Torah portion.
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6 Jan
13 Jan
20 Jan
27 Jan
3 Feb
10 Feb
17 Feb
24 Feb
3 Mar
10 Mar
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Shemot
Vaera
Bo
Beshalach
Yitro
Mishpatim
Terumah
Tezaveh
Ki Tisa
Vayakhel/Pekudei
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Miriam Lorie
R. Ariel Abel
Dina Brawer
Lindsay Simmonds
R. Ephraim Mirvis
Dr Tamra Wright
R. David Mason
Lindsey Taylor-Guthartz
Michael Pollak
Maureen Kendler
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8pm to 10pm
Ten Wednesday evenings
6 January to 24 March 2010
Course fee: £85
The Book of Melachim
A seven-week course tackling the life of the great kings of Israel
From the end of King David’s reign to the destruction of the Temple, the book of Melachim covers a crucial and tragic period of Jewish history. You will learn about the politics, egos and aspirations that led to the successes and failures of key kings and their religious settings.
The book charts the division of the kingdom and the shocking descent in destruction. This course unpacks the mistakes of the monarchs and the valuable legacy they leave us to this day.
Jacqueline Nicholls is an artist, writer and educator and has displayed her work in Israel, UK and Sweden. She studied at Nishmat College in Israel and the Byam Shaw School of Fine Arts in London. She is a graduate of the LSJS Susi Bradfield
Women Educators’ Fellowships.
Morning and evening study options:
10am to 12pm and 8pm to 10pm
Seven Wednesdays
20 January to 10 March 2010
(no class on 17 February)
Course fee: £75
Talmud Study
A systematic study of enlightening Talmudic passages for beginner & intermediate levels
The Talmud is the central text of traditional Judaism. It is a record of over five hundred years of rabbinic discussions about Jewish law, lore, ethics, customs and history. Unfortunately, the Talmud’s intricate logic, conceptual complexity, sophisticated style, and terse language of Hebrew and Aramaic have made it a closed book to most Jews.
This course makes Talmud accessible to all. You will be guided through select passages and taught the key words, basic principles and structure of the text. The methodological approach of our experienced teachers will enable you to get a handle on mindset of the Talmudic Sages. Choose the level that is right for you or call the LSJS office to discuss.
R. David Mason is the rabbi of Muswell Hill United Synagogue and represents the Chief Rabbi on issues of International Aid and Development.
R. Leo Dee is the assistant rabbi at Hendon United Synagogue. He spent ten years working in Finance & Consulting before obtaining his Smicha in Israel.
Afternoon and evening study options:
8pm to 10pm, Eight Monday evenings:
A choice of beginner and intermediate classes.
18 January to 15 March 2010 (no class on 15 Feb)
1pm to 3pm, Eight Wednesday afternoons:
Beginner class only.
20 January to 17 March 2010 (no class on 17 Feb)
Course fee: £85
Our Hour Shiurim
Here is your chance to study a traditional sefer in-depth with an expert teacher. You will study the text in the original and translations will be available. There are five different books you can study. For convenience we have given you four possible time slots per week to study each book.
To help with our timetabling, please tell us ALL the time slots you can make and we will then only run classes at the most popular times.
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Shiur options
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Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday
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Morning
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9-10 am |
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Chasidut
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Midrash |
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10-11 am
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Mishnah |
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Afternoon
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1-2 pm |
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Evening
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8-9 pm |
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Halacha
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9-10 pm
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MIDRASH
Dr Raphael Zarum
Bereishit Rabbah |
Produced in the land of Israel, this is the classic rabbinic midrash on the book of Genesis. It begins with some amazing insights into the nature of Creation and Existence. It then proceeds to anaylse each day of Creation in an elaborate and creative way.
Study time options:
Mon 9-10am; Tues 1-2pm; Wed 9-10am;
Thurs 10-11am |
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MISHNAH
Lindsey Taylor-Guthartz
Rosh Hashanah |
The Mishnah is the primary work of Jewish Oral Law redacted by Reb Yehuda the Prince in the second century. The Hebrew text is compact and beautifully structured. The style of study will highlight structure and cover the main issues within the festival of Rosh Hashanah.
Study time options:
Mon 10-11am; Wed 10-11am;
Thurs 8-9pm, 9-10pm |
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GEMARA
Michael Pollak
Shabbat |
The style of study will involve comparing the yeshiva and academic methods of Talmud study whilst progressing systematically through the text. This innovative approach will be a fascinating experience for anyone with an interest in studying Gemara in depth.
Study time options:
Mon 1-2pm; Tues 9-10am, Wed 8-9pm, 9-10pm |
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CHASIDUT
R Harvey Belovski
Tzidak Ha Tzaddik by Reb Zadok HaKohen
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Reb Zadok HaKohen of Lublin (1823-1900) was a great innovative, profound and iconoclasytic hasidic thinker who was thoroughly aware of the new intellectual trends sweeping Europe in his time. In Tzidkat HaTzadik he combines his rationalism with the emotional and experiential Hasidism he learned in Izbica. It is a celebration of our ability to channel emotions towards the knowledge of God.
Study time options:
Mon 1-2pm; Tues 9-10am, 10-11am; Thurs 9-10pm |
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HALACHA
R Johnny Solomon
Aruch HaShulchan by R Yechiel Michael Epstein |
This is a classic commentary on the Shulchan Aruch by R. Yechiel Michel Epstein (1829-1908). It has a much wider scope than the Mishnah Berurah and tends to provide a less stringent approach which is very considerate of local customs.
Study time options:
Wed 1-2pm, 8-9pm; Thurs 1-2pm, 8-9pm |
Please phone the office on 0208 203 6427 to book your places.
Great Books of Jewish Thought
An eight-week introduction to Kabbalah, Chasidut and Jewish philosophy.
Jewish philosophy can be perplexing, as can Kabbalah and Chasidic thought. But help is at hand in the form of this carefully structured introduction to some of the greatest works of Jewish thought. Our experienced faculty are experts at making the complex as clear as possible. They will guide you through the development of Jewish thought, from the Zohar to the writings of the Chief Rabbi, Lord Sacks. Along the way, you will learn about Maimonides, R. Kook, R. Hirsch and R. Soloveitchik; engage with the Tanya; and contemplate the challenges of post-Holocaust philosophy.
Option 1
8pm to 10pm
Monday evening
Starts 18 January
Option 2
1pm to 3pm
Wednesday afternoon
Starts 20 January
18 January to 17 March 2010
(no classes 15 & 17 Feb)
Course fee: £85
LSJS Visiting Scholar: Menachem Kellner
Beyond Belief?
Re-thinking the Fundamentals of Jewish Faith
An early evening seminar at King’s College London
Wednesday 17 March
Lecture by Professor Kellner, followed by responses from Dr Tamra Wright and Rabbi Dr Michael Harris. This event is free and open to all. There will be an opportunity to find out more about the MA in Jewish Studies offered by King’s College London in partnership with LSJS.
5pm - Kosher refreshments
5:30 to 6:45 pm Lecture and discussion
For further details and to book your place, email: Gerry@lsjs.ac.uk by 15 March
Must a Jew Believe Anything?
Public Lecture at LSJS
Monday 22 March
8pm to 9:30 pm
Fee: £10
On Sacrifice & Redemption
Public Lecture at LSJS
Wednesday 24 March
8pm to 10pm
Fee: £10
Professor Menachem Kellner is Professor of Jewish Thought at the University of Haifa. He is the author of a number of scholarly books, including Maimonides’ Confrontation with Mysticism, and dozens of articles in academic journals, as well as many occasional pieces on matters of contemporary Jewish concern.
Gan Teva LSJS
Learning to Care for Nature's Garden
“Truth shall sprout forth from the ground”- Psalm 85: 12
The LSJS Responsibility Unit believes doing good requires hands-on work. So we have transformed the vacant plot in our backyard into a thriving organic eco-garden, Gan Teva. The Garden project is focused on core Jewish values.
To Work and Protect
Learning how to cultivate and care for a garden as a paradigm for responsible living on this earth.
Mending the World
Organic growing and sustainable practice as a life-long skill towards healing a ruptured ecology.
The Law of Planting is called Faith
Teaching ourselves and our children the fragile rhythm of agriculture attunes them to a relational life with nature and the Divine.
It is a Tree of Life to Those Who Hold Fast to It
Integrating Jewish wisdom and Halacha into healthy eating and growing.
Gan Teva runs experiential education workshops for children and adults in organic gardening, composting, and food; grounded on the teachings of Jewish law and ethics.
Garden Tours
From Eden to Allotment
Educational tours of the garden will run in Spring term both before and after the morning teaching sessions from 9:30 - 10am and again at 12 - 12:30pm on a prebooked basis.
The tours are free and open to all LSJS students.
Contact Rabbi Natan Levy to join a garden tour. rabbilevy@lsjs.ac.uk |
