COURSES

WALKING WITH GOD

Monday evenings at 8:00 pm
Semester I Oct. 29, Nov, 5, 12, 19-Biblical, Talmudic and Midrashic Understandings of God
Semester II March 10, 17, 24, 31-Medieval and Mystical Understandings of God
Semester III-May 5, 12, 19-Modern and Personal Understandings of God
Instructor: Rabbi Neil Kurshan

God is the main "character" in Judaism and the life of Jews. On the one hand, God is beyond words, but Jews nevertheless have conceptualized God in different ways at different historical times. This course will examine Biblical, Tahnudic, Medieval, Mystical, Hasidic, and Modern conceptions of God concluding with the question of whether God can have any meaning for us as Jews today. Each session will consist of a presentation by Rabbi Kurshan, text study with the class and with a partner, and time for personal reflectionon what we have learned. You can attend all the sessions of any of the "semesters".

PESACH WORKSHOP
Back by popular demand this new and expanded workshop will teach you everything you need to know to create a Pesach Seder that those around your table will never forget. We are offering this course again because the tapes of our last workshop twelve years ago have worn out or disappeared. Don't miss this opportunity to learn from the Rabbi, the Cantor and Alisa Kurshan. You can attend one, two, or three sessions.

Session I - From the Carp in the Bathtub to the Fish in the Jar
Thursday evening, April 3, at 8:00 pm
Instructor: Alisa Rubin Kurshan

Traditions old and new to enhance your Seder experience. Come prepared to share Pesach traditions and learn about new ones you may want to incorporate into your Seder this year.

Session II - How to Lead a Great Seder
Monday evening, April 7 at 8:00 pm
Instructor: Rabbi Neil Kurshan

For all who have led a Seder or aspire to lead one. This workshop will impart the skills, strategies and knowledge necessary to make the Seder a memorable and significant experience for family and guests.

Session III - Best Seder Melodies
Instructor--Cantor Carol Chesler

Seder music is more than the Mah Nistahnah, Dayyenu, Chad Gadya. Learn how to transform old melodies into great activities around the table, and learn new melodies that will be passed down from generation to generation at your family Seder table.

SATURDAY NIGHT AT THE MOVIES:
SPIRITUALITY IN FILMS
Saturday evenings Nov. 3, Dec. 1, Jan. 19, at 7:30 pm in the Family Life Center
Instructor: Rabbi Neil Kurshan

We will watch a number of highly acclaimed films which attempt to address the presence of God in a cinematic format. What makes a film spiritual? How do films address the presence or absence of God? What common themes define spiritual movies across different religious traditions? How do films with spiritual themes help us to clarify the Jewish understanding of God? Among the films we will watch are the popular "O God" (with George Burns playing the Lord); Starman, a spiritual science fiction film starring Jeff Bridges; and one of the films from Krzysztof Kieslowski's highly acclaimed Decalogue. Refreshments during the movies and a discussion with Rabbi Kurshan after the movies.

ROSH HASHANAH/YOM KIPPUR TESHUVA WORKSHOP
Monday evening, September 15, 2008 at 8:00pm
Instructor: Rabbi Neil Kurshan

We will study together some texts from Harav Kook's inspiring volume on repentance, Orot HaTeshuva, the Lights of Penitence, as a springboard for our own personal reflection on teshuva. How does Judaism understand the process of teshuva. Why does Harav Kook see teshuva as the fundamental spiritual expression of human beings? How can we bring the work of teshuva into our personal lives to bring greater meaning to the Yamim Noraim? Join us for this workshop and experience Rosh HaShana and Yom Kippur in a different way.

HUNTINGTON JEWISH CENTER COSPONSORED COMMUNITY EDUCATION PROGRAMS SUFFOLK NIGHT OF LEARNING-WHERE IS THE CONSERVATIVE MOVEMENT HEADED
Thursday evening, October 25th at 8:00pm at the South Huntington Jewish Center
Presenter: Dr. Joel Roth

Dr. Joel Roth, an expert in Halacha, is the Louis Finkeistein Professor of Talmud and Jewish Law at JTS and the Rosh Yeshiva of the Conservative Yeshiva in Jerusalem. This lecture is sponsored by the METNY Region of United Synagogue

J LEARN-THE SAGA OF ABRAHAM AND SARAH
Thursday evenings, October 18, 25, Nov 1, 8, 15 at Temple Beth El
Instructor: Peter Pitzele

This five week course led by a master teacher of modem Midrash will take the stories of Abraham and Sarah as a springboard for calling up our own stories of faith,, family, and spiritual searching. Through the use of text, writing, theater, and imagination participants will examine the central faith and family dramas of our tradition.

Peter Pitzele has taught literature at Harvard and has directed the Psychodrama Service at Four Winds Hospital. He has developed the field of Bibliodrama and is author of Our Fathers' Wells: A personal Encounter with the Myths of Genesis. This program is offered in conjunction with UJA Federation of NY

J LEARN-ETHICAL DILEMMAS IN MODERN JEWISH LIFE
Thursday evenings January 10, 17, 24, and 31 at HJC
Instructor: Rabbi Michael Paley
Rabbi Michael Paley will tackle some of the most difficult ethical dilemmas of the modern world through the use of Jewish texts and perspectives. Among the issues he will examine are the treatment of the American Muslim community, ethical dilemmas of Israeli security such as selective assassination, medical ethics, and the morality of American policy during the Holocaust. Rabbi Paley will examine these and other contemporary issues within a Jewish ethical framework. Texts and a source book will be distributed in the class.

Rabbi Michael Paley is the former university chaplain at Columbia University and now serves as Scholar in residence at UJA Federation of New York. This program is offered in conjunction with UJA Federation of NY.

OTSP-ON THE SAME PAGE-A JEWISH COMMUNITY READING PROJECT
Sunday Morning, October 28 at HJC

Rabbi Mychal Springer, Adjunct Lecturer of Professional and Pastoral Skills at the Jewish Theological Seminary and wife of author Jonathan Rosen (see below), will speak about religious formation through the lens of health and healing. On the Same Page (OTSP) is a community reading project involving 35 Long Island synagogues including the Huntington Jewish Center in conjunction with UJA Federation of NY and SAJES. We will read together Jonathan Rosen's Joy Comes In The Morning, a thought provoking novel about the lives of various people-including Rabbi Deborah Green whose strength and compassion belie her own crumbling faith. You can register as a participant and purchase your book at www.otsp.org or at the synagogue office. Additional information about book discussions, workshops, lectures and art exhibitions is available from Mitch, the program coordinator or at the OTSP website.

J LEARN-THE MELTON PROGRAM: RHYTHM AND PURPOSES OF JEWISH LEARNING
Sponsored by UJA Federation of New York
Location: Temple Beth Torah, Melville (Fall)
Temple Beth David, Commack (Spring)
Thursday Evenings beginning October 11 7:30-9:30 pm
Instructors: Rabbi Cara Weinstein Rosenthal, Rabbi Moses A. Birnbaum, Rabbi David KaIb

Study the how's and why's of what we do as Jews through the nationally acclaimed Melton Program in two fifteen week programs. The class introduces the ideas, beliefs, and practices that shape Jewish living. You can select one or both semesters. For further information about tuition and registration contact Rabbi Kurshan or Mallory Probert at UJA of Long Island at 516-677-1833. Registration is required

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