Ikarim (Electives)

Ikarim (Electives) are eight-week classes on topics in Jewish history, thought, and Bible.  The classes are taught by guest faculty and Emanu-El clergy and staff.  These classes are for those students who want to study a particular subject or Jewish thinker in depth as well as for students who have completed the Yesod two-year core study program.

 

Assessing the Israel and American Jewish Community Relationship: A Series of Roundtable Discussions with Those in Our Community Most Involved in this Issue

Thursdays with Rabbi Jonathan Jaffe
7:00 – 8:30 pm
Fall - October 7, 14, 21, 28; November 4, 11, 18; December 2
$36 members, $50 non-members

The relationship between Israel and the American Jewish community stands at a crucial juncture.  The historic connection between the two centers of Judaism is being openly questioned by both sides. Polling clearly shows a decrease of interest in the Jewish state on behalf of younger Americans.  At the heart of the matter lies a simple set of questions: Is Israel important to American Jews?  Should we care about the Jewish State and if so, why?  What should this interaction look like?  To answer these questions and others, we are inviting representatives including Israeli Consul General Akiba Tor, New Israel Fund CEO Daniel Sokatch, JCRC Executive Director Rabbi Doug Kahn, University of California at Davis Professor Ari Y Kelman and many more to weigh in on the status of this relationship.  Each representative will give a brief presentation before engaging the group in candid discussion regarding this historic relationship.  Please join us for this candid and open exploration of the future of US - Israel relations.

 

Celluloid Yids: Jewish Cinema's Evolution from the 1920s – Today

Thursdays with Shalom Rosenberg
7:00 – 8:30 pm
Fall - October 7, 14, 21, 28; November 4, 11, 18; December 2
$36 members, $50 non-members

In this course, we will explore what is often referred to as "Jewish Cinema". We will ask: What qualifies as Jewish Cinema? Every week, we will read articles and view screenings of classic and lesser known films that represent the Jewish image on film. This course will take an historic approach and look at our films in the context of the changing world over the last century. Although most of our films will be from American cinema, we will also look at some Israeli, Yiddish, and films from other countries. We will talk about the Jewish sensibility in film and look for patterns that repeat throughout time. We will also discuss how Jews have influenced Hollywood and look at works by Allen, Brooks, Spielberg, Streisand, Levinson, Sandler, and more. We will screen films across genres from comedies to dramas to thrillers to musicals to love stories to war stories and more. We will also explore the themes of love, family, anti-Semitism, assimilation, intermarriage and interfaith relationships, LGBTQ issues, religion vs. progression, identity, gender, God, Israel, and more. Finally, we will talk about our relationship with the images that supposedly represent us and our communities. We will ask: To what extent does film represent and reflect our lives or the other way around? Some screenings may include the following: The Jazz Singer, Liberty Heights, Yentl, Crimes and Misdemeanors, A Life Apart: Hasidism in America, Walk on Water, Munich, Knocked Up, Keeping the Faith, When Do We Eat?, Kissing Jessica Stein, Yidl Mitn Fidl, and A Serious Man.

 

New Wednesday Ikarim!

The Holy Books of the Jews & Jewish Literacy

Wednesdays with Rabbi Kushner
4:30 – 6:00 pm
Fall - September 29; October 13, 27: November 10
This class is free for Congregation Emanu-El members,
$20 for non-members

Each session we will “meet” open, examine, read a few short selections from, and then try to comprehend the four principal holy texts of Judaism: the Hebrew Bible, the Babylonian Talmud, The Zohar, and The Siddur (daily prayer book).  This is a drop-in seminar.  Each session is stand-alone.