“AMERICAN JUDAISM IN THE 21ST CENTURY”
BREAKFAST-LECTURE SERIES CO-SPONSORED BY ADULT EDUCATION
TEMPLE BROTHERHOOD & SISTERHOOD
Last year, Adult Education and the Temple Brotherhood cosponsored a series of breakfast-lectures about the prospects of peace in the Middle East after the pull-out from Gaza. It was a very successful series, providing a forum for lectures and discussion about peace between the Palestinians and Israelis.
This year, we are cosponsoring with both the Brotherhood and Sisterhood another engaging series of lectures. The overall theme of the lectures will be American Judaism in the 21st Century, focusing on trends within Judaism and also on impacts from American society. The lecturers are from a diversified background: Reformed, Conservative, and Orthodox. This reflects both the diversity and unity of modern Judaism.
Our first breakfast-lecture will take place on December 10th at 10 a.m., entitled “A Tightly Woven Community of Difference: The View from the Transdenominational Bet Midrash.” We are fortunate to have as our first presenter Dr. Jonah Steinberg, Associate Dean for Academic Development and Director of Talmudic Studies at the Rabbinical School of Hebrew College, who also received the New Scholar Award from the Journal of Feminist Studies in Religion. Dr. Steinberg has facilitated encounters with traditional Jewish sources in community settings across North America and beyond. A fascinating speaker, Dr. Steinberg will talk about the transdenominational Bet Midrash (House of Study), serving rabbinical students from Judaism’s various branches. “The diversity in our vibrant House of Study (our Bet Midrash) reflects the real Jewish world of the 21st century, and it echoes the manifold voices of our traditional texts as well.”
On January 7th, we will hear “An Observant Physicist Reflects: Reconciling Science and Religion in the 21st Century.” Dr. Herbert Levine, a noted physicist, will speak about the impact of science upon Judaism.
On February 11th, our lecture will be “Judaism Is Changing: Just Ask a Woman!” Rabbi Jane Kanarek will speak about the changing role of women.
There will be more details provided as we approach these dates. Additional lectures will also take place in March and May. Please save the dates and come and participate in the forums.
