Introduction to Judaism

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Our Introduction to Judaism online course will give participants a strong foundation for authentic and empowered engagement in the Jewish community. This 18-session program is the perfect introduction to Jewish living, theology, texts, history, holidays, and rituals.

This course is designed for spiritual seekers, interfaith couples, individuals pursuing or considering conversion, and Jews who want a meaningful chance to reconnect with their Judaism as an adult.

Classes will be held between 6/15-11/16. Please see the syllabus (below) for a full breakdown of meeting dates.

The program is led by Rabbi Heather Miller and her teaching style is interactive, and encouraging of questions. She is queer and a member of an interracial, international, interfaith family, and joyfully engages with folks of all backgrounds. Rabbi Heather Miller, known for her open, affirming, and joyful approach; previous students reflect:

“Rabbi Miller has a great sense of humor,

and you can tell she really loves sharing her knowledge.”

“She makes everyone comfortable in her presence and allows time for all of us

to learn a little about the others in the group.”

"I loved my experience with Rabbi Miller and am looking forward to more

learning opportunities with her. She's a wonderful teacher."

Come for the program, stay for the community! Weekly classes are augmented by Shabbat and holiday programs and additional experiential components all found on the calendar (HERE). Our course of 18 classes is $595/person. No experience necessary. All are welcome!

Full course materials are provided upon registration.

If you need assistance with registration, please contact our Digital Marketing Director, Molly Flanagan at mflanagan@keepingitsacred.com. If you have further questions, please contact Rabbi Miller at rabbimiller@keepingitsacred.com. We hope to see you soon!

AND, be sure to sign up for our newsletter below.

CLASSES:

What is Judaism? Who are the Jewish People?
1. Jewish Ideas (General) • Jewish Peoplehood
2. Who Is a Jew?
  This will be explored in class on June 15th (10am PT // 1pm ET)
People of the Book – Sacred Jewish Texts
1. Overview of Sacred Jewish Texts
2. Bible
3. Midrash
4. Talmud (Mishnah and Gemara)
5. Later Commentary, Codes, and Responsa
  This will be explored in class on June 22nd (10am PT // 1pm ET)
Jewish Prayer and the Synagogue
1. Prayer, Keva and Kavanah, Structure of T’filah
2. Synagogues/Tour of the Sanctuary
3. Torah Scroll
4. Ritual Garb/Prayer Garb: Kippah, Tallit and Tefillin
5. Hebrew
6. Brachot
7. Hazanut and the Music of Prayer
  This will be explored in class on June 29th (10am PT // 1pm ET)
What Do Jews Believe?
1. God and Theology
2. B’rit/Covenant
3. Chosenness
4. K’dushah/Holiness
5. Mitzvah/Mitzvot
6. Halachah
  This will be explored in class on July 6th (10am PT // 1pm ET)
Creating a Jewish Life and Home
1. A Jewish Home
2. Mezuzah
3. Kashrut, Jewish Food, Cookbooks, Ethical Consumption
4. Jewish Values, Ethics, and Practice (General)
5. Derech Eretz, Musar (Personal Ethics), Midot (Character Traits)
6. Tzedakah
7. Social Justice/Tikkun Olam/Messianism
8. Business Ethics
  This will be explored in class on July 13th (10am PT // 1pm ET)
Marriage, Partnership and More
1. Lifecycle (General)
2. Marriage and Partnering
3. The Wedding Ceremony
4. Divorce
5. Love, Sex, Dating
6. LGBTQIA+ Couples and Families
7. Interfaith Couples/Families
  This will be explored in class on July 27th (10am PT // 1pm ET)
Birth, Childhood, and Jewish Education
1. General
2. B’rit Milah, Simchat Bat, Baby Namings
3. Fertility
4. Surrogacy
5. Family Planning, Contraception
6. Genetic Testing
7. Pregnancy Loss: Stillbirth/Miscarriage/Terminating a Pregnancy
8. Adoption and Fostering
9. Parenting through a Jewish Lens
10. Jewish Education
11. Jewish Camping
12. B’nei Mitzvah
13. Confirmation
14. “It Takes a Village”—The Role of Community
  This will be explored in class on August 3rd (10am PT // 1pm ET)
Illness, Death, and Mourning
1. Healing/Illness
2. Health and Wellness, including Mental health, Substance Abuse, Addiction & Recovery
3. Hospice/Medical Ethics Related to End of Life Care
4. Ethical Wills
5. Funerals/Rituals/Mourning
6. Aging
7. Organ and Tissue Donation
8. Afterlife
  This will be explored in class on August 10th (10am PT // 1pm ET)
The Jewish Calendar and Shabbat
1. The Jewish Calendar (general)
2. Rosh Chodesh
3. Shabbat
4. Film and Television
  This will be explored in class on August 24th (10am PT // 1pm ET)
The Yamim Nora-im (High Holidays); The Days of Awe
1. General
2. Sin and Forgivingness
3. Elul and Selichot
4. Film and Television
5. Music
  This will be explored in class on August 31st (10am PT // 1pm ET)
The Three Festivals: Passover (Pesach), Shavuot, Sukkot • Pesach (Passover)
1. Shavuot
2. Sukkot/Sh’mini Atzeret/Simchat Torah
3. Film and Television
4. Texts
5. Passover Haggadot
  This will be explored in class on Sept 14th (10am PT // 1pm ET)
Other Jewish Holidays: Hanukkah, Purim, and “Minor” Holidays
1. Hanukkah
2. The Hanukkah/Christmas season conversation
3. Tu BiShvat
4. Purim
5. Tishah B’Av
6. Film and Television
  This will be explored in class on Sept 28th (10am PT // 1pm ET)
From Creation to the Enlightenment (the Jewish historical experience)
• Jewish History
This will be explored in class on Oct 5th (10am PT // 1pm ET)
The Shoah (Holocaust), Anti-Semitism, and Jewish Responses to Evil
Anti-Semitism
The Shoah (Holocaust)
Yom HaShoah
This will be explored in class on Oct 12th (10am PT // 1pm ET)
Israel and Zionism
Zionism
The Modern State of Israel (Politics, Culture, History)
Yom HaZikaron and Yom HaAtzmaut
Film and Television
Am Yisrael, Eretz Yisrael, Medinat Yisrael
This will be explored in class on Oct 19th (10am PT // 1pm ET)
The North American Jewish Experience; Tapestry of the Jewish People (Understanding Jewish Diversity)
Reform Judaism and Other Jewish Denominations
North American Jewish Communities – Demographics, History, Culture
Jews of Color
Interfaith Jewish Families
Global Jewish Communities
Yiddish
Ladino
This will be explored in class on Oct 26th (10am PT // 1pm ET)
Becoming Part of the Jewish Family and the Jewish People,
1. Conversion, and Shalom Bayit
  This will be explored in class on Nov 2nd (10am PT // 1pm ET)
Next Steps -- Becoming Part of the Jewish Community
This will be explored in class on Nov 16th (10am PT // 1pm ET)