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 3/19-4/27. 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 $360 for individuals, and $500 for couples. No experience necessary. All are welcome!

View the course outline HERE. 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!

REGISTER HERE

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

CLASSES:

1. What is Judaism? Who are the Jewish People?

Jewish Ideas (General)
Jewish Peoplehood
Who Is a Jew?

This will be explored in class on 3/4 (11:30am–12:30pm PT // 2:30–3:30pm ET)

2. People of the Book – Sacred Jewish Texts

Overview of Sacred Jewish Texts
Bible
Midrash
Talmud (Mishnah and Gemara)
Later Commentary, Codes, and Responsa

This will be explored in class on 3/5 (8-9am PT // 11am-12pm ET)

3. Jewish Prayer and the Synagogue

Prayer, Keva and Kavanah, Structure of T’filah
Synagogues/Tour of the Sanctuary
Torah Scroll
Ritual Garb/Prayer Garb: Kippah, Tallit and Tefillin
Hebrew
Brachot
Hazanut and the Music of Prayer

This will be explored in class on 3/19 (12-1pm PT // 3-4pm ET)

4. What Do Jews Believe?

God and Theology
B’rit/Covenant
Chosenness
K’dushah/Holiness
Mitzvah/Mitzvot
Halachah

This will be explored in class on 3/19 (1-2pm PT // 4-5pm ET)

5. Creating a Jewish Life and Home

A Jewish Home
Mezuzah
Kashrut, Jewish Food, Cookbooks, Ethical Consumption
Jewish Values, Ethics, and Practice (General)
Derech Eretz, Musar (Personal Ethics), Midot (Character Traits)
Tzedakah
Social Justice/Tikkun Olam/Messianism
Business Ethics

This will be explored in class on 3/20 (12-1pm PT // 3-4 ET)

6. Marriage, Partnership and More

Lifecycle (General)
Marriage and Partnering
The Wedding Ceremony
Divorce
Love, Sex, Dating
LGBTQIA+ Couples and Families
Interfaith Couples/Families

This will be explored in class on 3/20 (1-2pm PT // 4-5pm ET)

7. Birth, Childhood, and Jewish Education

General
B’rit Milah, Simchat Bat, Baby Namings
Fertility
Surrogacy
Family Planning, Contraception
Genetic Testing
Pregnancy Loss: Stillbirth/Miscarriage/Terminating a Pregnancy
Adoption and Fostering
Parenting through a Jewish Lens
Jewish Education
Jewish Camping
B’nei Mitzvah
Confirmation
“It Takes a Village”—The Role of Community

This will be explored in class on 3/23 (10:30-11:30am PT // 1:30-2:30pm ET)

8. Illness, Death, and Mourning

Healing/Illness
Health and Wellness, including Mental health, Substance Abuse, Addiction & Recovery
Hospice/Medical Ethics Related to End of Life Care
Ethical Wills
Funerals/Rituals/Mourning
Aging
Organ and Tissue Donation
Afterlife

This will be explored in class on 3/23 (11:30am-12:30pm PT // 2:30-3:30pm ET)

9. The Jewish Calendar and Shabbat

The Jewish Calendar (general)
Rosh Chodesh
Shabbat
Film and Television

This will be explored in class on 3/23 (12:30-1:30pm PT // 3:30-4:30pm ET)

10. The Yamim Nora-im (High Holidays); The Days of Awe

General
Sin and Forgivingness
Elul and Selichot
Film and Television
Music

This will be explored in class on 3/24 (9-10am PT // 12-1pm ET)

11. The Three Festivals: Passover (Pesach), Shavuot, Sukkot

Pesach (Passover)
Shavuot Sukkot/Sh’mini Atzeret/Simchat Torah
Film and Television
Texts
Passover Haggadot

This will be explored in class on 4/14 (9-10am PT // 12-1pm ET)

12. Other Jewish Holidays: Hanukkah, Purim, and “Minor” Holidays

Hanukkah
The Hanukkah/Christmas season conversation
Tu BiShvat
Purim
Tishah B’Av
Film and Television

This will be explored in class on 4/17 (10-11:30 a.m. PT // 1-2:30pm ET)

13. From Creation to the Enlightenment (the Jewish historical experience)

Jewish History

This will be explored in class on 4/17 (10-11:30 a.m. PT // 1-2:30 p.m. ET) & 4/20 (10:30-12 p.m. PT // 1:30-3p.m. ET)

14. The Shoah (Holocaust), Anti-Semitism, and Jewish Responses to Evil

Anti-Semitism
The Shoah (Holocaust)
Yom HaShoah

This will be explored in class on 4/20 (10:30-12 p.m. PT // 1:30-3p.m. ET)

15. 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 4/21 (9-10:30 a.m. PT // 12-1:30p.m. ET)

16. 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 4/21 (9-10:30 a.m. PT // 12-1:30p.m. ET) & 4/22 (9-10:30 a.m. PT // 12-1:30p.m. ET)

17. Becoming Part of the Jewish Family and the Jewish People

Conversion, and Shalom Bayit

This will be explored in class on 4/22 (9-10:30 a.m. PT // 12-1:30p.m. ET)

18. Next Steps -- Becoming Part of the Jewish Community

This will be explored in class on 4/27 (10:30-11:30 a.m. PT // 1:30-2:30p.m. ET)

This Union for Reform Judaism-designed program is supported by the National Center to Encourage Judaism that funds programs that welcome people new to Judaism.