The 49 day period from Passover to Shavuot is called the Omer and it is a special time when the Jewish people prepare for receiving the Torah at Sinai. Join us for some or all of our 7-week trek through Torah!
April 25
Jeremiah the Prophet of Resiliency
6:30-8:00pm, hybrid
Come and learn from the book of Jeremiah. In our first Omer Trek class we’ll dive into selections of Jeremiah. Often characterized as the prophet of doom and gloom, his leadership models certain qualities that enable him to work through the greatest tragedy of his generation.
May 2
Eicha Rabbah
6:30-8:00pm, hybrid
To lament is a natural spiritual response to hardship or disaster, and since the destruction of the First Temple in 586 BCE, Jews have turned to the book of Lamentations (Eicha) to connect with generations of Jews who have endured prior sufferings. Eicha Rabbah is a classical commentary on Lamentations, and contains the Jewish wisdom of recovering from disaster, making it a treasury of Judaism’s power of recovery. In this session we will gain an overview of the book and sample a few of its kernels of wisdom.
May 3
Jewish Prayer: Shabbat Liturgy
6:30-6:55pm, in person only
May 9
As Israel Recovers
6:30-8:00pm, hybrid
Seven months after October 7th, Israel is still grieving while also building its future. This session will invite participants to discuss the latest events in Israel (registration required so you can receive news clippings in advance).
May 16
Hatikvah: The Story Behind the Anthem
6:30-8:00pm, in person only
Hatikvah, Israel’s national anthem, predates the establishment of the Jewish State by decades. Zionist leader Theodor Herzl hated it and many of Israel’s citizens refuse to sing it. Come to learn its history and how this unlikely song took the national anthem top spot.
May 23
Renewing the Covenant
6:30-8:00pm, hybrid
In the 1990s Reform thinker, Eugene Borowitz capped a monumental career with his magnum opus, Renewing the Covenant. In it he traces the emergence of postmodern Jewish philosophy from the disaster of the Shoah, and describes a potential new approach to our tradition, one that recenters God in our language and practice. This session will sample the Borowitz texts that can help us reimagine God’s Presence in our lives as we approach Shavuot and Sinai.
May 30
Love is the Antidote
6:30-8:00pm, hybrid
As Jews and as human beings, this last year has caused our hearts to break countless times. Our world is broken. To wake up each day and face our difficulties we must be strong and have courage. The greatest source of power to face adversity is to surround ourselves with love. We’ll study and reflect on some of the great texts and prayers from our tradition.
June 2
Concert with Kol Shirah – Music of Laughter and Mirth
5:00-6:30pm in person only
June 6
Turning Pain into Music: Israel Since October 7th
6:30-8:00pm, in person only
The arts are often filled with expressions of the creator’s pain and trauma. For the State of Israel, music has always been an expression of the emotional state of the country. In these months since October 7th, there has been a huge wave of creativity in music especially, to bring voice to trauma, rage, sadness, healing and wholeness. This session will explore this most recent creative transformation in Israeli popular music.
