Learn with Our Clergy

Courses Open to Congregants and to the Public
Free for members of Temple Israel, $25 for non-members.

Jabotinsky's Samson: Zionism, Allegory, and Personal Narrative

4 Mondays - 7:30 - 9 p.m. February 27, March 5, March 12, March 26

with Rabbi Ronne Friedman

The biblical myth of Samson has long been read as a political allegory of Israel's power in relationship to other peoples and nations. Vladimir Jabotinsky, the father of Revisionist Zionism, was the rare political leader who was also a distinguished novelist. Following upon his course (2009) that explored David Grossman's treatment of the biblical tale (Lion's Honey), Rabbi Friedman will lead an investigation of Jabotinsky's Samson that will reveal the biblical, historical and personal settings that informed this work of fiction.

Modern Midrash: Reading/Re-reading/Interpreting/Creating Midrash about the Psalms

8:45 - 10 a.m. on the following Thursdays:

February 2, March 1, April 5, May 3, June 7

with Rabbi Zecher

Heschel called the Psalms "the birthpangs of theology." These songs of praise, despair, joy, and struggle call upon us to search and to understand the depth of meaning they provide. The images presented and longings uttered beckon us to bring the poetic and creative voice of midrash to the art of interpreting them. We will use our own voices to join with the Psalmists as we express our own "birthpangs" and bring to light the multiple layers of knowledge and expression.