Scholars Series

 

Monthly on Sundays
11:00 a.m. – noon 

We’re pleased to announce the guest line-up for our Sunday Morning Scholar Series. Join us on the following Sunday mornings at 11:00 a.m. for some light refreshments and fascinating, thought-provoking programs covering a wide range of topics, details to follow:

  • January 8 – Marty Shukert
    Our January program features Marty Shukert who will take an in-depth look at “Einstein, Judaism, and the Design of the Universe.” He will explore Albert Einstein’s view of God, its basis in Judaism, and its influence over his lifetime drive to find the fundamental design of the universe.
     
  • February 12 – David Herzog, Attorney at Law
    The February program will be led by David Herzog, who will present “A Comparison and Contrast between Hebrew/Jewish law and American laws.” He will focus on exploration of comparisons and contrasts between Jewish law and American law, including the ways each system resolves legal issues. Our Torah centers on the instructions as to how life is to be regulated: upon ethics, principals and directions dictated by Moses and God. By contrast, our legal system in the United States is based on the Constitution and the three branches of Governmental function wherein we are a people guided by the people and governed by the people with inspiration from our Hebrew origins and Torah and other sources.

     

  • March 18 – Glen Fineman, Family Therapist, LICSW, LIMHP
    Glenn will speak on “Work & Worth: Balancing Work & Family”. He will discuss how we maintain the equilibrium our family life, our work and the other activities that we participate in. How do we find balance in our lives with all the different facets and how do we integrate them? He will discuss how to balance work and family life within the context of Jewish values and family values. “I’d like people to leave the presentation re-thinking what their priorities are, ways to manage their stress level, and seeing the value and importance of what it is they’re really doing every day and what should be a priority.”
     
  • April 22 – Rabbi Yaakov Weiss, Pastoral Services Coordinator at the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home
    Rabbi Weiss will speak on the topic: “Ki ha-Adam Eitz ha-Sadeh – Man is a Tree of the field” – our impact on those around us. Because the day of his presentation coincides with the national celebration of Earth Day, his topic of man’s responsibility and connection to the land, (for man is a tree of the field), taken from Deuteronomy 20:19, is particularly pertinent. He noted “There is much discussion in our Jewish commentaries as to how man is compared to the trees. Within these comparisons we can learn much about the way we interact and care for each other.”
     
  • May 13 – Rabbi Steven Abraham
    Rabbi Abraham will present in-depth look at “What in the World is Conservative Judaism?” Saying that many people aren’t sure who Conservative Jews are or what they stand for, Rabbi Abraham said he plans to look at the history of the Conservative Movement, its current place in denominational Judaism, and where he believes it is headed. “For a long time Conservative Judaism has been defined by what we are not — i.e., we are not Orthodox and we are not Reform — which causes us to not have a true identity of our own,” he said. “I believe strongly that Conservative Judaism is a valuable entity with its own identity. I want people to walk away knowing that the Conservative Movement holds modernity in one hand and tradition in the other and tries to live between these two worlds. It’s not easy…but the struggle is one that allows you to become closer to God.”