Courses offered Spring 2010:

Judaism's Best Kept Secrets
Soul Maps
Kosher 101
Jewish Ethics in Medicine 
Talmud  
Shabbat 101 
Sinai scholars Society
Read Hebrew

Scroll down for Course Syllabi and Registration Info:

Judaism's Best Kept Secrets . . . (For Women Only)
Some "real girl talk". An excellent forum for discussing relevant topics for women. To read what past participants have to say about the class, click here.

90 minutes, 5 classes. By Chanie
Time to be determined. 

Class One – To Be A Jewish Woman
The vast majority of mitzvot are gender-free. Kabbalah offers a unique (and surprising!) perspective on those that are gender specific. How does this impact Jewish women today?

Class Two – Love and Intimacy
Do you believe in love? Why get married? Real girl talk and a frank discussion on the intense power of sexuality and its gift to humanity.

Class Three – Mikvah - Then and Now
It’s Judaism’s best kept secret . . . but it shouldn’t be anymore! Everything you wanted to know about Mikvah but didn’t know how to ask. Discover the key component to loving Jewishly.

Class Four - The Jewish Contribution to the Big Ideas of History.
More than monotheism, beyond socialism or nationalism or the rights of man, the Jewish contribution to civilization has resonated for over 3,500 years. What is it?

Class Five – What Does It All Mean to Me, Anyway?
A discussion of life on campus, and in the working world today. Breaking the glass ceiling is no big deal, but where do relationships fit in?

To register, click here

Soul Maps
Navigate through your inner world with Torah's third and deepest dimension. A Study on the book of Tanya.

90 minutes, 6 classes. By Rabbi Tzvi.
Time to be determined. 
Cost $25. Scholarships available.

1. Soul Words
Discover the world of Tanya, the "Two Souls" Doctrine. Learn about the structure of the souls, their faculties and garments.

2. Getting a grip on yourself
The conflict between the two Souls, who is the winner? Who am I?

3. Sync or Sink
Would you like to be a perfect person in just 30 days? Tanya presents two methods, the 'quick fix' and the long term solution.

4. The Joyride
Is your glass half empty or half full? In this lesson, you will learn the secret to greeting each day with genuine joy and optimism.

5. The big picture
Do you ever feel like you keep dealing with the same problems over and over again? In this lesson, you'll learn to consider your recurring personal struggle in the larger framework of the universe.

6. Have a Heart
Can you think your way to love? Can you change the way you feel? In this final lesson, you'll learn how to use the power of your mind to nurture your emotions.

To register, click here

Kosher 101 
Over 11 million people will buy Kosher food this year. Today more than 100,000 food products are Kosher certified. What makes a product kosher? Why do we keep kosher? How do we keep kosher?

60 minutes, 4 classes. By Rabbi Tzvi.
Time to be determined.
Cost $25. Scholarships available.

1. History & Origin of Kosher Law
2. What is Kosher and what is not
3. The Kosher lifestyle
4. Kosher kitchen on campus?

 To register, click here

Jewish Ethics in Medicine

60 minutes, 6 classes. By Rabbi Tzvi.
Time to be determined. 
Cost $25. Scholarships available.

1. Beginning of life
Artificial insemination, IVF, surrogate mothers. What does Judaism have to say about these issues?

2. Abortion
Does Judaism believe in freedom of choice?  Isn't Judaism pro life? What is the Torah's view regarding this sensitive issue?

3. Organ Transplantation
Which organs is one allowed to donate while alive? is one obligated to donate organs? What are the ethical issues involving organ donations from a living donor?  What organs are we allowed to take from the dead? Is one allowed to donate his body to science? 

4. End of life
What's Judaism's view on "physician assisted suicide"? Must we prolong the death of an ill patient?

5. Preventative medicine
Is one allowed to smoke? How about drink a can of coke?

To register, click here

Talmud
This is where Jewish analytical brilliance began. We will study some of the original Hebrew/Aramaic text with English translation. Beginners welcome. 

60 minutes, 6 classes. By Rabbi Tzvi.
Time to be determined.
Cost $25. Scholarships available. 

1.Breadth or Depth: 
The analysis of a Talmudic debate, which led to a power struggle in the study hall.

2.Hillel and Shamai
Understanding their constant disagreement. Does each argument stand alone or is there an underlying thread which connects them all?

3.You Shall Live by Them
May Shabbat be desecrated to save a life? The Talmud on Sanctity of life.

4.When is the Reward?
Biblical reward is promised for our good deeds; why can we not see it, at times?

5.Neighbors
What is a neighbor? What are the obligations and rights of neighbors? This analysis will connect three seemingly unrelated Talmudic passages and redefine your understanding this ostensibly simple concept

6.Quantity vs. Quality
What takes precedence quantity of quality? Delve beneath the surface and discover how many Talmudic debates are influenced by this question
 

To register, click here 

Shabbat 101
You have had the wine and enjoyed the Challa, is there more to Shabbat than an awesome dinner? This class will examine the spiritual meaning of Shabbat and the practical modern day observances.

60 Minutes, 4 classes, by Rabbi Tzvi.
Time TBD.
Cost $25. Scholarships available.

1. Can I rest on Wednesday?

2. What do we do on Shabbat?

3. What's so hard about flipping a switch?

4. Does Shabbat affect my Monday?  
 
To register, click here 

Sinai Scholars 

2 Hours, 8 evenings, by Rabbi Tzvi. 
Thursdays at 7:30pm
Cost $25. Scholarships available.

Examine the core values that guide a moral society: love and respect, gratitude and loyalty, faith and integrity. Debate opposing principles as you consider the self vs. others, truth vs. kindness, making the most of now vs. sacrificing for future goals. Challenge your assumptions about the good society as you investigate the key issues that confront us as individuals, Jews, and members of the global community.

Class 1: If you were G-d
Class 2: Who Am I
Class 3: To Be or Not to Be
Class 4: The Creators
Class 5: The Breath of Life
Class 6: Born to Marry
Class 7: For Love or Money
Class 8: The Truth, The Whole Truth, and Nothing But The Truth

To register for Sinai Scholars Please log on to www.sinaischolars.com For more information contact Daniel.Meer@tufts.edu

Read Hebrew
Ever feel lost at Services because you can’t follow the Hebrew? Want to study the Torah in its original language? Planning on a visit to Israel and want to be able to read the street signs? Regret never having learned the Hebrew alphabet? Perhaps it’s time to learn your own language.

Learn to read Hebrew in just five weeks.

60 minutes, 5 classes. By Chanie.
Time to be determined. 
Cost $25. Scholarships available.

 To register, click here