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To be a Jew in the World: Torah from Sinai to Oakland, part 1
Rebecca Kaplan, 1/23/2025—Learn to find Torah in unexpected places, from the Liberty Bell to area murals, contemporary community work, and Kaplan's years of work (and some recent battles) at the Oakland City Council.
From the Page to the Stage, part 2
Nicholas McGegan, 1/21/2025—The Bible has been a font of inspiration for composers throughout the ages. This course pairs passages highlighting dramatic Biblical stories with their interpretations in opera and oratoria spanning Baroque to 20th-century music. In this segment Nicholas McGegan leads a musical discussion on Saul, David & Jonathan.
From the Page to the Stage, part 1
Profs. Robert Alter and Ron Hendel, 1/14/25—The Bible has been a font of inspiration for composers throughout the ages. This course pairs passages highlighting dramatic Biblical stories with their interpretations in opera and oratoria spanning Baroque to 20th-century music. In this segment, we discuss Saul, David & Jonathan (1 Samuel Chapters 17-20, 24, 31, and 2 Samuel Chapter 1).
Off The Derech: Haredi Judaism and Beyond in Film, part 4
Janis Plotkin, Karen Davis & Naomi Seidman, 12/19/2924—Ultra-orthodox Jewish life has long been surrounded by secrecy from within and intense curiosity from without. This course will focus on four films that present Haredi Jewish life from multiple perspectives. Critical, compassionate and profoundly humane, these films offer an expanded view of the complexities of living within and beyond the strictures of Ultra-Orthodox Jewish life. Our film selection includes two fiction feature films and two documentaries, from the US, Israel and the United Kingdom, including two films directed by women.
The Chesed Voice (Kindness) in Jewish Texts, part 3
Rabbi Greg Marcus, 12/10/2024—The “Chesed voice,” which prioritizes Acts of Chesed (Lovingkindness) over Jewish Law, can be traced all the way back to the Torah itself. You will learn why in the Talmud a rabbi was executed because he only studied Torah and did not engage in acts of Chesed. Join us for an extraordinary exploration of the age-old (yet totally contemporary) tension between the strict letter of the law and unbounded acts Chesed.
Off The Derech: Haredi Judaism and Beyond in Film, part 2
Janis Plotkin & Karen Davis, 12/6/2024—Ultra-orthodox Jewish life has long been surrounded by secrecy from within and intense curiosity from without. This course will focus on four films that present Haredi Jewish life from multiple perspectives. Critical, compassionate and profoundly humane, these films offer an expanded view of the complexities of living within and beyond the strictures of Ultra-Orthodox Jewish life. Our film selection includes two fiction feature films and two documentaries, from the US, Israel and the United Kingdom, including two films directed by women.
Rabbi Greg Marcus: The Chesed Voice (Kindness) in Jewish Texts, part 2
Rabbi Greg Marcus , 12/3/2024—The “chesed voice,” which prioritizes acts of chesed (lovingkindness) over Jewish law, can be traced all the way back to the Torah itself. You will learn why in the Talmud a rabbi was executed because he only studied Torah and did not engage in acts of chesed. Join us for an extraordinary exploration of the age-old (yet totally contemporary) tension between the strict letter of the law and unbounded acts chesed.
Off The Derech: Haredi Judaism and Beyond in Film
Janis Plotkin & Karen Davis, 11/21/2024—Ultra-orthodox Jewish life has long been surrounded by secrecy from within and intense curiosity from without. This course will focus on four films that present Haredi Jewish life from multiple perspectives. Critical, compassionate and profoundly humane, these films offer an expanded view of the complexities of living within and beyond the strictures of Ultra-Orthodox Jewish life. Our film selection includes two fiction feature films and two documentaries, from the US, Israel and the United Kingdom, including two films directed by women.
Fred Rosenbaum on Roman Vishniac: and the film and the man
Prof. Fred Rosenbaum, 11/14/2024—Recorded following the screening of the film "Vishniac," at the East Bay International Jewish Film Festival. (Video courtesy of EBIJFF)
The Chesed Voice (Kindness) in Jewish Texts
Rabbi Greg Marcus , 11/19/2024—The “chesed voice,” which prioritizes Acts of chesed (lovingkindness) over Jewish law, can be traced all the way back to the Torah itself. You will learn why in the Talmud a rabbi was executed because he only studied Torah and did not engage in acts of chesed. Join us for an extraordinary exploration of the age-old (yet totally contemporary) tension between the strict letter of the law and unbounded acts chesed.
What REALLY Happened on Simchat Beit Hasho'eva
Prof. Daniel Boyarin, 10/22/2024—Simchat Beit Hasho'eva ("The Rejoicing at the Place of Water-Drawing") takes place during Sukkot. The Talmud says: "He who has not seen the rejoicing at the Place of the Water-Drawing has never seen rejoicing in his life." This "water holiday" brought thousands to the Temple courtyard for a water libation ritual followed by music and dance, burning-torch tossing, handstands, feasting, and a bit of mayhem as men and women mingled. Prof. Daniel Boyarin will offer his original interpretation of the Talmudic text.
After Nasrallah and Iran's Attack, What Now?
Bradley Burston & Dina Kraft, 10/6/2024—What are the implications of the assassination of Nasrallah and much of the Hezbollah leadership? Of a possible IDF ground operation in Lebanon? How will these factors impact the hostage release and cease-fire negotiations in Gaza? Nobody really knows. Bradley Burston (veteran Ha'Aretz columnist) and Dina Kraft (Israel correspondent for the Christian Science Monitor) will join us from Israel and offer their insights.
