Open Temple

Soul Journey: An Introduction to Judaism

Open Temple and Academy for Jewish Religion/LA collaborate on Soul Journey: An Intro to Judaism. Students take a deep dive into Judaism through the lens of its history, spirituality, text, community, law, gender, interfaith, holidays, thought and more. This unique Offering is designed for all who are Jew’ishly curious and is the only trans-denominational class that can be used for conversion in Los Angeles, accepted by the Sandra Caplan Beit Din.

Our 19-week Global course will run twice during the 2022-23 year on Zoom, coupled with one or two live experiences for participants who live locally. Syllabus and Application form below.

Fall 2023
Begins November 6

Summer 2023
Begins June 5
7 – 9pm PST
Enrollment for Summer 2023 is open now

Instructors:
Rabbi Ilana Grinblat
Muriel Dance, PhD, BCC
Rabbi Avivah W. Erlick
Rabbi Robin Podolsky
Rabbi Janet Madden
Rabbi Karen Deitsch

Tuition for Summer 2023: $500
Please contact us if you need financial assistance.

Sample Curriculum:

Week 1: Intro + Community / Mussar / Concepts of Believing, Belonging, Behaving. Mussar Trait: Hiddur Mitzvah

Week 2: Hebrew/Jewish languages / Rabbinic vs. Biblical vs. Modern Hebrew / Learn the aleph bet. Mussar Trait: Savlanut

Week 3: Holy Days I: Shabbat and Weekdays. Mussar Trait: Menuchat HaNefesh

Week 4: Holy Days II: Wheel of the Jewish Year: Fall and Winter Holidays. Mussar Trait: Yirah

Week 5: Holy Days III: Spring and Summer Holidays. Mussar Trait: Hoda’ya

Week 6: L’Havdil/Distinctions: Gender, “The Other”, Denominations, Diversity/Equity/Inclusion. Mussar Trait: Kavod

Week 7: Menshlicheit: How Study and Spiritual Practices Shape a Healthy, Upstanding Life. Mussar Trait: Seder

Week 8: Lifecycle I: Marriage, Birth, Circumcision, Raising Children. Mussar Trait: Nedivut

Week 9: Lifecycle II: Bikkur Cholim/Visiting the Sick, Maturity, End of Life, Afterlife. Mussar Trait: Rachamim

Week 10: Tefilah / Liturgy / Music. Mussar Trait: Tikvah

Week 11: Sacred Text: Oral and Written Part I. Mussar Trait: Anavah

Week 12: Sacred Text: Oral and Written Part II. Mussar Trait: Zerizut

Week 13: Jewish Civilization and History I: Ancient through Enlightenment. Mussar Trait: L’dor v’dor

Week 14: Jewish Civilization and History II: Enlightenment. Mussar Trait: Achrayut

Week 15: Interfaith/World Religions. Mussar Trait: Emet

Week 16: Modern Issues: Holocaust, Israel & Palestine. Mussar Trait: Emunah

Week 17: Jewish Law (Halacha) / Kashrut / Contemporary Jewish Practice. Mussar Trait: Shtikah

Week 18: Jewish Spirituality / Concepts of God / Jewish Thought. Mussar Trait: Bitachon

Week 19: Jewish Mysticism

Conclusion: Siyum – Judaism in Los Angeles: Where Do We Go From Here? Mussar Trait: Tzedek

TUITION $500

Soul Journey/Intro to Judaism is one of several Intro to Judaism classes offered in Los Angeles as a path to conversion and accepted by the Sandra Caplan Beit Din. We welcome everyone into this class, both Jews and Jew-ishly curious. While it is a path for conversion, the class is also just a wonderful way to deepen one’s Jew-ish education. 

Want to learn Hebrew? Here’s a class for you.

Summer 2023 Schedule:

Monday, 6/5

Monday, 6/12

Monday, 6/19

Monday, 6/26

Monday, 7/3

Monday, 7/10

Monday, 7/17

Monday, 7/24

Monday, 7/31

Monday, 8/7

Monday, 8/14

Monday, 8/21

Monday, 8/28

Monday, 9/11

Monday, 9/18

Monday, 10/2

Monday, 10/9

Monday, 10/16

Monday, 10/23

Monday, 10/30

Introduction to Judaism course

Conversion to Judaism Los Angeles