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 18-week Global course will run twice during the 2021-22 year by Zoom coupled with one or two Live experiences for participants who live locally. Syllabus and Application form below.
Spring 2022
Begins in March
Fall 2021
Mondays starting October 4
7 – 9pm PST
Instructors:
Rabbi Lori Shapiro
Muriel Dance, PhD, BCC
Rabbi Avivah W. Erlick
Rabbi Janet Madden, PhD
Tamar Frankiel, PhD
Tuition for Fall 2021: $500
Please contact us if you need financial assistance.
Sample Curriculum:
Week 1: Intro + Community / Mussar /Concepts of Believing, Belonging, Behaving. Text: Ruth and Exodus, Mussar Trait: Hiddur Mitzvah
Week 2: L’Havdil/Distinctions: Gender, “The Other”, Denominations, Diversity/Equity/Inclusion, Mussar Trait: Kavod
Week 3: Hebrew/Jewish languages / Rabbinic vs. Biblical vs. Modern Hebrew / Learn the aleph bet, Mussar Trait: Savlanut
Week 4: Menshlicheit: How Study and Spiritual Practices Shape a Healthy, Upstanding Life, Mussar Trait: Seder
Week 5: Lifecycle I: Marriage, Birth, Circumcision, Raising Children, Mussar Trait: Nedivut
Week 6: Lifecycle II: Bikkur Cholim/Visiting the Sick, Maturity, End of Life, Afterlife, Mussar Trait: Rachamim
Week 7: Holy Days I: Shabbat and Weekdays, Mussar Trait: Menuchat HaNefesh
Week 8: Holy Days II: Wheel of the Jewish Year: Fall Winter Holidays, Mussar Trait: Yirah
Week 9: Holy Days III: Spring and Summer Holidays, Mussar Trait: Hoda’ya
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: Modern Issues: Holocaust, Israel & Palestine, Mussar Trait: Emunah
Week 16: Interfaith/World Religions, Mussar Trait: Emet
Week 17; Jewish Law (Halacha) / Kashrut / Contemporary Jewish Practice, Mussar Trait: Shtikah
Week 18: Jewish Spirituality / Concepts of God / Jewish Thought, Mussar Trait: Bitachon
Conclusion: Siyum – Judaism in Los Angeles: Where Do We Go From Here? Mussar Trait: Tzedek
TUITION $500
Fall 2021 Schedule:
Monday, 10/4
Monday, 10/11
Monday, 10/18
Monday, 10/25
Monday, 11/1
Monday, 11/8
Monday, 11/15
Monday, 11/29
Monday, 12/6
Monday, 12/13
Monday, 1/3
Monday, 1/10
Monday, 1/17
Monday, 1/24
Monday, 1/31
Monday, 2/7
Monday, 2/14
Monday, 2/21
Monday, 2/28