I offer single session, scholar weekends, and series of discussions for churches and civic groups for people who want to learn the basic ideas of Judaism to better know their Jewish neighbors, and to understand how Judaism differs. All sessions are geared to be interactive, open to every question, and respectful with the goal of building bridges among our communities. Some of the more popular sessions include:
Three Stories that Explain Judaism – There are three stories that explain the foundational ideas of Judaism. Once you know them, you can understand the rest! A fun and entertaining way to learn the basics of this ancient tradition.
The Days of Our (Jewish) Lives – Why do Jews circumcise their baby boys? And why at eight days? And, what’s the big deal about a bar mitzvah? This session or sessions follows the lives of two Jews, explaining the lifecycle events embraced by Jewish tradition.
A Jewish Look at Jesus – One of the primary differences between Jews and Christians is their outlook on Jesus. If Jesus was Jewish, why don’t Jews accept him? An honest and respectful conversation about differences in beliefs.
The Seder at the Time of Jesus – Many believe that The Last Supper described in Christian Scriptures was a traditional Passover meal, the Seder. However, the seder described in the closest contemporaneous Jewish text describes a ritual very different from those Jews observe today. Explore this ancient text in English, and wonder whether this was how Jesus observed Passover.