High Holy Day Education Series with Bill Futornick

Rosh

 

Imagine talking to G-d. What would you say? Would those words come naturally? Or would it be difficult to find them when we needed them? Our tradition provides us with just such a vocabulary: the Psalms. As we enter the month of Elul, the time of reflection and self- examination, we will study the ancient words of the Psalms and see how they still talk to us.

We will also study how Psalms work their way into the Machzor (High Holy Day prayer book), lending their text and imagery. The Machzor is a beautifully composed book. Yet too often, we see it as unapproachable. Boring. Meaningless. Not what I believe. Long. It’s too bad. The High Holy Days are our time to rediscover who we are and who we want to be. Too frequently, we miss that opportunity.

This class will hopefully provide the basis for that opportunity. We hope that this will be the basis for the most meaningful Holy Days yet, a time when we connect: with G-d, with our community, with ourselves.

The class will meet with our Ritual Director, Bill Futornick over the course of four weeks at a few different times, beginning the week of August 13.

Your choice:

 

Mondays, August 13, 20, 27; and September 10, at 10:30 a.m.

all in the Beit Midrash (back of chapel)

 

Or . . .

Wednesdays, August 15, 22, 29; and September 5, at 11:00 a.m.

all in the Beit Midrash,

and also 6:30 p.m. in Rabbi Ezray's office. 

 

Advanced registration is not required. The course is free, please join us!

Please join us for an exciting opportunity to study with Rabbi Stuart Kelman!
About Rabbi Kelman
Rabbi Stuart Kelman, PhD, served on the editorial committee that worked for 12 years on the new Conservative mahzor, Lev Shalem.  He is the founding rabbi (now retired) of Congregation Netivot Shalom in Berkeley.  Rabbi Kelman is an accomplished author and sofer, having published articles and books on Jewish education, the Calligraphy of the Classic Scribe, and liturgy.  He currently serves as Dean of the Gamliel Institute, an on-line credentialing course that focuses on Chevra Kadisha work. He is married to Vicky Kelman, a prominent Jewish educator whose focus is Family education.  Together they have 4 children plus spouses, and 6 grandchildren!
Education Series Courses
TUESDAY, September 6: Psalm 27 and the Process of Prayer for the High Holydays.
Each day, from the beginning of Elul through Hoshana Rabbah, Jews throughout the world recite this Psalm.  What is it about this Psalm that offers a challenge, not a solution that caused the rabbis to make this the only prayer that holds the whole season together? And while we’re on the subject, how does the whole season function as a liturgical unit – and how does Lev Shalem convey that message?  
SUNDAY September 18: The Revolution in Conservative Liturgy: It’s not just a new mahzor!
The publication of Lev Shalem marks a turning point in the evolution of liturgical works produced by the Conservative movement in America.  By very briefly looking at the history of Conservative liturgical publications, we begin to appreciate how this mahzor came to be and what potential it holds for the multiplicity of people who attend services on the High Holy Days.  This is not only a prayerbook, but a book for the pray-er to study and seek. 
TUESDAY, September 20: Kol Nidre and Neilah – The Sandwich Services.

Yom Kippur boasts two additional services that provide an envelope at the beginning and the end of the day.  Often, the piyyutim (poems) and inclusions appear to be random and with little or no rhythm or reason for their inclusion.  Perhaps by focusing on ‘how’ these prayers were intended to ‘work’, rather than what they mean we might be able to discover a more spiritual meaning for our saying these words each year.

Preparing Our Hearts for the High Holidays, An Education Series with Rabbi Kelman

 

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