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Hebrew College

School

Hebrew College

JTH805

Hasidut II: The Hasidic Writings of Rabbi Kalonymos Shapiro

BTI Category

Semester

Judaic Studies

SP26

Rabbi Kalonymos Shapiro (1889–1943) was a Polish Hasidic Rebbe and educator in the first part of the twentieth century. While today he may be best known for his Holocaust-period writings, his educational innovations are important for their astute deployment of pedagogical insights and mystical/meditative techniques, including visualization, guided imagery, and quieting the mind (hashkatah). Known popularly as the “Piaseczner Rebbe,” his approach might be called “Sensitization to Holiness,” stressing the uniqueness of each individual and the invitation to cultivate one’s personal spiritual signature and path to the Divine.
Our class will read selections from all of Rabbi Shapiro’s major works, including the wartime writings originally published under the title Esh Kodesh; his oeuvre on education and cultivating inner states of Hasidic spirituality; and his lofty and powerful pre-war derashot published under the title Derekh HaMelekh.

Professor

Class Day & Time

Rabbi Dr. Nehemia Polen

See notes

See notes

Grades

PF or Audit

Credits

2

Online?

N

Professor Approval Req'd?

N

Prerequisites?

Y

Notes

Tuesdays, February 2nd to May 12th, 9:15 am – 10:45 am

School

Hebrew College

INT519

Introduction to Christianity for Jewish Leaders

BTI Category

Semester

Interreligious Learning

SP26

Introduction to Christianity will focus on the histories, beliefs, and practices of contemporary Christian communities. The intensive course will be include visits to churches in greater Boston, providing students with the opportunity to network with other important actors in the religious landscape and exposure to various expressions of Christianity in Boston. The course will be facilitated by Rev. Dr. Soren Hessler, former Associate Director of the Miller Center for Interreligious Learning & Leadership, and will include guest lectures and workshops led by Christian clergy and religious professionals.

Professor

Class Day & Time

Rev Dr. Soren Hessler

See notes

See notes

Grades

Audit

Credits

0

Online?

N

Professor Approval Req'd?

N

Prerequisites?

N

Notes

Tuesday-Friday, January 20-23, 9:00 am – 4:00 pm (9:00 am – 1:00 pm on Friday 1/23)

School

Hebrew College

EDU850

Foundations Of Jewish Education

BTI Category

Semester

Judaic Studies

SP26

Jewish Education is a practical art that has a theoretical base with application to practice. It has roots in Western industrial schooling as well as traditional pedagogies of teaching and learning in rabbinic antiquity. Recent innovation has drawn upon social, emotional and spiritual modes of learning to redefine Jewish Education for the 21st century. Jewish Education is a vast field including all kinds of schooling, camping, experiential and wilderness learning as well as college campus and adult and community learning. Students will be introduced to relevant theories and key pedagogical methods in the field of Jewish education so that they become familiar with the discourse of the field and can be skilled, innovative and knowledgeable about Jewish teaching and learning. The course incorporates the ways in which ordination students will utilize educational frameworks and approaches in their specific clergy roles.

Professor

Class Day & Time

Rabbi Dr. Michael Shire

See notes

See notes

Grades

PF or Audit

Credits

2

Online?

N

Professor Approval Req'd?

Y

Prerequisites?

N

Notes

Mondays, February 2nd to May 12th, 2:30-4:00 pm

School

Hebrew College

JTH838

Modern Jewish Thought

BTI Category

Semester

Judaic Studies

SP26

This course will explore the writings of major Jewish thinkers living in the modern era and place them in the context of their historical setting. The class will focus on the various ways these thinkers �from Mendelssohn to Buber �understood the dynamic relationship between inherited tradition and modern conceptions of religious life.

Professor

Class Day & Time

Rabbi Dr. Dan Judson

See notes

See notes

Grades

PF or Audit

Credits

2

Online?

N

Professor Approval Req'd?

Y

Prerequisites?

N

Notes

Mondays, February 2nd to May 12th, 2:30-4:00 pm

School

Hebrew College

PHI147

Inroduction to Buddhism for Jewish Leaders

BTI Category

Semester

Interreligious Learning

SP26

This course introduces the foundations of Buddhism in India, integrating doctrinal and meditative traditions while tracing their development through the three vehicles (yanas) throughout Asia. Topics include ethics and wisdom, emptiness and compassion, and the inherent wakefulness of all beings. Special attention will be given to Tibetan Buddhism, which has resonated with Judaism on such a fundamental level, including an introduction to the deity traditions of Tibet. The course will include a map of American Buddhist communities and a discussion of Jewish-Buddhist dialogue, double-belonging, and secular mindfulness. The week will close with a visit to a Boston Buddhist meditation center.

Professor

Class Day & Time

Dr. Amelia Hall and Dr. Judith Simmer-Brown

See notes

See notes

Grades

Audit

Credits

0

Online?

N

Professor Approval Req'd?

N

Prerequisites?

N

Notes

Tuesday-Friday, January 20-23, 9:00 am – 4:00 pm (9:00 am – 1:00 pm on Friday 1/23)

School

Hebrew College

HIS510

Zionism

BTI Category

Semester

Judaic Studies

SP26

In this seminar we will explore the foundational ideas and events of the Zionist movement from its beginnings through the creation of the state. The course will begin by placing Zionism within the wider canvass of late 19th century European history. We will then move through Zionist history in a roughly chronological fashion, looking at the major thinkers of the movement � Herzl, Ahad Ha-am, Kook, Jabotinsky � while also covering the major political events � The Zionist Congresses, the Balfour Declaration, The British Mandate, etc. While this course is not designed to focus solely on the conflict with the Palestinians, the relationship between Zionism and the Arab communities within and around Palestine will be one of our primary concerns.

Professor

Class Day & Time

Rabbi Dr. Dan Judson

See notes

See notes

Grades

PF or Audit

Credits

1

Online?

N

Professor Approval Req'd?

Y

Prerequisites?

N

Notes

Tuesday-Thursday, January 13-15, 9:30 am � 4:00 pm

School

Hebrew College

HBW511

Foundations of Biblical Hebrew 2 _

BTI Category

Semester

Languages

SP26

This course is an intensive introduction to Biblical Hebrew. A basic familiarity with Hebrew is presumed, _including a working knowledge of the major Binyanim. Working in _coordination with the course "Introduction to Reading Tanakh", grammatical concepts will be applied to the decoding _of texts studied in that course. Texts studied may include midrash, rabbinical commentary, and modern Hebrew songs, thereby affording students guidance and practice in reading such texts.

Professor

Class Day & Time

Rabbi Navah L:evine

See notes

See notes

Grades

PF or Audit

Credits

3

Online?

N

Professor Approval Req'd?

Y

Prerequisites?

N

Notes

Tuesdays and Thursdays 2:30 pm � 4:00 pm and Fridays 9:15 am � 10:45 am , February 2nd to May 12th

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