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JUDAISMStart where you are.

Get anywhere you want to go.

All of Medieval Jewish Philosophy in Seven Sessions Dr. Daniel Rynhold Tuesday | 12:30–2:00pm | Oct 16, 23, 30 Nov 6, 13, 20, 27

Contrary to the bad “rep” it gets, the medieval period was Jewish philosophy’s golden age. Focusing on the central philosophical questions of the Middle Ages, explore, in a clear, non-technical fashion, the key questions and concepts that dogged the great medieval Jewish thinkers and commentators and continue to perplex us today.

Structured around themes that form the common “syllabus” of medieval Jewish thought—God and creation, freewill, prophecy, the commandments, divine attributes, immortality—each class will build a debate around a particular topic using the arguments of the chief philosophical figures of the medieval era such as Saadya Gaon, Judah Halevi, and Moses Maimonides. Discover what medieval Jewish philosophy is; find out whether one can rationalize the mitzvot; and investigate the very question of what faith, revelation, and God actually meant to the great medieval Jewish thinkers. You may be surprised.

= DAYTIME

NEW SKIRBALL WEBSITE…COMING SOON!

All of American Jewish History in Seven Sessions Dr. Regina SteinThe Jane Moyse Gilder Course in Jewish History

Wednesday | 12:30–2:00pm | Oct 17, 24, 31 Nov 7, 14, 28 Dec 5

Many Americans subscribe to a belief in “American exceptionalism,” a unique role that America plays in the world. Are American Jews exceptional as well? We will trace the experience of Jews in America from their arrival as refugees fleeing persecution through the challenges and triumphs of life in America. How did Jews attain legal equality? What types of institutions did they create to foster Jewish religion and identity? How did Jews interact economically, politically, and socially with the majority society around them? We will analyze a series of primary sources as we explore highlights of the history of American Jews.

Reading the Hebrew Bible in One YearDr. Diane M. Sharon Wednesday | 6:30-8:00pm | Oct 17, 24, 31 Nov 7, 14, 28 Dec 5

Join us as we survey the entire Hebrew Bible over the course of one year, devoting one semester to each traditional division of the TaNaKh: Torah, Neviim, Ketubim—the Five Books of Moses, the Prophets, and the Writings. Explore the larger issues: who wrote the Bible and when, the changing images of God, and the role of women and non-Israelites, while analyzing finer narrative points. Take advantage of this unique opportunity to become acquainted with the most influential written work in Western civilization.

During this first semester, read selections from the Five Books of Moses (i.e., the Torah), and delve into a sweeping journey from the creation of the universe through the death of Moses, as Israel is poised to enter the Promised Land. Examine the major biblical themes that emerge and develop: Creation and Re-Creation, Rivalry and Chosenness, Promise and Covenant, Purity and Atonement, and Food Taboos.

Skirball 2012 | 3

Year-longCourse!

4 | Fall Courses

Pope John Paul visiting the Western Wall in Jerusalem, 2000

Titus Gate

Sunday SeminarsA Hebrew “Marathon”Michal Nachmany 10:00am–2:00pm | Oct 21

Want to feel more comfortable in the prayer service but feel inhibited because you can’t read Hebrew? Have you been meaning to learn the language but somehow never seemed to have the time? This unique seminar is perfect for you. Come for an intensive Hebrew marathon that will leave you wanting more. Learn the letters and vowels, and by the end of the day you will be reading Hebrew.

From Jerusalem to Rome, and Back: The Golden Menorah of the Arch of Titus RevealedDr. Steven Fine 10:00am–2:00pm | Oct 28

After the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple in 70 CE, the golden menorah and other holy objects were taken to Rome as booty of the First Jewish Revolt. Celebrated by Romans in the Arch of Titus, the menorah—a symbol of profound Jewish loss and hope for redemption— is today emblazoned on the seal of the State of Israel. Follow the path of the menorah throughout Jewish and Christian history, explore medieval and modern urban legends of the menorah’s whereabouts, and become acquainted with the most recent archaeological discoveries.

NOTE: This seminar will highlight recent discoveries, of a team led by Prof. Fine in summer 2012, of the original color of the menorah using the newest technological means.

From Persecution to Partnership: Jewish-Catholic Dialogue in Recent TimesRabbi Ron Kronish, EdD, and Fr. Michael McGarry 10:00am–2:00pm | Nov 4

Join us in studying some of the classic texts in Jewish-Catholic relations of the last half century. Watch the award-winning film I Am Joseph, Your Brother and discuss some of the key issues raised in the film—the history of Catholic anti-Judaism, the problematic period of the Shoah, the relationship of the Catholic Church to Israel, and contemporary Jewish responses. Ask: how has the Catholic Church changed its relationship with Jews and Judaism in recent decades? How have the Jews responded (or not)?

Interested in this seminar? See also “The Holocaust and the Catholic Church,” page 8.

Blurring the Lines Between Holy and Profane: Abusive Leadership from the Pages of the Bible to the Pages of Today’s NewspaperJudy Klitsner 10:00am–2:00pm | Nov 11

How does a religious leader become a predator? How does an abusive leader overcome resistance from victims? Is it possible for a leader to repent once the leadership role has been exploited for personal gratification? The Bible addresses these questions in two very disturbing stories: the story of Judah and Tamar and of David and Batsheva. Note the remarkable similarities between these narratives, and then see how the stories demonstrate troubling problems and patterns that persist until this day.

Pope John Paul visiting the Western Wall in Jerusalem, 2000.

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Jews and Money Rabbi Lori Koffman The Leon Finley Course in Jewish Studies

12:30–2:00pm | Oct 15, 22, 29 Nov 5, 12, 19, 26

Tevye famously claimed against God: “So, what would have been so terrible if I had a small fortune?” With Jews disproportionately represented in the ranks of the wealthiest in the United States relative to their population, what does Judaism have to say about having a small fortune? Or a big one? Is it noble to be poor? Whose money is it anyway? Explore these and other issues and discover whether Jewish tradition would agree with Gordon Gekko that “greed is good.”

Yehuda Amichai’s Religious Quest and Our OwnDr. Anne Lapidus Lerner

6:30–8:00pm | Oct 15, 22, 29 Nov 5, 12, 19, 26

Explore the secular poetry of Israel’s most prominent 20th-century poet as we consider whether it may or may not actually be deeply religious. Discover the ways in which Amichai conveys his questions and doubts in his inimitable poetic voice that often hides layers of meaning under a veneer of simple accessibility. Ask: could a merciful God have created a merciless world? Does God demand sacrifice? Does history inform theology? What does prayer mean? And ultimately, is challenging God a legitimate religious pursuit?

Interested in this course? See also “Stories from Israel and America— Portraits of Jewish Life Today,” p. 8.

Rethinking Religious FundamentalismSara Kviat BlochThe Hortense Jordan Course in Ethics

6:30–8:00pm | Oct 15, 22, 29 Nov 5, 12, 19, 26

Religious fundamentalism is a global phenomenon with vast implications for how we understand religion today. Focusing on Judaism, look closely at selected rituals from

different religious traditions, Jewish, Christian, Muslim, and Hindu, and discuss how religious practices offer a variety of strategies for coming to terms with key themes such as scripture, territory, and sexuality, in peaceful as well as aggressive ways. Ask yourself: is religious fundamentalism only about radical politics and violence?

Minor Prophets—Major Voices for JusticeDr. David Kraemer

6:30–8:00pm | Oct 15, 22, 29 Nov 5, 12, 19, 26

Delve into the teachings of the so-called “minor” prophets (minor only in the size of their books, not in the importance of their messages) who founded the classical prophetic tradition. Read and study the prophecies of the great prophetic revolutionary, Amos, and the personally troubled iconoclast, Hoshea, along with others, and from these teachings, begin to understand the great prophetic voice that shaped Judaism (and the world!) for all time to come.

Interested in this course? See also “Reading the Hebrew Bible in One Year,” p. 3.

Skirball 2012 | 5

Giorgio de Chirico, The Seer / The Prophet

Yehuda Amichai

Pope John Paul visiting the Western Wall in Jerusalem, 2000

Rabbi Shefatiah further said in the name of Rabbi Johanan: “If one reads the Scripture without a melody…of him the Scripture says (Ezekiel 20:25), ‘Moreover, I gave them laws that were not good…’”Babylonian Talmud, Tractate Megillah 32a

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The Kabbalah of Rav Nachman of BreslovMartin Kaufman

The Harrison S. Kravis Course in Jewish Studies

6:30–8:00pm | Oct 15, 22, 29 Nov 5, 12, 19, 26

Even though he died over 200 years ago, Rav Nachman, founder of the Breslov tradition of Chassidism and one of the most remarkable Chassidic teachers that ever lived, still ignites mystical hearts and philosophic minds

today. What was his worldview and how did it unfold from Lurianic Kabbalah? Explore such notions as Ein Sof (infinity),

the Sefirotic system (emanations), Tzimtzum (contraction), and Sh’virat ha Kelim (the breaking of the vessels), and explore

new insights in the psychology of self-alienation, as well as personal ethical actions leading to self-restoration.

Chanting of the Torah: A WorkshopCantor Lori A. Corrsin

6:30–8:00pm | Oct 15, 22, 29 Nov 5, 12, 19, 26

Did you know that Torah has a musical language all of its own? Indeed, chanting the Bible is an ancient art that probably dates back to the days of the Second Temple, when hand-signs were used to indicate different melodies. This chanting system, known as “trop,” is in fact a midrash, adding layers of depth to the biblical text. Learn how to chant as you delve into this ancient grammatical system, guaranteed to add new layers of meaning and beauty to your relationship with Torah.

NOTE: This class is part 2 of a class offered in spring 2012 and assumes some basic knowledge. New students are welcome in consultation with the instructor. Please contact us at 212.507.9580.

Artists’ Beit MidrashRabbi Dianne Cohler-Esses and Tobi Kahn

7:00–9:00pm | Oct 15, 22, 29 Nov 5, 12, 19, 26

Apply your artistic talents to the theme “Light,” as you explore Jewish sources, inspiring you to create new visual commentaries on the ancient texts of our tradition. Now in its eleventh year, the Artists’ Beit Midrash is co-facilitated by a rabbi and a renowned artist whose own work blends modern art with the life of the spirit.

Writers’ Beit Midrash Shelly R. Fredman

7:00–9:00pm | Oct 15, 22, 29 Nov 5, 12, 19, 26

Join a group of creative non-fiction and memoir writers to explore texts that inspire and amaze us, encourage us to wrestle with meaning, and stimulate the connections between our writing and our lives. Engage in discussions that will spur creativity and spark imaginative exchange on the theme “Light.”

NOTE: No professional writing experience is required.

—Brilliance, illumination, splendor, radiance, emanation—Divine Light in a cosmos of darkness is God’s first act of creation. “And God said let there be light and there was light.” On the first day God creates spiritual light that fills the universe, a light which is said to be distinct from physical light. Light is divinity, light is righteousness, light is Torah, light is spirit, and it is reflected in many moments in Jewish history and life—in the fire of the mishkan, in the menorah, in sabbath candles, in a havdalah candle, and most importantly, in the light of a human soul.

Ein Sof (infinity)

Light (ohr)

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All of Medieval Jewish Philosophy in Seven Sessions Dr. Daniel Rynhold

12:30–2:00pm | Oct 16, 23, 30 Nov 6, 13, 20, 27

See page 2 for course description.

Jewish Philosophy and PostmodernismDr. Daniel RynholdThe Robert S. and Kimberly R. Kravis Course in Jewish Studies

6:30–8:00pm | Oct 16, 23, 30 Nov 6, 13, 20, 27

Jewish philosophy has generally been produced by the clash between Jewish worldviews and contemporaneous systems of general thought. Maimonides had to deal with the legacy of Aristotle, Hermann Cohen with the world after Kant. But how can Jewish philosophy deal with the current trend of postmodernism? Postmodernism is almost impossible to define, but all its varieties share a critical stance towards the very ideas of truth and reality, notions that seem essential to religion. Discover whether philosophy has finally outrun Judaism or whether Judaism can—or more importantly should—try to catch up.

All of American Jewish History in Seven Sessions Dr. Regina SteinThe Jane Moyse Gilder Course in Jewish History

12:30–2:00pm | Oct 17, 24, 31 Nov 7, 14, 28 Dec 5

See page 3 for course description.

Spinoza: The Most Famous Jewish Heretic Rabbi Alfredo F. Borodowski, PhD

2:00–3:30pm | Oct 17, 24, 31 Nov 7, 14, 28 Dec 5

In 1656 the Jewish community of Amsterdam excommunicated Spinoza, then aged 23. Since that moment, Spinoza has become one of the most enigmatic and influential Jewish personalities. Was he a lonely rebel or the product of a new cultural trend? How did he read the Bible? Who was his God? What are the fundamental principles of his philosophy? Debate all these, learn the roots of his radical thought, and decide whether we, today, are Spinoza’s disciples or on the side of his excommunicators.

NOTE: See page 8 for alternative time.

Myth in Religion, Science, and History: Uses and MisusesDr. Neil GillmanThe Hans A. Vogelstein Course in Jewish Studies

6:30–8:00pm | Oct 17, 24, 31 Nov 7, 14, 28 Dec 5

To most laypeople, a myth is a fiction. To academicians, it is an imaginative structure used to impose meaning on a complex set of data. There are historical myths (JFK, Abe Lincoln), scientific myths (Freud’s description of the psyche), and, of course, religious myths (the creation myth in Genesis). Myths generate liturgies and rituals (the Passover seder), and sustain communities. But what if some of them are indeed fictions? Join us in this wide-ranging inquiry into myth that may lead you to a new understanding of what is “true.”

“Simplifying to the extreme, I define postmodern as incredulity toward metanarratives.” Jean-François Lyotard, The Postmodern Condition: A Report on Knowledge

“A myth is living or dead, not true or false.”

Alasdair MacIntyre

Baruch de Spinoza (1632–1677), portrait, ca. 1665

The purported portrait of Maimonides from which all modern portraits are derived, Blasio Ugolini (presumed)

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Reading the Hebrew Bible in One YearDr. Diane M. Sharon

6:30–8:00pm | Oct 17, 24, 31 Nov 7, 14, 28 Dec 5

See page 3 for course description.

Stories from Israel and America—Portraits of Jewish Life TodayAnne RoipheThe Pincus Family Course in Jewish Studies

6:30–8:00pm | Oct 17, 24, 31 Nov 7, 14, 28 Dec 5

Discuss Amos Oz’s Scenes from Village Life and Nathan Englander’s What We Talk About When We Talk About Anne Frank, two collections of short stories that tell us about Jews as they really live today and the ways in which history has made its claim on their fate. In addition, we will take a look at Sherwood Anderson’s Winesburg, Ohio, and delve into the various ways in which all three books explore failure and missed opportunities while turning a cool eye on unruly passion, presenting us with unique snapshots of the human spirit.

Interested in this course? See also “Yehuda Amichai’s Religious Quest and Our Own,” p. 5.

Spinoza: The Most Famous Jewish HereticRabbi Alfredo F. Borodowski, PhD

6:30–8:00pm | Oct 17, 24, 31 Nov 7, 14, 28 Dec 5

See page 7 for alternative time and course description.

The Holocaust and the Catholic ChurchDr. Ariella LangThe William Rosenwald and Ruth Israels Rosenwald Course in Contemporary Jewish History

6:30–8:00pm | Oct 17, 24, 31 Nov 7, 14, 28 Dec 5

The role of the Vatican during the Holocaust has generated immense debate. Did the wartime pope, Pius XII, do enough to save the Jews? Would his predecessor, who died at the outbreak of the war, have done things differently? Did the Vatican’s actions support the convents and monasteries that hid Jews, or did men and women who hid Jews do so independently? What was the Vatican’s role in aiding Nazi escape following Germany’s defeat? Explore these and other debates surrounding the Catholic Church during the Holocaust.

Interested in this course? See also “From Persecution to Partnership: Jewish-Catholic Dialogue in Recent Times,” p. 4.

(above) An early engraving of philosopher Spinoza, captioned in Latin, “A Jew and an Atheist. “ New York Public Library Archives. (below) Pope Pius XII portrait and signature

COMING IN WINTER 2013

“What I am trying to say, whether you want to take it seriously or not, is that you can’t build Judaism only on the foundation of one terrible crime. It is about this obsession with the Holocaust as a necessary sign of identity . . . . ” Nathan Englander, What We Talk About When We Talk About Anne Frank.

“All night long, poisonous vapors blow in from the green swamp. A sweetish smell of decay spreads among our huts. Iron tools rust here over night, fences rot with a damp mold, mildew eats at the walls . . . . The very soil bubbles.” Amos Oz, Scenes from Village Life.

Skirball 2012 | 9

Early Morning Talmud Rabbi Ysoscher Katz

7:15–8:45am | Oct 18, 25 Nov 1, 8, 15, 29 Dec 6

Throughout the world, numerous groups of Jews studying the daf yomi (daily page of Talmud) have just celebrated the completion of a seven-year cycle of studying the entire Talmud. This fall, these groups will again begin this cycle with the first tractate of the Babylonian Talmud, masechet Brachot (“Blessings”). We will join them.

Traditional Jewish life calls for all kinds of brachot: on food and drink, on experiencing something new, on mundane ritual acts, and even upon hearing about an individual’s death. Explore the philosophical underpinnings of these blessings as well as their practical observance, and discover how the Rabbis used the blessing to create a society that is fastidious yet not fanatical.

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Be a pioneer of meaning. If you’ve ever wondered… What do I do with what I have learned?How do I translate knowledge into meaning?How do I create a relevant, life-changing Jewish practice? … Join us for a unique workshop beginning in the winter semester (January 2013). Interested? Contact JewishVIA@adultjewishlearning.org.

Discover the power of combining

Jewish wisdom with the

contemporary insights of positive

psychology. In the course of

7 unique weekly meetings,

each participant will have an

opportunity to take the VIA

Inventory of Strengths Survey and

receive a personalized assessment

of his/her strengths. Then, based

on what we discover, together

as a group we will develop

best practices and theological

frameworks for a Judaism that

expresses the best of us.

Breaking Ground

Donna Mayerson, PhD • Director of Applied Practice at the VIA Institute Neal H. Mayerson, PhD • Chairman, the VIA InstituteRabbi Alfredo F. Borodowski, PhD • Executive Director of The Skirball Center

Judaism and Character Strengths Workshop

COMING IN WINTER 2013

www.viacharacter.org

10 | Fall Courses

SARA KVIAT BLOCH was born and raised in Copenhagen and studied cultural anthropology and religious studies at the University of Copenhagen and the University of California, Santa Barbara. Her work focuses on contemporary Judaism, religion and material culture, and the intersection of popular culture and religion. Sara has served as coordinator and lead interviewer for the Shoah Foundation. Among her published works is a book on Jewish life in Denmark and a study guide to the field of religion.

RABBI ALFREDO F. BORODOWSKI, PhD, is the Executive Director of The Skirball Center for Adult Jewish Learning. Previously, he served as Executive Director of The Hartman Institute—North America. Alfredo was ordained as a rabbi by the Seminario Rabinico Latino Americano and received an MA in Rabbinic Literature and a doctorate in Jewish Philosophy from JTS. He also holds a law degree from the University of Buenos Aires. He published Isaac Abravanel on Miracles, Creation, Prophecy, and Evil in 2003 (Peter Lang Press).

RABBI DIANNE COHLER-ESSES is the first woman from the Syrian Jewish community to be ordained. Ordained by JTS, she has been an educator and administrator for multiple pluralist institutions including CLAL, the Bronfman Youth Fellowship, The Curriculum Initiative, and UJA Federation. In 2007 she was named one of the fifty top rabbis by the Washington Post online. Currently she teaches, consults, and lectures widely as well as writing regularly on Jewish values and family life, Jewish ethnicity, and Judaism and disabilities.

CANTOR LORI A. CORRSIN has been cantor and music director of Temple Emanu-El since 2004. Born in Detroit, Cantor Corrsin received a bachelor’s in music from the University of Michigan and a master’s in sacred music from Hebrew Union College–Jewish Institute of Religion. She was invested as a cantor in 1992. A soprano, Cantor Corrsin has sung throughout North America, Europe, and Israel. She is a published composer and recording artist with Transcontinental Music Press.

DR. STEVEN FINE, professor of Jewish history at Yeshiva University and director of the YU Center for Israel Studies, is a cultural historian who specializes in Jewish history in the Greco-Roman period. His work focuses on the literature, art, and archaeology of Judaism during the Talmudic period, and the ways that modern scholars have interpreted the Jewish past. To learn more about the Arch of Titus Digital Restoration Project, visit http://yu.edu/cis/activities/arch-of-titus.

SHELLY R. FREDMAN teaches writing at Barnard College. She received an MFA from Washington University and has taught at the University of Missouri–St. Louis Honors College. Her work has appeared in Best Jewish Writing 2002, First Harvest, the Chicago Tribune Magazine, Lilith, and a number of anthologies and literary magazines.

DR. NEIL GILLMAN is Professor Emeritus of Jewish Philosophy at JTS. A world-renowned thinker and teacher, Neil is the author of several seminal books on Jewish theology, most recently Doing Jewish Theology: God, Torah and Israel in Modern Judaism (Jewish Lights Publishing, 2008).

TOBI KAHN is an internationally acclaimed painter and sculptor whose work has been shown in over 40 solo exhibitions and over 60 museum and group shows. He is the cofounder of Avoda Arts and has taught at the School of Visual Arts in New York since 1985.

RABBI YSOSCHER KATZ is the Director of the Beit Midrash Program at Yeshivat Chovevi Torah and the Director of Judaic Studies at the Luria Academy. He received ordination in 1986 from Rabbi Roth, dayan of UTA Satmer. Rabbi Katz studied at Brisk and at Yeshivat Beis Yosef, Navaradok and is a graduate of the HaSha’ar Program for Jewish Educators. He lectures widely and teaches adult education classes in numerous venues. He was a leading teacher of a daf yomi class in Borough Park for over eight years.

MARTIN KAUFMAN was educated at Yeshiva University and New York University’s Graduate School of Business Administration. He was Chairman and CEO of Philipp Brothers, formerly one of the world’s largest commodity trading companies, and is currently a global consultant to entities in the financial and natural resource sectors all over the world. Mr. Kaufman has lectured extensively in numerous adult education programs in the New York area.

JUDY KLITSNER is a senior faculty member at the Pardes Institute for Jewish Studies in Jerusalem, where she has taught courses in Bible and biblical exegesis for nearly two decades. She lectures widely to diverse and multidenominational audiences in Israel, the U.S., and Europe and is the author of the recent groundbreaking book, Subversive Sequels in the Bible: How Biblical Stories Mine and Undermine Each Other (Jewish Publication Society, 2009).

RABBI LORI KOFFMAN is the Founder and Director of Mamash, an organization that engages Jews in the intersection of daily life and Jewish thought and tradition through its customized Mamash Groups and its Mamash Minutes, making Judaism accessible and relevant and providing people with Jewish community. Among other institutions, she taught at the 92nd Street Y and the Pelham Jewish Center. Rabbi Koffman received her rabbinic ordination from JTS, where she also earned an MA in Midrash. Prior to attending JTS Rabbi Koffman spent 19 years working on Wall Street.

Faculty Pictured left to right, beginning with top row

Skirball 2012 | 11

DR. DAVID KRAEMER is Professor of Talmud and Rabbinics at JTS, where he is also Joseph J. and Dora Abbell Librarian, overseeing the greatest collection of Judaica in the Western world. Among his many publications is his recently published Jewish Eating and Identity Through the Ages (Routledge, 2008).

RABBI RON KRONISH, EdD, is Founder and Director of the Interreligious Coordinating Council in Israel (ICCI) and Director of the Jerusalem Center for Jewish-Christian Relations. He has lectured to a wide variety of Jewish, Christian, and interreligious groups and was a scholar-in-residence in universities, synagogues, and communities across the United States, Canada, Europe, and the Far East. Rabbi Kronish is the editor of Towards the Twenty-first Century: Judaism and the Jewish People in Israel and America, and has edited two books of essays: Toward the Third Millennium and Pilgrimage in a New Millennium.

DR. ARIELLA LANG has a PhD in Italian Studies from Columbia University. She has taught at both Barnard College and Rutgers University, and her interests include Vatican-Jewish relations, Holocaust studies, and the relationship between religion and national identity. She has published a number of articles in these areas, and her book, Converting a Nation: A Modern Inquisition and the Unification of Italy, was published in 2008. She currently works at the Institute for the Study of Human Rights at Columbia University.

DR. ANNE LAPIDUS LERNER is an emerita member of the faculty at Jewish Theological Seminary, a Research Associate at the Hadassah-Brandeis Institute at Brandeis University, and a frequent scholar-in-residence at synagogues across the country. Her interest in the “afterlife” of sacred texts is at the core of her most recent highly acclaimed book: Eternally Eve: Images of Eve in the Hebrew Bible, Midrash, and Modern Jewish Poetry.

DR. DONNA MAYERSON, Director of Applied Practice at the VIA Institute, is a licensed psychologist and earned her master’s degree in special education. She was formerly coaching director of Hummingbird Coaching Services, now Humana. She is a certified coach who has used her deep knowledge of the VIA strengths as a framework for individual and organizational change with hundreds of education administrators and teachers, with leaders of youth-serving organizations, in training coaches/practitioners, and with individuals and families.

DR. NEAL H. MAYERSON received his PhD in clinical psychology from the University of Utah. He worked in hospital, community mental health, and private practice settings for 15 years as a psychotherapist. In 1992, Dr. Mayerson was named president of the Manuel D. and Rhoda Mayerson Foundation, a private family foundation. He is a founder of Hummingbird Coaching Services, a pioneer in the delivery of online coaching services, now Humana.

FR. MICHAEL McGARRY has been involved in Jewish-Christian relations for many years. He served in many pastoral, academic, and advisory settings such as rector of St. Paul’s College in Washington, DC, Holy Spirit Parish, the Catholic Parish at the University of California, Berkeley, and the Tantur Ecumenical Institute in Jerusalem. He is currently the President of the Paulist Fathers. Among his publications are Christology after Auschwitz and (with Yehezkel Landau) Pope John Paul II in the Holy Land.

MICHAL NACHMANY is a graduate of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Michal has taught liturgical, biblical, and modern Hebrew for more than 20 years at synagogues and other institutions throughout New York City.

ANNE ROIPHE is the author of 18 books, fiction and non-fiction, most recently Art and Madness: A Memoir of Lust Without Reason. She is a columnist for the Jerusalem Report.

DR. DANIEL RYNHOLD serves as Associate Professor of Modern Jewish Philosophy at the Bernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies, Yeshiva University, having previously held a post at King’s College London since 2001. Educated at the universities of Cambridge and London, Daniel was a fixture on the adult education circuit in the United Kingdom, and is the author of Two Models of Jewish Philosophy: Justifying One’s Practices and An Introduction to Medieval Jewish Philosophy (2009).

DR. DIANE M. SHARON is a member of the faculty in Bible at the Academy for Jewish Religion. She has taught at JTS, Fordham University, General Theological Seminary (Episcopal), and other institutions of higher learning. Her area of expertise is the Hebrew Bible in its context in the ancient Near East, comparative religion, and women’s studies.

DR. REGINA STEIN has taught for the Wexner Heritage Foundation, CLAL, and the Bronfman Youth Fellowships in Israel, as well as the Academy for Jewish Religion, JTS, Temple University, and the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem. She is formerly the National Director of the Hadassah Leadership Academy.

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Letter from the Executive Director

The 70 Faces of the New York Torah

I magine that the Torah was a castle. How many entry gates would have been built to enter it? The sages imagined seventy entry gates. The Midrash Bamidbar Rabbah

(13:15) teaches: “There are seventy faces to the Torah; turn it around and around for everything is in it.”

Traditionally, this source has been understood to signify the interpretative flexibility and inextinguishable wisdom of the Torah. A typological number (a number that carries special meaning*), seventy entails perfection. In this case, it symbolizes multiple paths and interpretative methodologies; there is always a way to rework the sacred text. New dilemmas unlock another “gate” to the text from which all answers could be extracted. But does sacredness remain exclusively and exhaustively “embedded” within the confines of the text? Is life “unable,” on its own terms, to find its own sacred dimension outside of the sacred parchment?

Writing to you as those who love the Torah as the people-centered account of the Jewish people’s search for, and encounter with, the Holy, I venture to share an alternative view of the seventy faces and the idea that “everything” is in the Torah.

I see no need to appeal to symbolic interpretations when referring to the “seventy faces of the Torah. ” I read it literally. “Faces” should not be exclusively seen as facets, methodologies, or approaches; “faces” could also mean just that: faces. Human faces—the faces of people, their lives, their journeys. It is that experience which endows the Torah with its inextinguishable wisdom. In that manner, text and life intermingle, mutually nourishing each other.

With that spirit in mind we selected this year’s series of kaleidoscopic photos for our cover. Each portrait, each photo, represents a journey. Seemingly disconnected, yet forming a chaotic collage, each one of them is a gate. Behind each face there is a Torah. We would like to invite you to add your picture to our Skirball album of

meaning and search. Over 1300 students joined us last year. Each one brought a particular Torah. Each one opened a new path that only his/her inimitable experience could offer.

Welcome back!

*For instance, seventy souls descended to Egypt, seventy elders were chosen by Moses, and the same number later made up the Sanhedrin; seventy nations populated the rabbinic world.

— Rabbi Alfredo F. Borodowski, PhD Executive Director

Skirball 2012 | 13

Leadership CircleVicki AbramsRobert Baum Sonia Simon CummingsSheila FosterDr. Neil GillmanEdward KersonCarol LevyTed LevyRobert SchwalbeMarcia Waxman

T he Skirball Center links people to Jewish study that is relevant and

meaningful. For many, Jewish study is the primary way of expressing their

Jewishness. At Skirball we are creating a Jewish home for adults of all ages

and backgrounds who share in Judaism’s passion and enthusiasm for learning.

General Information

TO CONTACT US Phone 212.507.9580 Fax 212.570.0826 Email info@adultjewishlearning.org Web adultjewishlearning.org

YOU MAY REGISTER BYPhone, fax, or online. Registration form and payment can also be sent to: Skirball Center One East 65th Street New York, NY 10065

PAYMENT INFORMATIONChecks should be made payable to: Skirball CenterWe accept: MasterCard VISA American Express Discover

Getting There

By Bus: M1, M2, M3, M4, M18, M66, M72

By Subway: N/R/Q 5th Ave./59th St.4/5/6 59th St. or 68th St./Hunter CollegeF Lexington Ave./63rd St.

ScholarshipsLimited scholarships are available. ContactThe Skirball Center to inquire. All inquiriesremain strictly confidential. If you would liketo contribute to our scholarship fund, pleaseindicate so when you register.

Refund PolicyFor ongoing classes, a full refund may be requested after the first Fall class meeting. After the second class, a credit of 75% will be given that may be used towards any course and is good for one year. No credit will be given after the third class. No refunds will be given for Sunday Seminars.

All classes take place at 10 East 66th Street, except for Sunday Seminars, special lectures, and “Early Morning Talmud,” which take place around the corner, at One East 65th Street.

Cancellation Policy and Missed ClassesThe Skirball Center reserves the right to cancel courses for insufficient enrollment. Tuition cannot be pro-rated if you cannot attend all class sessions. The Skirball Center is unable to record class sessions that you miss. Please arrange to borrow notes or have a classmate record the class for you, instead. Photocopies of hand-outs from missed classes will be provided in person or via mail, upon request, and without charge.

Library PrivilegesAll students enrolled in a 7-week Skirball Center course have borrowing privileges for one year at the Ivan M. Stettenheim Library, Congregation Emanu-El’s own extensive collection. For information including hours call 212.744.1400, ext. 361, or visit www.emanuelnyc.org/library.

For the Visually Impaired The Jewish Braille Institute can make it possible for any visually impaired or blind person to participate in courses at The Skirball Center. Given reasonable lead time, JBI can prepare relevant reading materials in the appropriate format. For more information or to volunteer in the JBI studios call 800.433.1531.

Administration Rabbi Alfredo F. Borodowski, PhD, Executive DirectorRabbi Yael Shmilovitz, Program DirectorMichele Davison, Office Manager/Registrar

Advisory CouncilDr. Steven BaymeRoger BennettDr. David GordisDr. Frances GottfriedDr. Lisa GrantDr. Michelle Lynn-SachsDr. Kerry OlitzkyDr. David M. PosnerFred RosenbaumDr. Robert SeltzerBarry ShrageDr. Ronald B. SobelLeah StriglerMarcia Waxman

SUNDAY

Registration

Discounted early registration fees are highlighted below.

Early registration must be received BY SEPTEMBER 20.

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

PLEASE FILL OUT THE INFORMATION BELOW:

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PAYMENT METHODCheck off payment method.

Send form to: Skirball Center One East 65th Street New York, NY 10065

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DISCOUNTS Tuition reductions may not be combined. Discounts do not apply to 1-day events. Please indicate which discount, if any, applies.

An individual registering for more than one full-semester course: take 20% off each additional course

Members of Temple Emanu-El: take 15% off each course

Senior citizen (age 65 and older): take 10% off each course

Age 30 and below: take 10% off each course

TOTAL COST OF COURSES:

$ (discounts do not apply to 1-day events)

Yes, I want to support Jewish

learning at The Skirball Center.

Enclosed is my tax-deductible

contribution in the amount of

$

TOTAL ENCLOSED Cost of classes (above)

PLUS contribution:

$

NO

DIS

CO

UN

TS A

PP

LY

4 A Hebrew “Marathon” Nachmany $60 F101

4 From Jerusalem to Rome, Fine $60 F102 and Back: The Golden Menorah of the Arch of Titus Revealed

4 From Persecution to Partnership: Kronish/ $60 F103 Jewish-Catholic Dialogue in McGarry Recent Times

4 Blurring the Lines Between Holy Klitsner $60 F104 and Profane: Abusive Leadership from the Pages of the Bible to the Pages of Today’s Newspaper

5 Jews and Money Koffman $240 $270 F201

5 Yehuda Amichai’s Lerner $240 $270 F202 Religious Quest and Our Own

5 Rethinking Religious Bloch $240 $270 F203 Fundamentalism

5 Minor Prophets— Kraemer $240 $270 F204 Major Voices for Justice

6 The Kabbalah of Kaufman $240 $270 F205 Rav Nachman of Breslov

6 Chanting of the Torah: A Workshop Corrsin $240 $270 F206

6 Artists’ Beit Midrash Cohler-Esses/ $290 $325 F207 Kahn

6 Writers’ Beit Midrash Fredman $290 $325 F208

7 All of Medieval Jewish Rynhold $240 $270 F301 Philosophy in Seven Sessions

7 Jewish Philosophy and Rynhold $240 $270 F302 Postmodernism

7 All of American Jewish Stein $240 $270 F401 History in Seven Sessions

7 Spinoza: The Most Famous Borodowski $240 $270 F402 Jewish Heretic (2pm)

7 Myth in Religion, Science, Gillman $240 $270 F403 and History: Uses and Misuses

8 Reading the Hebrew Sharon $240 $270 F404 Bible in One Year

8 Stories from Israel and America— Roiphe $240 $270 F405 Portraits of Jewish Life Today

8 Spinoza: The Most Famous Borodowski $240 $270 F406 Jewish Heretic (6:30pm)

8 The Holocaust and the Lang $240 $270 F407 Catholic Church

9 Early Morning Talmud Katz $240 $270 F501

MONDAY BYSEPT 20

AFTERSEPT 20

page class title faculty tuition code

I want to make it possible for students with financial need to attend The Skirball Center.

Enclosed is my contribution to the Scholarship Fund in the amount of $ _____________.

My gift is in memory/in honor of _____________________________________________

Please notify _____________________________________________________________ name

_____________________________________________________________ address

Thank you! These friends and students have made generous

contributions to The Skirball Center for Adult Jewish Learning.

Because ideas can transform us. Because Jewish texts belong to each and every one of us. Because we need not take our texts literally in order to take them seriously. We need your support.

Please use this form to send a contribution to The Skirball Center.One East 65th Street, New York, NY 10065 | Or donate online at www.adultjewishlearning.org

Endowment for Our Future

Anonymous

Thomas Epstein*

Leon Finley*For the Leon Finley Course in Jewish Studies

Richard Gilder For the Jane Moyse Gilder

Course in Jewish History

Charles and Carol GrossmanFamily Fund—NYCT*

Josephine C.S. Jordan* For the Hortense Jordan

Course in Ethics

Henry KravisFor the Robert S. and

Kimberly R. Kravis Course in Jewish Studies; and the Harrison S. Kravis Course in Jewish Studies

Lionel I. Pincus*For the Pincus Family Course

in Jewish Studies

William Rosenwald*For the William Rosenwald

and Ruth Israels Rosenwald Course in Contemporary Jewish History

The Skirball Foundation

John VogelsteinFor the Hans A. Vogelstein

Course in Jewish Studies

The Women’s Auxiliary of Temple Emanu-ElIn honor of Dr. Ronald B. Sobel

* of blessed memory

Annual Support for Our Program

Contributions made between June 1, 2011, and May 31, 2012

Leaders ($50,000–$100,000)AnonymousThe Skirball Foundation

Benefactors ($10,000–$49,999)AnonymousEdward Kerson*The Nathan Cummings

FoundationThe Charles and Carol

Grossman Family Fund

Sustainers ($1000–$9999)William and Vicki Abrams Steve and Jo Chaleff Neil and Juliet Cooper James and Susan DubinIrwin HochbergMichael and Lenore HyattTed and Carol Levy Michael and Anita Malina Maytex Mills, Inc.Shelly and Donald Meltzer Painted Flower Fund Fred and Ronni Pressman Ethel Romm The Max J. and Winnie S.

Ronsenshein Foundation, Inc.Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Stone The Julius Stulman

Foundation

Supporters ($500–$999)Stephen Dubner First Clearing, LLCFrank and Carol GreenbergFrances Hess Dr. Ralph and Jessica Kaslick Rosalind Pretzfelder Dr. Robert and Jane Schwalbe Howard and Phyllis Schwartz Dr. Ronald and Joanne SobelRobert and Marcia Waxman

Friends ($100–$499)Harold Anfang Rabbi Isidoro and Prof. Edna

Aizenberg Judith Bardack Robert and Jane Baum Michael Blumenstein Howard EdelsteinBettijane Eisenpreis Tobette Feinberg Beth Flusser Deborah Fogarty Malcolm and Sheila Foster Larry and Lisa Frankel Saul Kaiserman and

Elizabeth FreirichEllen French Mrs. Richard Glickman Judith Hannan Mark H. Heutlinger and

Bonnie Cutler Mr. and Mrs. Henry Jason Susan Kaplow Earle and Judith KazisDr. David Kingsley Barak KleinGail Koster Lynda Maer Patrick Moriarty Dasee Berkowitz and

Rabbi Leon Morris Edgar and Ruth Nathan National Contact Industries, Ltd.Nancy Olnick Arthur and Marilyn Penn

Charitable Trust Judith Princz David Rheingold Dr. Lee Robbins Norma Rosen Anne Lisa Rotenberg David and Charlotte Rozensweig Viviane Sallay Alan Samuels Jane Schogel Dr. Arthur and Myrna Schore Rabbi Chain Seidler-FellerEvelyn Musher Shechter Ellie Silk Dr. Katryn Chava Silver Arlene Sokolow Ronnie Steinkoler Dr. Nellie Szlachter Marian Warden Judith Ruth Weber Rona Weinstein Alvin Weiss Gordon Mehler and Ariel Zwang

Skirball students (between 2011 and 2012)

Who studies at Skirball?Women and men.

“I’m just a Jew” Jews. Non-Jews. Secular Jews. Twenty-five

year olds, eighty-five year olds. Forty year olds and

sixty year olds. Straight Jews and gay Jews. Atheists, theists,

agnostics. Manhattanites and Brooklynites.

“I’m from Queens.” “The Bronx.” “Jersey.” Israelis,“Long Island.”

Canadians, Germans, Brits. Hebrew-speaking Jews,

Russian-speaking Jews, Yiddish-speaking Jews. Seasoned

learners. “I haven’t…since my Bar Mitzvah!”

Jews who say: “I want to learn.”

Congregation Emanu-El of the City of New YorkOne East 65th Street | New York, NY 10065

Visit www.adultjewishlearning.org for additional information.

Cover photos: © Fred Grinsteinfredgrinstein.com

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