Calendar

The Foundation for Jewish Studies Programs

Holiday Weekend Study Retreats

The Distinguished Scholar Series

Lunch & Learn Bible Study Groups

Bible Study Center

Presidents Day Study Retreat: February 15-16, 2009
Prof. Ed Kaplan, Department of Romance Studies, Brandeis University

Memorial Day Study Retreat: May 24-25, 2009
Prof. Charles Butterworth, Department of Government and Politics, University of Maryland

Labor Day Study Retreat: September 6-7, 2009
Prof. Raphael Jospe, Philosophy Department, Hebrew University of Jerusalem

November 6, 2008
Violence, Peace and the Ethics of Judaism: Ancient Texts and Modern Dilemmas
Prof. Robert Eisen, Director of Judaic Studies, George Washington University

November 13, 2008
Yehudah Amichai: Love’s Melancholy and the Poetry of History
Dr. (and Rabbi) William Cutter, Director of the Kalsman Institute on Judaism And Health, Hebrew Union College-

November 20, 2008
War and the Jewish Tradition
Prof. Michael Walzer, School of Social Science, Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton University

For further course information click here.

New Washington DC Lunch & Learn

Washington DC JCC
1529 16th Street, NW
202-518-9400

January 7, 14, 21, 28, 2009
The Politics of Sexuality in the Bible
Rabbi Toby Manewith

March 3, 17, 24, 31, 2009
From Whence My Help? : Classical and Modern Meaning in Psalms
Sharon Freundel

May 5, 12, 19, 26, 2009
Lessons of a Lifetime: Exploring Jewish Ethical Wills
Rabbi Jonathan Perlman

Downtown Lunch & Learn

The Sixth and I Historic Synagogue
600 I Street, NW.
(Chinatown metro stop on the Red Line)

September 4, 11, 18, 25, 2008
Four Approaches to Interpreting the Torah: Rashi, Ba’al Ha’turim, Malbim, and Aviva Zornberg
Ben Mintz

October 16, 23, 30, 2008
Torah Readings for the Holiday Season: Why We Read What We Read
Rabbi Joel Tessler

November 6, 13, 20, December 4, 2008
King David: The Women of His Life
Rabbi Max Ticktin

January 8, 15, 22, 29, 2009
Genesis: Traditional & Modern Midrash
Rabbi Harold White

February 5, 12, 19, 26, 2009
The Rule of Law in the Books of Esther & Ruth
Nathan Lewin

March 5, 12, 19, 26, 2009
Complex Figures in the Book of Judges
Rabbi Jack Bieler

April 23, 30, May 7, 14, 2009
Too Dangerous for Publication:  Censoring the Bible
Norman Shore

May 21, 28, June 4, 11, 2009
Kabbalistic Origins of Traditional Shabbat & Festival Customs
Rabbi Morris Faierstein

Rockville Lunch & Learn

Jewish Community Center of Greater Washington
6125 Montrose Road
Rockville, MD
301-881-0100

September 3, 10, 17, 24, 2008
Rabbinic Views of Humility and Hubris
Rabbi Jonathan Perlman

THURSDAYS October 16, 23, 30, 2008
Coping Skills in the Bible and Applying them in Today’s World
Aviva Tessler

CANCELLED
October 29, November 5, 12, 19, 2008
The Journey from Sukkot to Thanksgiving
Avi West

November 26, December 3, 10, 17, 2008
Questions that Matter
Erica Brown

January 7, 14, 21, 28, 2009
How Torah Speaks to the Generations: Traditional and Modern Midrash
Rabbi William Rudolph

February 4, 11, 18, 25, 2009
What Happened to Joseph’s Bones and Other Stories from Egypt
Rabbi Michael Safra

March 4, 11, 18, 25, 2009
The Original Top Ten Before David Letterman: Why the Ten Commandments Captured the Imagination of the World
Rabbi Stuart Weinblatt

April 22, 29, May 6, 13, 2009
From Golem to Genome: Jewish Ethics and Artificial Life
Rabbi Jack Luxemburg

May 20, 27, June 3, 10, 2009
Elisha Ben Abuya: The Heretic and His Torah
Rabbi Lyle Fishman

Northern Virginia Lunch & Learn

Jewish Community Center of Northern Virginia (library)
8900 Little River Turnpike
Fairfax, VA
703-323-0880

September 2, 9, 16, 23, 2008
Messengers of G-d by Elie Wiesel
Rabbi Bruce Aft

October 28, November 4, 11, 18, 2008
Hebrew Prophets’ Timeless Teaching: Hosea, Amos, Micah, and Isaiah’s Common Focus
John Rybicki

December 2, 9, 16, 2008
Our Matriarch’s Voices through Midrash
Rabbi David Kalender
Note: Class will be taught from 12:15-1:45 pm

Jan. 13, 20, 27 and Feb. 3, 2009(snow date Feb. 10)
Forgiveness: Biblical and Post-Biblical Tracts About Forgiving Ourselves and Others
Rabbi Rosalind Gold, Emeritus, Northern Virginia Hebrew Congregation

Feb. 17, 24 and March 3, 2009
The Last Lecture of Randy Pauch
Rabbi Bruce Aft, Congregation Adat Reyim

March 10, 17, 24 and 31, 2009 (snow date Apr. 21)
Finding Relevant Lessons for Modern Living in Leviticus
Rabbi Marvin Bash, Emeritus, Congregation Etz Hayim

SPECIAL SUNDAY SERIES
March 15 from 2:00 – 3:00 pm and 3:30 – 4:30 pm
March 29 from 2:00 – 3:00 pm and 3:30 – 4:30 pm
One G-d and the Commandment to Love Him: Deuteronomy 6:4-5
Gideon Amir,Renowned Biblical Scholar

April 7 and 14 No Classes

April 28 and May 5, 12, 2009
The Origins of the Jewish People Part III: Settlement in the Land of Israel
Paul Forbes, Biblical Historian

May 19, 26 and June 2, 2009
“Faith” and “Belief” in Judaism
Rabbi Brett Isserow,Beth El Hebrew Congregation, Alexandria

June 9, 23, 30, 2009 (skip June 16)
Traditional Biblical Stories: Fact or Fiction?
Paul Forbes, Biblical Historian

The Dennis and Phillip Ratner Museum
10001 Old Georgetown Road
Bethesda, MD
301-0897-1518

September 14 – November 23, 2008
Excluding October 12            
Re-Reading the Book of Genesis
Session 1: Creation to Noah
Gideon Amir

December 7 – March 1, 2009
Excluding December 21, 28 and January 18
Re-Reading the Book of Genesis
Session 2: Noah to Abraham
Gideon Amir

March 8 – May 17, 2009
Excluding April 5 and April 12
Re-Reading the Book of Genesis
Session 3: Abraham to Joseph
Gideon Amir