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ALEPHOrdinationProgramTrainingRabbis,RabbinicPastors,Cantors,andSpiritualDirectorsfortheGlobalJewishCommunityP.O. Box 35118, Philadelphia, PA 19128 • Tel 215.247.9700 x210 • www.aleph.org
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INTENSIVESTUDYWEEK5780/2020–AKASMICHAWEEK
SundayJune28toSundayJuly5
ColoradoStateUniversityinFortCollins
• Anamazingopportunitytospendanintensive,spirituallyuplifting,intellectuallystimulatingweekoflearningwithyourfellowAOPstudents.
• StudywithmembersoftheVAADandguestteachers.MeetinformallywiththemandyourDirectorofStudies.
• Surroundyourselfwithconstanthevruta,insmallclassesandinformalgroups.Earn2unitsofcreditforfullparticipationintheweek’slearning.
• Soarwithdailystudent-leddavenen!Signuptoleadorco-lead,andreceivefeedbackonnewapproachesfromALEPHteachers.
SPECIALTHISYEAR§ NEWCONTENTANDAPPROACHESManyoftheclassesofferedthissummerreflectnewcontentandnewapproachestotraditionaltextsdevelopedbyVAADmembersandinvitedguests.§ WEEKDAYDAVENENSmichaWeekisaplaceforexperimentation.Weinviteyoutousethedailydavenenleadershipasaspirituallaboratory.Leadfromyourgrowingedge.Howareyoucalledtoguideacommunityinthedavenenexperience?Weareaskingyoutothinkintermsofdifferentmodalitiesandapproaches,whetherusingthematbeahasyourarchitecturalframeworkorbuildingyourownpathtopresentanexperienceofthedeepstructureofthatmomentofcommunalprayer.Experimentwithmeditation…silence…chantinacontemplativeorecstaticcontainer.Makethebestuseofthislaboratory.Facultywillprovidethefollowingforinspirationandguidance:
• Recommendedreadings:achapterortwoondavenology• Helpfulguidance:ashort,to-the-pointcheatsheetoutliningmatbeahessentials.• Mentoring:Studentdavenencoordinatorwillhavealistoffacultywhoareavailabletomentorthissummer’sweekdaydavenenleaders.Chooseamentorbaseduponthetypeofserviceyouwishtolead.Mentoring,feedback,andevaluationwillcomesolelyfromthementorsyouchoosetoworkwith.
§ ALL-NEWBEITMIDRASHTheSmichaWeekTaskForceandVAADaredesigninganall-newBeitMidrashprogramthatwillbringtogetherstudentsfromallprograms,tostudyconceptsandtextsintroducedbyourfacultyandintendednotforspecificclassesbutfortheentiresummerstudentbody.
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DEADLINEFORREGISTRATION:May28(strictlyenforced!)AllSmichaWeekclasseswillhavepre-retreatassignmentstofacilitatetheintensiveapproachtocompletingallcontentin5days.AllstudentsmustregisterforSmichaWeeknolaterthanThursdayMay28–justbeforeShavuot–sotheyhaveampletimetocompletetheassignments.Thisdeadlinewillbestrictlyenforced.
WHOCANATTENDSMICHAWEEK?
SmichaWeekisopentoordinationstudentsoftheALEPHOrdinationProgramwhoarecurrentlyenrolled,aswellascandidateswhoseapplicationisinprocess.IfyouareacandidateforourRabbinic,RabbinicPastor,orCantorialProgram,aninvitationfromRabbiLeilaGalBerner,DeanofStudents,isprerequisiteforregisteringforSmichaWeek.PleasecontacttheAOPoffice([email protected])ifyouhaveanyquestions.
WHATISTHECANCELLATIONPOLICY?
§ AllbalancesareduebyMay10,2020.§ [email protected].§ CancellationsreceivedbyMay10mayreceiveafullrefund(less$60administrationfeeperperson)§ CancellationsfromMay11to31mayreceivea50%refund.§ CancellationswillnotbeacceptedonorafterJune1.Therewillbenorefundsorexchanges.
WHENTOARRIVE?ANDWHENDOESTHERETREATEND?
§ Plantoarriveattheretreatsitebetween2pmand4pmMountainTimeonSunday,June28.§ APPLICANTS:PleaseplantoarriveintimeforanApplicantsOrientationat3:30pmMountainTime.§ Orientationforallparticipantswillbeginat5pmMountainTime.§ SmichaWeekwillendonSunday,July5at11:30amMountainTime.
HOWTOGETTHERE?DenverInternationalAirportis90minutesbycarfromColoradoStateUniversity(CSU)inFortCollins.ALEPHhasarrangedanexclusivepartnershipwithGroomeTransportationshuttleservice(formerlyGreenRide.)Groomeprovideshassle-freeshuttletransportationfromtheDenverInternationalAirportdirectlytotheCSUcampusinFortCollins.DISCOUNT:GroomeTransportationisgenerouslyprovidingadiscounttoallSmichaWeekandKallahattendees,andthatdiscountcanbeaccessedbyregisteringhere:http://groomefortcollins.hudsonltd.net/res?USERIDENTRY=ALEPH&LOGON=GO%20
HOWTOREGISTER?
§ Thoughtfullyreadalltheinformationbelow,especiallythepartsthataremarked“IMPORTANT!”
§ Toregister,usethisonlineformifpayingtheFULLBALANCE:https://aleph.org/smicha-week-2020-registration-form-for-full-paymentUsethisOTHERformifmakingaPARTIALPAYMENTorapplyingforFINANCIALAID:https://aleph.org/smicha-week-2020-registration-form-for-partial-payment
§ QuestionsregardingprogramandlodgingshouldbedirectedtoSmichaWeek’sorganizers,RabbisNadyaandVictorGross:[email protected]
§ QuestionsregardingregistrationandpaymentsshouldbedirectedtoAOP’sAdministrator,MingShemLu:[email protected]
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Whenyouregister,choose“ArrivalReservations”and,under“Dropofflocation,”usethedrop-downmenu“Hotelsandotherregularpickuplocations”andselect“FC-AcademicVillage.”ThiswilltakeyoutotheAcademicVillage,SmichaWeek’slocationontheCSUcampus.YoucanalsoregisterbycallingGroomeat(970)226-5533andprovidingthecode“ALEPH.”AllquestionsregardingshuttleserviceshouldbedirectedtoGroomeTransportation.Fordrivingdirectionsfromtheairportandotheroriginationpoints,mapyourtravelto:AcademicVillage,ColoradoStateUniversity,FortCollinsDrivingtoSmichaWeek?WehavesetupaRIDEBOARDsothatyoucanshareridesto/fromFortCollins.Clickonthelinkbelowtoaccesstheonlineformwhereyoucanofferorseekarideto/fromtheretreat:https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Gbx3xR9NRsHzswTpQD2IzhIzPMpV30gVyrOcYBtdzk8/edit#gid=0
LODGINGANDFEESSmichaWeek5780willcometolifeonthecampusofColoradoStateUniversityinFortCollins,thesiteofthethreepreviousALEPHKallotandthisyear’sKallah.ParticipantscanchoosefromthreelodgingoptionsintheAcademicVillage–abeautifulstate-of-the-artresidencearea–whichisalsowherealltheactivities(dining,orientations,classes,eveningprograms)willtakeplace.SmichaWeekstudentsandfacultywillbehousedinAspenHall,oneofthethreeAcademicVillageresidencehalls:
• SingleorDoubleRoom:Mostoftheroomsarefurnishedwithtwosinglebeds,twodesksandchairs,wardrobeanddresser.Theroomhasaprivatebathroomwithshower.EachroomcanbeassignedasaDoubleRoom,withtwostudentssharingthespace,ORasaSingle.
• QuadRoom:Additionally,thereareaverylimitednumberofQuadRooms.Thesearefourprivatebedroomswithdesk,chair,wardrobeanddresser,sharingonebathroomandacommonsittingroom.
DiningandAmenities§ Thedininghallkitchenwillbemadekosher,underthesupervisionofRabbiDennisBeck-Berman,andall
mealswillbedairy/vegetarianwithfishoptionsattimes.Vegandietsandotherspecialdietaryneedswillbeaccommodatedtotheverybestofourability.Residencefacilitiesalsohavekitchenswithfull-sizerefrigeratorsforthosewhoneedtobringspecialfoods.
§ Thecampushasgreenspaces,swimmingfacilities,andotheramenities.Allourclasseswillmeetintheresidentialvillage.
§ YouwillneedtobuyaDayPasstousetherecreationcenter.Thepoolandworkoutcenterarestate-of-the-art,clean,andnew.Wewillprovidemoreinformationaboutfeesandarrangementssoon.
Sustainability§ WearedelightedtopartnerwithCSUintheirCommitmenttoSustainability.CSUhasalonghistoryas
oneofthenation’smostsustainableuniversities:“Wecommittobeingresponsiblestewards,activelyengagingourstudents,guests,andstaffinsustainablepracticesandprogramsthatpreservetheenvironment,aresociallyjust,andarefiscallysound.”Tolearnmore:https://housing.colostate.edu/about/sustainability
ONSITELODGINGOPTIONS:Feesincludeprogramtuition,meals,lodging,admincosts,andthe3%T’rumahfee*:
• $2,266–SingleRoom• $2,060–DoubleRoom• $1,957–QuadRoom
NOTE:Dependingonregistrationnumbers,availabilityofSingleRoomsandQuadRoomsmaybelimited.Whenregisteringyouwillbeaskedtoselectafirstandsecondchoiceforlodging.
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COMMUTER(nolodging):Feeincludesprogramtuition,allmeals,admincostsandthe3%T’rumahfee*:
• $1,751-CommuterIMPORTANT!AllSmichaWeekstudentsareexpectedtobeonsiteforshacharit,whichbeginsat7am,aswellasallactivitiesthroughMaariv,whichendsat10pm.StayingoffsiteisNOTanoptiontobetakenlightly.Weseektocreateacommunityofstudentsandfaculty,andwishforthecontainertoremainintact.*Allfeesquotedaboveincludea3%T’rumahFinancialAidFundregistrationfee.InthespiritofT’rumah("gift"or“offering”),everyonewhoparticipatesinanALEPHprogramcontributestotheT’rumahFinancialAidFundviaa3%registrationfee.TheT’rumahfeeenablesALEPHtomakeprogramsfinanciallyaccessibletoasmanyparticipantsaspossible.IMPORTANT!CSUPolicyonMarijuanaandTobaccoUseandPossessionRecreationalmarijuanause,possession,anddistributionisaviolationofUniversityPolicy.Theseactivitiesareillegalforpersonsunder21;forthose21andolder,theseactivitiescannotoccuronanyUniversityproperty.Inaddition,marijuanaobtainedformedicinalpurposescannotbestoredorusedoncampus.AdditionalNOTEonCBDproductsfromSmichaWeekorganizers:CBDproductsthatcontainCBDonlyarelegalandcanbeusedanywhere.However,mostCBDproductsobtainedinColoradohavetracesofTHCandarethereforebannedfromtheCSUcampus.Theuseoftobaccoproducts(includingcigarettes,cigars,vaping,chewingtobacco,etc.)onanylocation(interior/exterior)throughouttheCSUcampusisagainstthestatelaw.CSUPolicyonLostKeysKeysmustbereturnedattheendofoccupancy.Failuretodosowillincura$60feeperkey.NOTE:Whenregistering,allparticipantswillbeaskedtoagreetoandabidebytheabovepolicies.
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OFFCAMPUSLODGINGOPTIONSTherearetwohotelsneartheCSUcampus:HiltonFortCollinsandBestWesternUniversityInn.Bothareaboutan18-minutewalktotheAcademicVillage.Ifyouchoosetostayateitherhotel,pleaseselecttheCOMMUTERoptionatregistration.IMPORTANT!Commutersmustprovidetheirowntransportation.
CANIBRINGMYKIDSORPARTNER?
ChildrenandTeens–LodgingFees
• Room&BoardforChildren(ages5to10)–$600• ChildinRoomwithParent/NOBED(ages5to10)–$300• Room&BoardforAdolescents(11+)–$750
Children’sProgramAsinthepast,wewillprovideaChildren’sProgramifthereisaneed.TheProgramisforschool-agechildren(pre-schoolandup).IMPORTANT!PleaserespondnolaterthanMarch16–ontheregistrationform–ifyouintendtobringyourchild(ren)withyou.ShortlyafterMarch16,wewillnotifyyouofourplan.
• Children’sProgramfee(inadditiontoroomandboard)–$350includessupervisionduringclasshoursandeveningstudyhall.
Infants4YearsorUnderNofeeforchildren4yearsorunder.TheChildren'sProgramisforschool-agechildren(pre-schoolandup).IfyouwillbebringinganinfantwithyouAND/ORyouneedhelpfindingababysitterforyourinfant,pleaselettheorganizersknowbyemailing(withdetailsaboutyourchild/ren)[email protected]’sLodgingFee-$850PartnersarealwayswelcometojoinusatSmichaWeek.Asthereisnospecialprogrammingforpartners,theirfeecoversroomandmealsonly.
FINANCIALAIDFinancialAidisavailableforSmichaWeek,forstudentsenrolledintheAOPwhoexpressademonstratedneed.Toapplyforaid,studentsmustfirstregisterfortheprogram,makingatleasta$100depositforeachpersonincludedintheregistration.Studentsshould,afterregistration,fillouttheFinancialAidApplicationForm:https://fs4.formsite.com/aleph_membership/form23/index.htmlDeadlineforfinancialaidapplicationisApril1,2020.PleaseNOTEthatSmichaWeekfinancialaidisavailableforcurrentAOPstudentsonly.Weregretthat,duetolimitedavailabilityoffunds,noaidisavailableforapplicants.
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MORNINGANDAFTERNOONCLASSESIMPORTANT!StudentsareencouragedtocheckinwiththeirDOSpriortoregisteringforcoursesatSmichaWeek.ApplicantsmayconsulttheVAADmember/directorofstudieswhoistheirmaincontactintheapplicationprocess.Theschedulewillinclude3hoursoflearninginthemorningand3hoursintheafternoon,MondaytoFriday.Eachclassmeetsforatotalof15hoursandincludespre-retreatpreparation.TherewillbeNOpost-SWassignments(thatdeterminecredit-earning)beyondthe15hours.Studentsearn1unitofcreditperclass.Additionally,RabbiStevenSilvernwillofferanearly-morningstudyonceagain.Participationinthisstudygroupmayearnone-thirdcredit,withpermissionfromyourDOS,for5hoursofstudy(full-weekparticipationofonehoureveryday).EARLYMORNINGMISHNAYOTRabbiStevenSilvernAnhourbeforet’fillahthepiouspreparedtopray.Oneofthetraditionalmethodsofpreparationforshacharitwasthelearningofmishnayot.Wewillcontinuethistraditionbylearningtogetherforthehourbeforeshacharit(6amMountainTime).Thisyear’sportionwillbeChapter2ofMasechetShabbat,BaMehMadlikin.Ourmethodwillconsistof:
• readingtheentirechapter;justtoseetheoverarchingideas;• identifyingthemesfromtheoverarchingideas;and• returningtotheindividualmishnayottoseehowtheycontributetothemedevelopmentandtoanalyzedifficultiesusingRabbeinuOvadiyam’Bartenura.
Whilewewillreadandtranslate,Hebrewfluencyisnotaprerequisiteforparticipatinginourmorningstudy/contemplation.YoumaydownloadShabbatchap2here:https://www.dropbox.com/s/ysp5ccvp09uiqxc/Shabbat%202.pdf?dl=1AMCLASSESHAZZANUTMASTERCLASSHazzanJackKesslerForcantorialstudents.Theclasswillincludeimprov,coaching,andworkwithchant.Groupandcustomizedassignmentswillbesentoutlatespring.FEMINISTMIDRASHRabbiLeilaGalBernerCreditArea:TaNaCHSomanyquestions–whatdidEvefeelinGanEden?HowmightSarahandHagarhaveinteracteddifferentlyintheirdifficultcircumstancesaroundthebirthsofIshmaelandIsaac?HowmightRebeccaadvocatedforJacobwithIsaacaroundthebirthrightwithouthavingtohelpJacobfoolherelderlyandblindhusband?WhatabouttherelationshipbetweenRachelandLeah?AndYiftach’sunnameddaughter—whatafate!AndsomanyotherwomenofTaNaCH?Wewon’thavetimeforthemall,butwecannamethem,honorthem,learntheirstories,hearancientandnewvoicesandaddourown.Intraditionalandcontemporarymidrash,inpoetry,insong(anddance?),andbyweavingourownstoriesandmidrashintothefabricofourpeople’slargerstory,wewillstudybiblicalwomentogether.Menareencouragedtojoinus!Thisisn’tawomen-onlyspace!Feminismisforeveryone.Apre-smichaweekassignmentwillbeforthcoming.
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HASIDICTEXTSONSPIRITUALPRACTICERabbiHannahDresnerCreditArea:Kabbalah/HasidutInthesecondhalfofthetwentieth-centuryJewishspiritualseekersbegantofindsatisfactioninHinduandBuddhistpractices,satisfactiontheycouldnot,byandlarge,derivefromtheantisepticandintellectualizedJudaismofpost-HolocaustNorthAmerica.Butbeginninginthe1970’sandintoourcentury,Neo-HassidismhasreintroducedthewealthofauthenticJewishteachingsonmindfulness,silence,idiosyncraticpersonalprayer,song,joy,ecstaticdance,andotherpracticesthatengagethebodyandupliftspirit.WewillimmerseintextsfromthisrealmofJudaism,thespherethatbalancesheadwithheartandmindwithspirit.Alltextswillbeofferedintheoriginal(whetherHebrew,Aramaic,orYiddish)andintranslation.LURKINGBEHINDTHESHADOWISTHELIGHTacourseinrealismwithnoexcusesRabbiVictorGrossCreditArea:JewishThought“Let’sfaceit,mostmodernJewshaveaproblemwithsin.It’snotthatwedon’tdoit,oftenevenenjoyit,andalsorepentfordoingit,butwedon’tliketotalkaboutitmuch…FromModernOrthodoxytoReform,Reconstructionism,andRenewal,welikeourJudaismpositive.” –ShaulMaggidDavidHartmanobservedthattheTaNaCHisbasicallyabookoffailures.ItstartswithAdamandEveandthenCainandAbel,theworldwiththeexceptionofNoah,TowerofBabeletcetc.Maggidcontinuesbynotingthat“IsaacLuriareadscreationasanactofdivinefailure,ofruptureanddevastationthatisourworld…andthedarkworldoftheZoharareobsessedwithsin,failure,andevil,andthemodernMusarMovement’sfocusontikunha-midotimpelsastateoffailurethatpervadesitsviewofhumannature.”Inthiscoursewewilllookbehindtheveilof“positivity”anddevelopanunderstandingofhowtheJewishtraditionunderstandssin,failure,andevil.WewillengagewiththesocialthoughtofErnestBeckerwholookedattheheroiceffortofhumanstodenydeaththatisattheheartofthehumanproblem.Finally,welookatwhatisarealisticwaytoconfront,engagetheseshadowelementsoflife,andlearntolivewellinthisconfoundinguniverse.Pre-Smicha-Weekreadings:DavidBashevkin,Sin•a•gogue:SinandFailureinJewishThought–purchaseandreadinitsentiretySelectionsfromErnestBecker’sworksTheDenialofDeathandEscapefromEvilwillbeprovidedontheMoodlecoursepage.GREATESTHITSFROMTHETALMUDRabbiNatanMargalitCreditArea:RabbinicTextInthisclass,whichisopentoallstudents,wewillsurveysomeofthemostquoted,mostinterestingandmostimportantsugyot(discussions)intheTalmud.Theemphasiswillbeonlearningthecontentanddiscussingtheideas,implicationsandramificationsoftheseTalmudicsugyot.Therefore,whiletheoriginalHebreworAramaictextswillalwaysbeavailableforreference,wewillbeprimarilyworkingfromEnglishtranslations.YoumayfindthatsomeofthesesugyotarecoveredagaininyourregularsemesterRabbinicTextsclasses,butinthoseclassestherewillbemorefocusontheskillsofreadingintheoriginallanguages.Therewillbesomepreparationforthisclass,primarilyintheformofchaptersorarticlesfromcontemporaryscholars.
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PMCLASSESHASHPA’AHVI–GUIDANCEFROMSPIRIT:PERSONAL/INTERCESSORYPRAYERRabbiNadyaGross,RabbiShawnZevit,andRabbinicPastorSandraWortzelThiscourseisthesecondintensiveforstudentsintheHashpa’ahTrainingProgram.Pleasenotethatitisacorerequirementforthetraining,andopenonlytostudentsinthesixthcohort.Theobjectivesforthisintensiveare:
• toenlargethescopeofhowguidanceisfelt,understandingthatwhetheronehasexperiencesofangels,ancestorsorspiritguides,intuition,reasonedclarityoradeepsenseofTruth,theseareallaccesspointsforSpiritwithwhichwemustgaincomfortinengaging;and
• toincreaseasenseofcomfortwithmodesofpersonalandintercessoryprayer,andopennesstoawiderangeofspiritualpossibilities.
Pre-retreatreadingsandreflectionpapertopicwillbesenttothecohortbymid-May.Apost-retreatreflectionpaperwillalsobeassigned.OYWHATAPIYYUTIFULMORNING?OHWHATAPIYYUTIFULDAY!MYSTICALPIYYUTASGATEWAYTODEEPPRACTICERabbiElliotK.Ginsburg,withassistanceofHazzanDianaBrewerandstudentsoftheclassCreditAreas:LiturgyorKabbalah/HasidutPiyyutim,thosealliterativeprayer-poemsofJewishtradition,arehot(atleastincertaincircles!).Chantedatthefestivetable,inShabbatandHighHolidayprayers,atdawnvigils(baqqashot)orinhitbodedut,theyareatoncealiteraryandanembodiedandbreathed,vocalart.SomepiyyutimexpresslongingsfortheBeloved(YedidNefesh),themysticaljoyofShabbat(YahEkhsof),themusicoftheheavenlyspheres(ElAdon),whileothersarestatelyandmysterious(AdonOlam),trance-formative(Le-ḤaiOlamim),ortraceaquietblossomingintodevequt(ElMistater).EspeciallyincontemporaryIsrael,piyyuthasbeenafocalpointforbothculturalrecoveryandedgyexperimentation,asrockersandpaytanim,havecollaborated.PiyyutpracticehasreviveddeepMizrahiandSefarditraditions,anddrawnfromHasidicchant,Arabmaqamandevenkirtan—extendingthemusicalpalettegloriously!Inthiscourse,wewillfocusonahandfulofmysticalpiyyutim,especiallythosethathaveenteredintotheliturgyandcommunalchant.Wewilldecodetheirdeepmeanings,theirperformancecontextandkavvanot,andwilllearnchants(spanningtheJewishworld)thatenlivenandtransformthesemanticmeaning.Inaddition,studentsinthecoursewillhaveaccesstowebsitesthatwillprovidehistoricalandliteraryanalyses,videoandsoundclips,andembodieddimensionsoftheseprayers.Anabe-khoach,YedidNefesh,andAdonha-Selihotwillneverbethesame!NOTE:Therewillbeapre-classreading(andlistening!)assignmentforthisclass.
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PRESENTINTHEMOMENT:RITUALSANDPRAYERFORHEALINGANDLIFETRANSITIONSRabbinicPastorDeHermanandRabbinicPastorTivonaReithCreditArea:KleiKodesh/PracticalRabbinicsAsJewishclergyservingthediverseneedsofourcommunities,weareoftencalledontocreateritualsforlifetransitionsbeyondweddings,funerals,babynamings,andb’neimitzvah.Thesecanincludehealingcirclesorservices,mikvahritualsforloss/grief/celebration,bedsideritualsfortheillordying,ritualsforphysician-aideddying,spontaneousritualsinemergencyroomsorneonatalcenters.Thisclasswillprovideresourcesandofferpracticalskillsindesigningandleadingritualsforhealing,endoflife,andotherlifetransitionsusingdidacticsaswellasexperientialexercisesinalearninglabsetting.LearningObjectives
• Togainawiderunderstandingofwhathealingis,whatitmeans,andhowhealingrelatestothefourworldsofAssiyah/body,Yetzirah/heart,Briyah/mind,andAtzilut/spirit.
• Tounderstandwhatritualis,theroleitcanplayinhealing,andhowtodiscernwithdeeplistening,compassion,andcreativeinsightwhatisneededindifferentsettingsandfordifferentpurposes.
• Toresearch,learnabout,andcreatehealingritualsforlifetransitions,includinghowtocultivateacomfortlevelincreatingandleadingrituals,andhowtoadaptJewishsourcesforecumenicalsettings.
• Tobeginassemblinganindividualtoolkitforcreatingone’sownrituals.• Tosharewithotherclassparticipantsresourcesfromone’sowncollections.
Pre-andpost-Smicha-Weekassignments:Detailstofollow,butpre-SWassignmentswillinclude(1)watchingassignedvideosandexploringrecommendedwebsites,plusassignedreadings;(2)writingareflectionpaperonhealingandritual;and(3)beginningtoassemblearitual“toolkit.”Post-SWassignmentswillinclude(1)writingareflectionpaperonwhatyoulearnedand;(2)creatingyourownritualforapersonaloccasionorneedanddescribingitinwritingorothercreativemedium.ABRAHAM’SJOURNEYOFFAITHASAMODELFORASPIRITUALSEEKERRabbiMarciaPragerCreditArea:TaNaCHItissaidthatasaboy,whenAbrahamrecoiledinhorrorfromtheidolatroustravestythatconsumedthesoulofUr,hewouldlieforhoursintheopenfields,hisinsistentspiritsoaring,interrogatingthestarstrewnsky.Iftheidolswerenotgods,whatthen?Wasgodthemysteriousmoonofnight?Couldthatbe?Yetdawncomesandmoonyieldsskytosun.Perhaps,hethought,wearecalledtoservetheflamingfireofday?Ashelaypressedintotheearth,hissoulsoaringtoheaven,daysandnightsrolledpast.Sun,thenmoon,thensunagain...Knowinggrewinsidehim:No!Notsun,notmoon,noforcethatcanbeseenornamed.Somethinglarger,greater,morepowerful,sourcingallyetfillingall.Notsun.Notmoon.Nottheidolsortheirpriests.OnlyOnePower.OneSource.OneGod!YES!ThiscourseisanintensiveveryclosereadingoftheHebrewtextcomprisingthesagaofAvraham’sjourney.Thereisnosyllabus,otherthanthesequenceofchaptersintheChumash,andthequestionsthattheconstructionofthetextraises.YoumusthaveaChumash/Hebrew-Englishthatyoucanbringandthatyoucanwriteinanduseahighlighterpen.IrecommendbringingtheHertzChumash,notbecauseitisthebestoutthereandnotbecauseithasthemostgracefultranslationeither,butbecauseitisstillasolid“workhorse”Chumash,anditiswhatIwillusetocallpagesandpointoutpatterns.Youwillgetafolioofresourceswewilluseinclasswhenwemeet.
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JEWSONTHEMARGINS:CLASS,GENDER,RACE,ANDPOWERINJUDAISMSPASTANDPRESENTRabbiShulamitThiedeCreditArea:HistoryTorahtellsusthatan“erevrav,”amixedmultitude,wentuptoSinai(Exodus12:38).Nevertheless,mosthistoriesofJudaismplaceEuropeanJewsattheircenterandtellheteronormativestories.Untilveryrecently,AmericanJewishcommunitiesweredominatedbyAshkenaziperspectivesandwhollyexcludedLGBTQ+JewsandJewsofcolor.AshkenaziJewscontinuetobeheavilyinvolvedinJewishcommunitiesonothercontinents,bringingEuropeanandAmericannormstoAfricaandAsiaasstandardsforallJewishpracticeandritual.WhoaretheJews“onthemargins”–pastandpresent?WhatstrugglesdosuchJewscontinuetofaceinanAmericanJewishworldwhichremainsmostlyAshkenaziandheteronormative?OurclasswillaskwhatweourselvesprivilegeandplaceatthecenterofwhatwecallJudaism.InthelightofExodus12:38,wewillaskwhatmakesaholycommunityopentoall,accessibletoall,andhonoringofall.Classmaterialswillincludepodcasts,videos,shortessays,andselectedacademicpieces.ForthreeweeksbeforeSmichaWeekouractivitieswillincludeblogging,writingpoetry(orsong?),andselectingimagesandartworkforaclassglossary.Wewillread,reflect,andshareideasonMoodleaboutthematerials.Wewillidentify,together,theessentialquestionsofthecourse.DuringSmichaWeektherewillbenohomeworkoroutsideclassworkofanykind.
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GUESTTEACHERSMorning:RabbiHannahDresner,MFA,isfull-timespiritualleaderofOrShalomSynagogueinVancouver,Canada.Theshul’sbaseballcapsread:“Vancouver’sSpiritualPlayground.”HannahbelievesitishercallingtoworktowardaJudaismofhead,heartandphysicalbeing,sothatourreligiouslivesaddressthebreadthofourhumanneeds.ShecomestotherabbinatewithanMFAinvisualartfromtheUniversityofChicagoandmanyyearsofexhibitionrecordanduniversityteachinginthearts.HannahhasAOPRabbinicandHashpa’ahordination,hospital-basedClinicalPastoralEducationfromtheUniversityofCaliforniaatSanFrancisco,andreceivedsmichaasaJewishRenewalDayanfromRabbiDanielSiegel.Hannah’shappiestachievementinstudentyearsishercollaborationwithRebElliottobringatraditionofnigguneidevekutandteachingsontheetratzoninthewaninghoursofShabbostothecultureofSmichaWeek.ARabbisWithoutBordersfellowandblogger,HannahwasalsoafellowinthesecondcohortofCLI–CLAL’sClergyLeadershipIncubatorforRabbinicAgentsofChange,isamemberoftheInstituteforJewishSpiritualityHevraya,andisbeginningherparticipationintheKenissaNetwork,havingpresentedatthisyear’sCross-Trainingconference.Hannahlovesgardeningandcookingandswimminginlakes.Sheisarepositoryofoldniggunimandzemirot.
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Afternoon:RabbinicPastorDeHermanreceivedsmichafromtheALEPHOrdinationProgramin2009.SheservedashospicechaplaininWashington,DCfromthenuntilretiringin2019.GraduatingfromtheHashpa’ah(2012)andSage-ing(2016)programs,DehasenjoyedservingasMashpi’ahRuchanitandSage-ingcoursefacilitator.Currently,sheisaDirectorofStudiesforAOP’sRabbinicPastorProgramandspendsmuchofhertimeasaclimateactivistinherhometownofTakomaPark,MD.
RabbinicPastorTivonaReith(she/hers)isaDirectorofStudiesforAOP’sRabbinicPastorProgram.ShereceivedALEPHRPsmichain2012andMashpi’ahRuchanitsmichain2014.Sheservedashospicechaplain/bereavementsupportcoordinatorforasmallruralhospiceinWashingtonStatefrom2010to2015(whichincludedindividualgriefcounseling,bereavementsupportgroups,andmemorialservices)andashospicechaplaininPortland,Oregonfrom2016to2018.Shealsohasaprivatepractice(RiteofPassage)inspiritualdirection,pastoralcounseling,lifecyclerituals,andJungianastrology.Shecurrentlyco-chairstheChevraKavodHaMetinPortland,servingontaharateamsandfacilitatingpost-taharamikvahritualsforvolunteers.ShechairstheBikkurCholim/VisitingtheSickcommitteeandleadshealingservicesatherhomesynagogueinPortland.ShealsoteachesinJewishandinterfaithsettingsonawiderangeoftopics,includingdeathanddying,copingwithsuffering,spiritualityandmentalhealth,Jewishmysticismandmeditation,Psalms,andBuddhismandJudaism.
