Jewish Thought & Life

The historical record is complicated, but critical.  Rabbi Fred (a history major back in the day) can paint the past in broad brushstrokes, or in pointillistic detail; in one session or in many – with special focus on the labor Zionism of A.D. Gordon and Rachel Blaushtein; the complicated nature of what led to and unfolded in 1948; the lyrical and ahead of their time ‘Zionism’ of Abraham Joshua Heschel and Mordecai Kaplan; the painful path to today’s morass; and glimmers of hope.

​Ethics.  Rebuke.  Torah.  Passed-down insight.  Spiritual practice.  Mussar is all this, and more.  It’s a school of ancient thought, and a set of medieval writings; a 19th century proto-psychological innovation; a 20th century yeshiva phenomenon; and a 21st century rebirth and explosion and gift.  In an hour we’ll introduce the main concepts, discover the Ben Franklin connection, and start to map out our own “spiritual curricula.”  You’ll leave wanting more…

​It’s our ancient and modern homeland, and a hotly contested piece of real estate. It’s a people, a land, and a state. It’s at the center of three great faiths, with multiple claims to deep, historic connection. It’s at once the great unifier and the great divider among Jews today. We’ll look at culture, politics, geography, and multiple narratives to surface both perils and promise, and to help clarify our own relationships (however loving, ambivalent, or strained ) with Zion.

 From a traditional extended Mussar Va’ad (ongoing facilitated group exploration of the middot, or inner attributes) to a taste of some of the classic texts (such as Moshe Chayim Luzzatto’s 1740 “Path of the Upright” and Menachem Mendel Leffin of Satanov’s 1812 “Soul-Reckoning”), to a survey of the remarkable rebirth and rebranding of Mussar within liberal pluralistic Jewry – just ask, and Rabbi Fred will tailor a Mussar exploration for your community.

​How do we balance going “with the flow,” and yet “against the grain?”  So much of Torah emerges over and against the prevailing civilizational winds, be they Canaanite or Christian, Muslim or Modern American. Let’s explore Torah’s edge, and its counter-cultural value today.

What does it mean to be Jewish in this time in our history? What does it mean communally, or for you personally? How can we enrich our lives with Jewish connections and practice in myriad ways that feed our spirits, tighten our connections to one another and our values, and raise up sparks of the divine? This class can be custom-designed for particular communities' needs, and is meant to be a sampler platter for those facing questions in their Jewish identity and lives, beliefs and practice.