CJLL Fall Brochure 2012

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ON THE COVER: RED BEARDED MAN

BY SHRAGA WEIL

LEARNING

C U R I O U S A B O U T T H E M E LT O N M I N I - S C H O O L ?

Interested in either our Core Curriculum or our Scholar’s Courses? Find out if the program is right for you. Join us for a Taste of Melton at one of the following sample classes: Thursday, September 13 • 9:30 AM

To RSVP, contact Nomi Barancik at nbarancik@erjcchouston.org

Thursday, October 4 • 7:00 PM

or by phone at 713.729.3200, ext. 3288. All Sample classes to

Thursday, October 11 • 9:30 AM

take place at the ERJCC.

FOR THE FIRST TIME MELTON SCHOLARS COURSES WILL BE OPEN TO

EW HOLE N W A E T TAS HOOL MINI-SC N O T L ME

EVERYONE WITHOUT THE PRE-REQUISITE OF COMPLETING THE CORE COURSES. IN ADDITION, PARTICIPANTS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO REGISTER FOR A SINGLE SCHOLARS COURSE. WE HOPE THAT THIS WILL ENABLE MORE PEOPLE TO JOIN OUR PROGRAM AND JUMPSTART THEIR JEWISH JOURNEY. Fall Melton Scholars Courses Include:

Melton Core Curriculum The Melton Core Program is an integrated, sequential, course of Jewish study. Participants attend 30 two-hour sessions a year for two years.

First Year Students Take Two Courses: Rhythms of Jewish Living, which covers the Jewish life cycle and calendar and Purposes of Jewish Living which explores essential Jewish ideas.

Second Year Students Take Two Courses: Ethics of Jewish Living, which explores numerous ethical issues with case studies from talmudic, rabbinic, and contemporary literature and Dramas of Jewish Living which explores dramatic developments from different periods in Jewish history.

Scholars Curriculum Courses The Scholars Curriculum Courses are topical courses on many subjects in Jewish life. We highly recommend taking the Core Program first, although it is not obligatory. The Scholar classes include courses developed by Melton as well as courses developed “in house” by our own faculty.

 Genesis 1: From Adam to Abraham  Exodus 1: From Slavery to Sinai  Israeli Literature as a Window into Israeli Society

 Stalking the Dead Sea Scrolls  Traveling Tribes  What Should a Modern Jew Believe?

FOUNDATIONS of Jewish Family Living A N E W P R O G R A M FO R FA M I L I E S W I T H YO U N G C H I L D R E N

What are the Jewish Values you want your child to know?

Foundations of Jewish Family Living is a new learning opportunity for parents that provides a thought-provoking encounter with the core values of Judaism. At a time in a family’s life when a child is experiencing his or her own Jewish education, this rich learning experience provides you with the learning, the language, and the confidence to be a teacher to your own children and support Jewish learning at home.

The program is sponsored by the Evelyn Rubenstein Jewish Community Center and will be facilitated by Rabbi Adrienne Scott of Congregation Beth Israel.

Foundations of Jewish Family Living was developed by the Florence Melton Adult Mini-School, a Project of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in cooperation with the PJ Library and Shalom Sesame.

The program is generously underwritten in our community by Saranne and Livingston Kosberg.

Foundations begins Thursday, November 8 at 12:00 PM. Classes meet for 20 sessions of 1.5 hours each. The only cost to participants is a materials fee of $54.

For more information about Melton programs, visit www.erjcchouston.org/melton or call Nomi Barancik at 713.729.3200, ext. 3288.

WATCH THESE PROGRAMS STREAMED LIVE AT houstonjewishlive.com

4TH ANNUAL RICE UNIVERSITY JEWISH STUDIES PROGRAM LECTURE SERIES

READING BETWEEN THE LINES IN MODERN JEWISH LITERATURE

OCTOBER 3, 17, 24 AT 8:00 PM

$10 Member/$15 Public (per lecture) $25 Member/$36 Public (series pass)

T H I S SERIES IS F R E E TO PAT RO N S O F THE ARTS WHO SELECT THIS AS ONE OF THEIR BENEFITS. Three Views of Philip Roth: Portnoy’s Complaint, The Ghost Writer, and The Plot Against America

Neither Here Nor There: Gender in Modern Hebrew and Yiddish Literature

Biographies of Moses in German Exile Literature

Lecture offered by Dr. Terrence Doody Wednesday, October 3 • 8:00 PM

Lecture Offered by Dr. Melissa Weininger Wednesday, October 17 • 8:00 PM

Lecture offered by Dr. Klaus Weissenberger Wednesday, October 24 • 8:00 PM

These three novels, from the beginning, the early middle, and the later phase of Philip Roth’s long career, give us three different looks at his depiction of anti-Semitism.

Portnoy’s Complaint was a scandalous book that prompted charges of anti-Semitism against Roth himself. The Plot Against America imagines the consequences to American Jews if Charles Lindbergh, a Nazi sympathizer, had defeated Roosevelt for the Presidency. The Ghost Writer tackles the question of just how much actual influence literary fiction can have in a free society.

From the Rabbinic Period, gender has been understood as an unstable category in Jewish culture, and in constructing a modern literature Jewish writers have had to grapple with female characters and the place of women in Jewish society. Displacement has typically been understood as a condition of modernity, but to what extent does the sense of dislocation described by modern Jewish literature overlap with issues of gender and gender relations?

Sigmund Freud, Thomas Mann and Martin Buber, all three wrote biographies of Moses during their exile period. The purpose of this lecture is to discuss the different intentions for their endeavors and the varying literary devices which they used to convey them.

Dr. Melissa Weininger is currently a post-doctoral fellow in Jewish Studies at Rice University. She

Terrence Doody received his Ph.D. from Cornell

received her Ph.D. in 2010 from the University of

University and is now a Professor in the Department

Chicago. Her areas of scholarly interest include

of English at Rice, where he teaches courses in mod-

Modern Hebrew and Yiddish literature, gender

ernism, the novel, and contemporary literature. He

studies, and Jewish nationalism.

Dr. Weissenberger has been a professor of German language and literature at Rice University since 1971.

His major areas of research are lyric poetry, exile literature and non-fictional prose. In these areas he has published or edited 7 books and written 75 articles.

These lectures will be held at the Evelyn Rubenstein Jewish Community Center.

This series is made possible by the Maurice Amado Foundation.

has taught for many years at The Women’s Institute of Houston, The Houston Seminar, and in Rice’s

Hazon’s Community Supported Agriculture Program at the ERJCC Locally grown, organic, and very fresh vegetables. The fall season enrollment is now underway, with the first delivery scheduled for October 18. The season will go for 12 weeks with breaks for Thanksgiving and winter break. Based on past performance you can expect tomatoes, squash, turnips, sweet potatoes, cabbage (standard and Chinese), radishes, and an assortment of greens (kale, collards, chard). Of course, what we get depends on all of the elements that go into growing veggies in Texas! The season cost is $384 for the 12 weeks. And if a full share is too much for you, find a friend and split a share! There is also an ERJCC fee of $23 for members and $33 for public.

To register contact Nomi Barancik at 713.729.3200, ext. 3288 or nbarancik@erjcchouston.org.

FA M I LY

Glasscock School of Continuing Studies.

Sukkot Family Fun FREE EVENT Sunday, October 7 • 2:00 – 4:00 PM Join us for free Sukkot crafts and fun in the ERJCC Lobby.

Mechon Hadar Houston Join us as Rabbi Ethan Tucker, Co-Founder and Rosh Yeshiva of Mechon Hadar, the only egalitarian yeshiva in the United States, visits our community from September 2012 through February 2013.

Rabbi Tucker will offer an in-person residency in September and February and lead four interactive webinars in October through January. Rabbi Tucker was ordained by the Chief Rabbinate of Israel and earned a PhD in Talmud and Rabbinics from the Jewish Theological Seminary. He was named one of Newsweek’s Top Fifty Rabbis in America in 2011 and 2012.

WEBINAR LECTURES AT THE ERJCC OCTOBER 15 — JANUARY 15, 2012 Shabbat: Creating A Meaningful Atmosphere with Ancient Ritual Laws Monday, October 15 •7:00 PM—8:30 PM This session will look at the overarching themes that undergird Biblical and Rabbinic thinking about Shabbat and explore how the details of practice aim to advance a larger vision.

Kashrut: Toward Sensible, Meaningful, Contemporary Jewish Food Choices Monday, November 26 • 7:00 PM—8:30 PM This session will seek to understand the broad picture of motivations and frameworks for eating differently than we might otherwise without the Jewish tradition.

Inclusion: The Halakhic Case for Egalitarianism Monday, December 10 • 7:00 PM—8:30 PM If much of the Jewish past assumed that many supporting roles were delegated to women in order to allow men to be fully present, how can an egalitarian world ensure full presence for some without dividing roles along gender lines alone? We will attempt to address this difficult and contentious topic with sensitivity and honesty.

Level 1 Beginning Hebrew Instructor: Karen Greenspan Ten Wednesdays, Oct. 10 – Dec. 19 7:00 – 8:30 PM $190 member / $240 public This introductory course is a program of letter recognition, reading proficiency, building vocabulary, and learning basic phrases using the Hebrew textbook series Aleph Isn’t Tough.

Level 2 Beginning Hebrew Instructor: Karen Greenspan Ten Thursdays, Oct. 11 – Dec.20 7:00 – 8:30 PM $190 member / $240 public This class builds on the reading skills established in the level one class. The focus will be on building reading fluency and a basic vocabulary to increase understanding. The course uses the Hebrew textbook Aleph isn’t Enough.

Level 4 Biblical Hebrew Instructor: Karen Greenspan Ten Mondays, Oct. 15 – Dec. 27 7:00 – 8:30 PM $190 member / $240 public In this course we will continue to practice reading skills and vocabulary building with a focus on reading Torah.

What is a Jew? Monday, January 14 • 7:00 PM—8:30 PM In this session, we will look at sources that grapple with the precise definition of Jewishness. What are the ramifications for contemporary policy in the Jewish community?

SCHOLAR-IN-RESIDENCE AT THE ERJCC FEBRUARY 24 — 27, 2013 Between Wisdom and Honor: When Divine Commands Threaten Human Dignity Sunday, February 24 • 7:30 PM

Ethical Norms as the Foundation of the Torah

To register for any of these

Monday, February 25 • 7:30 PM

programs contact Nomi Barancik at 713.729.3200 ext. 3288 or

Was Abraham Asked to Sacrifice His Ethics?

LANGUAGE

Beginner Conversational Hebrew Instructor: Nomi Barancik Ten Tuesdays, Oct. 16 – Dec. 18 9:30 – 10:30 AM $130 member / $165 public This course will teach the foundations of everyday spoken Hebrew. You will learn to build simple sentences and have a basic conversation. Acquaintance with Hebrew alphabet required.

nbarancik@erjcchouston.org

Tuesday, February 26 • 7:30 PM

Advanced Conversational Hebrew Instructor: Nomi Barancik Ten Tuesdays, Oct. 16 – Dec. 18 10:45 – 11:45 AM $130 member / $165 public

Can Jewish Texts Be Unethical? Grappling with Difficult Sources Wednesday, February 27 • 7:30 PM

In partnership with Congregation Brith Shalom, Congregation Beth Yeshurun, and Congregation Or Ami.

Center for Jewish Living and Learning

This course is suitable for those who read and comprehend Hebrew at a more advanced level but wish to expand their vocabulary and develop their fluency.

J E W I S H T R AV E L

Morocco, A Jewish Heritage Tour

Cuba, A Jewish Mission Nov 5-13, 2012 Dec 3-11, 2012 • Jan 14-22, 2013

BEGINNING THIS FALL,

, EDUCATION

| ADULTS | SENIORS | KIDS & FAMILY |

SELECTED PROGRAMS OF THE CENTER FOR JEWISH LIVING AND LEARNING WILL BE STREAMED LIVE. LOOK FOR THIS LOGO AND GO TO houstonjewishlive.com TO WATCH THESE PROGRAMS FROM YOUR COMPUTER OR MOBILE DEVICE. STREAMED PROGRAMS ARE PROVIDED FREE TO THE PUBLIC.

$3049* per person double occupancy single supplement add $475 Cuba, HE A L T Ha&Caribbean W E L L N E Sgem, S

is a cultural oasis of warm, generous people. Be inspired by Cuba’s soulful art, musical rhythms and vibrant dance. Join us on this extraordinary mission to Cuba and bring support and aid to the Cuban Jewish community. Meet the children of the ORT Sunday School and advance Jewish practices, ideals and education. Learn first-hand about today’s Jewish community and share their dreams for the future. The spirit of the Jewish community will open your eyes, heart and mind. Includes round trip airfare from Miami/Havana.

Israel @ 64: Understanding Our Land and Our People Nov 25 -Dec 9, 2012 $3799* per person double occupancy single supplement add $1100 It’s an Israel trip like no other; the chance to experience Israel together with Israelis.

Encounter and explore its richness and complexity as you travel the land with your Israeli peers for firsthand, shared experience through food, fashion, the arts, and social issues. Understand the challenges of the modern state; hunger, poverty, defense, environment and compare them to today’s issues facing American Jews. Includes round trip airfare Chicago/Tel Aviv.

LEARNING Turn it and Turn it Instructors: Jonathan Fass, Rabbi Samantha Safran Bodner Fridays: Ongoing 12:00 – 1:00 PM • FREE Join us for a weekly discussion of the Torah portion using both classic and modern commentaries. No knowledge of Hebrew required.

Oct 21-Nov 2, 2012 $3499* per person double occupancy single supplement add $1015 Morocco is a country where the colors are vivid, the contrasts are intense and views are picturesque. Landscapes range from snowcapped peaks to rolling sand dunes dotted with Kasbahs and mystical Berber villages.

Experience our travels of Jewish Morocco as we visit the Imperial cities of Casablanca, Fez, Rabat and Marrakech. Includes airfare from New York.

Blue Danube Discovery: A Jewish Heritage Cruise Oct 25 - Nov 7, 2012 Prices starting at $3620* per person double occupancy This exclusive Jewish Heritage Cruise includes 2 nights hotel in Budapest plus a 7 night cruise onboard the Ama Waterways AmaDolce. Sail to Slovakia, Vienna, Melk, Linz, Passau, Regenburg and arrive in Budapest for a 3 night hotel stay. The speciallycrafted itinerary highlights centuries old traditions, as well as modern day museums and monuments dedicated to conserving the rich Jewish legacy of the region. Our cruise features complimentary Jewish Heritage tours that include synagogue visits, Jewish district tours and sightseeing of landmarks of significance to Jewish History.

For more information about our travel programs, contact Nomi Barancik at nbarancik@erjcchouston.org or 713.729.3200 ext. 3288 *plus airline taxes

COMMUNITY READ:

The book that binds.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Eight new stories from the celebrated novelist and short-story writer

Pre-Book & Arts Fair Program • Sunday, Oct. 21, 4:00 PM To sign up, visit erjcchouston.org/bookfair. Purchase the book now at Essence, the ERJCC Gift Shop before the presentation and receive a free ticket to Nathan Englander’s talk.

Certifiable masterpieces of contemporary short-story art.

—MICHAEL CHABON

EVELYN RUBENSTEIN JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER 5601 S. Braeswood | Houston, TX 77096 erjcchouston.org

Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage

PAID

Houston, Texas Permit No. 6217

ON THE COVER

l itera tu re film ar t music dance l earn i n g

E X A LTAT I O N O F P R AY E R Sept 6 – Oct 19, 2012 This exhibit includes the work of more than 20 artists, and is composed primarily of paintings, etchings, photographs and lithographs. The 30 images are of Jews, both men and women, at prayer or at study, contemplating the words of Torah. The work is from the permanent collection of Hebrew Union College Museum Gallery Hours Monday – Thursday • 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM Friday & Sunday • 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM