Center for Jewish Living & Learning Winter 2013 Brochure

litera tu re film ar t music dance learni ng

Center for Jewish Living and Learning Scholar Series

WINTER 2013

From Enlightenment to Intifada: FRENCH JEWRY THEN AND NOW

Center for Jewish Living and Learning Scholar Series

From Enlightenment to Intifada: FRENCH

JEWRY

THEN

AND

NOW

Dr. Robert Zaretsky is a professor of modern French history at the Honors College of the University of Houston. Dr. Zaretsky is a frequent contributor to The New York Times, International Herald Tribune, The Forward, Los Angeles Times and Le Monde Diplomatique. His lectures will address the history of the Jews of France from the French Revolution to the modern period, focusing on the Dreyfus Affair, the Jews in Occupied France, and the relationship between the French, the Jews, and the State of Israel after 1967.

Jerusalem on the Seine: Jews and the French Revolution Thursday, January 24 • 7:30 PM Modernity begins with the French Revolution—an observation that applies with particular relevance to European Jewry. Emancipated and enfranchised by the seismic events of 1789, when a revolutionary and secular state transformed them from aliens into citizens, French Jewry was launched into the modern age. We will discuss both the promise and pitfalls of this remarkable itinerary.

Vichy Then and Now: The Jews of France in the Second World War Thursday, April 18 • 7:30 PM France’s military defeat in 1940 heralded the birth of the Vichy regime, which sought to turn the clock back to pre-revolutionary France.

Central to this reactionary agenda was the regime’s battery of anti-Semitic laws—initiated without the slightest of nudges from the Nazis. Beginning in 1942, these laws enabled Nazi Germany’s application of the Final Solution to France, leading to the murder of nearly 75,000 Jews, both foreign and native-born. We shall discuss the motivations of the bureaucracy that created and applied these laws and reflect on those institutions and individuals that resisted them.

$10 Member / $15 Public (per lecture)

The Dreyfus Affair: How An “Affaire Française” Became Our Affair Thursday, March 21 • 7:30 PM In 1894, Captain Alfred Dreyfus, an officer in the French Army’s High Command, was sentenced to life imprisonment on Devil’s Island for acts of treason. As disturbing details emerged concerning the case—it happened that Dreyfus was Jewish—the nation was sundered in half between those who reminded France of its revolutionary ideals of liberty, equality and fraternity and those who insisted that Jews could never be fully French.

From the Second World War to the Second Intifada: France and the Jews Today Thursday, May 2 • 7:30 PM In 1967, the great political theorist (and secular Jew) Raymond Aron, upon hearing President Charles De Gaulle’s remark that the Jews were an “elite people, sure of themselves and domineering,” wondered if this opened “a new chapter in Jewish history and perhaps anti-Semitism.” With the surge of violence in North African quarters against Jews, climaxing in the horrific massacre at Toulouse, French Jews now ask themselves if they can remain both fully French and fully Jewish.

Register online at www.jcchouston.org/frenchjewry

$36 Member / $48 Public (series pass)

These lectures are made possible in part by a grant from Humanities Texas, a state partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

ARTS, CULTURE, EDUCATION

| ADULTS | SENIORS | KIDS & FAMILY |

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Thanks to our community partner:

Learning

THESE COURSES ARE PART OF THE FLORENCE MELTON SCHOOL OF ADULT JEWISH LEARNING AND ARE OPEN TO EVERYONE. PRIOR PARTICIPATION IN THE MELTON PROGRAM IS NOT REQUIRED.

Genesis: The Story of the First Jewish Family

Exploring the Talmud of the Land of Israel

Instructor: Rabbi Samantha Bodner Mondays, February 18 – June 10 Congregation Emanu El 9:30 – 10:30 AM $175 Member / $200 Public or Instructor: Mindeleah Pollak Tuesdays, February 19 – June 11 ERJCC Weingarten Building 7:00 – 8:00 PM $175 Member / $200 Public

Instructor: Rabbi Judith Z. Abrams Tuesdays February 19 – June 11 ERJCC Weingarten Building 7:00 – 8:00 PM or Thursdays, February 21 – June 13 Merfish Teen Center $175 Member / $200 Public

This course offers an in-depth study of the Bible utilizing traditional and contemporary commentaries as well as art and alternative interpretations. The class begins with the birth of Jacob and Esau and continues through the story of Joseph and the exile and slavery in Egypt.

1000 Years of Rabbinic Commentary on the Story of Joseph Instructor: Rabbi Roy Walters Tuesdays, February 19 – June 11 ERJCC Weingarten Building 8:15 – 9:15 PM $175 Member / $200 Public Come study with us the adventures of the famous Joseph. First-born to Jacob’s beloved Rachel, but 11th born in the status of 12 sons, he was loved by his father, but hated by his brothers. At the age of seventeen, his teenage years affect everyone in his family.

A plan is devised to “get rid” of Joseph. But what really happens to him and who ends up selling him? Numerous commentaries discuss the travails of Joseph who eventually becomes Vizier, second in command to King Pharaoh of Egypt.

Reading the Psalms Instructor: Mr. Jonathan Fass Tuesday, February 19 – June 11 ERJCC Weingarten Building 8:15 – 9:15 PM $175 Member / $200 Public Utilizing Robert Alter’s The Psalms: A Translation with Commentary, this class will explore the Book of Psalms from a historical, theological, and literary perspective. Particular emphasis will be placed on the study of Psalms that are utilized in the liturgy.

Knowledge of Hebrew is not required.

This class will explore “the other Talmud,” the Yerushalmi, the Talmud of the Land of Israel. We’ll learn about different ways of praying, meditating, observing the holidays, lifecycle moments as well as ethics and the history of Jews in Israel between 200 - 425 C.E. The Yerushalmi is easier than the Bavli and there are many options for observance you’ve never heard of if you haven’t studied this Talmud. Taught in English. Beginners welcome.

Language Level 1 - Beginning Hebrew Instructor: Karen Greenspan 10 Thursdays, Beginning January 17 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 – Prayer Book Hebrew Instructor: Karen Greenspan 10 Wednesdays Beginning January 16 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.

Exodus: Revelation and Revolution Instructor: Rabbi Pamela Silk Thursdays, February 21 – June 13 Merfish Teen Center 9:30 – 10:30 AM $175 Member / $200 Public

Reading The Book of Esther Instructor: Karen Greenspan 10 Mondays Beginning January 14 7:00 – 8:30 PM $190 Member/ $240 Public This class will develop Hebrew comprehension and grammar skills through a close reading of the Book of Esther. Participants should be able to read Hebrew fluently and have a basic biblical Hebrew vocabulary.

Please call before registering to determine if this class is suitable for you.

The course follows the development of the emerging Jewish nation from their aweinspiring encounter at Mount Sinai through the building of the tabernacle in the wilderness. The high points of divine revelation in “Ten Commandments,“ “Encountering God,” and “Face to Face with God” are sharply contrasted with the low points of the “Golden Calf: Revolt or Reversion.” The text addresses some of the specific laws and regulations that were to become part of Jewish living as well as the meaning, purpose and relevance to our lives today.

Beginner Conversational Hebrew Instructor: Nomi Barancik 10 Tuesdays Beginning January 15 9:30 – 10:30 AM $130 Member / $165 Public

From Destruction to Renewal: Responsa Related to the Holocaust and to the Newly Established State of Israel

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.

Instructor: Rabbi Barry Gelman Thursdays, February 21 – June 13 Merfish Teen Center 9:30 – 10:30 AM $175 Member /$200 Public Responsa Literature are written decisions and rulings by rabbis to questions asked by individuals and communities throughout the ages. Through an examination of responsa written during the Holocaust and in the early years of the Jewish State, this class will examine the idea that Jewish law has played the role of both interpreter and comforter during the worst of times and the best of times.

Advanced Conversational Hebrew Instructor: Nomi Barancik 10 Tuesdays Beginning January 15 10:45 – 11:45 AM $130 Member / $165 Public 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.

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

Living

To register for classes please call Nomi Barancik at 713.729.3200 ext. 3288.

IN THE KITCHEN

Learning

with Laykie Donin of Laykie’s Gourmet Wednesdays, February 6, 13, 20, 27 $20 per session Member/$25 Public $70 series Member/$90 Public Classes are held at a private, kosher home

Great Jewish Debates Instructor: Jonathan Fass Mondays, January 28, February 4, 11, 18 7:00 – 8:00 PM $36 Member / $45 Public If you like a good argument, this course is for you! We will explore important debates in Jewish history, from the biblical, rabbinic and modern period that have had a profound influence on Judaism’s development throughout the centuries. Debates to be discussed include Hillel and Shammai’s debate on Jewish law, the Vilna Gaon and the Baal Shem Tov’s debate over spirituality, and Herzl and Isaac M. Wise’s debate over Zionism.

Join us for four sessions with Laykie Donin of Laykie’e Gourmet. Here is your opportunity to learn a few of her secrets and sample some delicious food.

Quick in the Kitchen · Feb. 6

Can’t Believe it’s Kosher! · Feb. 20

Laykie will show us how to make quick, delicious and nutritious meals that are right for the whole family.

Learn how to transform some great dishes into kosher recipes that are sure to make you go back for seconds.

Delicious and Nutritious · Feb. 13

Simple Desserts · Feb. 27

Laykie will impress you with some recipes that will have the most health-conscious eaters asking for more.

Laykie will show you how to make some simple desserts that will make everyone say “wow.”

L’Chaim: Exploring Israel’s Wines Instructor: Ilan Duvdevani Wednesday, January 16 7:00 – 9:00 PM $25 Member / $30 Public

The Bible in Living Color: Biblical Stories Reflected in the Art of European Masters Instructor: Jonathan Fass Wednesdays, February 6, 13, 20, 27 10:00 – 11:00 AM $28 Member / $39 Public European painters of the Baroque and Renaissance periods created timeless paintings that explore the central narratives of the Bible. We will look at biblical texts and their rabbinic and artistic interpretations in the hands of painters such as Caravaggio, Rembrandt, Rubens and Titian.

The ERJCC’s Symposium: Lifelong Learning Institute classes provide a stimulating

Join Ilan Duvdevani, a Houston resident and an Israeli wine enthusiast as he discusses Israeli wines and the wine making industry of Israel. The evening will conclude with an Israeli wine tasting representing a cross section of wines, including some of Israel’s finest wines.

FOUNDATIONS of Jewish Family Living

A N E W P RO G RA M FO R FA M I L I ES W I T H YO U N G C H I L D R E N

What are the Jewish values you want to teach your child?

The ERJCC is delighted to announce that Saranne and Livingston Kosberg have generously underwritten a new program to create richer Jewish experiences for Houston parents. Entitled Foundations of Jewish Family Living, this new course from the Melton School of Adult Jewish Learning provides parents with the skills and knowledge to practice the core values of Judaism at home with their families. Topics will include Essential Judaism, Creating Jewish Spaces and Welcoming the Stranger.

The Foundations program runs throughout the year. 20 sessions will be offered in 4-5 week blocks. The book for the course is $54. After paying the initial fee of $54, parents may participate in as many sessions as they choose during the year at no additional charge. Facilitated by local rabbis and Jewish educators.

intellectual and social environment for active adults. Peer-led courses consist of four consecutive weekly, one-hour sessions.

Symposium sessions are scheduled in the fall and spring. To register contact Esther Bethke at 713.595.8186 or ebethke@erjcchouston.org.

To view all Symposium courses being offered in the spring visit erjcchouston.org/symposium.

upcoming sessions: January 13, 20, 27, February 3 CLASSES TAKE PLACE AT THE ERJCC · CHILDCARE will be PROVIDED *This program is particularly appropriate for parents of children ages 2 through 8, but all parents are welcome.

For more information about Foundations, please contact Rabbi Samantha Safran Bodner at sbodner@erjcchouston.org or 713.729.3200 ext. 3322.

MECHON HADAR HOUSTON SCHOLAR-IN-RESIDENCE PROGRAM

Judaism And Ethics: An In-Depth Investigation

WHAT IS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PARTICULARISTIC

ARE “BEING A GOOD

JEWISH VALUES AND MORE

JEW” AND “BEING A GOOD

GENERAL UNIVERSAL ETHICS?

PERSON” SYNONYMOUS TERMS?

THESE CHALLENGES WILL BE EXPLORED IN OUR IN-DEPTH INVESTIGATION OF JEWISH ETHICS WITH DR. RABBI ETHAN TUCKER OF MECHON HADAR HOUSTON

Dr. Rabbi Ethan Tucker, Co-Founder and Rosh Yeshiva of Mechon Hadar, the only egalitarian yeshiva in the United States, returns to Houston for a four-day scholar-in-residence program from February 24 through February 27, 2013. Rabbi Tucker was ordained by the Chief Rabbinate of Israel and earned a Ph.D. 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.

Between Wisdom and Honor: When Divine Commands Threaten Human Dignity Sunday, February 24 • 7:30 PM Human beings are created in the divine image and the Torah is built on a foundation of basic human decency. How do we deal with situations where the observance of a commandment gets in the way of this larger vision? We will begin this series by exploring a Talmudic passage that addresses this tension and attempts to lay out a framework for integrating these sometimes competing impulses.

Was Abraham asked to Sacrifice His Ethics?

Ethical Norms as the Foundation of the Torah Monday, February 25 • 7:30 PM This lecture will delve into a bold essay by R. Moshe Shmuel Glasner (19th-20th c., Hungary), who spells out a theory of how Judaism ought to relate to modern values. We will explore his text as a basis for rethinking the interrelationship of traditionally Jewish obligations with contemporary crusades for environmental and economic justice. Can we affirm the power of universal ethics without harming our commitment to Judaism?

Tuesday, February 26 • 7:30 PM

Can Jewish Texts Be Unethical: Grappling with Difficult Sources

This lecture will explore anew the classic conflict between ethical commitments and religious duty: the Binding of Isaac.

This biblical narrative plays a central role in Jewish prayer, has inspired countless Jews throughout the generations, and continues to haunt us on Rosh Hashanah. In the modern period, the Binding of Isaac has been used for more dramatic effect: making true devotion to God dependent on transcending one’s own ethical instincts. We will reevaluate this reading in an effort to reclaim the Binding of Isaac without sacrificing our own ethics in the process.

Wednesday, February 27 • 7:30 PM Sometimes we encounter a Jewish text that seems to say something offensive and contrary to our ethical sense. How do we respond as heirs to this tradition while being true to our ethical instincts? In this lecture, we will explore one 19th century rabbi’s attempt to deal with Talmudic statements that appear to speak disparagingly about Gentiles. Through his approach, we will investigate what it means to take ownership of a tradition that does not, at least at first glance, intuitively match our ethical instincts.

$15 per lecture. To register go to www.erjcchouston.org/hadar

THIS PROGRAM IS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CONGREGATION BRITH SHALOM, CONGREGATION BETH YESHURUN, AND CONGREGATION OR AMI.

Center for Jewish Living and Learning

Dance

Film

9th Annual

HOUSTON JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL Wednesday, March 6 – Sunday, March 17

JANUARY 10-FEBRUARY 9, 2013 Tirkedu Houston!

Workshop Friday, January 11 – Sunday, January 13 $70 Member / $100 Public $50 Student with Valid ID Dance Month at the Kaplan Theatre kicks off with Tirkedu Houston! a fun-filled weekend of enthusiastic Israeli dancing at the Evelyn Rubenstein Jewish Community Center. Longtime favorite, Los Angeles-based David Dassa will lead the workshops January 11- 13. David Dassa is a world renowned Israeli dance teacher and choreographer who has taught Israeli folk dance in Los Angeles for the past 33 years and conducted hundreds of workshops throughout the US and abroad. The weekend will include an Erev Shabbat get-together, teaching sessions for intermediate to advanced dancers with reviews at the end of each session and a Saturday night dance party.

COMPANY E NEXT: An Evening of Choreography of Israel and Spain Saturday, February 9 • 8:00 PM $16 Member / $22 Public $12 Senior Adult and Student Washington based Company E, under the artistic direction of Paul Gordon Emerson and Kathryn Sydell Pilkington, focuses on the next generation of brilliant, cutting edge choreography. NEXT: An Evening of Choreography of Israel and Spain will include the following pieces: Alma and Inside It’s Raining, choreography by Israeli, Rachel Erdos; Dust (for Jack), choreography by Andrea Miller; Theater of Public Secrets, choreography by Roni Koresh; and Few, choreography

by Thomas Noone and Nuria Martinez.

Dance Month at the Kaplan Theatre is funded in part by the Evelyn Rubenstein Jewish Community Center Patrons of the Arts, a grant from the City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance, Houston Endowment Inc, JPMorgan Chase & Co., and RBC Wealth Management. Visit www.erjcchouston.org or find us Facebook for more information and to buy tickets.

THE 9TH ANNUAL HOUSTON JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL PROUDLY CONTINUES ITS TRADITION OF PRESENTING AN ENTERTAINING, THOUGHT-PROVOKING AND HIGH-QUALITY LINE-UP COMPRISED OF THE BEST JEWISH AND ISRAELI FILMS FROM ACROSS THE WORLD. PRESENTED IN COLLABORATION WITH THE MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS, HOUSTON, THIS YEAR’S FESTIVAL WILL PROVIDE YOU WITH YOUR PICK OF DOCUMENTARIES, DRAMAS, COMEDIES, MUSICALS AND, TELEVISION SERIES. THE 2013 OFFICIAL SELECTION WILL BE ANNOUNCED SOON!

featured films include: A Bottle in the Gaza Sea A bottle thrown into the sea begins a conversation between an Israeli young woman and a Palestinian young man. It gives them the strength to confront the harsh reality of their worlds, to grapple with it, and thereby ever so slightly, to change it.

Seymour Schwartz: A Home Movie Houston Premiere. Filmmaker Jon Schwartz profiles his father, Seymour, and extended Jewish family in Houston, spanning the twentieth century.

Hava Nagila Follow the infectious party song on its fascinating journey from the shtetls of Eastern Europe to the cul-de-sacs of America in this hilarious and surprisingly deep film.

The ERJCC proudly presents ERJCClive, a free live streaming service open to the community that allows you to watch select programs LIVE on your computer screen or mobile device. It even has archived | A D U L T S | on-demand, SENIORS | KIDS & FAM I L Y you | H E A L can T H & W Eattend LLNESS viewing so the program in-person and then

ARTS, CULTURE, EDUCATION

go home and watch it again. Join thousands from around the globe to Jewish Film Club

watch our world-class programming online.

$2 ERJCC Member / $4 Public All screenings take place at 12:45 PM

Coming Soon:

The Jewish Film Club will feature monthly screenings of classic and contemporary films that highlight Jewish characters or themes. A discussion of each film, facilitated

by Jonathan Fass or Rabbi Samantha Safran Bodner, will follow. Coffee and snacks will be provided for the discussion.

January 4 - Arranged (2007) February 22 - For Your Consideration (2006) March 29 - Partisans of Vilna (1986) April 12 - Avalon (1990) May 17 - Praying with Lior (2007)

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From Enlightenment to Intifada: French Jewry Then and Now ...........................................................................................

To check out our upcoming live streaming programs, visit houstonjewishlive.com

Art

Sue Gersten’s Dance Photos ReelAbilities Ben X Nic Balthazar Belgium/Flemish/93 min Monday, February 11 • 7:00 PM Kaplan Theatre, ERJCC Ben lives in a universe unto itself. He hides from his harsh reality of school, being bullied, and awkward social interactions by escaping into his favorite online computer game, Archlord, where he is safe, strong, and in control of his surroundings. In this remarkable drama, Ben devises a plan to leave his reality and to become the hero he dreams of being.

ReelAbilities is the largest festival in the country dedicated to promoting awareness and appreciation of the lives, stories and artistic expressions of people with different disabilities.

SEE PAGE 2 FOR DETAILS

January 7 – February 15 Sue Gersten has spent the majority of her lifetime photographing dancers. She is inspired by the movement, the grace and the beauty of the human form and has dedicated many hours to capturing these remarkable and extraordinary images. The exhibit will be displayed during the 33rd Annual Dance Month at the Kaplan Theatre.

Mann Makht und Gott Lakht’: Man Makes, God Laughs An exhibit of paintings by Uzi Silber February 25 – April 5 Uzi seeks out the relics, images, symbols, scripts and patterns which have made us who we are, resuscitates and integrates them in a new yet timeless context as whimsical as it is serious.

GALLERY HOURS: Monday – Thursday: 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM Friday & Sunday: 9:00 – 5:00 PM

2012 - 2013 Patrons of the Arts It’s not too late to join in the fund-raising and friend-raising… a celebration of 40 years of supporting arts, culture & education programs for the Jewish community and for Houston. For more information, call the Development Office at 713.729.3200, ext. 3103.

Center for Jewish Living and Learning Scholar Series

From Enlightenment to Intifada: FRENCH JEWRY THEN AND NOW

Dr. Robert Zaretsky is a professor of modern French history at the Honors College of the University of Houston. Dr. Zaretsky is a frequent contributor to The New York Times, International Herald Tribune, The

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

Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage

PAID

Forward, Los Angeles Times and Le Monde

Houston, Texas Permit No. 6217

Diplomatique. His lectures will address the history of the Jews of France from the French Revolution to the modern period, focusing on the Dreyfus Affair, the Jews in Occupied France, and the relationship between the French, the Jews, and the State of Israel after 1967.

SEE PAGE 2 FOR DETAILS

literature film ar t music dance learning WINTER 2013

Center for Jewish Living and Learning From Scholar Series Enlightenment to Intifada: FRENCH JEWRY THEN AND NOW