BURSTEIN SCHOLAR-IN-RESIDENCE WEEKEND with Rabbi bradley shavit Artson
Torah
By Nora Renthal*
Bobbie and Maxwell Burstein continue to bring blessing and learning into our midst; this has never been more true than in this year’s Burstein Scholar-in-Residence Program with Rabbi Bradley Shavit Artson, December 4-6, 2015.
Rabbi Artston’s Qabbalat Shabbat lecture was entitled “Almighty? No Way! Embracing the God You Actually Love,” which outlined his belief that God does not exercise coercive power, but rather lures us to be continually self-surpassing with persuasive influence. His lecture was followed by an expanded Oneg Shabbat and Q&A session, with questions from the audience including, “why should we pray?” and “how is your spiritual outlook specifically Jewish?”
The Scholar-in-Residence Program was founded in 1979 through the thoughtful generosity of Roberta and Maxwell Burstein, and this year, is one of many programs in honor of Rabbi Ronne Friedman. The lecture series brings outstanding Jewish scholarship to Temple Israel and the greater Boston Jewish community, working to broaden During Saturday morning Torah study, Rabbi Artson spoke our educational program and on “Why Bad Things Happen,” celebrate learning as integral to delivering a session rich with Rabbi Artson is a provocative vibrant Jewish living. textual references from Rambam Jewish thought-leader and and Mishnah Sanhedrin to Hellen Rabbi Bradley Shavit Artson holds exemplifies our value of finding Keller. This study was followed by the Abner and Roslyn Goldstine an energetic Qiddush reception continuous inspiration, inquiry, Dean’s Chair of the Ziegler and opportunities for congregants and discovery in the Torah. School of Rabbinic Studies at to converse with Rabbi Artson and the American Jewish University Rabbi Friedman. in Los Angeles, California. He is also Vice President of the American Jewish University and Other sessions throughout the Scholar-in-Residence teaches courses in Ancient & Medieval Jewish Philosophy weekend included “Israel and the Diaspora in and Modern & Contemporary Jewish Theology. Contemporary Jewish Life” and “What’s the Future of American Judaism?” Rabbi Artson’s lectures are available Rabbi Artson is a provocative Jewish thought-leader and for review on our website at: www.tisrael.org/adultexemplifies our value of finding continuous inspiration, education. For more information on Rabbi Bradly Artson, inquiry, and discovery in the Torah. He is an active writer visit www.zieglertorah.org/category/artson. and speaker. His works connect Torah with modern *A Temple Israel member since 2014, Nora Renthal is mother physics, evolutionary biology, and a wholesome balance of to TI Religious School students Amber and Sawyer, and a logic and emotion. pediatric endocrinologist at Boston Children’s Hospital.
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Right to left: (1) Rabbis Soffer, Friedman, and Zecher with Rabbi Artson; (2) Nora Renthal at SIR Weekend; (3) Rabbi Artson - Sunday Session
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INSIGHT Vol. 15, No. 4, Spring 2016/5776
