MONDAY, OCTOBER 22 at 7:00 pm
UPDATE: This class will begin at 7:00 pm and end at 8:30 pm so attendees may get home in time for the 9:00 pm Presidential debate.  

We hear the term “spirituality” everywhere. Recent polls by Newsweek, The Gallup Organization, and Pew Research Center find increasing numbers of Americans defining themselves as “spiritual but not religious,” and this is especially true among millennials. Spirituality may be spoken of in combination with other concepts: living in harmony with nature, seeking meaning and purpose in one’s life, searching for God, or looking for ultimate truth. Spirituality has been equated with the idea of transcendence, sometimes through self-realization, or as part of connecting with the divine. Rabbi Stein will discuss acts of transcendence as spiritual moments and the human need for belief. If you are doing the optional reading in the Sonsino book, read chapters 1-4 (they're short!) in preparation for the class. (Reading not necessary to enjoy this class!)

Most people engage in study as a means to an end: they want or need to learn something specific. But some adult learners are in pursuit of personal insight and illumination. In Jewish tradition, we study text to uncover ethical and religious values. As we go deeper in our studies, we sometimes find a spark of inspiration about ourselves or the world around us. Join the conversation with Rabbi Stein to see how study of Torah can transport us to a higher sphere and the possibility of finding profound meaning and purpose to existence.

People of many religions have come to view meditation as the ultimate expression of their spirituality. Eastern meditative practices have gained immense popularity in the Western world. Young people of all nations and creeds, including Israelis, travel to the Far East, trying to discover their spiritual selves. After spending months or years in meditation, many claim to find God. Other Jews use Eastern meditation techniques as a powerful tool to attain and elevate spiritual growth. But is there such a thing as Jewish meditation? How is it different from Eastern practice? And why are so many Jews fascinated with these meditation practices, while remaining uninformed about the spiritual richness of their own tradition? Join this interactive discussion with Cantor Dubinsky.

For many, rituals – sacred acts and commandments – are a major and essential part of their spiritual expression. Why do we need ritual? What role does ritual play in Judaism? What is the tension between kevah – a pre-designed set of religious actions that one is commanded to perform – and kavanah – an instant and uninhibited drive of the soul? Are rituals an essential part of our spiritual growth, or do they stand in our way and prevent us from a sincere encounter with God? We will attempt to answer these fundamental questions.

Judaic studies professor, Ellen Umansky, wrote, “Jewish spirituality . . . can be seen as an expression of individual and/or communal yearnings toward the divine and a life of holiness.” The Hebrew word for spirituality, ruchaniyut, is not found in the Torah. Indeed, Jewish spirituality has evolved over the centuries and is reflected through the lens of traditional, Kabbalistic, and modern teachings. The majority of writings on spirituality have been penned by men. Rabbi Hirsch will turn to essays and poetry in Four Centuries of Jewish Women’s Spirituality (available from Brandeis University Press) to explore the feminine voice (bat kol) embedded in our Jewish tradition and to reveal how Jewish women have hungered for a personal relationship with God.