Get ready for the Jewish holiday marathon on two Shabbatot in Elul, the month of preparation (September this year in the secular calendar). Join Richard Lederman and Cliff Fishman on September 14 and 21 on Shabbat afternoons (after Kiddush for those attending services) to discuss key themes of the holidays.
September 14: Reaching the Divine in the Sky
With Richard Lederman
During the High Holidays we seek teshuvah, meaning “return.” We understand that our connection to God becomes frayed, and we seek to renew that connection. In the last several decades, we have begun to understand that our connection to God can be enhanced through our connection to nature. Yet, our literature and liturgy is full of references to a divine drama that takes place among the celestial bodies. This lesson will explore ways to connect to the divine through greater attention to what takes place not just out there in nature, but up there in the heavens.
September 21: Apology, Forgiveness and Teshuva
With Cliff Fishman
When should we apologize, and how? Are we obliged to forgive? We will discuss these questions and how Halacha, social scientists, and popular culture address them.
