Workshops

If you love learning, you have come to the right place! Here are some of the workshops I am offering in 5780/2019-2020. I would love to bring them to your synagogue, group or community!

You can contact me by email: rabbilindajoseph@gmail.com

STORIES TO WAKE US UP

Rabbi Nachman of Bratslav believed that stories are a crystallization of a greater reality, designed to wake us up. Here is a chance to explore some of his tales and how they resonate for us personally. Be prepared to dig deep!

IS IT IN OUR STARS? ASTROLOGY AND JUDAISM

Mazal Tov U’Siman Tov is sung at a Jewish simcha. It literally means — under a good star and a good sign. Do Jews believe in astrology? Does the Zodiac effect our lives? How do the rabbis of the past understand the sun signs, the constellations and their effects on our lives? Should we be consulting the astrological signs today?

TIKKUN OLAM: NOTION, REVOLUTION, EVOLUTION

Tikkun Olam or “Repair of the World”, has become one of the central pillars of Reform Judaism. What are the origins of this notion of world repair? When did it become so central to Judaism? How has it evolved and changed in our Jewish understanding? What is its significance today?

THE HISTORY OF JEWISH TEXTS

Starting with Torah at Sinai, and ending with online thoughts and commentaries of today, we will explore the history and content of our Jewish textual tradition answering the 5 “W” questions: What are the texts that inform Jewish tradition? Who wrote them? When were they written? Where were they written? Why were they written?

GOD SHOPPING

Following a short historic overview of “God” in Judaism and in Jewish thought, we will explore theological notions, ideas and beliefs, through a “God Shopping” experience, to develop and then share our own God theologies.

THE PEOPLE OF THE (COMIC) BOOK

Even before Gal Gadot was Wonder Woman, Jews were the people of the Comic Book. Through words and pictures, they brought Jewish themes, culture and values, to well know comics such as Superman, the Incredible Hulk, Batman and Robin, and others. Come learn how Judaism shaped the American Super-Hero.

MUSSAR: VALUES FOR THE EVOLVING SELF

In the nineteenth century, Rabbi Israel Salanter developed a spiritual practice known as Mussar – a discipline to help refine the Jewish soul and its moral construct. In the twenty-first century, Mussar has been experiencing a revival as a spiritual practice. Come learn about this Movement, its texts and its practice, and learn how you can make it part of your own life.

THE MODERN SANHEDRIN

The ancient Sanhedrin was the “supreme court” that existed at the time of the Temple. Also, in many towns of Israel, little Sanhedrins existed until the fifth century. The Sanhedrin were designed to debate and explore the controversial. To wrestle with modern controversies in the news of the week, we will recreate a modern Jewish Sanhedrin. Who knows, we may even solve a topic of debate in our time!