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Thoughtful Judaism
OUR COMMUNITY
16 Detroit-area rabbis and Jewish educators gathered in person at Temple Israel to learn about Thoughtful Judaism.
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Thoughtful Judaism
New class answers what it means to be a “member of the tribe.”
STACY GITTLEMAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Jewish learners in Metro Detroit from teens to adults can embark upon a new path to study — thanks to “Thoughtful Judaism,” a new curriculum designed by the Shalom Hartman Institute of Jerusalem.
Taking a pluralistic approach to Jewish education, the course will spark deeper conversations on where today’s Jews fit in with their tribe — in terms of faith, ethics, practice and community.
Thoughtful Judaism is brought to Detroit by a twoyear $60,000 grant from the Hermelin-Davidson Center for Congregation Excellence.
According to Rebecca Starr, director of regional programs for the Shalom Hartman Institute of North America, Thoughtful Judaism is a curriculum based on wide-sweeping thoughts and concepts about Jewish identity and peoplehood for the 21st century rather than focusing on the details of practicing the religion. She hopes that the new curriculum will lead to the “deep meaningful conversations” that people in the Jewish community need to have as they continue to deal with and emerge from the pandemic.
“The Detroit Jewish community needs to shake the notion that they can wait out the pandemic and go back to the synagogue or other Jewish institutions just as they did in 2019,” Starr said.
“Going back to shul will be different, and so will the way we do Jewish learning and education. Thoughtful Judaism is much more about answering questions like what it means to be part of a collective, a tribal people and what is my role in this collective.
“It’s much different from answering questions like, when and how do we light Shabbat and Chanukah candles. Those elements are important, too, but this curriculum is designed to elevate the conversation about Judaism.”
Rebecca Starr TRAINING EDUCATORS
Early in August, Starr trained 17 local rabbis and Jewish educators from 13 area Jewish institutions on the adaptable, modular curriculum at an in-person seminar at Temple Israel in West Bloomfield.
“The big takeaway we gave to those who attended the training [in person and on Zoom] was: The Hartman Institute gives you the four volumes of the curriculum, and you have the creativity and know your constituents and the ways to create classes for them,” Starr said.
“The Hartman Institute hopes classes developed from this curriculum will invite those in interfaith marriages, the unaffiliated and those feeling marginalized in the Jewish community to come in and join the conversation and not stay on the sidelines.”
JLearn, a project of the Jewish Community Center of Metro Detroit, is the first in the community to spearhead efforts to offer Thoughtful Judaism classes beginning in October with two 12-week semesters either Monday evenings or Wednesday mornings over Zoom for 75 minutes. All classes for the fall semester will be on Zoom only.
JLearn will determine if the second semester, beginning in January, will be offered in a hybrid format. The cost of the coursework is $175 per semester or $300 for the entire year, and scholarships are available. For detailed information, call (248) 205-2557 or go to jlearn. online.
“We are so fortunate that Rebecca Starr is steering the ship on bringing Thoughtful Judaism to Detroit as she has taught classes for JLearn for many years,” said JLearn Senior Director Shelly Wish Shelley Wish Chaness Chaness. “We are making classes accessible for time-crunched people because we understand, these days, time is a commodity. Because of the flexibility of the curriculum, instructors can take a broad overview approach or a deeper dive into each of the concepts.”
FOUR THEMES
Thoughtful Judaism revolves around four themes:
Peoplehood: The meaning and definition and purpose of Jewish community, how it can be diverse and hold shared values and a shared history and an exploration of the main centers of Jewish life: Israel and North America.
Faith: An exploration of questions relating to one’s relationship with God and what a life of faith entails, models in Judaism that exemplify the complexities of having a relationship with God as well as viewpoints on where Jews who do not believe in God fit in.
Practice: What is the meaning of the system of mitzvot and what does it accomplish? In an age that encourages independent and self-minded thinking, how can one find relevance in rituals and how the sanctification of time, space and body can lead to holiness.
Ethics: In what ways is the individual obligated to the widest and innermost circles of community according to Jewish tradition? How to maintain relationships even when one party wrongs another, and the obligations parents and children have to one another.
To add to the multimedia aspect of the curriculum, each volume is accompanied by a series of podcasts and 10-minute videos.
“The beautiful part about the Hartman curriculum is that is not as heavy as other learning programs we have taught in the past,” Chaness said. “The lessons have a basic format built on Jewish texts, but they allow for news articles, videos or even songs — anything that allows more current relevance to the subject matter.” PHOTO CREDIT Cardiology & Heart Surgery Diabetes & Endocrinology Gastroenterology &
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OUR COMMUNITY
Workers at Love Garden community farm in Detroit
JVS
JVS Skill Building Assistance Programs Provide Aid to People with Disabilities
Tomatoes, peppers, broccoli, collard greens, kale and herbs such as basil, rosemary and parsley, are all being grown by Metro Detroiters with disabilities who are taking part in JVS Human Services’ Skill Building Assistance (SBA) program.
Every Tuesday and Thursday morning, up to eight participants take a trip to Love Garden, a community farm located at Chalfonte and Dacosta roads in the Brightmoor neighborhood of Detroit, where they plant seeds, mow the lawn, turn the soil, weed, water, and fertilize the produce they are growing. Keep Growing Detroit, an organization which promotes food sovereignty and community engagement in Detroit, helps to support the program by providing plants and seeds.
When produce is ready for picking, it is then gathered and taken to JVS Human Services’ building in Detroit (4250 Woodward Avenue) where it is sold in a pop-up SBA Garden Market. All proceeds are ploughed back into the SBA program.
Work on the farm will continue until early October when the participants prepare the beds for winter.
There are also other SBA programs throughout Metro Detroit where participants are involved in meaningful volunteer work at local nonprofit organizations. All programs are designed to learn new skills so that participants can be more integrated into the community.
Jewish Family Service Earns Highest 4-Star Rating from Charity Navigator
Jewish Family Service earned its ninth consecutive 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, the leading charity evaluator in America. It is the highest possible rating and indicates that JFS adheres to sector best practices and executes its mission in a financially efficient way.
Attaining a 4-star rating verifies that JFS of Metro Detroit demonstrates strong financial health and a commitment to accountability and transparency.
Only 4% of the charities evaluated by Charity Navigator have received at least nine consecutive 4-star evaluations, indicating that JFS outperforms most other charities in the country. “No organization can do any better than this, which makes me so proud,” says JFS CEO Perry Ohren.
“This should overwhelmingly reassure the community about Jewish Family Service’s ability to use dollars prudently to help others.”
Join the Rohr Jewish Learning Institute for a four-week course on “Outsmarting Antisemitism” at Bais Chabad of West Bloomfield, 5595 W. Maple Road, beginning the week of Oct. 31. Attend live or via Zoom on Sundays at 11 a.m. or Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m.
Jews cannot let antisemitism define Judaism — but cannot ignore it either. As direct memory of the Holocaust fades, Jews around the world are wondering whether the patterns of past centuries are returning, in both the Old and New Worlds, where Jews experience more hate crimes than any other group.
Are Jews doomed to be stuck in this cycle forever? How can Jews escape this history of hate?
“Outsmarting Antisemitism” takes this dark subject on squarely, with a sense of unabashed optimism, profound faith and a distinctly Jewish approach. Through illuminating source texts and captivating case studies, this course considers the sources of this ancient scourge along with the appropriate strategies for overcoming it. “It’s time to find the confidence to fight hate with hope and to stand tall against antisemitism with positivity, purpose and plenty of Jewish pride.” said Rabbi Shneur Silberberg of Bais Chabad.
The $80 cost includes the textbook. Scholarships are available. Visit baischabad.com/jli, email rabbishneur@baischabad.com or call (248) 855-6170 for information.
“To save one life is to save the world entire.” — The Talmud
This High Holiday season, as we seek spiritual and physical renewal for ourselves and our loved ones, let us also remember those in Israel who nurture and renew life every day. Whether it’s treating civilians wounded in terror and rocket attacks or vaccinating them against Covid-19, no organization in Israel saves more lives than Magen David Adom. Magen David Adom is not government-funded. Its 27,000 volunteer EMTs and paramedics and 4,000 full-time professionals rely on support from people like you for the vehicles, supplies, and equipment they need to perform their lifesaving work. No gift will help Israel more this coming year. Support Magen David Adom by donating today at afmda.org/rosh or call 888.674.4871. Shanah tovah.
