CATALOG NEW SEASON Winter/Spring 2014
Dear Friend
Chabad of Mt Olympus, is proud to present our Torah Studies catalog of classes for the second season of the year.
At Chabad, we value a deep, rich learning experience and we aim to provide this in an unequivocal way. This is why we have brought you a Torah Studies program of the highest caliber, developed by the world-renowned Rohr Jewish Learning Institute. The program brings you a series of stimulating text and discussion based classes that take place on a weekly basis. Our lessons will engage you in a multidimensional way by challenging you intellectually, spiritually and emotionally. They explore contemporary issues through a Torah perspective as well as tackling timeless questions in the Jewish tradition.
I invite you to browse through the topics in this catalog and to join us for some weekly inspirational study. In this new season, you will also find classes on Purim and Passover. These classes are open to all, whatever your level of learning may be, and we encourage you to bring your friends along.
Shalom,
Rabbi Sholom Ber Rodal
Chabad of Mt Olympus
Tuesday, January 7 2014
Where Did All the Miracles Go?
Why Wonders Are a Thing of the Past
How are we supposed to believe in the Bible if the miracles it describes haven’t been replicated since? Why did they disappear? We discover that behind the shock and awe of a miracle lies a flaw in creation that echoes in our personal lives—and which only nature can heal.
Tuesday, January 14 2014
WIIFM (What’s in It for Me?)
Striking the Balance for a Healthy Relationship
Is a happy marriage when I’m happy or when you’re happy? Is the point of religion to make us better people, or to indulge G‑d’s will? This ancient debate is rooted in the fiery drama of Sinai and then spills over into the rest of history. An inside look gives us insight into the perfect relationship.
Tuesday, January 21 2014
The Holiness of Hate
Does Loathing Have a Loving Side?
How can a religion of peace preach intolerance? Would a Torah that preaches kindness ask us to hate? We are forced us to reassess our notions of love and hate. Are the two incompatible? By examining the true engine of hate, we develop tools to turn it into a powerful love.
Tuesday, January 28 2014
Follow Your Heart
Finding Your Personal Path
It seems that Jewry is fractured: the academic Jew, the spiritual Jew, and the do-gooder Jew. Which one is more important? The seemingly archaic furniture of the Temple comes to life in this lesson, to help each of us find our path.
Tuesday, February 4 2014
The Sweet Smell of Struggle
Why You Shouldn’t Give Up
Nobody’s perfect. Our personal Judaism, as with all the things in life, can get a little tough. Does that mean we’re failing? Why should we continue to struggle if the calm never comes? This class, on the Temple altars, sheds light on the glory of the grind
Tuesday, February 11 2014
Happy Days
A Look at Jewish Joy
We are forever on the search for happiness but rarely do we find it. Can the Torah help us? This fascinating survey of key Jewish themes reveals that happiness, that elusive goal, is actually well within the reach of every human being.
Tuesday, February 18 2014
Sanctuary in Time
A New Outlook on the Workweek
Our days are divided into two opposing camps: the workweek and the weekend. One is for the grueling task of making ends meet, and the other is our time to relax and enjoy life. But does it have to be this way? This class builds a bridge between Shabbat and the rest of the week, granting deeper meaning to both.
Tuesday, February 25 2014
Blessed Beginnings
Are Birthdays Meaningless?
Judaism celebrates achievements and accomplishments. Birthdays celebrate beginnings and uncertainty. Can we reconcile the two? Can we have a birthday bash that would make Moses proud? The story of the evil Haman and his fatal mistake shows us how.
Tuesday, March 4 2014
Simple Pleasures
A Unique Outlook on Gratification
Food? Art? Friends? What do you take pleasure in? The Temple sacrifices introduce us to a warped world of sensations where honey is vile and bread is odious. The deeper symbolism of these items gives us insight into Judaism’s vision of true bliss
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Tuesday, March 11 2014
Answering Anti-semitism
The Jewish Response to Prejudice
“The Jews don’t fit in. They’re different.” The historical accusation has merit, doesn’t it? Are we not different in beliefs, dress, and in myriad other ways? How do we answer this charge? In the Purim story, the paradigm of anti-semitism, we find the unexpected answer
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Tuesday, March 18 2014
Why Kosher?
Three Perspectives on the Jewish Diet
What meaning lies behind the aisles of kosher products? Is it more than primitive food hygiene? In a bizarre Talmudic tale we discover three explanations of kosher that highlight the impact of the enigmatic food code on our everyday lives.
Tuesday, March 25 2014
The Prenatal Academy
What Happens Before We’re Born?
What does a baby achieve while it’s in the womb? Does it affect the child’s future life? A journey into the mystery that surrounds this formative period reveals a surprising common ground between Jewish thought and Platonic philosophy.
Tuesday, April 1 2014
The Freedom of Discontent
When Are You Truly at Liberty?
Aah, freedom! No work, lying on the beach, mind at rest. We challenge this conventional model of liberty and instead look at Passover, the festival of freedom, to discover that true emancipation is when we remain shackled to our raging minds and restless hearts
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Tuesday, April 8 2014
Lessons from Caesar
A Look at Jewish Leadership
In the Talmud, Moshiach is called Caesar. What does the Roman Emperor have to do with the Jewish Redeemer? A fascinating odyssey into ancient history and the future Messianic age uncovers a surprising model of leadership and personal growth.
Chabad of Mt Olympus Held at The Chabad Russian Synagogue 7636 Santa Monica Blvd. | www.chabadmtolympus.com
Torah Studies is a program of the Rohr Jewish Learning Institute www.myjli.com
