Together with long-time JCOGS member Barbara Segal, Rabbi David is pleased to announce our second online cohort of Shalom Hartman Institute limmud/learning at JCOGS. This year’s focus will be on the Ethics curriculum drawn from the Hartman cutting-edge Foundations for a Thoughtful Judaism. Here are the details:

Who: This is for anyone interested in Jewish text and tradition, regardless of fluency, whether as participants in the first cohort, or new to Hartman learning. There are three tiers of commitment: first, you are invited to attend the first session to “try it out.” Second, we are creating a cohort of learners who want to opt in for at least the first three sessions, and third, hopefully after the first three sessions, you will be inspired to continue in this deep dive into Ethics for the full eight sessions.

What: We will do a deep dive into the text-based Hartman curriculum, examining questions of our obligations, dilemmas, and tensions around the ethical and moral choices that we make in life. We will also use contemporary texts and sources to help integrate the concepts and make the learning more relevant. The course also includes access to special Hartman podcasts and additional texts.

Where: On Zoom, with a final in person celebration of learning on the holiday of Shavuot.

When: Over eight sessions from November through March, we will meet periodically on Mondays from 5:45-7:30PM. The course officially begins November 7, 2022.

Why: For thousands of years, Jews have prioritized education, believing that a foundation in learning is the gateway to a thoughtfully-led life. This has always been done among small groups, knowing that the bonds created among learners enhances the learning. We are planning a multi-access curriculum for everyone, from in depth students of Jewish tradition to those new to it.

Fall 2022

• Nov 7 Creation Ethics
• Nov 21 Covenantal Ethics
• Dec 5 Tensions between Creation and Covenantal Ethics

Winter 2023

• Jan 9 Bystander Effect
• Jan 23 Ethics of Rebuke
• Feb 13 The Moral Imperative Approach
• March 13 The Moral Concern Approach
• March 27 Managing Tensions + Conclusion

Final in person learning

• Friday, May 26, 6-8:30PM Shabbat-Shavuot Services + Dinner + Shavuot Learning with JCOGS participants of Foundations for a Thoughtful Judaism

Registration: The suggested donation for the entire course is $118 to help defray curriculum costs. All are accepted, regardless of contribution.

Contact Barbara at barbara.segal@jcogs.org or Rabbi David at rabbidavid@jcogs.org if you have any questions.