A Covenant Sealed Upon the Flesh?
Jewish Birth Rituals in our Day
Salomon Gruenwald, Congregation HEA
Sunday 10:30 AM–11:45 AM
University Center 126
Family & Intergenerational,
Ritual & Prayer
Brit Milah (ritual circumcision) evokes primal emotions and has always elicited questions and controversy. As covenanting rituals for girls continue to evolve, and as a small but vocal movement challenges circumcision, I invite us to think creatively together about the meaning of Covenant and how we enter our children into it. In light of traditional sources, feminist thought, and our desire for deeper spirituality, we will discuss these powerful rituals and their significance for our time.
Teaching About Israel on the American Campus
Zach Levey, University of Colorado at Boulder
Sunday 10:30 AM–11:45 AM
University Center 122
Israel
This presentation reviews the way Israel, as an academic topic, is taught, mis-taught, and most often, ignored on US campuses. We will consider in what manner Israel may be most effectively presented, with a view to imparting to students a full understanding of and sympathy for the subject. This presentation includes a demonstration of the audio-visual means that the instructor brings to the university classroom.
The Life and Music of Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach
Mark Ambrosino,
Neshama Carlebach,
Seth Farber,
Jack Petruzelli
Sunday 10:30 AM–11:45 AM
Lodge B, C
Arts & Performance,
Identity & Responsibility
Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach, of blessed memory, was one of the most inspirational spiritual leaders of the twentieth century. There is no Jewish event anywhere in the world where his songs are not sung. His influence, great teachings, and love of all mankind continue to uplift and give strength almost 14 years after his passing. Join Neshama, his eldest daughter and protégé, in a session featuring his beautiful songs and a telling of his story.
Your Personal Spiritual Curriculum
A Mussar Approach to Living and Growing
Alan Morinis
Sunday 10:30 AM–11:45 AM
University Center 303 A
Identity & Responsibility,
Text & Thought
The Mussar tradition developed within the Jewish world to help us answer some important questions: Who are you? How did you get that way? What you can do about it? In this session, we will explore some practical and useful answers to those questions found in the classic 16th century text, Orchot Tzaddikim -- The Ways of the Righteous. What we'll learn is that every one of us is assigned a personal spiritual curriculum. The great gift of Mussar is to help us become aware of that curriculum and then to show us how to do the work of learning the lessons embedded in that curriculum that is uniquely our own.
The Genesis Code:
Lessons in Creation from Rembrandt and the Torah
Joshua Fallik, Joshua Fallik Studio
Sunday 10:30 AM–12:30 PM
University Center 124
Arts & Performance
B’reishit is not about origin, as the Greek word Genesis suggests, but about creation. In this workshop, we begin with a blank canvas and create a painting, using the first two chapters of Genesis as our blueprint, an approach which closely parallels Rembrandt’s technique. This oil painting demonstration uses B’reishit 1:1 to 2:7 as a verse by verse ‘how to‘ manual of how to create, from the visionary spark to the final signature. (This session may run a little longer than the standard session length, but you will still have a chance to go to lunch following the session's conclusion.)
