EXPLORING JUDAISM is OPEN TO ALL those who wish to broaden and deepen their Jewish knowledge. 

The curriculum draws on Jewish texts (e.g. Torah, TaNaKH, Mishnah, Talmud, Siddur & Machzor) and includes an exploration of the differences between Liberal Judaism and other Jewish denominations. The course includes the festivals and commemorative days as they come up (the date of the eve of each festival is indicated in bold). 

Classes are held on Shabbat (Saturday), 2.15-3.45pm, after the Access to Hebrew class (1-2pm)

UNIT 1: AUTUMN FESTIVALS

1.    07.09.19 Elul & S’lichot (S’lichot: 21.09)

2.    14.09 Rosh Ha-Shanah (Erev Rosh Ha-Shanah: 29.09)

3.    21.09 Yom Kippur (Erev Yom Kippur: 08.10)

4.    28.09 Sukkot (Erev Sukkot: 13.10)

5.    05.10 Simchat Torah (Erev Simchat Torah: 20.10)

UNIT 2: JEWISH TEACHINGS

6.    12.10 What is Judaism? 

7.    19.10 God

8.    26.10 Torah I

PLEASE NOTE: NO CLASSES on 02.11

9.    09.11 Torah II

10.  16.11 Israel: People, Covenant & Land

11.  23.11 Humanity, World & Tikkun Olam

12.  30.11 What is Liberal Judaism?

UNIT 3: DOING JUDAISM

13.  07.12 Tz’dakah & G’milut Chasadim 

14.  14.12 Chanukkah (1st Chanukkah candle: 22.12)

PLEASE NOTE: NO CLASSES on 21.12 & 28.12 (SHABBAT CHANUKKAH)

15.  04.01.20 Finding your way through the Siddur

16.  11.01 Finding your way through the Chumash

17.  18.01Kippah, Tallit & T’fillin

18.  25.01 M’zuzah, Kashrut & Jewish Particularity

UNIT 4: THE CALENDAR 

19.  01.02 The Calendar and the cycle of the months

20.  08.02   IN PLACE OF CLASSES: TU BISHVAT SEDER, 1.30-2.45 (Erev Tu Bishvat: 09.02)         

21.  15.02 Shabbat I: In the Torah & the Halakhah

22.  22.02            Shabbat II: Liturgy and rituals

PLEASE NOTE: NO CLASSES ON 29.02

23.  07.03 Purim (followed by Purim Celebration, 4-6pm) (Erev Purim: 09.03)

24.  14.03 Shabbat III: Towards a Liberal Jewish approach to ‘keeping Shabbat’

25.  21.03 Pesach I: Pesach in the Torah (Erev Pesach & Seder: 08.04)

26.  28.03 Pesach II: The Haggadah & the Seder

27.  04.04 Omer Period I & Yom Ha-Sho’ah (Erev Yom Ha-Sho’ah: 20.04)

PLEASE NOTE: NO CLASSES ON 11.04  

28.  18.04            Omer Period II: Yom Ha-Atzma’ut & Lag Ba-Omer (Erev Yom Ha-Atzma’ut: 28.04)

UNIT 5: FROM LIFE TO DEATH

29.  25.04 Birth

30.  02.05 Bar/Bat/B’ Mitzvah & Kabbalat Torah

31.  09.05 Kiddushin: Marriage

32.  16.05 Divorce

33.  23.05 Shavuot I (Erev Shavuot: 28.05)

34.  30.05 Shavuot II (following Shavuot Evening & Morning (2nd day) Services (Eve: 29.05)

PLEASE NOTE: NO CLASSES on 06.06

35.  13.06 Death & Mourning

36.  20.06 Choosing Judaism & Mixed Faith Partnerships and Families

UNIT 6: JEWISH HISTORY & GEOGRAPHY

37.  27.06 Jewish History & Geography I

38.  04.07 Jewish History & Geography II

39. 11.07 Tishah B’Av & Jewish Memory (Erev Tishah B’Av: 29.07)

40.  18.07 SIYYUM: END OF YEAR CELEBRATION