Friday, December 13, 12-1

We will continue our weekly conversations on issues related to Jewish sensibilities.

For the past 50 years the publication Sh’ma Now has curated a distilled “conversation” bringing to­gether several voices around a single theme. Participants in our study group will have an opportunity to join in this conversation.

Last week, our group took up the concept of Limnot Yameinu: Counting our days.  14 participants engaged in a lively discussion of such issues as:  the value of acknowledging and grieving (as opposed to denying) our mortality and inevitable decline;  wide-ranging, and often contradictory, Jewish texts on life after death; what we ourselves imagined or rejected regarding afterlife; and understanding death as both a “closing” and an “opening.”

This week, December 13, we’ll explore Anavah/Humility

How do we find a balance between our own needs as individuals and as ones who engage with the world around us?

https://forward.com/shma-now/humility/ 

Next week, December 20, we’ll explore Machlochet L’Shem Shamayim/Argument for the sake of Heaven

How do we participate in constructive argumentation? How are we shaped by such discourse?

https://forward.com/shma-now/machlochet-lshem-shamayim/

*Once you get to the first page, you’ll need to click on the “Download PDF” button that appears on the screen in order to get the text of the full issue of Sh’ma Now.

Our informal discussion group, which has been in operation for nearly 20 years, meets every Friday from 12-1 in the CBI Library.  All are welcome to join us, regardless of their level of expertise or attendance at previous noon study group discussions. If you have questions, please contact Jay Jacoby at jbjacoby@uncc.edu.

I hope to see many of you on Friday the 13th (don’t let the date scare you away!).  If you plan on coming, please access and read the materials posted on the Sh’ma Now links.

Friday, December 13, 12-1

We will continue our weekly conversations on issues related to Jewish sensibilities.

For the past 50 years the publication Sh’ma Now has curated a distilled “conversation” bringing to­gether several voices around a single theme. Participants in our study group will have an opportunity to join in this conversation.

Last week, our group took up the concept of Limnot Yameinu: Counting our days.  14 participants engaged in a lively discussion of such issues as:  the value of acknowledging and grieving (as opposed to denying) our mortality and inevitable decline;  wide-ranging, and often contradictory, Jewish texts on life after death; what we ourselves imagined or rejected regarding afterlife; and understanding death as both a “closing” and an “opening.”

This week, December 13, we’ll explore Anavah/Humility

How do we find a balance between our own needs as individuals and as ones who engage with the world around us?

https://forward.com/shma-now/humility/ 

Next week, December 20, we’ll explore Machlochet L’Shem Shamayim/Argument for the sake of Heaven

How do we participate in constructive argumentation? How are we shaped by such discourse?

https://forward.com/shma-now/machlochet-lshem-shamayim/

*Once you get to the first page, you’ll need to click on the “Download PDF” button that appears on the screen in order to get the text of the full issue of Sh’ma Now.

Our informal discussion group, which has been in operation for nearly 20 years, meets every Friday from 12-1 in the CBI Library.  All are welcome to join us, regardless of their level of expertise or attendance at previous noon study group discussions. If you have questions, please contact Jay Jacoby at jbjacoby@uncc.edu.

I hope to see many of you on Friday the 13th (don’t let the date scare you away!).  If you plan on coming, please access and read the materials posted on the Sh’ma Now links.

Friday, December 13, 12-1

We will continue our weekly conversations on issues related to Jewish sensibilities.

For the past 50 years the publication Sh’ma Now has curated a distilled “conversation” bringing to­gether several voices around a single theme. Participants in our study group will have an opportunity to join in this conversation.

Last week, our group took up the concept of Limnot Yameinu: Counting our days.  14 participants engaged in a lively discussion of such issues as:  the value of acknowledging and grieving (as opposed to denying) our mortality and inevitable decline;  wide-ranging, and often contradictory, Jewish texts on life after death; what we ourselves imagined or rejected regarding afterlife; and understanding death as both a “closing” and an “opening.”

This week, December 13, we’ll explore Anavah/Humility

How do we find a balance between our own needs as individuals and as ones who engage with the world around us?

https://forward.com/shma-now/humility/ 

Next week, December 20, we’ll explore Machlochet L’Shem Shamayim/Argument for the sake of Heaven

How do we participate in constructive argumentation? How are we shaped by such discourse?

https://forward.com/shma-now/machlochet-lshem-shamayim/

*Once you get to the first page, you’ll need to click on the “Download PDF” button that appears on the screen in order to get the text of the full issue of Sh’ma Now.

Our informal discussion group, which has been in operation for nearly 20 years, meets every Friday from 12-1 in the CBI Library.  All are welcome to join us, regardless of their level of expertise or attendance at previous noon study group discussions. If you have questions, please contact Jay Jacoby at jbjacoby@uncc.edu.

I hope to see many of you on Friday the 13th (don’t let the date scare you away!).  If you plan on coming, please access and read the materials posted on the Sh’ma Now links.

Unless you’ve been out of the country for the last several weeks, you probably know that there’s some pretty important proceedings taking place in our nation’s capitol. In the 230-year history of the American presidency, only two sitting presidents have been impeached. President Trump may well be the third. The historicity of the proceedings, however, pale in comparison to real underlying battle. This is not just an investigation to determine whether impeachable offenses occurred; it is a tug war between strength and morality, and it’s as old as humanity itself. Join us this Sunday as we look at the dynamics of accountability from a Jewish perspective. More specifically, we will consider one very particular confrontation involving Rabbi Shimon ben Shetach and King Yannai. “Why is a king of Israel “not judged” [Mishnah Sanhedrin 2:1]? Because of what once happened.”  Intrigued? Wait until you see how many parallels there are between this 2,100-year-old Talmudic tale and what is happening now in our country. To see how the story unfolds and to unlock the universal lessons it holds, join us this Sunday at Archetype Brewing (the former Habitat Tavern, 174 Broadway St., Asheville). Rabbi Justin will help us understand this epic power struggle between the executive and legislative branches of ancient Israel. This program is free and open to all. Differing opinions are not only welcomed but encouraged. Non-alcoholic beverages are available, there is ample parking in the Moog Music parking lot off Bordeau Pl. Looking forward to seeing you there!!

Join us on the last Sunday of the month at Archetype Brewing (dowtown north) for a refreshing and often provocative discussion over a pint (or two) of great brew. Each month, we take on a new topic – often ripped from the headlines of today’s news. We spend the first 45 minutes wrapping our arms around it, defining it, dissecting and analyzing it from various viewpoints. Then we spend the rest of the time discussing it from Judaism’s point of view.

• What’s Judaism’s take on universal healthcare?
• Would Moses walk the streets of Chicago today packing heat?
• Is it okay to punch a white supremacist?

Torah on Tap gives us a chance to learn, vent, share and, most of all, understand what 4,000 years of cultural development, debate and dialogue has to say about some of the issues that confront us today. Torah on Tap is free and open to all. Varying viewpoints are not only welcome, but encouraged.

In addition to drinks, Archetype also offers small, locally-made bites available for purchase, including Poppy Popcorn, Asheville Pretzel Company pretzels, and Hickory Nut Gap Farm meat sticks. Plenty of parking in the rear.

See you there!

Friday, December 13, 12-1

We will continue our weekly conversations on issues related to Jewish sensibilities.

For the past 50 years the publication Sh’ma Now has curated a distilled “conversation” bringing to­gether several voices around a single theme. Participants in our study group will have an opportunity to join in this conversation.

Last week, our group took up the concept of Limnot Yameinu: Counting our days.  14 participants engaged in a lively discussion of such issues as:  the value of acknowledging and grieving (as opposed to denying) our mortality and inevitable decline;  wide-ranging, and often contradictory, Jewish texts on life after death; what we ourselves imagined or rejected regarding afterlife; and understanding death as both a “closing” and an “opening.”

This week, December 13, we’ll explore Anavah/Humility

How do we find a balance between our own needs as individuals and as ones who engage with the world around us?

https://forward.com/shma-now/humility/ 

Next week, December 20, we’ll explore Machlochet L’Shem Shamayim/Argument for the sake of Heaven

How do we participate in constructive argumentation? How are we shaped by such discourse?

https://forward.com/shma-now/machlochet-lshem-shamayim/

*Once you get to the first page, you’ll need to click on the “Download PDF” button that appears on the screen in order to get the text of the full issue of Sh’ma Now.

Our informal discussion group, which has been in operation for nearly 20 years, meets every Friday from 12-1 in the CBI Library.  All are welcome to join us, regardless of their level of expertise or attendance at previous noon study group discussions. If you have questions, please contact Jay Jacoby at jbjacoby@uncc.edu.

I hope to see many of you on Friday the 13th (don’t let the date scare you away!).  If you plan on coming, please access and read the materials posted on the Sh’ma Now links.