Meet the Midrash
Wednesdays, noon to 1:00 pm
Published Tuesday, March 18, 2014 8:00 am

Out of the texts of the Torah, the Rabbis created teachings bringing deeper meanings to the wisdom of the Jewish people known as Midrash. Each week we will explore some of these teachings based on the weekly Torah portion. We will gain not only an understanding of what the Rabbis were teaching, but how and why they were able to offer these teachings. While there are many compilations of Midrash from different periods in Jewish history, we will focus our studies on Midrash Rabbah.

Wednesdays 12 noon – 1pm

Friday, February 22

The Noon Study Group Will Not Meet on Friday, February 22.

We will resume with a new topic on Friday, March 1:

   Amos Oz’s Dear Zealots:  Letters from a Divided Land

About two months ago, the world lost Amos Oz, one of Israel’s greatest writers and intellectuals. Starting on March 1, we will be reading and discussing his last work of non-fiction, a collection of three essays on 1)  the universal nature of fanaticism and its possible cures, 2) the Jewish roots of humanism and the
need for a secular pride in Israel, and 3) the geopolitical standing of Israel in the wider Middle East and
internationally.

Our informal discussion group 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. Oz’s book is available at a variety of internet outlets.

One Sunday every month our environmental Judaism teacher Hannah Limov leads us in reconnecting our Jewish calendar to the Earth. We invite all the generations to study together and think about our future together. The Multigen portion of our YEP program is a highlight.

FEBRUARY EVENT WILL BE AT OUTDOOR LOCATION TO BE ANNOUNCED SOON. CONTACT ADMIN FOR MORE DETAILS.

Please arrive early for this event!

Join us on the last Sunday of the month at Habitat Tavern and Commons 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?
• Developing a practice of gratitude
• Gender identity and Juadaism

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.