Friday, June 21 12:00-1:00

We began last week with consideration of an idea supplied to us by Walter Ziffer about the potential cause the anti-Judaism present in The Gospel According to John.  It is possible that John came from Sardis, a town in Asia Minor (Turkey) that housed a large synagogue and affluent Jewish population which may have dwarfed the number of adherents to Christianity.  The need to differentiate from and compete with the Jews may have influenced John’s thinking.  We then moved on to the promise Jesus made in John in 14:16 that he would ask God to send an “Advocate” to be with the disciples once Jesus was gone.  We spent some time discussing the significance of this advocate/paraclete/holy spirit/healer/ comforter, with several participants sharing how they understood this concept.  We then looked at Chapters 15-16, especially the “I am the true vine” metaphor and problems that verses such as “apart from me you can do nothing” (15:5) and “whoever does not abide in me . . . is thrown away . . . thrown into the fire and burned” (15:6).   

 This week, we’ll consider chapters 17 (Jesus’s prayer to God), 18, and 19 (Gethsemane and its aftermath). 

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 Friday study group sessions.   Any copy of the New Testament Gospel of John is acceptable (the more versions the richer the conversation).  Our discussions will be supplemented by commentary drawn from The Jewish Annotated New Testament, edited by Amy-Jill Levine and Marc Zvi Brettler.   If you have questions, please contact Jay Jacoby at jbjacoby@uncc.edu.

Join us for the final segment of this 3-film documentary on the Jews of Russia.  Each film stands alone – there’s no need to have seen the previous two films.

We’ll begin with a vegetarian potluck meal at 6:00pm in the CBI social hall followed by the film at 7:00pm.  There will be an opportunity for discussion following the film for those who are interested.

Friday, June 21 12:00-1:00

We began last week with consideration of an idea supplied to us by Walter Ziffer about the potential cause the anti-Judaism present in The Gospel According to John.  It is possible that John came from Sardis, a town in Asia Minor (Turkey) that housed a large synagogue and affluent Jewish population which may have dwarfed the number of adherents to Christianity.  The need to differentiate from and compete with the Jews may have influenced John’s thinking.  We then moved on to the promise Jesus made in John in 14:16 that he would ask God to send an “Advocate” to be with the disciples once Jesus was gone.  We spent some time discussing the significance of this advocate/paraclete/holy spirit/healer/ comforter, with several participants sharing how they understood this concept.  We then looked at Chapters 15-16, especially the “I am the true vine” metaphor and problems that verses such as “apart from me you can do nothing” (15:5) and “whoever does not abide in me . . . is thrown away . . . thrown into the fire and burned” (15:6).   

 This week, we’ll consider chapters 17 (Jesus’s prayer to God), 18, and 19 (Gethsemane and its aftermath). 

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 Friday study group sessions.   Any copy of the New Testament Gospel of John is acceptable (the more versions the richer the conversation).  Our discussions will be supplemented by commentary drawn from The Jewish Annotated New Testament, edited by Amy-Jill Levine and Marc Zvi Brettler.   If you have questions, please contact Jay Jacoby at jbjacoby@uncc.edu.

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!

Meet the Midrash is for those who want to make the regular study of the weekly Torah portion a part of their fixed practice.

Join Rabbi Goldstein each Wednesday around noon for a traditional interpretation of the Sages on the upcoming Torah portion or upcoming holidays.