Introduction to Judaism

I'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It's easy.

Our Introduction to Judaism online course will give participants a strong foundation for authentic and empowered engagement in the Jewish community. This 18-session program is the perfect introduction to Jewish living, theology, texts, history, holidays, and rituals. Classes are held Thursdays at noon-1pm PT. Dates are as follows: 1/14, 1/21, 1/28, 2/4, 2/11, 2/18, 2/25, 3/4, 3/11, 3/18, 4/8, 4/15, 4/22, 4/29, 5/6, 5/13, 5/20, 6/3

This course is designed for spiritual seekers, interfaith couples, individuals pursuing or considering conversion, and Jews who want a meaningful chance to reconnect with their Judaism as an adult.

Please see the syllabus (below) for a full breakdown of meeting dates and material.

Come for the program, stay for the community! Weekly classes are augmented by Shabbat and holiday programs and additional experiential components all found on the calendar (HERE). Our course of 18 classes is $595/person and $720/couple. No experience necessary. All are welcome! Registration details are on our first class here: https://www.keepingitsacred.com/event-details/introduction-to-judaism-19

Full course materials are provided upon registration.

If you need assistance with registration, please contact our Digital Marketing Director, Molly Flanagan at mflanagan@keepingitsacred.com. If you have further questions, please contact Rabbi Miller at rabbimiller@keepingitsacred.com. We hope to see you soon!

The program is led by Rabbi Heather Miller and her teaching style is interactive, and encouraging of questions. She is queer and a member of an interracial, international, interfaith family, and joyfully engages with folks of all backgrounds. Rabbi Heather Miller, known for her open, affirming, and joyful approach; previous students reflect:

“Rabbi Miller has a great sense of humor,

and you can tell she really loves sharing her knowledge.”

“She makes everyone comfortable in her presence and allows time for all of us

to learn a little about the others in the group.”

"I loved my experience with Rabbi Miller and am looking forward to more

learning opportunities with her. She's a wonderful teacher."

AND, be sure to sign up for our newsletter below.

CLASSES:

What is Judaism? Who are the Jewish People? 1/14
1. Jewish Ideas (General) • Jewish Peoplehood
2. Who Is a Jew?
People of the Book – Sacred Jewish Texts 1/21
1. Overview of Sacred Jewish Texts
2. Bible
3. Midrash
4. Talmud (Mishnah and Gemara)
5. Later Commentary, Codes, and Responsa
Jewish Prayer and the Synagogue 1/28
1. Prayer, Keva and Kavanah, Structure of T’filah
2. Synagogues/Tour of the Sanctuary
3. Torah Scroll
4. Ritual Garb/Prayer Garb: Kippah, Tallit and Tefillin
5. Hebrew
6. Brachot
7. Hazanut and the Music of Prayer
What Do Jews Believe? 2/4
1. God and Theology
2. B’rit/Covenant
3. Chosenness
4. K’dushah/Holiness
5. Mitzvah/Mitzvot
6. Halachah
Creating a Jewish Life and Home 2/11
1. A Jewish Home
2. Mezuzah
3. Kashrut, Jewish Food, Cookbooks, Ethical Consumption
4. Jewish Values, Ethics, and Practice (General)
5. Derech Eretz, Musar (Personal Ethics), Midot (Character Traits)
6. Tzedakah
7. Social Justice/Tikkun Olam/Messianism
8. Business Ethics
Marriage, Partnership and More 2/18
1. Lifecycle (General)
2. Marriage and Partnering
3. The Wedding Ceremony
4. Divorce
5. Love, Sex, Dating
6. LGBTQIA+ Couples and Families
7. Interfaith Couples/Families
Birth, Childhood, and Jewish Education 2/25
1. General
2. B’rit Milah, Simchat Bat, Baby Namings
3. Fertility
4. Surrogacy
5. Family Planning, Contraception
6. Genetic Testing
7. Pregnancy Loss: Stillbirth/Miscarriage/Terminating a Pregnancy
8. Adoption and Fostering
9. Parenting through a Jewish Lens
10. Jewish Education
11. Jewish Camping
12. B’nei Mitzvah
13. Confirmation
14. “It Takes a Village”—The Role of Community
Illness, Death, and Mourning 3/4
1. Healing/Illness
2. Health and Wellness, including Mental health, Substance Abuse, Addiction & Recovery
3. Hospice/Medical Ethics Related to End of Life Care
4. Ethical Wills
5. Funerals/Rituals/Mourning
6. Aging
7. Organ and Tissue Donation
8. Afterlife
The Jewish Calendar and Shabbat 3/11
1. The Jewish Calendar (general)
2. Rosh Chodesh
3. Shabbat
4. Film and Television
The Yamim Nora-im (High Holidays); The Days of Awe 3/18
1. General
2. Sin and Forgivingness
3. Elul and Selichot
4. Film and Television
5. Music
The Three Festivals: Passover (Pesach), Shavuot, Sukkot • Pesach (Passover) 4/8
1. Shavuot
2. Sukkot/Sh’mini Atzeret/Simchat Torah
3. Film and Television
4. Texts
5. Passover Haggadot
Other Jewish Holidays: Hanukkah, Purim, and “Minor” Holidays 4/15
1. Hanukkah
2. The Hanukkah/Christmas season conversation
3. Tu BiShvat
4. Purim
5. Tishah B’Av
6. Film and Television
From Creation to the Enlightenment (the Jewish historical experience) 4/22
• Jewish History
The Shoah (Holocaust), Anti-Semitism, and Jewish Responses to Evil 4/29
Anti-Semitism
The Shoah (Holocaust)
Yom HaShoah
Israel and Zionism 5/6
Zionism
The Modern State of Israel (Politics, Culture, History)
Yom HaZikaron and Yom HaAtzmaut
Film and Television
Am Yisrael, Eretz Yisrael, Medinat Yisrael
The North American Jewish Experience; Tapestry of the Jewish People (Understanding Jewish Diversity) 5/13
Reform Judaism and Other Jewish Denominations
North American Jewish Communities – Demographics, History, Culture
Jews of Color
Interfaith Jewish Families
Global Jewish Communities
Yiddish
Ladino
Becoming Part of the Jewish Family and the Jewish People 5/20
Conversion, and Shalom Bayit
Next Steps -- Becoming Part of the Jewish Community 6/3