FALL: Wrestling with Faith
Cheshvan 5779 / October 2018

This course explores the obstacles and questions—both intellectual and emotional—that prevent many people from fully embracing G-d. The course’s objective is to make the students more comfortable with their belief in G-d—and more specifically, the uniquely Jewish understanding of G-d—and thereby free them to pursue a deeper relationship with Him. The course’s topics include: How is G-d relevant to me? Can I live a purposeful existence without Him? Does what I do matter to G-d? Why are His teachings antithetical to many progressive Western principles? Why did He create evil and suffering? Is it unscientific to believe in G-d? Must I fear Him?

WINTER: Crime and Consequence
Shevat 5779 / February 2019

Criminal justice reform is a hot-button topic in the United States, with a bipartisan consensus that urgent reforms are needed. This course discusses some of the most controversial issues with respect to crime and punishment and offers Torah perspectives that are relevant and insightful. The course examines many areas of criminal law, such as sentencing, incarceration, parole, death penalty, evidence, rehabilitation, crime prevention—all in the hope of generating a safer and more just society.

SPRING: With All My Heart
Iyar 5779 / May 2019

More than half (55%) of Americans say they pray every day, according to a 2014 Pew Research Center survey, while 21% say they pray weekly or monthly. But what is the purpose of prayer? Can we cause G-d to change His mind? Is He in need of incessant praise? This course aims to make prayer more personally meaningful by addressing some of the philosophical, emotional, and practical barriers that make it difficult to pray. And by examining the history of how the Jewish prayers developed, as well as the meaning of the most notable prayers, participants will become more comfortable with tapping into Jewish prayer as a means of connection to their heritage.