Contemporary Culture and Ethics
NextGen Judaism: Varieties of Jewish Identity on Today’s College Campus
Jewish college students face enormously complex challenges on today’s college campuses beyond the question of the Israel-Palestine conflict. We will explore some the key factors contributing to this complexity, including the problems posed by the fluidity of contemporary Jewish identity, the changing nature of Jewish community, and the impact that technological change is having on student mental and emotional health. We will discuss strategies and questions that Jewish leaders and parents may want to consider as they help young people navigate this crucial phase of their lives.
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What’s Your Value(s)? Creating Your Personal Mission Statement
The accelerating pace of our lives and the fragmentation of community makes it harder than ever before for us to pay attention to the things that really matter and to focus on the “big picture.” We will explore the value of creating personal narratives to help us define success and how the Jewish values tradition can be a transformative conversation partner in the process.
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Reclaiming Religion: An Argument for Re-engaging in Jewish Life
The rise of Enlightenment in the 18thcentury gave rise to the prediction that religion would wither away with the rise of scientific secularism. Yet, religion in general and Jewish tradition in particular persists, and is likely to do so well into the future. We will make the case that “religion” means something different than what most people popularly think and that being “religious” is a basic element of the human experience. We will further explore how re-engagement in religious communities can be a crucial element in combatting the widely felt experience of alienation and polarization that are the byproducts of the technological and digital revolutions.
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The Emotional Life in Judaism — Key Concepts
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1. The Duality of Anger and Rage in Jewish Thought
Is anger and rage a negative emotion, a positive goad to action, or a bit of both? We will discuss key Jewish texts ranging from anger that clouds good judgment to the concept of righteous indignation. How do we find the right balance of this basic human experience?
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2. Pleasure and Desire in the Jewish Tradition
One of the key controversies in religious traditions is the extent to which we may indulge in worldly pleasure and the fulfillment of desire. Jewish tradition does not speak with a single voice on these issues. We will explore some key texts on the question is Jewish tradition as a basis for thought-provoking discussion.
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3. Identifying with the Other: Radical Empathy In Jewish Thought
Identifying with the other is a core Jewish value, particularly with the most vulnerable in society. We will look at some cornerstone Jewish texts as a basis for exploring the extent to which we are responsible for one another in and out of our immediate communities.
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