Jul

18 2017

iEngage - The Tribes of Israel: A Shared Homeland for a Divided People

7:00PM - 9:00PM  

Lenox Community Center 65 Walker Street
Lenox, MA 01240
413-637-5535

Contact Jewish Federation of the Berkshires
413-442-4360
http://www.jewishberkshires.org

iEngage – The Tribes of Israel: A Shared Homeland for a Divided People

Join Rabbi Neil Hirsch of Hevreh of Southern Berkshire and Rabbi David Weiner of Knesset Israel for a series of in-depth conversations in this second iEngage Video Lecture Series. This six session class confronts the challenges of creating a Jewish and democratic public space in the modern State of Israel – a shared common space for a people divided along tribal affiliations: religious, ideological, national, and geographic.  The Tribes of Israel begins a conversation to restructure the relationship between the collective and the individual tribes that comprise Israel. Curriculum and materials are produced by the Shalom Hartman Institute.

By orienting participants to the ideas of personal narrative and identity we will start by exploring how the Torah conceptualizes the Jewish people as a tribal family. Through First-person voices (on video and through text study) participants will discuss the identity of various ‘Tribes of Israel’ and leave their comfort zone to deepen their understanding of Haredim/Ultra-orthodox, Religious Zionist, Masorti/Traditional, Israeli Secular, Jewish Secular, Jewish non-Jewish, North American Jews and Arab Palestinian Israelis. By listening with a respectful mind and open heart to distinctive and authentic voices, participants will deepen their cross-cultural understanding and have the opportunity to process what they have learned and integrate it with their own concepts of Jewishness, Jewish peoplehood and Israel.

Classes meet Tuesday nights, July 18, 25; August 8, 15, 22 and 29 at the Lenox Community Center from 7-9 p.m., Most classes will be team-taught by the two rabbis.

Tuition is $75 and includes all sessions and access to course materials online and in print. Financial aid is available. To prepare for the course, participants will be asked to read Yossi Klein HaLevi, Like Dreamers, in advance of the first class

The class is co-sponsored by the Jewish Federation of the Berkshires, Hevreh of Southern Berkshire and Knesset Israel. Advanced registration is required.