A free Taste of Judaism course will be offered in October by the Jewish Family & Children’s Service of Greater Mercer County and the Board of Rabbis of Princeton Mercer Bucks.
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September 7, 2009
Those interested in savoring “A Taste of Judaism” will get the opportunity to sample from a diverse menu of courses in Jewish spirituality, values, and people this October.
The three-session courses are being served up in Pennington and Princeton by the Jewish Family & Children’s Service of Greater Mercer County and the Board of Rabbis of Princeton Mercer Bucks. The free offerings will be held on Tuesdays and Wednesdays; the courses will be taught in Princeton by Rabbi Julie Roth, executive director of the Center for Jewish Life/Hillel at Princeton University, and in Pennington by Rabbi Stuart Pollack of Temple Har Sinai.
“The purpose of the class is to provide a nonthreatening, welcoming entry to the Jewish community,” said Debra Levenstein, executive director of program and support services at JF&CS. “It is designed for people interested in learning about Judaism because they’re in an interfaith relationship or they’ve learned they have an ancestor who was Jewish….”
The courses, said Levenstein, would also be helpful to “someone who is Jewish but is not well educated or connected to Judaism” or even “a bank teller who has a large Jewish clientele and is interested to know more about these people.”
Levenstein said each of the courses would cover three topics: Torah, encompassing history; Israel, about its people and spirituality; and what Judaism says about God.
“Each of the rabbis brings his or her strengths to that teaching,” Levenstein said, adding that organizers also hope that some of the students will form a relationship with the instructor/rabbi, creating a connection for future explorations of Judaism.
“The Board of Rabbis supports this, and without them we couldn’t do it,” said Levenstein.
Levenstein said taking part in the studies may “help in establishing and promoting healthy relationships for those in interfaith relationships.” Understanding one another is crucial for a successful partnership, she said, and “for those in interfaith relationships, this area is murkier. That’s true not just for interfaith relationships, but also those between observant and non-observant Jews.”
Interfaith couples can follow up with One Couple, Two Faiths, a four-session workshop designed for them. In December the Board of Rabbis will offer Introduction to Judaism, a more in-depth and varied 16-week course, at Congregation Beth Chaim in Princeton Junction, which will be taught by area rabbis.
Levenstein said last year’s Taste of Judaism course drew 35-40 people, many of whom went on to take the Introduction to Judaism class.
Those interested in obtaining dates, times, and other information about the courses should call Levenstein or Sara Hunter at 609-987-8100.
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