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Chabad of NW Metro Denver will present To Be a Jew in the Free World: Jewish Identity Through the Lens of Modern History the institute’s new six-session Winter 2014 course that will begin Tuesday February 4th and continue for the following five Wednesday evenings.
Rabbi Benjy Brackman will conduct the six course sessions at 7:00 pm at the Chabad Center is Westminster located at 4505 w 112th Ave, just west of Front Range Community College.
A recent PEW study exposed that 22% of Jews identify as ‘Jews with no religion’ and for many, this is a clear indication that the landscape of Jewish identity is changing rapidly” said Rabbi Benjy Brackman. “Our objective with this course is to initiate a discussion about Jewish identity, why it is still relevant, and what we can do to make it something our children and grandchildren will cherish for generations to come.”
In To Be a Jew in the Free World, participants will confront questions of allegiance and issues in which Judaism and contemporary society appear to be in conflict. Looking into the past, the course explores a series of fascinating case studies, such as arguments made in the 1650s to convince Oliver Cromwell to readmit Jews to England, and how Ulysses S. Grant’s 1862 expulsion of the Jews became a defining issue in his presidential election.
Whether you are fascinated by Jewish history or Jewish mysticism, or whether you are seeking a fun and meaningful experience, you won’t want to miss this course,” said Rabbi Brackman. “The material is as relevant as ever, promising to deepen the way we understand ourselves, our universe, and our relationships with our friends and neighbors.”
Like all JLI programs, To Be a Jew in the Free World is designed to appeal to people at all levels of Jewish knowledge, including those without any prior experience or background in Jewish learning. All JLI courses are open to the public, and attendees need not be affiliated with a particular synagogue, temple, or other house of worship.
Interested students may call 720-984-5805 or visit www.COJewish.com/JLI for registration and other course-related information.
