MaZAL . Mount Zion Adult Learning 5773/2013 Torah at the Center... Did Isaac offer himself as a sacrifice? Torah Mondays Study Genesis, Chapter 22: The Akedah/Binding of Isaac Rabbi Esther Adler Rashi study in Downtown Minneapolis 12:00-1:00 p.m. (ongoing) Thursdays (on-going), Noon-1 p.m. Mount Zion Temple (Call the Mount Zion office to confirm class schedule). Take a lunch break from your busy life and 220 S. 6th St., Suite 1800 Minneapolis (US Bank Building) join this Torah discussion. The group is Rabbi Adam Stock Spilker reading through the Prophets and Writings In our methodic reading of Genesis beginning years ago in in the Tanach, adding our own experiences, the beginning, we have arrived to chapter 22 in time for the ideas, and events of the day to illuminate the High Holy Days. This chapter is the reading for Rosh intricate relationships that evolved among Hashanah. It is the moment Abraham and we are tested by our ancestors. We are currently reading the the command to sacrifice his son Isaac. Our 11th century Book of Psalms. guide Rashi offers us perceptive commentary. Stop by once Bring Your Lunch! or many times to learn this dramatic, potentially disturbing, maybe inspiring episode in Torah. No background is neces- sary. All are welcome. You may bring your lunch. Thursday: Genesis with Rashi Rabbi Adam Stock Spilker 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. (ongoing) Food for Thought 220 S. 6th St., Suite 1800 Minneapolis (US Bank Building) Friday, February 15, 5:45-7:15 p.m. Learn & Nosh before Shabbat Services Fill your spirit with food for the soul over Two Options: lunch in a downtown conference room. Study the book of Genesis the way it has How to be a Jewish Volunteer Around the World been studied for centuries, with the great Health Care Mission Work from Haiti to Ethiopia commentator Rashi as our guide. Come Speakers: Hilary Stecklein Kobrin, MD and Jerry Kobrin, MD once or regularly and enjoy the camaraderie We will share our experience from Eastern Europe, Israel, Haiti and Ethiopia as of a chevruta, the Talmudic way of learning representatives of Jewish HealthCare International, including the barriers as well with one’s friends and colleagues. as successes. We will share concrete ways to set up and evaluate mission work, Bring Your Lunch! and in the process hope to discuss the reality of using our Jewish values of Tikkun Olam (repairing the world), Tzedakah (charity, justly giving) and Gemilut Chasidim (acts of loving kindness) in ways that hopefully accomplish good and not just feel good. Shabbat-Open Torah Study Jewish Mysticism, Soul Traits and Meditation Speaker: Bonnie Resnick, Psy.D. Studying the weekly Torah Bonnie Resnick, Licensed psychologist and spiritual director will lead an experiential portions with our Rabbis. session on Jewish Mysticism, Soul Traits and Meditation, based on the book, Everyday 9:00 - 10:00 a.m. (ongoing) Holiness, by Alan Morinis. Jewish mystics used soul traits, including humility, order, Mount Zion Temple patience and simplicity to achieve personal and spiritual growth and inner calm. This weekly study group is open to regular Through discussion and meditation, we will explore the soul traits of humility and attendees and those who are able to drop in patience and three steps to personal transformation: one, become sensitive to the soul once or periodically -- people of all ages, traits and your personal entanglement with them, two, create more space around the trait by becoming a witness to your reactions, and three, transform your relationship knowledge and background. Through read- with the trait, at its root, through journaling, study, meditation, mantra and awareness. ing and discussion of the weekly parashah/Torah portion, participants will learn the stories of Torah and make them come alive in their own lives. www.mzion.org Zemirot (Shabbat Table Songs) The Many Faces of Jews Saturdays after services (approx. 11:30 a.m.) January 12, March 2 Steven Derfler, Ph.D, Instructor Taught by Cantor Spilker and Cantor Strauss-Klein Steven Derfler returns to Mount Zion with a new Want to expand your Jewish song repertoire? Hop- series where he will weave historical teachings with ing to participate in spirited singing at Mount Zion personal anecdotes and pictures enriching our Shabbat lunches? understanding of Jews around the world. Join us to learn Zemirot, Shabbat table songs, at a vegetarian potluck lunch in Margolis Hall immedi- ately after our Shabbat morning services. We will learn traditional and Sundays, 10:00-11:30 a.m. at Mount Zion new tunes from the NFTY bencher, the blessing and songbook we use at Mount Zion meals. All songs will be available in transliteration. March 3 The Jews of Cuba It is said that Christopher Colum- Building a Jewish Home, bus was part-Jewish, and that Jew- Creating a Jewish Family ish sailors were part of his crew when he landed on the island in Rabbi Adam Stock Spilker 1492. Ever since, there has been a Mondays, February 4, 11, 25, 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. Jewish community in Cuba. Even $36 members/$50 public today, Jewish life, although small, is still vibrant. A guided discussion for couples (same faith and interfaith) exploring Jewish holidays, education, ethics and more. What does it mean to have a “Jewish” home? This April 7 The Jews of Iraq three-part class is for couples, at whatever stage of relationship -- whether same-faith or interfaith – One of the first major Judean who want an open and structured way to reflect. communities outside of Eretz Is- The emphasis of the class will be on each couple rael can be found here, with ori- making the choices that are right for them after gins dating to the destruction of study and discussion on key questions of Jewish Jerusalem and Solomon's Temple life. Examples: What Jewish values will we em- in 586 BCE. It would be the phasize? What books and periodicals and art will lamentation of the Priests in the be in our home? What rituals will we incorporate? Galut, the Exile, that would give What will Shabbat look like in our home? rise to spiritual Zionism embod- ied in Psalm 137.

Part of the University of Minnesota - Center for Jewish Studies lecture series. Department of Advanced Trope Refresher German, Scandinavian and Dutch, University of Minnesota. Sundays, March 17 & May 5, 11:00-12:00 p.m. th Taught by Cantor Strauss-Klein Views of Jews in 19 Century Denmark: Cost: Member $36, Public $50 From Pro-Semitic Hans Christian Andersen to Have you ever wondered why there are two sets of trope marks on Anti-Semitic Søren Kierkegaard the Ten Commandments? Have you come across a passage in the Professor Poul Houe Torah or Haftarah where you couldn’t figure out why the trope is the way it is? Have you ever mistaken a t’lisha g’dolah for a t’lisha Wednesday, February 6, 7:30 p.m. k’tanah or a kadma for a pashta? If so, this class is for you! This is an opportunity for the more experienced chanter to brush up on at Mount Zion or learn more advanced Torah and Haftarah chanting. The content A controversial book (by Peter Tudvad) about Kierkegaard as an anti- and direction of the class will be determined by the participants, so Semite was published recently, and Andersen's Pro-Semitic stances are please register in advance at www.mzion.org and come prepared well documented. It lies near at hand to use these two towering authors with specific questions, passages, or chanting situations you would as points from which to overview the landscape of pro- and anti-Semitic like to see covered. Participants must have experience chanting sentiments in Danish/Nordic 19th century culture and society more Torah or Haftarah trope and be able to read Hebrew. If you have broadly, and even to extend the perspective into contemporary culture, questions, please contact Cantor Strauss-Klein at where the debate around Tudvads's book has been quite revealing. [email protected]. Co-sponsored by Mount Zion Temple.