JCA ADULT EDUCATION

TEFILAH WITH KAVANAH Janis Levy Sundays • January 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 • 4:00 – 5:30 pm

In , (tefilah) is considered a “service of the heart.” The says, “You shall serve God with your whole heart” (Devarim/Deuteronomy 11:13), and the Babylonian adds: “What service is performed with the heart? This is prayer.” The concept of kavanah, which refers to intention or purpose, has a profound association with prayer and deeds in fulfillment of mitzvot. Indeed, Joshua Heschel wrote that the purpose of Jewish practice is “transformation of the soul.”

These heady concepts are worthy of discussion accompanied by exploration of ways to perhaps reach the kind of outcome Heschel envisioned. Our class will involve more than the instructor lecturing: your active participation is essential, and everyone will be encouraged to share articles, commentaries, and personal observations in our conversations. We will also benefit from contributions recorded for us weekly by Benjamin Weiner and Diana Brewer, who will offer their insights into different ways of understanding and chanting specific .

The instructor will provide study topics for each class that focus on a core prayer, moderate the discussions, and lead practice of the Hebrew pronunciation of the selected prayers looking carefully at different translations and interpretations. Texts will be emailed ahead of each meeting. No purchase of books is necessary. It will be helpful if you are able to follow the Hebrew, even if you are still early in your acquisition of the necessary language skills.

Janis Levy has been a member of the JCA since 2011 and currently helps to coordinate communications for the community. Previously, along with other volunteer and professional work in life, she was involved in leading services and in . For ten years, she helped an area rabbi launch and teach classes for a major adult Hebrew literacy program in the valley. She began teaching in the Adult Education program at the JCA in the fall of 2018.

Registration required for this class at: http://bit.ly/aec20Freg