Adult Education Course with Rabbi Glickman
TOPIC: What Does Reform Judaism Say About …? A Deep Dive into the World of Reform Jewish Responsa
WHEN: 10 Tuesdays, 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM starting September 17, 2024
WHERE: Temple Library
INSTRUCTOR: Rabbi Mark Glickman
“Rabbi, is a chicken with this kind of blemish kosher?” “Rabbi, I’m at sea about to cross the international date line – when do I celebrate Shabbat?” “Rabbi, I own a store in partnership with a non-Jew – can I keep it open on Saturdays?”
For centuries, observant Jews have turned to their rabbis with these and countless other questions concerning Jewish law. The rabbis’ legal conclusions are called responsa – and they are often collected and anthologized.
Reform rabbis, too, have written responsa, and this course will study some of them in detail: Does Judaism permit abortion? May a Reform rabbi officiate at an interfaith marriage? Is it OK for a synagogue to conduct a fundraiser on Shabbat? These are the types of questions Reform rabbis have been asked, and their responsa illustrate the unique way Reform Judaism can be applied to contemporary questions. Take this course, and join us in looking at some of these responsa in detail – it promises new and fascinating insights into the Reform Judaism works.