Five Thursday mornings with Rabbi Meir

Starting Thursday, January 10, 11am

Whether we're asking life's biggest questions (why are we here, what is our purpose, the horror of evil, our mortal essence) or remembering fondly our university studies of history's most important thinkers, join Rabbi Meir in our study of Martin Buber and Emanuel Levinas.  This journey into the lives and minds of two of our greatest 20th Century, Jewish thinkers will be enriching and uplifting.  

We will focus on the following texts, all of which are available on-line.

Martin Buber, The Way of Man (http://www.pendlehill.org/images/pamphlets/php106.pdf)

Martin Buber, Hasidism and Modern Man (The Way of Man is included in this book), http://www.amazon.com/Hasidism-Modern-Man-Martin-Buber/dp/1573924601

Emanuel Levinas, Nine Talmudic Readings, http://www.amazon.com/Nine-Talmudic-Readings-Emmanuel-Levinas/dp/0253208769

Please try to read The Way of Man (at the above link) for the first class.

Happy New Year to all,

Meir

Rabbi Meir's Friday Night (Parashat Va'Yishlach) 
Dvar Torah on the UN Vote on Palestine 

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 9, 11AM 
MEN'S GROUP (CHOCHAMIM)

Dear Friends,

I hope you all are well, that you had a wonderful thanksgiving and that December brings much good cheer.  We meet this coming Sunday morning at 11am.  Saturday night is the first night of Chanukah, so Sunday morning we'll be in our first day of Chanukah.  Surprise, I'd like to think about our question -- "What do we want to tell our children/grandchildren . . . " through a Chanukah lens.

A primary idea or question we'll talk about is: "If/when have we ever felt like the underdog, the small and powerless one?"  That was the situation the Maccabees found themselves in, in 165 BC.  The Hanukah story offers two very different kinds of ideas.  

What advice do we have for our grandchildren on this subject?  We will look at a few Chanukah texts and also pages 192-195 of our Heschel article, which can be found through my blog, below.

I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible.  May this Chanukah season be filled with light and warmth and passion.

Chag urim sameach (a happy and luminous holiday to all),

Meir

The Individual Jew and His Obligations, (part 1) Abraham Joshua Heschel

The Individual Jew and His Obligations, (part 2) Abraham Joshua Heschel