Judaism 101 for Adults Syllabus 5776
Rabbi Molly Karp
rabbimollykarp@gmail.com
Date
1. 8/15
2. 8/29
3. 10/3
There will be handouts for each class, emailed in advance.
Please print them or bring them with you on a kindle or any other electronic device.
Topic
Reading
LAJL pp. 167-179
The Jewish Calendar: Jewish Time
SOS pp.67-69
SOJ pp. ix-xxiv, 226-230
BOL 227-230
LAJL pp.180-191
Rosh HaShanah/ Yom Kippur
SOJ pp. 1-26
BOL pp. 261-264
Rosh HaShanah, September 14-15
Yom Kippur September 22-23
Sukkot begins September 29
Sukkot & Simchat Torah
Kashrut
4. 10/17
Shabbat
5. 11/6
Who are the Jewish People?
Torah: Sacred Text
What is the Bible?
The Jewish Home
People of the Book
6. 11/20
7. 12/5
8. 12/12
9. 1/16
SOJ pp.27-85
BOL pp. pp.66-93, 265-283
LAJL pp.192-8, 95-107
LAJL pp.33-67
SOS pp.102-112
TJB pp. 169-172
BOL pp. 103-134
SOS pp.3-11, 43-61
TJB pp. 1-32
BOL pp. 139-175
LAJL pp.3-32, 79- 94
SOS pp.12-29
TJB pp. 172-176
LAJL pp.68-78, 144-162
TJB pp. 178-180
BOL pp.206-223
Good Deeds
Jewish Learning
Chanukah Begins December 7
Chanukah
10. 1/30
Life Cycle:
Birth, Brit, Naming, Bar/Bat Mitzvah, Confirmation
Zionism 1
11. 2/13
12. 2/27
Zionism 2 and the State of Israel
Conversion & Mikveh
13. 3/12
Marriage & Divorce
14. 3/26
Purim
15. 4/9
16. 4/30
Death, Burial, and Mourning
Passover
1
LAJL pp.199-205
SOJ pp.87-103
BOL pp. 284-289
LAJL pp. 240-263
BOL pp. 301-323, 337-356
SOS pp.155-184
BOL pp.467-474
SOS pp. 195-226
LAJL pp.278-288
BOL pp. 324-336
LAJL pp. 264-277, 285-287
BOL pp. 357-395, 403-411
LAJL - p.211-214
SOJ pp. 115-131
BOL pp. 293-297
LAJL pp.289-301
LAJLpp.215-228
18. 4/21
Yom HaShoah & Yom Ha’Atzmaut
19. 6/11
Shavuot, the Omer, Lag Ba’Omer, and Tisha B’Av
20. 6/25
Topic TBA
SOJ pp. 133-163
LAJL pp.229-233
SOS pp.315-333
LAJL pp. 234-239
SOJ pp. 165-218
BOL pp. 253-259
© Rabbi Molly Karp August 2015
Ideas for Enhanced Learning:

Come to class. Your participation will make the class a success.

Ask lots of questions

Do the reading and write down your questions. If you are unable to complete the reading before class, try to
do it after class.
Torah and haftarah portions as well as many other biblical texts and commentaries can be found at:
http://www.jtsa.edu/Conservative_Judaism/JTS_Torah_Commentary/Torah_Commentary_Archives.xml#ge
n
Required Texts:
1. Living a Jewish Life, Updated and Revised Edition: Jewish Traditions, Customs, and Values for Today's
Families... by Anita Diamant and Howard Cooper (Feb 27, 2007)
2. Seasons of Our Joy: A Modern Guide to the Jewish Holidays by Rabbi Arthur O. Waskow (Sep 1, 2012)
3. Settings of Silver: An Introduction to Judaism by Stephen M. Wylen (Jun 1, 2000)
4. The Jewish Bible: A JPS Guide (JPS Guides) by Inc. Jewish Publication Society (Sep 15, 2008)
5. JPS Hebrew-English Tanakh by Inc. Jewish Publication Society (Jan 1, 2001)
6. A Book of Life: Embracing Judaism As a Spiritual Practice by Michael Strassfeld (Jan 2006)
Recommended Texts:
Anita Diamant, Choosing a Jewish Life.
Irving Greenberg, The Jewish Way: Living the Holidays.
Harold Kushner, To Life! A Celebration of Jewish Being and Thinking.
Adin Steinsalz, The Essential Talmud.
Idem., The Thirteen Petaled Rose.
Michael Strassfeld, et al, The Jewish Catalogues (vols 1-3).
A Passover Haggadah
A Jewish Calendar
All of the titles listed above can be purchased new or used at www.bookfinder.com.
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