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Jewish Studies Interdisciplinary Program |
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Fall 2007
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What does it mean to be Jewish? Three generations of the Rashevski family grapple with the question, after the death of Rose, the secular matriarch who believed that the tango would make all troubles disappear. This entertaining yet thought-provoking film shows people confronting issues of relationships, family, religion, love, and interfaith marriage. In French and Hebrew with English subtitles. Appropriate for teens and adults. Winner of Audience Award, Boston Jewish Film Festival. Monday, September 10 Co-Sponsored by Valley Beth Shalom, Adat Ari El, Temple Judea,
Shomrei Torah Synagogue, and Temple Aliyah |
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Author of Rabbi Mark Borovitz is the spiritual leader of Beit Teshuvah – House of Return, in Los Angeles, the first Jewish residential recovery center that uses Torah study, the 12 Steps and psychotherapy to help people fight addiction and reclaim control over their lives. He will tell his personal story of addiction and the role of spirituality in recovery. Tuesday, September 11 9:30 - 10:45 a.m. For more information, and to RSVP, please call 677-3007 |
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Tuesday, September 18 Who Were the First Israelites and Where Did They Come From? A Review of Recent Archeological Evidence and Theories Professor Elaine Goodfriend Decades ago, archeologists realized that the biblical accounts of the exodus from Egypt and the conquest of Canaan do not present a historically accurate account of the ancient Israelites. Most archeologists maintain that the first Israelites were indigenous Canaanites. Yet, they have difficulty reconstructing exactly what happened. In this lecture, Professor Elaine Goodfriend will discuss recent archeological theories and present her view on the emergence of the Israelite nation in the Land of Canaan. 4:20 p.m. At CSUN, Sierra Hall 268 |
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Tuesday, October 9 The Religion of Jesus and Its Impact on Families, Politics and Economics in First-Century Palestine Professor Rick Talbott Historians recognize that the Gospels’ description of Jesus and his society was produced by later Christian people motivated by religious considerations. How do they reconstruct “the historical Jesus” who lived as a Jew within Jewish society? Professor Rick Talbott uses research tools from the fields of cultural and economic anthropology to describe a thoroughly Jewish Jesus, whose vision of Israel’s God brought him and his earliest followers into conflict with village and eventually Roman authorities. 4:20 p.m. At CSUN, Sierra Hall 268 |
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Sunday, October 14 At the Fallbrook Laemmle Theater Limited Seating: Call (818) 677-4724 Co-Sponsored by Adat Ari El, Temple Aliyah, Temple Kol Tikvah, Shomrei Torah Synagogue, and Valley Beth Shalom Jewish Studies Interdisciplinary Program |
Tuesday, October 30 Compassionately Coping with the Dying: Spiritual Issues in Hospice Care
Rabbi Sheldon Pennes, who serves on the staff of Vitas Innovative Hospice Care and a founder of the Jewish Hospice Project, will be speaking about his experiences working with people of all religious backgrounds as they cope with their own and others’ dying.
9:30 - 10:45 a.m. At CSUN, Sierra Hall 192 |
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Monday, November 5
For centuries, Kabbalah was regarded as secret doctrine accessible only to pious Jewish men above the age of 40 with expertise in rabbinic texts. How did such an esoteric teaching become widely available in English translation in bookstores and on the Web, in classes open to the public, and of interest even to pop celebrities? And what is it about the Kabbalah Centre – is it a cult? A legitimate variation of Judaism? Jody Myers spent years researching the Kabbalah Centre, and her book is the first scholarly study of that international religious movement. Come hear Rabbi Feinstein discuss her findings and their implications for American religious life. Books will be available for purchase and for author signing. 5:30-6:45 P.M. At CSUN, Whitsett Room (Sierra Hall 451) RSVP requested for this event. Call (818) 677-4724 |
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Sunday, November 25 Free Sneak Preview of Yiddish Theater: A Love Story This documentary by award-winning Israeli film maker Dan Katzir tells the story of Zypora Spaisman, the actress who has kept the oldest running Yiddish theater in America alive, and the troop of young and old actors who work with her. This heartwarming film shows the dramatic struggle to save an endangered culture and to preserve meaning in one’s life. In English. At the Town Center Laemmle Theater 17200 Ventura Blvd., Encino,10:00 a.m. (79 minutes) Followed by Q & A and discussion led by CSUN Jewish Studies faculty Limited Seating: Call (818) 677-4724 or email jewish.studies@csun.edu to reserve a seat. Co-sponsored by: Adat Ari El, Shomrei Torah Synagogue, Temple Aliyah, Temple Kol Tikvah, and Valley Beth Shalom |
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Tuesday, November 27 Jewish communities of varied cultural background formed an integral part of the Middle East for thousands of years. In the 20th century, political strife and violence in the region led to the expulsion or flight of almost all Middle Eastern Jews. How do Middle Eastern Jews and their descendants feel about their identity today? Join Jordan Elgrably, director of the LA based Levantine Center, for a lively talk and discussion. 4:20-6:15 p.m. At CSUN, Sierra Hall -- Room 268 |
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Nov 28 - Thousand Oaks Room, University Student Union, 9:00-10:00 A.M 9:30-10:45 A.M. Maggie Anton, author of Rashi’s Daughters, a historical fiction about the daughters of the famous Talmudist and Biblical commentator,will discuss the second book in her trilogy, Rashi's Daughters: Miriam. Hear about her exciting research on medieval Jewish men and women in northern France, with a special focus on how they deal with sexuality and sexual ethics. |
