Shavuot (Thursday!) Night of Learning with R. Judith Hauptman and R. Moishe Steigmann

The first night of Shavuot traditionally includes a tikkun leyl Shavuot — a full night of learning and study. While I do not plan to teach until sunrise this year, The Spark Wisconsin is sponsoring a Night of Learning. In addition to my teaching a class, I am honored that Rabbi Dr. Judith Hauptman (bio below) of Ohel Ayalah will join as the featured guest teacher!
WHEN: Thursday night, May 28th.
WHERE: On Zoom. Email me for the Zoom link!
SCHEDULE:
8:00pm EDT / 7:00pm CDT: Candle-lighting, kiddush, motzi. (Yes! Feel free to bring your dinner as you join in the learning!)
8:10pm EDT / 7:10pm CDT: First Learning Session
Accepting the Torah in Our LivesRabbi Moishe Steigmann
The holiday of Shavuot celebrates our receiving the Torah from Mount Sinai around 3,300 years ago. Is that still relevant for us today? We will discuss what it means to accept the Torah in our lives and how that connects us with our earliest Israelite ancestors.
9:15pm EDT / 8:15pm CDT: Second Learning Session
The Moral Obligation to Speak Out in the Face of WrongdoingRabbi Dr. Judith Hauptman
A wonderful sugya in Bavli Shabbat (54b-55a) takes up the question of what to do when one sees people misbehaving, whether they are government officials or neighbors, whether they are breaking religious or civil law. Via anecdotes and midrashim, a very demanding moral principle emerges.

THIS SOUNDS WONDERFUL! HOW DO I REGISTER? Simply reply to this email, and you will receive a Zoom a day before the event.

We are looking forward to learning with you on Thursday, May 28th!

Gratefully,
Moishe

Rabbi Judith Hauptman is the E. Billi Ivry Professor of Talmud and Rabbinic Culture (emerita) at the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York. Her research focuses on two main areas, tracing the history of the text of the Talmud and teasing women’s history out of rabbinic texts.  She is the author of three books and numerous articles. Her volume, Rereading the Rabbis, A Woman’s Voice (1998), has been called a founding work of the new Jewish feminism. She is a fellow of the prestigious American Academy for Jewish Research. In 2004, she founded Ohel Ayalah, an outreach project to disaffected young Jews. It runs free, walk-in High Holiday services and Passover seders for Jews in their 20s and 30s. She is currently working on a book about law and narrative in the Talmud, focusing on anecdotes which show that when law meets life, modifications become necessary.

Rabbi Moishe Steigmann is the Founder and Director of The Spark Wisconsin, an organization that seeks to help Jews activate their Jewish energy through meaningful and relevant programming. Known as The Mindful Rabbi, Rabbi Steigmann brings a non-judgmental and open-minded approach to help Jews own their Judaism. He is the rabbi of Congregation Cnesses Israel in Green Bay, WI. In addition, he loves games, puzzles, and the Green Bay Packers, and is the proud parent of two fun and charming children.

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