Calendar

Everyone Welcome! Sponsored by Jewish Family & Children’s Service and Hospice of the Valley

3 CEUs provided

Fee: $35 (scholarships available)

Registration & Complimentary Breakfast
8:30 am

Call 602-567-8334 with questions about registration

What is Torah Studies?

Torah Studies is a weekly text-based Torah study program offered in 275 cities on six continents. Torah Studies was founded in 2004 to provide instructors with well-researched, in-depth classes on the weekly Torah portion. Torah Studies enables students of all backgrounds to gain a true appreciation of cardinal Jewish beliefs and practices.

The Torah Studies Experience

In each session, the Torah Studies student encounters a multi-sensory learning experience including a mix of Jewish texts, discussions, learning activities, illustrative anecdotes, visual aids, and digital multimedia. Jewish texts are weaved together to deepen the student’s understanding of a profound new Torah insight. Lessons focus on contemporary topics of Jewish interest, including personal, social, political, and economical issues. Student textbooks contain readings carefully selected from the entire gamut of Jewish literature including traditional and modern sources. The Torah Studies instructor acts as the guide-on-the-side, rather than the sage-on-the-stage, utilizing modern pedagogic techniques to revolutionize a tradition of classical Jewish learning.

The Valley Israel Center is hosting Shavuot at the  VOS JCC at 7 pm on May 20. 12701 N Scottsdale Road in Scottsdale.

Those attending are asked to dress in white and to bring their “bikkurim” (first fruits), another important symbol of Shavuot. These crops are barley, dates, figs, grapes, olives, pomegranates and wheat. Modern versions of the bikkurim may include other crops now grown in Israel or other Jewish communities around the world. The celebration will be an Israeli Kibbutz style.

480-634-4900, ext. 1109, shahare@vosjcc.org

Join Young Jewish Phoenix, a project of the Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix for their monthly happy hour. Happy Hours will be on the 3rd Thursday of each month with locations changing monthly. For more info on happy hour locations please email info@youngjewishphoenix.org or erins@vosjcc.org

YJP is aimed at engaging Jewish young adults in their 20’s-40’s.

Jewish Baby University for expectant parents. Learn preparation for childbirth, care of newborn, Jewish rituals and parenting skills for raising Jewish children. 6 Thursday evenings, 6:30-9 pm at Temple Solel, 6805 E McDonald Dr., Paradise Valley. $115. 480-634-8050, lfeldman@bjephoenix.org

My Promised Land: The Triumph and Tragedy of Israel by Ari Shalit.

Book discussion led by AzJHS Exec Director, Lawrence Bell, Ph.D.       Free and open to all.

7 pm at the Cutler-Plotkin Jewish Heritage Center, 122 E Culver St in Phoenix.

RSVP to 602-241-7870 or lbell@azjhs.org

In the Valley, the Board of Rabbis of Greater Phoenix is offering a Tikkun Leil Shavuot gathering, a free study program, in preparation for the holiday from 7-9:45 pm on May 21 at the Ina Levine Jewish Community Campus, 12701 N Scottsdale Road.

Up for discussion is: Seven Weeks Later: Imagine transporting the four children of the Seder to Mount Sinai for the giving of the Torah. How would each child–wise, wicked, simple and unable to ask–respond to revelation? The session will consider different ways that Jewish texts have understood the blessing–and burden–of accepting the Torah.

Keynote speaker is Rabbi Dvora E. Weisberg, PhD. Rabbi Weisberg is Associate Professor of Rabbinics and Director of the School of Rabbinic Studies at the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Los Angeles. Her book, Levirate Marriage and the Family in Ancient Judaism, (University Press of New England/Brandeis University Press, 2009) explores the ancient rabbis’ vision of the family and the roles of individuals within it; it was a finalist in the 2009 National Jewish Book Awards.

jewishphoenix.org

Shabbat and Me is a new, free Shabbat enrichment program with singing, storytelling, crafts and blessings with challah and juice.

Offered three Fridays in May, 10-11am at the Tucson JCC, 3800 E River Road plus one Shabbat on the Go:

May 1, Shabbat Vases;

May 8, Shabbat on the Go at Mildred and Dildred, 2905 E Skyline Dr.;

May 15, kippahs;

May 22: Spice bags.

RSVP to Julie Zorn at 520-299-3000, ext. 236 or jzorn@tucsonjcc.org

WORLD RENOWNED AUTHOR, LECTURER and

GOLD REMI AWARD-WINNER for BEST DOCUMENTARY 2015 at the INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL,

SPEAKING at the JEWISH LEARNING CENTER, at CHABAD OF SCOTTSDALE and at KITCHEN18 ON SHAVUOT –MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND

Rabbi Manis Friedman, world-renowned author, counselor, lecturer and philosopher will be lecturing over Shavuot, May 23-25, 2015 at the JLC & Chabad of Scottsdale. Shavuot, one of the most important events on the Jewish calendar, is a two-day holiday commemorating the giving of the Five Books of Moses on Mount Sinai. The three day event will include lavish dinners and three grand buffet lunches as well as an evening of fine wine & tasty Hors d’Oeuvres. These inspiring events will excite everyone in attendance with a sense of purpose and direction.

Rabbi Friedman is a noted Biblical scholar, recognized for his lucid explanations of Jewish mysticism. He uses ancient wisdom and modern wit as he captivates audiences around the country and around the world. Rabbi Friedman is a professionally ranked member of the National Speakers Association. His speaking tours take him to every part of this country as well as Israel,England, The Netherlands, South Africa, Australia,Brazil, Venezuela, Peru,Canada, and Hong Kong. In 1971, he founded Bais Chana Institute of Jewish Studies in Minnesota, the world’s first yeshiva exclusively for women, where he continues to serve as dean.
Rabbi Friedman has been the subject of articles in the New York Times, Rolling Stone, Seventeen, Guideposts, Insight, Publisher’s Weekly and others. He hosts his own critically acclaimed cable television series, Torah Forum with Manis Friedman, syndicated throughout North America. Over 200,000 copies of his provocative yet entertaining tapes, both audio and video have been sold.

Rabbi Friedman’s first book, DOESN’T ANYONE BLUSH ANYMORE?, published by Harper San Francisco in 1990, was widely praised by the media. Following the publication of the book, he was featured internationally in over 200 print articles, and interviewed on more than 60 television and radio talk shows. He has appeared on CNN, A&E Reviews, PBS, and BBC Worldwide. From 1984-1990 he served as simultaneous translator for the Lubavitcher Rebbe’s televised talks.

In addition to winning best documentary at international film Festival in Houstonin April 2015, Friedman has also been a consultant for and is featured in the highly provocative film “Patterns of Evidence”

Rabbi Friedman was born in Prague, Czechoslovakia in 1946 and immigrated with his family to the United Statesin 1950. He received his rabbinic ordination from the Rabbinical College of Canada in 1969.

The Jewish Learning Center is located at 10213 N. Scottsdale Rd.

MANIS FRIEDMAN EVENTS ALWAYS SELLS OUT, RESERVE EARLY