Educational Opportunities

ADULTS

What to Do When You Don't Know What to Say: Making Shivah Visits Easier; Wednesday evenings, July 18 & 25; 7:00 - 8:30 pm In this workshop, facilitated by Rabbi Gerson, we shall address the practical etiquette of entering a house of mourning, from the standpoint of Tradition and also in the reflection of our shared experiences. We will cover such issues as: What do I say to the mourners? How do I fill the void of silence? When is the best time to make a shivah call? 
The first session of this two-part series will be strictly about the "How To's" of a Shivah Visit. Those who wish to examine some texts and commentary surrounding the topic of Jewish Mourning are invited back the following week to expand their knowledge base. There is no charge for these sessions, but RSVP's are requested by July 15 to Rabbi Gerson.

Tanakh & Tabloids, Thursdays,  June 7, 14, 21, 28; July 5, 19, 26; August 2, 9, 16 10:30–11:30 am

Join this community study forum led by Rabbi Bernard Gerson in the Rodef Shalom Library. Sessions are divided into two, half-hour components: 1. Reading and discussion of a chapter of the Tanakh (Bible) in English and 2. Discussion of timely and relevant news stories. Free. No reservations necessary.

Scholar-in-Residence; Saturday, July 21st
The Colorado Hebrew Chorale is excited to present two educational programs with Professor Joshua R. Jacobson, in July 2012. Jacobson is Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities at Northeastern University, Visiting Professor and Senior Consultant in the School of Jewish Music at Hebrew College, and also the Founder and Artistic Director of the Zamir Chorale of Boston. According to Colorado Hebrew Chorale Board member Leah Peer, "Jacobson is one of the world's foremost authorities on Jewish choral music." He has written articles on various aspects of choral music, and has published more than 100 compositions and arrangements. His book, Chanting the Hebrew Bible: The Art of Cantillation, published by the Jewish Publication Society in 2002, was a finalist for the National Jewish Book Award.

In cooperation with Congregation Rodef Shalom and East Denver Orthodox Synagogue, Jacobson will be featured as a scholar-in-residence on Saturday, July 21, on the topic of Music and Worship. On Shabbat morning at Rodef Shalom, Jacobson will present: How Can I Keep from Singing? In this D'var Torah we will learn how music enhances the spirituality of our conversation with God that we call "prayer." We will find out why we sing our prayers rather than just speak them. We will also try to understand the goal of our singing, and what role the cantor can play in helping us achieve that goal. These talks are open to the public at no charge. Jacobson will also offer a choral master-class on the "Essential Music of the Holocaust" on Thursday July 19, 2012, with a follow-up presentation on Sunday, July 22. Both these events will be held at the Hebrew Educational Alliance, and are open to the public. "The power of music to inspire people is quite remarkable, and, for many in our community, music is the conduit to their Jewish involvement and identity", said Chorale Board President Seth Ward. For more information and to register, contact the Colorado Hebrew Chorale at 303.355.0232 or visit www.coloradohebrewchorale.org.

Rodef Shalom Book Club, August 2nd, 7:00 pm

The Rodef Shalom Book Club is pleased to announce Rabbi Emeritus Ray Zwerin will be speaking on Thursday evening, August 2nd at 7:00 pm to discuss his new book "Holy Fire".

Please join us for this opportunity to hear one of our own local rabbi authors. Although this event is free, please RSVP to our synagogue office at 303-399-0035 of your intention to come so that we can prepare accordingly.

(A note from the publisher...) Rabbi Ray Zwerin (HUC-JIR/Cincinnati '64), Rabbi Emeritus of Temple Sinai, Denver, recently published Holy Fire (The Sinai Press, Denver, 2012), a remarkable double-tale by a gifted storyteller. Zwerin weaves together the biblical plot of the death of Nadav and Abihu in the context of the desert wanderings with the story of Nate and Avi, survivors of the destruction of Yugoslavian Jewry in World War II and the resurrection of their lives and family in Mandate Palestine and the State of Israel.

We know the biblical plot, but not this new telling; we know a lot of Holocaust history, but little about pre-Holocaust Belgrade and Sarajevo and the Jews who fought as Partizans with Tito against the Nazis. The fictional midrash and modern narrative grab the reader so that you can't put it down, and don't know whether to read straight through, or skip every other chapter and read the biblical and modern stories separately.