Course Offerings
The following courses are available for the 2008-2009 Academic Year. They are sorted by Program, then by day, and time.
The Rabbinics Institute
The School for Cantorial Arts and Education
The School of Education
Courses Available to All Students
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Homiletics 201/202
Monday 11:00am-1:00pm
Instructor: Rabbi Paul Kushner
This course is designed to give each student the essential skills necessary to adequately research, write and present sermons and D’vre Torah for congregation, classes and other synagogue settings.
Parshanut
Mondays 8:00pm-10:00pm
Instructor: Haviva Horvitz
In this course we will examine the religious, cultural and historical role and significance that parshanut (traditional commentary) have played in helping us to better understand and appreciate the structure, structure, composition and teachings of The Torah. Students will learn how to look at Biblical Text through eyes of the “original writers”, commentators of this massive document, as well as being encouraged to employ their own analysis and interpretation of the individual parshanut presented and discussed during class sessions.
Fundamental Rabbinical Responsa
Tuesday 12:00pm-1:20pm
Instructor: Rabbi Avram Amar
This course will examine the most significant and crucial rabbinic rulings and decisions over the centuries. The student will also explore and examine contrasting rabbinic responsa to situations, problems and conditions that have affected Jewish Life, vis a vis the Orthodox, Conservative and Reform movements. By doing so, students will develop an understanding of how rabbinic rulings in the various movements were and are promulgated and implemented within the American and World Jewish Communities.
The Siddur
Tuesday 8:00pm-10:00pm
Instructor: Haviva Horvitz
This class will involve an in-depth examination and exploration of the different services found throughout the Prayerbook, including Shacharit, Mincha, Ma-ariv, Havdalah, and other Shabbat and Festival Prayers, Blessings, Readings and Ceremonial Responsas that make up the Modern Day Synagogue Siddur.
Practical Rabbinics
Wednesday 8:00pm-10:00pm
Instructor: Rabbi Paul Kushner
The skills that are developed in this course are those that are considered essential to the congregational rabbi. Among those skills, abilities and subjects to be presented and studied will include, but not be limited to: officiating of Jewish weddings, funerals, unveilings, britot, baby namings, conversions, and b’nai mitzvah, basic bimah etiquette as well as other Jewish Life Cycle and Ceremonial/Ritual events and practices.
Talmud
Thursday 8:00pm-10:00pm
Instructor: Rabbi Avram Amar
This course will center on the intensive study of rabbinic texts which will begin with tractate Berachot and continue with seder Mo’ed. This class is designed to give rabbinic students an appreciation and understanding of - and the opportunity to participate in - classic talmudic discourse. Topics from Berachot will include laws of the Shema, the Shmoneh Esray and Birkat Hamazon. From Mo’ed, students will delve into tractate Pesachim as well as issues concerning Kiddush, Havdalah, and laws regarding the celebration of The Festivals and Observances that take place during the Jewish Calendar Year.
THE SCHOOL FOR CANTORIAL ARTS AND EDUCATION
The Cantorate as a Profession
Wednesday 11:00am-12:30pm
Instructor: Cantor Dan Rosenfeld
This class will address practical and relevant issues and conditions facing today’s cantors in the synagogue. Issues such as b’nai mitzvah planning, training and ceremonial presentation, cantor-rabbi relations, cantor-congregational relations, and professional involvement and influence of this religious professional will be covered along with a host other related topics.
Cantorial Arts I (301) - Torah
Wednesday 1:00pm-2:30pm
Instructor: Cantor Dan Rosenfeld
This course is designed for students who wish to develop and/or improve their Torah reading and chanting skills.
The Jewish Music History
Thursday 9:00am-10:30am
Instructor: Goldberg
This course will present, develop and explore the history of religious Jewish Music in the Cantorate, the Synagogue, the Jewish Community and the Temple from Biblical to Modern times. The course will center on examples of music, melodies and the musicians that have influenced the culture, customs and course of Jewish Life and Activity over the centuries.
Advanced Nusach - High Holy Days
Thursday 11:00am-12:30pm
Instructor: Cantor Sol Zim
This three year course will examine the different modalities of music found in the services for the Yamim Noraim. Included in this course of study is an intensive and comprehensive exploration and mastery of the music and liturgy of Rosh Hashanah, S’lichot, Kol Nidre, and Yom Kippur, and will include a thorough analysis of the spectrum of the music and melodies that is used in the synagogue for the most important days of our Jewish Calendar.
Survey of Jewish History
Tuesday and Thursday 9:00am-10:20am
Instructor: Dr. Robert E. Cohen, M. A., Ed., D., J. Ed.
This course will explore Jewish Civilization through often overlapping lenses of religion and ethnicity. In addition, it will consider the development of the Jewish People as both a culture and a participant in world history and social developments. As a result, we will consider the impact of the Jewish People on the non-Jewish host societies in which they were settled, and sometimes expelled from throughout their history. The course will cover the span of Jewish History, from Biblical Beginnings to Modern Times, and in both Western and Eastern Hemispheres.
The Clergy As Educator
Tuesday and Thursday 10:30am-11:50am
Instructor: Dr. Robert E. Cohen, M. A., Ed., D., J. Ed.
This course will explore and develop the role of Synagogue Clergy (Rabbi and Cantor) in the Jewish Educational Experience of its children and adult congregational members. It will examine the influence and impact that these two individuals can have on the instructional and “hands on” components of their Religious School and Adult Education Programs, and the methods and manner of involving themselves in the workings and development of the individual pedagogic components of their Synagogue Community. It will also explore and examine how and why it is essential that these two religious professionals of the Synagogue Community must function collectively in the education and inclusion of both their youth and adult populations during the Jewish Calendar Year.
COURSES AVAILABLE TO ALL STUDENTS
Hebrew I (Hebrew II/III/IV - To be Announced)
Tuesday 1:30pm-3:50pm
Instructor: Rabbi Avram Amar
This course is designed to give students a fundamental understanding of Biblical Hebrew both in writing and grammar. Students must have take this (these) course(s) or demonstrate equivalency before taking any Mishnah, Gemara or Codes courses.
