Hot Topics: What Does Judaism Have to Say About…*
Sundays: 9:00–10:30 am in Perlman Sanctuary

Join Rabbi Geffen to learn what Jewish wisdom has to say about the “hot topics” of our time. 

* These classes focus on the given week’s hot topic through the lens of traditional Jewish texts (Torah, Talmud, Post-Halachic Literature and Commentaries). The classes do not reflect any particular political point of view, nor is their intention to implicitly or explicitly endorse any particular political party or candidate in any way. As such, you may encounter viewpoints from Jewish tradition of which you were previously unaware and/or about which you may find personally challenging.  We invite you to bring your curiosity and openness to engaging with these thought-provoking ideas and texts.

Reproductive Rights – February 12
From a Jewish context, we will explore questions such as: When does life begin? Does a fetus have a status in Jewish law and thought? Should government have jurisdiction over bodily autonomy?

The Right to Bear Arms – March 19
How do the Jewish values of holiness of life and the mitzvah of self-defense, war and peace, and strength and humility relate to the right to bear arms?

Freedom of Speech – April 16
Is freedom of speech a Jewish value? Does Judaism profer that there should be limits on such a freedom? And if so, where should the line be drawn?

Gender Identity – May 21
How do traditional Jewish sacred texts understand gender and gender expression beyond the binary construct of male and female?