The Charlotte Jewish News - October 2018 - Page 7
New JLI Course Addresses Dissonance Between
Religion and Western Values
This November, Chabad of
Charlotte will olfer Wrestling
with Faith, a new six-session
conrse by the acclaimed Rohr
Jewish Learning Institnte (JLI),
that openly addresses common
challenges people have in their
relationship with God.
Begiiming Tnesday, October
23, at 7:30 PM for die evening
class and Wednesday, October 24,
11 AM for the morning class, par
ticipants in the conrse will grap
ple with issnes that many stmggle
with, inclnding beliefs in Jndaism
that seem primitive or ontdated,
reconciling scientific findings
with ideas that carmot be proven
in a lab, and the role of religion
regarding gender roles, relation
ship choices, and other snch con
troversial issnes.
“We recognize that almost ev
eryone has some degree of skep
ticism when it comes to religion,”
says Rabbi Yossi Groner of Con
gregation Ohr HaTorah, the eve
ning JLI Instractor. “We’ve creat
ed this conrse for participants to
think critically abont these chal
lenges - to approach them with an
array of insightful perspectives -
so we can articulate our beliefs to
ourselves and to the next gener
ation with clarity and conviction.
“1 like to think of this course as
more of a journey, because, intel
lectual questions aside, it’s most
ly the deep emotional blockages
that seem to hinder our relation
ship with God. It’s not a polem
ics course, but one that speaks to
the iimer straggles we experience
and to the heart of the issues that
concern us deeply,” said Rabbi
Groner.
Wrestling with Faith explores
questions such as: Why do I need
God if 1 can live perfectly well
without Him? Does God really
care about the nuances of Jewish
practice? Doesn’t the concept of
“Jewish choseimess” seems rac
ist? How can we relate to a loving
and caring God amid the expe
rience of tragedy and suffering?
How do we reconcile compelling
evidence for evolution and the
age of the universe with a Bible
that tells a different story? And:
Is it even possible to develop a
relationship with a God 1 caimot
perceive with my five senses?
“People often deal with such
issues by going on the defense,”
explained Rabbi Zalman Abra
ham of JLFs New York head
quarters. “In this course we stay
away from that. Instead, we em
brace the challenges wholeheart
edly and seek a broader context
through which to understand the
issues.”
Jeimifer Wiseman, an astro
physicist at NASA and the direc
tor of the American Association
for the Advancement of Science’s
Dialogue on Science, Ethics, and
Religion, commented about the
course: “At a time when science
and technology dominate the
mechaiucs and framing of our
modem lives, it is more
important than ever to
ask the bigger questions
of life’s purpose and val
ues. This comse enables
the seeker to embrace the
achievements of modem
science while seeking the
higher gifts of wisdom,
mearung, and a personal
relationship with God.”
Like all JLI programs
this
course is designed to appeal to
people at all levels of knowledge,
including those without any pri
or experience or back
ground in Jewish learn
ing. All JLI courses are
open to the wider Char
lotte community.
The JLI has raised
the bar of Jewish era-
dition in Charlotte by
examiiung important
issues of Judaism in a
deep yet comprehensive
way. It has succeeded in demys
tifying the complex and opeiung
the doors to Jewish knowledge to
the greater Charlotte community.
lEWiSH Learning Institute
5
Rabbi Yossi Groner will lead
the everting JLI classes, morning
classes will be led by Rabbi Shlo-
mo Cohen. Each student will be
provided with a textbook as well
as online resources through the
myJLl.com website. Fee for the
course is $99 per single and $180
per couple.
Interested in taking the course?
Please call 704-366-3984 or visit
www.myJLl.com for registration
and for other course-related infor
mation. JLI courses are presented
in Charlotte as part of Chabad’s
effort to raise the level of Jewish
knowledge within our communi
ty. *5*
Temple Solel Embraces the New Year
Ahead
Just a short time ago it was the
begiiming of our year. Hopefully
we haven’t already veered off the
path and are staying the course.
Being able to recount and recal
ibrate our current course is such
an opportunity. We don’t have to
be like those who wait until lat
er in life and realize they haven’t
accomplished all they dreamt of
To modernize a Yiddish Proverb,
“A person is not old until their
regrets take the place of their
dreams.” At any age, we can em
brace om most Holy Days all year
long as a time we redefined a new
vision for our lives. It is a time to
forgive. It is a time to dream. It is
a time for tikvah or hope.
A motivational business con
sultant once asked, “Are you with
people who will support your vi
sion or goals? Do you have the
right friends? Are you connect
ed with the colleagues who will
take you to the next level?” He
proceeded to discuss that in most
cases, we need to be prepared and
willing to completely change in
order to embrace new paths. Our
Temple chose the name “Solel”
because it means “pathfinder”
and “trailblazer.” It describes the
pioneering spirit of our congre
gants who are full of life, ideas,
and goals.
Recently a new Presidents’
Council was hosted by the Jewish
Federation of Greater Charlotte
and led by Alison Lemer. The first
meeting was held and this group
of local leaders described their
organizations, what was working
well, and potentially what areas
they needed help or insight to im
prove. It is an example how find
ing opportunities to consult with
like-minded people can be like
an icebreaking vessel to provide
safe passageways for other boats
to follow. There will always be
people who know more than we
do. There will always be people
who we can help. This year make
a goal to find one new person or a
group of people who you can re
late to and join together with and
support each other.
(Continued on page 19)
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