The Jewish Sounds of American Identity  COURSE SOLD OUT
CODE 1000 Art/Literature/Music 
Robert Abzug, Ph.D. Director, Schusterman Center for Jewish Studies

Lecture and discussion of Aaron Copland, Leonard Bernstein, George Gershwin, and the creation of the "sounds" of American identity in the 20th Century. We will deal with the "Jewish" elements of these composers’ works and the historical contexts within which they composed.

Till Death Do Us Part—Is That So?
CODE 2010 Jewish Living/Spirituality
Rabbi Eliezer Langer, Congregation Tiferet Israel

Why do we have so many euphemisms for death; why is it considered "pornographic" in our society? How does one prepare for the death of a loved one? Should the true nature of an illness be told to a person? Why are mirrors covered during Shiva? Is Kaddish said for a suicide? May a person with a tattoo be buried in a Jewish cemetery? Come as we explore some of Judaism’s death-related myths and realities.

Rabbi Langer of Tiferet Israel, Austin’s Orthodox Congregation, is a Californianative. He served as Assistant Dean of Midreshet Moriah, a college level program of advanced Jewish studies for women in Jerusalem for ten years. Rabbi Langer received his B.A., M.S. and Rabbinic ordination from Yeshiva University.

This class will be in Hebrew. One of the most important spatial motifsin Amos Oz’s works is the tension between "civilized" space (often,but not always, the kibbutz) and chaotic space (often the desert). Yet,though these two types of space are supposedly distinct from oneanother, the boundaries between the two are often blurred, complicating the fate of his characters. This situation reflects not only the ambivalenceof the characters’ identity but also the difficulty of grappling with "the Other" in Israeli society.

Karen received her PhD in Comparative Literature at UCLA. This is her fifth year teaching contemporary Hebrew literature at UT Austin’s Department of Middle Eastern Studies. She is currently completing a book on ideology and place in contemporary Hebrew literature.

We often hear about the Jewish community decreasing in size. However, the growth of Judaism through conversion has added a vibrancy that has benefitted our entire community. "Jews by Choice" do not always receive a warm welcome from all sectors of the Jewish world, and we sometimes hear the question "Who is a Jew?" that raises some complex issues. But, the new goal of "Big Tent Judaism" asks us to embrace the diversity and richness within our own, small community. Come listen to panel members discuss their personal experiences related to this fascinating topic.

Mitch Sudolsky, LCSW, is the director of Jewish Family Service and is a licensed clinical social worker. Prior to taking the post at JFS, he worked in rural community mental health centers as well as serving as behavioral science faculty at a family medicine residency program affiliated with the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center. In addition to being at JFS, he is a lecturer at theGraduate School of Social Work at the University of Texas at Austin.

This class will introduce you to the many aspects of Israel philately (stamp collecting). The stamps of Israel make it possible to enjoy the sights and scenes of the nation and its history. One can learn of the fauna of the country, its biblical history, geography, people and its modern rebirth and achievements. In addition to a straight-forward collection as a country there are many opportunities for developing topical collections as well. This class is designed for new stampcollectors, both children and adults, and those who are interested in the history of Israel via stamps.

Gregg is an avid student of history and collects many kinds of historic Judaica material. He finds that stamp collecting is an exciting way to learn and collect at the same time. He also sits on the Advisory Board of the Holocaust Museum Houston. In 2008 he attended the World Stamp Championship in Tel Aviv, Israel.

Has your family seder become dull? Have you forgotten all the old seder melodies you used to sing when you were young? Or, perhaps, you never experienced the wonderful music that can really enhance the Passover experience. Join Carol Rubin for a musical journey through the Haggadah. We will review old melodies, new contemporary versions, and child-friendly songs. Bring a recording device (it used to be called a tape recorder) and any seder songs you would like to share. A bibliography will be provided.

Carol Rubin has been teaching Jewish music to children and adults for over 30 years. She currently spends her mornings with children from the ECP (JCAA) and CDC (CBI) playing her guitar and singing. Carol is also a registered nurse and CPR instructor and enjoys her daily workouts at the JCAA.

Herbs and medicinal plants have been an integral part of every culture’s culinary and medicinal tradition. People have always employed plants for a wide variety of uses: food, fiber, shelter, fragrance, ritual and medicine. Ethnobotany documents such uses in all cultures around the world, both past and present. As a historical document, the Bible contains numerousreferences to such herbs. These include aloe, frankincense, hyssop, myrrh and many others. This presentation will profile many such plants and will discuss their traditional uses as well as modern scientific and clinical research that often supports such historical uses.

Mark Blumenthal is the Executive Director of the American Botanical Council (ABC), a nonprofit research and education organization in Austin, Texas. Heis also the editor and publisher of HerbalGram, the quarterly journal of the ABC and the Herb Research Foundation. Mr. Blumenthal has an extensive background in the area of herbs and medicinal plants with over 20 yearsexperience as either a seller or producer of herb products, and since 1988, as an educator and researcher in his role as director of ABC.

One Step Ahead of Hitler: EuropeanJewish Photojournalists and Their Work
CODE 3000 History, Art/Culture
Marianne Fulton

Photojournalism is intertwined with the major events of the 20th century and our judgments about historical events are often based on photographs. As Hitler rose to power, Jewish photojournalists andeditors who would later influence American journalism kept working but began to move away from Hungary and Germany to make their marks in France, England and the United States. This class will provide an overview including Robert Capa, born Endre Friedmann in Hungary,best known for his unforgettable images of the D-Day invasion, and German photographer Alfred Eisenstaedt, whose picture of the sailor dramatically kissing a nurse in Times Square on V-J Day was emblematic of the American reaction to the end of WWII.

Marianne Fulton has worked in the field of photography as curator, editor, archivist and writer for over 30 years. From 1975–2002 she was at George Eastman House International Museum of Photography and Film serving as chief curator, acting director and senior scholar, among other positions. Fulton has prepared more than 80 exhibitions and has lectured worldwide on 20th-century photography and photojournalism.

Many members of the Jewish community are exploring the benefits of mindfulness practices like yoga and meditation without realizing how deeply the integration of mindfulness and Judaism is being pioneered by important Jewish teachers. This class will explore some of the ways in which Jewish practice can help us to "stay awake" in our lives.

Rabbi Steven Folberg was ordained at the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in New York City in 1985. He served as Rabbi at Temple Beth-El of Great Neck, New York before he moved to Austin in 1991. He has served on the Executive Board of the Central Conference of American Rabbis. Rabbi Folberg is passionate about protecting the natural environment and helped to found JEVA, the Jewish Environmental Voice of Austin. Rabbi Folberg is devoted to learning, spiritual growth and social justice and is known as acaptivating teacher of both children and adults. He is the co-author of a high school Jewish history textbook, Bright Lights In Dark Times.

Starting with a discussion on the literary and stylistic devices that make Genesis 22 so compelling, we will look at Rabbinic interpretations of the Akeda and try to identify the questions that sages sought to address in exploring the significance of the story. With these questions in mind, we will read excerpts from medieval and modern-day texts and tie them all together in discussing the Akeda as a cultural trope. All texts will be read in English translation.

Esther Raizen chairs the Department of Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Texas at Austin, where she teaches Modern and Classical Hebrew.

The presentation looks at the specific historical experience of the Jewish community of Aleppo, renowned for its religious learning and commercial acumen before it reached its recent end after some two thousand years. This community was very much integrated into the larger culture while maintaining a distinct religious identity. This created patterns of living and relationships with the broader society that cannot be summed up by negative images of conflict and intolerance.

Abraham Marcus is Associate Professor of History at UT Austin and the author of the award-winning book The Middle East on the Eve of Modernity: Aleppo in the Eighteenth Century.

When you think of economists who have debated the pros and cons of conserving resources, regulating polluters, or sustainability, do Hillel or Shammai come to mind? Actually, the Rabbis did spend a good deal of time addressing environmental issues, particularly as they affected human health, quality of life, and conservation of resources. Spend a little time learning about the Jewish history of "being green."

Jonathan Kleinman is the Director of Texas Programs for CLEAResultConsulting, Inc., a firm that provides services to homeowners, businesses, and public institutions to lower energy use and generate renewable energy. He has over 10 years of experience in energy consulting and an additional five years in watershed planning, environmental policy, and education. Jonathan is a Certified Energy Manager and is an Accredited Professional for the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEEDTM) green rating system.

The conscription of observant Orthodox women to the IDFis usually overlooked when thinking about social issues in Israel. How many of these women actually serve in the IDF? What military jobs dothey choose and why? What problems do they face andwhat mechanisms do theyemploy when addressingthese problems?

Dr. Elisheva Rosman-Stollman is a Schusterman Visiting Israel Scholar at the Department of Middle Eastern Studies in the University of Texas at Austin. She teaches at Bar IlanUniversity and Ashkelon Academic College in Israel. Her articles have been published in Iyunim beTkumat Israel, Middle Eastern Studies, and Armed Forces & Society. Her research interests include the interactions of religious institutions and the military, mediating institutions and civil society in Israel and other Middle Eastern countries.

Psychology and religion have always been, at best, wary of each other and, at worst, openly hostile to each other. The two areas approach a common set of issues from often quite disparate perspectives, each seeking primacy for its views. Increasingly there is a need for mutual understanding and interaction as religion becomes a more salient force in our national life, a more ambivalent force in many individual lives, and a potential block to or enormous source of strength for people seeking help with emotional problems. This class will explore theconflict and possible areas of reconciliation.

Wendy Domjan has a Ph.D. in psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She is a Senior Lecturer in Psychology and the Assistant Director of the Plan II Honors Program. She has won numerous teaching awards, includingthe Chad Oliver Award for Distinguished Teaching from Plan II.

Listen to the music and hear about the lives of the most famous Jewish-American vocal artists from Al Jolson to present day. Learn little known facts about the lives and hear the most famous songs of people suchas Bette Midler, Barbara Streisand, Neil Diamond, Mel Torme, Paul Simon & Art Garfunkel and others. Hear about their personal journeys, successes and failures. Special guest, William Parker, Baritone. Austin Haller, Accompanist.

Cantor Betcher is Certified and Invested by Hebrew Union College and member of American Conference of Cantors and holds Bachelor and Masters Degrees in Vocal Performance from Indiana University School of Music. She is Spiritual Leader & Director of Education for Congregation Shir Ami. Cantor Betcherhas performed in concert at Carnegie Hall, The Kennedy Center, New YorkUniversity Recital Hall and many other venues. She has toured extensivelyand won operatic competitions including the Bellini International OperaCompetition in Sicily.

Between 1907 and 1914 the Galveston Movement helped Jews escape the pogroms of Eastern Europe to find safety in the United States. Concurrent with large waves of immigration on the East Coast, this ambitious project relieved congestion in already densely-populated cities and led to a unique and rich Jewish community presence in Texas that thrives to the present day. We will examine the Movement’sorigins and impact, and share stories of families directly affected by the work of leaders like Rabbi Henry Cohen.

Rabbi David Komerofsky became Texas Hillel’s executive director in January2006 after seven years as dean of students and director of the rabbinical school at the Hebrew Union College–Jewish Institute of Religion. He earned a degree in history, with a concentration in 20th century African-American,from the University of Cincinnati in 1993 before enrolling in rabbinical school. He studied in Jerusalem, Los Angeles and Cincinnati and earned a master’s degree and ordination.

Beshert: How Jews Began the Love Affair Between the World and its Comic Book Heroes
CODE 4005 Art/Culture/Music
Paul Benjamin

Learn about the history of the American comic book industry and how it was created by Jewish writers and artists, from Stan Lee and Jack Kirby to Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. Jews continue to shape the industry, from the Pulitzer Prize winning graphic novel "Maus" to the Pulitzer Prize winning fiction novel "The Amazing Adventures ofKavalier and Clay." Delve into the current trend of Jewish-themed graphic novels and comic books that are still shaping the industry today.

Paul Benjamin is a writer, editor, supermodel and video game producer whose comics work ranges from Marvel Adventures Hulk and Spider-Man Family to manga series such as Pantheon High, Star Trek and others. Paul has developed comics-to-film projects for Hollywood. He’s edited graphic novels for Humanoids/DC Comics and is writing and producing video games for Nintendo DS.

It’s tough being a parent—how do we know if we are good enough? What do we have to do to make sure our children are getting everything they need to make sure that they are happy and successful in life? What about living a Jewish life? We will explore ways to be a good enoughJewish parent throughout the many ages and stages from birth toadulthood. Handouts will give ideas and resources.

Laura Seymour has been known by many names throughout her long tenureof 30+ years at the JCC of Dallas. Today her official title, and first love, is Director of Camping Services. Laura writes a weekly column in the Texas Jewish Post and is known as "The Shabbat Lady," and she teaches in theFlorence Melton Adult Mini-School. Laura is an educator who shares her love and knowledge of Judaism, making it accessible to everyone from withtoddlers to seniors.

Torah Yoga combines the practice of yoga with traditional and mystical Jewish wisdom. Torah Yoga is both a unique way of learning Torah and classic yoga postures. The breath, mind/body connection, and expanded consciousness are explored. Wear comfortable clothing to this class.

Dara is a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT) at the 200 hour level with the Yoga Alliance and received her certification in Hatha Yoga from Yoga Yoga Teacher Training. She teaches Hatha, Gentle, Restorative and Deep Relaxation (Yoga Nidra). Her father is from Israel, and her mother is the granddaughter of an Italian/Spanish Contessa.

The moment of marriage is a moment of romance, Jewish Law and Jewish philosophy. The liturgy, the Ketubah and the Chuppah itself are preparation for establishing a Jewish home and Jewish life. Find out the deeper meaning of the ritual, customs and the Halacha and what it says to us about the successful future.

Rabbi Bob Kirzner was ordained at the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Instituteof Religion in Cincinnati, Ohio. He has served congregations in Toronto, Canada, Ohio, Florida, New York, and Landstuhl, Germany. His rabbinate has been rooted in education on both child and adult levels. His passion has always been teaching and he is delighted to be working with the students at AJA.

This class will trace the history of women’s participation in the synagogue from circa 1600 until today. We will highlight developments in all streams ofJewish practice, such as: the ezrat nashim (women’s section), women’s liturgy, women’s religious literature, mixed seating, bat mitzvah ceremonies, women in synagogue lay and religious leadership.We will also discuss the causes of these developments, the controversies that accompanied them, and their larger effects on Jewish life.

Moshe Rosman is professor at Bar Ilan University in Israel. In addition to many awards, he has been a Fulbright scholar, a fellow of the Center for Advanced Judaic Studies of the University of Pennsylvania and the Hebrew University’s Institute for Advanced Studies. He also is a winner of the National Jewish Book Award in the USA, the Zalman Shazar Prize in Israel, and the Jerzy Milewski Award in Poland. Professor Rosman’s books include The Lords’ Jews: Jews andMagnates in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and Founder of Hasidism: AQuest for the Historical Ba’al Shem Tov and How Jewish Is Jewish History? Hislatest work in progress is a history of Jewish women in Poland.

Are you sick and tired of alarmist, reactionarymessages about anti-Semitism, assimilation,and intermarriage? Do you want to help tocreate a bold, celebratory, and life-affirmingfaith community? Taking a "Gonzo" approachto Judaism, Rabbi Goldstein will discuss howcontemporary Jews can reclaim our rebel, coun-ter-cultural roots, revitalizing our spiritual livesin the process. Gonzo Judaism is about taking risks and thinking freely,but it is also about looking into the past in order to move ahead.

Niles Goldstein is the founding and senior rabbi of The New Shul, an innovative and independent congregation in Greenwich Village, New York. In addition, heis the award-winning author of eight books, including Gonzo Judaism: A Bold Path for Renewing an Ancient Faith and God at the Edge: Searching for the Divine in Uncomfortable and Unexpected Places. Goldstein served as the voice behind "Ask the Rabbi" on MSN and is the National Jewish Chaplain for the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association.

Are you one of those millions of Americans who feel that learning a second language is too hard or simply reserved for those with ears for language? This class will prove to you that everyone can learn a second language and that it is fun. In this class, using the TPR Storytelling method you will learn a short story. At the end of class, after you have had a chance to dress up and have 50 minutes of non-stop laughter, participants will be able to retell the story in Hebrew to the class. Previous knowledge of Hebrew is not required. This class is also great for second language teachers who would like to improve their skills.

Orit Yehezkel-Ruiz, a graduate of Tel Aviv University, began her teaching career at an integrated (Jewish-Arab) school in Tel-Aviv Jaffa in Israel. She taught both history and English as a second language to grades 7–10. She arrived in Austin in 1999 and shortly afterwards started to work at AJA teaching in every grade level. Orit is highly trained in the TPR and TPR Storytelling for the teaching of foreign languages. This past November, Orit was awarded the prestigious Grinspoon-Steinhardt award for excellence in Jewish education.

Starting with the lives of several unknown, famous, and infamous Jewish boxers, we’ll see what their backgrounds, motivations, and successes/failures can teach us about the way some Jews perceive their selves and others perceive us.

Adam Black grew up in London, England a long time ago. Among other places, he’s lived in Israel, New York, California, and all over Texas. His academic interests include social, cultural, and intellectual history, with current focuses on Jewish immigrant life in the US/UK and the "doing" of Jewish history. Adam’s BA work is in Philosophy, his MA work in Religion, and his one-day-to-be-finished PhD work in Jewish History. Adam is Austin Energy’s Senior Web Content Strategist.

Part interactive workshop, part presentation, you will learn about the process of devising theatre out of the Jewish experience. Local artist Jaclyn Pryor will talk about some of her Austin-based performance art projects, such as BREAD (2006) and Floodlines (2004-2010), and guide participants to realizing their own potential as artists and creators. No experience necessary. All are welcome!

Jaclyn Pryor is a conceptual artist with backgrounds in physical theatre and community based art. She collaboratively creates performances, happenings, rituals, and events with and for communities. Recent productions include BREAD (commissioned by First Night Austin 2006), pink: a (love) courier service (commissioned by First Night Austin 2007, now on a national tour), and Floodlines, the 7-year performance memorial which has been taking place every spring in Hyde Park since 2004. Jaclyn is a candidate for a Ph.D. at UT Austin.

Ever wonder if there are Jewish books that answer the questions your kids are asking? Tired of only seeing Chanukah displays at your nearest bookstore? Finding Jewish books for your kids is easy when you know where to look and how to make good selections. This class will help you to support your child’s literacy skills and strengthen their understanding of Judaism simultaneously. Take home a list of Internet resources and bibliographies, including lists of Jewish books available through the Austin Public Library.

Denise Kleinman has a long-standing and abiding love of books and reading. She served as Director of Temple Sinai Library in Burlington, VT for two years, where she oversaw student reading contests, expanded the children’s bookcollection, and actively participated in the Association of Jewish Libraries.

Through the course of history, religions have played a role in the outbreak of political violence. Yet religion has also been known to do the opposite, and many academic studies show the prevalence of moderate beliefs and behaviors among religious followers. Relying on academic know-how and Israeli survey data, we will examine the relationship between religion and political violence in Israel from the perspective of political science and social-psychology.

Eran Zaidise holds a doctoral degree in political science from the University of Haifa, Israel. His research interests include civil society, group politics, and health politics. He has also published in the field of political violence, and reserve service motivation. He is currently the Schusterman Post-Doctoral Fellow at the Department of Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Texas at Austin.

Where have all the sages gone? What has Jewish text study become after Rambam and Rashi? How can we add our own name to this learning? Our Jewish texts are not a closed canon— we will trace the concepts of exile and absurdism from the Talmud, all the way up to our age. We will discover that as opposed to disappearing, the give and take of our tradition is thriving, right under our nose.

Neil Blumofe is the Hazzan at Congregation Agudas Achim, where teaching is central to creating a community of spirit, music and learning.

Miriam Bodian will discuss how the thriving Spanish-Jewish community of the medieval period was slowly destroyed, from the fourteenth century onward, by a Christian society that perpetrated violence, forced conversion, and expulsion against its members. She will briefly describe the formation of a Sephardic diaspora by the exiles.

Miriam Bodian is a professor of Jewish history at the Graduate School for Jewish Studies of Touro College. She has an undergraduate degree from Harvard University and a Ph.D. in Jewish history from Hebrew University. She has held faculty positions at Yeshiva University, the University of Michigan, and Pennsylvania State University. Her first book, Hebrews of the Portuguese Nation, received both a National Jewish Book Award and the first Koret Book Award in History. She has also authored Dying in the Law of Moses: Crypto-Jewish Martyrdom and the Iberian Inquisitions.

There are three main players—all of which are in states of political flux—in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict: the U.S., Israel, and the Palestinian Authority. First, we will examine President-elect Obama’s approach to foreign policy in general, his record on Israel, and the administration’s likely approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. We will also examinethe record and views of Obama’s newly assembled foreign policy team.Second, we will conduct a preliminary assessment of the results of Israel’s national election, and how its new coalition government is likely to interact with an the new Obama administration. Third, we will examine the ever-changing political situation within the Palestinian Authority. By examining the politics of these 3 entities we can beginto assess the prospects for Middle East peace.

Dr. David Albert has a Ph.D. in Government from the University of Texas-Austin. His dissertation was on U.S. Foreign Policy towards the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict. He currently teaches at Huston-Tillotson University, Austin Community College, and UT-Austin (Extension Division). He is a co-founder and National Treasurer of Brit Tzedek v’Shalom, a national grassroots Jewish organization working in support of a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The recent election signals a great cultural and political shift in the U.S. It has become more important than ever for the Jewish community toexamine our relationship to people of color and the African-Americancommunity. We need to move beyond the history of the civil rights movement and affirmative action, and read Jewish texts regardingcultural and racial diversity. In this class we will study some of the sources and discuss our own feelings and attitudes as we look forward to the changes that will inevitably come with this new administration.

Rabbi Baker was ordained at the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in New York. After training in counseling at the William Alanson White Institute, he studied the History of Religions in the doctoral program at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Before founding Congregation KolHalev, Rabbi Baker served for ten years as the director of the Texas HillelFoundation, serving the University of Texas at Austin.