Join us for an inspirational journey through ancient texts and modern themes as we search for our ikkarim, which in classical Hebrew refers to both our “roots” and “principles”. We will explore basic Jewish values and their modern significance by bringing our own contemporary concerns to our text-study. We will discover how these values apply within—and can enrich—our many circles of relationships: with our children, spouses and friends; with our fellow citizens and community; with our people; and even with ourselves and with God. This class is designed for parents of children newborn to age five. Ikkarim is a joint program of Hebrew College and Combined Jewish Philanthropies.
CJP welcomes those who would like to connect with the Jewish community and encourages participation of interfaith families, couples and significant others in all its activities.
The following are classes beginning in October 2008.
For more information about Ikkarim, please contact Brian at 617-457-8775 or ikkarim@cjp.org.
NEWTON
Temple Emanuel
Thursday morning with Rabbis Gardenswartz and Robinson
Thursday evenings with Rabbi Dov Bard
Temple Beth Avodah
Wednesday mornings with Orit Kent
LEXINGTON
Temple Emunah
Monday mornings with Rabbi Benjamin Samuels
Temple Isaiah
Wednesday evenings with Dr.Ronit Ziv-Kreger
BROOKLINE
Congregation Kehillath Israel
Sunday mornings with Jacob Meskin
BOSTON
Combined Jewish Philanthropies
Tuesday lunchtime with Rabbi Dan Liben
BROCKTON
Temple Beth Emunah
Sunday mornings with Sabrina Burger
Faculty Biographies
Sabrina Burger was born in Madrid, Spain. She lived in Israel for 12 years, where she received her BA in English literature and linguistics from Hebrew University and attended the Bezalel School of Art and Design. She studied advanced rabbinic texts and Hasidic philosophy at the Nishmat Center for Advanced Torah Studies and Midreshet Bat Ayin. Sabrina has taught Rabbinics at Ma’ayan and in private classes.
Orit Kent is a Jewish educator, educational consultant, and researcher. She holds a MEd from Harvard and is a PhD candidate in Jewish studies and education at Brandeis University, where she teaches in the DeLeT program.
Dr. Jacob Meskin is an assistant professor of Jewish Education at Hebrew College, teaches educational theory and practice in the Shoolman Graduate School of Jewish Education, and is a Me’ah faculty trainer. He received his PhD from Princeton University and has taught at Rutgers University, Princeton University, Yeshiva University, and Williams College.
Rabbi Benjamin Samuels of Congregation Shaarei Tefillah in Newton received his rabbinic ordination and masters degree from Yeshiva University and is an alumnus of the Wexner Graduate Fellowship program. He is a doctoral student at Boston University in Science, Philosophy and Religion. He serves on the faculty of Me’ah and Ma’ayan, and is a Genesis scholar for Combined Jewish Philanthropies.
Dr. Ronit Ziv-Kreger serves as Judaic Studies Coordinator and Family Educator at MetroWest Jewish Day School, developed an award winning course for Prozdor, designed a neighborhood-based preschool family “play and learn” program, and authored a curriculum for the Israeli Ministry of Education. She is a graduate of the Pardes Educators Program, and the cantorial program at Jerusalem’s Hebrew Union College. Ronit received her PhD from MIT’s Sloan School of Management
Rabbi Daniel Liben received his rabbinic ordination at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America in 1983 and has served as the spiritual leader of Temple Israel of Natick since 1991. A prolific teacher, he is a recipient of the Bureau of Jewish Education’s Keter Torah Award for his work in family education.
Rabbi Wes Gardenswartz is the senior rabbi at Temple Emanuel. He is a graduate of Harvard Law School, and received his rabbinic ordination from the Jewish Theological Seminary of America.
Rabbi Michelle Robinson is the associate rabbi of Temple Emanuel. She received her rabbinic ordination from the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies at the University of Judaism.
Rabbi Dov Y. Bard earned his BA at the Colorado College, MHL at the University of Judaism in Los Angeles, and MA and Rabbinic Ordination from the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York. He served as the Head of School at the Solomon Schechter Schools in St. Louis and Boston, and taught adults in the Florence Melton Mini-School. He is currently on the Rabbinics and Jewish thought faculty at the Gann Academy in Waltham.
Ikkarim classes meet for 19 sessions throughout the school year. The cost of the class is $250 -- through the generosity of CJP donors, more than 50% of the tuition is subsidized. A limited number of scholarships are available.
To register for a class, please call Brian at 617-457-8775 or ikkarim@cjp.org
Adult Learning
What Ikkarim alumni are saying:
"My wife and I greatly enjoyed the interplay of people and ideas in Ikkarim. Our instructor was articulate and wonderously provocative in his leadership of our class. I highly recommend Ikkarim to all parents of very young children." - Randy Ross
"Ikkarim was a wonderful experience for me. Studying interesting texts and discussing their relevance to raising a family was fascinating, but learning with other mothers and fathers of young children from my synagogue made it even more meaningful. I left each session feeling spiritually rejuvenated!" - Patti Kraft
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