Congregation Beth Sholom’s First Annual
SUMMER SHABBATON
Saturday, August 5th, 2017, Shabbat Nachamu

Join our Beth Sholom community for a lovely summer Shabbat day filled with prayer, song, learning, socializing – and a delicious summery dessert.

 Shabbaton Schedule :
Shabbat services, followed by communal singing led by Cantor Ronit Wolff Hanan.
12:00-12:50 PM  Kiddush lunch.
1:00-2:00 PM    Break-out class session (please select your choice of class below).
2:10-3:10 PM    Panel discussion: “From the Synagogue to the Great Outdoors: How Judaism Informs Our Connection with the Natural World.” Panelists include rabbis, hikers, scholars, environmentalists and gardeners from our congregation.
3:15-4:00 PM    Desserts for a summer afternoon.
4:15-5:30 PM    Shabbat nature walk in Votee Park. We will be led by the New York Botanical Garden guides who spearheaded Teaneck’s “Trees of Love” program.*
Children’s programming will run from 1:00 – 3:15 PM

SESSION OPTIONS
A -  The Jewish Rosetta Stone: The Condensed Kedusha and its Translation …...
Rabbi David Bockman
In many services (including the daily U-va le-Tziyon), there is a section known as K’dusha de-Sidra where the daveners ping-pong between Hebrew and Aramaic versions of the Kedusha. We will examine the history and philosophy behind this conundrum, to understand its functions and how it can magically lift us through realms of holiness.

B - “Against Nature”: Summer as the Symbol of Jewish Historical Tragedy…...
Rabbi Michael Chernick
Summer is the time when even if the weather gets hot, there's always the beach--and, of course the juiciest fruits add to summer's joyous ambience. For Jews, however, summer is the 17th of Tammuz, Tisha B'av and the season of selihot and repentance. What does this “against nature” stance say about us and who we are?

C - Do Halakha and the US Law © Things the Same Way? ……
Marc Melzer
Is there a halachic concept of copyright?  We will examine the origins and evolution of American copyright law and investigate the basis for “halakhic” copyright (although the Revelation at Sinai preceded the printing press by a few centuries).  We will learn how this fascinating “hybrid” halakha has been applied in modern situations.

D - God Saw It Was Good: The Rabbis on Earthly Pleasures ……
Rabbi Joyce Newmark
There are religious traditions that urge adherents to shun physical pleasure in order to enhance spiritual life. While there are Jewish voices that agree, the preponderance of Jewish thinking is that we can and should enjoy what God has created, albeit within the bounds of halakhah. We will look at some of what the Rabbis have to say about enjoying food, wealth and, of course, sex.

E - Prose or Poetry? David's Lament for Absalom …… (CLASS CANCELLED )
King David's famous lament for Absalom (II Samuel 19:1-9) is one of the most poignant evocations of grief in literature. While this text is recorded in prose, it was likely transmitted orally as a poem.  We will creatively reconfigure David's lament into an oratorical poem to unlock how the intrigues in David's house threatened his kingship.

F - The Laughing/Crying God ..….
Rabbi Iscah Waldman
Midrash is full of both the tears and laughter of all of its characters--including God! What do the different portrayals of God's emotional life have to teach us about grief and compassion, joy and pride?