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“Your visit was the embodiment of all that is positive in the transformation process.” - Rabbi Alan Cohen, Beth Shalom Congregation, Kansas City , MO
(download this flyer)
Bring one of American Jewry’s most creative and dynamic figures to your community. Honored with the Covenant Award in 2002, Rabbi Schwarz is both provocative and compelling. There are two thematic topics to choose from (it is possible to mix and match).
I. Judaism and Justice
Based on Sid’s new book, Judaism and Justice: The Jewish Passion to Repair the World, with a foreword by Ruth Messinger.
Friday night – Exodus, Sinai and Beyond
Why is it that Jews are in the forefront of movements for social change and progressive politics? Is it driven by religion, history or something else? And what happens when progressive values come into conflict with the survival needs of the Jewish community? This talk will shed light on the complex relationship between Jewish identity, politics and social justice.
Shabbat morning – Can Social Justice Save American Jewry’s Soul?
Over the past two decades, the Jewish communal agenda has become increasingly parochial. Concurrently, social justice has emerged as one of several pockets of Jewish renaissance around country, although much of the activity takes place outside the orbit of organized Jewish life. The reconciliation of the trends is critical for the future vibrancy of Jewish life.
Shabbat afternoon – Israel: Strengthening the Fraying Thread
Surveys tell us that Israel has become less and less central to Jewish identity, especially among young people. In many quarters of the Jewish community, Israel has a polarizing effect, with some Jews fervently involved in advocacy efforts while other Jews challenge the very validity of the Jewish state. This session will explore the important connection between Israel and diaspora Jewry and help to make the case for why Jews can and should seek out stronger bonds to Israel.
II. Re-visioning the American Synagogue
Friday night - The American Synagogue of the 21st Century—New Thinking
A presentation based on Rabbi Schwarz’s book, Finding a Spiritual Home: How a New Generation of Jews Can Transform the American Synagogue, exploring the spiritual possibilities of the American synagogue.
Shabbat morning - Davenning “Out of the Box”
A prayer experience unlike any other. Through discussion, song, movement and sharing, participants, from young to old, will walk away with a new appreciation for the Shabbat liturgy and the transformative power of prayer.
Shabbat afternoon - Text Study
Text study with classical rabbinic sources on keva and kavvannah (fixed liturgy vs. spiritually spontaneous prayer), leading into a discussion of and reaction to the morning davenning experience.
Sunday morning - Board Workshop (optional)
A session designed to unleash new energy and creativity in the leadership of the congregation, leading to a more empowered membership and a higher level of commitment to Jewish living.
Testimonials:
"Rabbi Sid Schwarz moved every demographic cohort of our congregation closer to prayer and closer to finding their spiritual home in the congregation where they already belong. Over the course of one shabbat, Rabbi Schwarz connected with our eight year olds and our eighty year olds, our teenagers, our parents and grandparents as well as our singles, and in turn connected them to one another, to our community, and to God. Remarkably, Sid found a way to, simultaneously, connect with our Classical Reformers, our New Agers, our Hasids, our Litvaks, and even our Apikorases. I never dreamed that so much could be accomplished in one weekend by one teacher." - Rabbi Mark Mahler, Temple Emanuel, Pittsburgh, PA
“Your Shabbat morning ‘Davenning Out of the Box’ was nothing short of revolutionary for the members of our congregation. You challenged our old attitudes toward prayer in a most positive way.” - Rabbi Mark Greenspan, Oceanside Jewish Center, Oceanside , NY
“Judaism and Justice provides a long awaited prophetic vision for the nexus between Jewish tradition and culture and a commitment to social justice. In this rich and nuanced book, Sidney Schwarz takes the reader on an exciting journey, combining an informative history of Jewish activism in the worlds of political and social action, and a persuasive reading of Jewish texts, arguing for their relevance as a source of guidance for Jews and for the world. This exciting and path-breaking book is a “must read” for those concerned with the Jewish condition and with a world in need of transformation and repair.” - David Gordis, Ph.D., President and Professor of Rabbinics, Hebrew College
Please contact Rabbi Sid Schwarz at (301) 770 - 5070 ext. 215 to for more information.
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