January 19 - "Two Jews, Three Opinions" - Talmudic makhloket [constructive disagreement] as a model for healthy dialogue in today's divided world

After more than 2,000 years of the rabbinic interpretive tradition, makhloket remains one of the most fundamental concepts Jewish life, guiding our ability to have productive conversations and build community, while embracing our diverse identities and beliefs.  We'll dig into some of the Talmud's most fascinating (and bizarre!) legal debates to learn from the sages and add a layer of rabbinic wisdom to our modern lives.

February 2 - "Jesus: Son of God or Just a Very Naughty Boy?" - A Jewish lens on one of history's most influential rabbis, whom we've ignored for 2,000 years. 

Despite the absence of Jesus' name and teachings in Jewish texts and narrative history, he is perhaps the most famous Jew ever.  What should we understand about his story, the historical moment in which he lived, and the impact he had on Judaism?  We'll explore diverse historical texts that shed light on the Jewish communities of Roman Judea, and the challenges they faced, to understand the context of the transformation that would forever change Jewish history.

February 16 - "Breaking Up is Hard to Do" - What can ancient Jewish wisdom teach us about resolving modern Israeli conflicts?

War and strife, both regional and domestic, are woven throughout Jewish history.  In each generation we face new challenges and apply lessons from our past to our present and future paths.  Together, we’ll learn a selection of biblical and rabbinic teachings to guide us in navigating the Israeli-Palestinian dynamic, and inspire us with Jewish traditions of peace-building.

February 23 - "Israel: A House Divided Against Itself?" - A peek behind the headlines to understand the most critical domestic issues facing Israelis today

Beyond the international media obsession with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the Jewish State experiences the inevitable highs and lows of any democratic society, where current events elicit diverse responses from various sectors, and public debate ensues.  We'll dive into those conversations and explore what's happening on the ground today, far from the focus of the evening news, to highlight the most pressing matters that will shape Israeli society in 2025.