- A. Gd and Torah
- Back to the Main Ohave Shalom Page
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1. The Masorah - Testing the Authenticity of the Torah and our Traditions
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a. Freedom of Interpretation - Multiple levels of Torah messages (Peshat/Derash)
b. The Development of Jewish Law through the ages
c. Legitimate Differences in Practice - Ashkenaz, Sefard and beyond
d. Secrets of Torah - What is Kabbalah?
2. The Fundamentals of Jewish Belief
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a. The Maimonidean view
b. Rav Yosef Albo's understanding
c. Disagreeing with Moses Mendelssohn
3. Who is HaShem [Gd]?
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a. "One is HaShem"
b. What it means to come in first and yet finish last
c. Creation, Evolution and everything in between
d. Does Gd have a Body?
e. Does Gd know everything?
f. Can Gd make a rock He can't lift?
B. The Soul
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1. Birth
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a. When does the soul enter the body?
b. If the soul is ancient, why does a baby not display that?
c. Jewish views on abortion
2. Free Choice
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a. Do we have "Free Will?"
b. Does it matter?
3. Death
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a. Is Death a bad thing?
b. Jewish attitudes toward suicide
c. Euthanasia
4. Heaven/Hell, and Reincarnation
C. The Mitzvos [Commandments]
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1. Why?
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a. Why ask "Why?"
b. Is there an answer?
c. Does the "Why" affect the "How"
2. Humanism and the Commandments
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a. Commandments regarding relating to other people
b. Finding our own personalities in the Commandments
c. Does Judaism make us choose between People and Gd
3. Divine Reward and Punishment
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a. In this world
b. After death
c. Who will be Mashiach, and what's the point?
d. When will Mashiach arrive?
e. What will the Messianic world look like?
D. Prayer
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1. The point of prayer
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a. Doesn't Gd know what I want?
b. Can I change Gd's verdict?
2. Structure vs. Spontaneity
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a. History of Prayer
b. Pros and Cons
c. Group prayer vs. Personal meditation
3. Animal sacrifice
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a. Why?
b. Life in the Temple Era
E. Living a Jewish Life
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1. Jews and Gentiles
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a. Jewish Racism
b. Handling Anti-Semitism
c. Tribalism
d. Conversion
e. Does Gd reward Gentiles for their good deeds?
2. Gender Roles in Jewish law and thought
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a. The Role of a Man
b. The Role of a Woman
c. What if I don't fit my "Role?"
3. The Jewish Home
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a. Jewish Marriage
b. Jewish attitudes toward the marriage bed
c. Creating a Jewish environment
d. Child rearing
e. Honoring one's elders
f. Keeping Kosher
4. Shabbos
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a. Commemorating Creation, or taking a day off?
b. What is "Work?"
c. All this "rest" is driving me crazy!
5. The Jewish Calendar
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a. Pesach
b. Shavuos
c. Succos
d. Rosh haShanah
e. Yom Kippur
f. Rosh Chodesh
g. Tishah be'Av
h. Public Fast Days
i. Purim
j. Chanukah
k. Private holidays and fasts