National Havurah Committee Summer Institute 2005

study text

• create ritual • challenge

yourself • make friends • relax

sing • play • welcome Shabbat

• participate • dance • pray •

celebrate community • enjoy

nature • study text • challenge

yourself • make friends • relax

sing • play • welcome Shabbat

• participate • dance • pray •

celebrate community • enjoy

nature • create ritual • study

text • challenge yourself • sing

make friends • relaxplay

National Havurah Commit tee

27 th SUMMER INSTITUTEAugust 1-7, 2005

Franklin Pierce College, Rindge, NH

National Havurah Committee(215) 248-1335 • www.havurah.org

“. . . for you should know the soul of a stranger . . .”

The National HavurahCommittee

The National Havurah Committee(NHC) is a diverse network ofindividuals and communitiesdedicated to Jewish living andlearning, community building,and tikkun olam (repairing theworld).

As individuals, we seek fellowship(havurah) through study,worship, music, social action, andshared life-cycle rituals both athome and as part of a nationalhavurah community.

At the Summer Institute westudy, pray, sing, dance, eat, talk,play, work, and relax together,forming a special community thatcelebrates the participatory,Havurah style of Judaism inNorth America. We learn fromeach other, formally andinformally, and often bring ourexperiences at the NHC to enrichour communities back home.

We hold egalitarianism as afundamental principle forrenewing Jewish values in ourJewish communities and in theworld. We welcome Jews of allbackgrounds and those exploringJudaism as a spiritual path.

The NHC publishes the Havurah!newsletter, the www.havurah.orgweb site, and hosts variousInternet e-mail lists, enablingindividuals to share or discusshavurah issues with members ofother havurot and the Jewishcommunity at large.

At the core of the NHC is a groupof dedicated volunteers who planthe annual Summer Institute andregional weekend retreatsthroughout the country duringthe year. We welcome you tobecome involved in the NHC.

The Summer Institute

The NHC Summer Institute is a week-long celebration of Jewish living andlearning. During a typical day at theInstitute, you will • study with others in small groups • attend two classes • attend optional workshops • join together for communal meals

and communal prayer • participate in a variety of informal

gatherings• enjoy evening entertainment

Courses

The centerpieces of the Institute are thetwo courses each participant elects totake.

Choose to study about prayer ormusical tradition, friendship in Judaism,the history of the Hebrew calendar orthe secrets of the Passover Hagaddah.Courses are small, intense, and led byteachers, Institute participantsthemselves, who present material theylove in an inclusive style that encourageseveryone to participate. Your backgroundis not important; your desire to learn is.

Workshops

The Institute will also include informallearning with workshops in Jewishreligious skills, art and dance, researchprojects, creative liturgy, and extendeddiscussions on social concerns or specialinterests within the havurah movement.

Workshops are led by Institute partici-pants on topics of particular interest tothem in which they have special

expertise. All participants are invited tocontribute their knowledge and skills. Please indicate on the registration formif you would like to lead a workshop.

Minyanim (Prayer Services)

There will be a number of differentminyanim on both weekdays andShabbat. The NHC is fully committed toegalitarianism. We welcome participantsfrom all backgrounds; however,minyanim and services organized by theplanning committee are egalitarian, withequal participation by men and women.Participants who wish to organize single-gender prayer services at the Instituteshould contact the Institute office toarrange for a meeting space.

Celebrating Shabbat

Shabbat culminates the Institute week.The intense experience in Jewish living,the creation of community, the intellec-tual and spiritual excitement of thecourses and workshops, and the new andrenewed friendships all lead to a specialShabbat. We join together as acommunity for a Kabbalat Shabbatservice and a festive meal on Fridayevening. Various minyanim meet in themorning. Later we gather for study andcelebration, song and dance, a Shabbatafternoon Seudah Shlishit meal, and acelebratory siyyum. Havdalah under thestars ends Shabbat on a high note.

The NHC Children’s Camp

The NHC children’s camp is guided by astaff of professional educators many ofwhom have been returning to theInstitute for years. They create Jewish

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experiences based on the havurah model— participatory, diverse, and age-appropriate. The program also makes fulluse of the adult teaching faculty, Artists-in-Residence, and other members of theInstitute community. It operates duringscheduled program times, offeringchildren the opportunity to create theirown havurah community at theInstitute. • Jewish-oriented playtime for babies

and toddlers • Creative, developmentally appropriate

Jewish learning for preschool children • Community building with fun and

Judaic content for children of elementary school age

• Short, meaningful prayer services eachmorning

• Field trips around campus • Creative Shabbat services developed

and led by the children themselves• The Great Outdoors — supervised

recreation in a safe environmentThe Children’s Camp is designed for

children from six months to twelve yearsold who can participate in an all-daycreative program. We do our best toaccommodate all children. Pleasecontact the office if your child receivesspecial assistance in school during theyear, so we can help you plan for yourchild’s needs in the context of thechildren’s community as a whole. Baby-sitting will be available for a subsidizedfee of $45 for the first child and $30 foreach additional child (6 nights andShabbat morning). After June 15, theprice will be $60 for the first child and$45 for each additional child.

The Teen Program

Every year teenagers at the Institutebuild a teen community. Its purpose is tocomplement the adult activities andclasses in which the teens participate.The community provides a home baseand an inclusive and spirited group offriends for all NHC teen participants,some of whom attend with their families.Adult advisors, themselves Instituteattendees, are available to teenagers forchecking in and trouble shooting.

Teens may work in the Children’sCamp or the institute office for areduction in registration fees. Call theNHC office for more information.

Special Program Just For Teens (ages 13 to 15)

With the rocks and trees as our guides,we will spend each morning togetherwandering in the woods, asking andanswering questions, as well as forming astrong sense of community. We willintegrate basic ecology with Jewishethics in order to understand theconnections within the forest ecosystem,and the relationship between humansand the natural world. Through brachot

(blessings), songs, group challenges, andother engaging activities, we will exploreeverything nature has to offer us. Finally,we will develop a project that will teachothers how to act responsibly toconserve our planet.

About Franklin Pierce

Franklin Pierce College is situated amidforests, lakes, and mountains in southernNew Hampshire. The modern campus,just 90 minutes from Boston and 4 hoursfrom New York City, has two smalltheaters, large meeting areas, well-litclassrooms and a dining room withterraces and views.

Mt. Monadnock and the WhiteMountains overlook a beautiful campuswith hiking trails and a lake withcanoeing, sailing, fishing and aswimming beach with lifeguard.Recreational facilities include tennis,soccer, baseball, a fitness center, and anindoor sports dome. Housing optionsinclude apartments, dormitory suites andtownhouses.

The Everett Fellows

A generous grant from Edith and HenryEverett Philanthropic Fund underwritesthe Everett Fellows Program for youngadults who have demonstrated theirpotential to be advocates for Jewishcauses. The Everett Program recruitsfrom the population that is engaged indefining their post-college relationshipto their Jewish communities, havurot, orsynagogues.

Fellows participate in the full Instituteprogram and in special activitiesdesigned for them.

Everett Fellowships provide 90%scholarships to first-time fellows. Thereare a limited number of half-scholarshipsfor returning Fellows. Applications maybe obtained from the NHC office. Pleaseapply before May 1, 2005.

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Sephardic Musical Traditions FromItaly, Spain, and TangiersRamón Tasat

Listen and sing as this course exploresthe origins and musical legacy created bythe Jews of Italy, Tangiers, and Spain.We will learn about the influence ofItalian popular music dating back to the16th century, as well as the operaticstyles of Verdi and Rossini in theSephardic music of Italy. We will surveythe diverse liturgical musical practices ofthe Jews of Tangiers – a richly cosmopol-itan city at the junction between Africaand Europe. And we will taste theextraordinary Ladino ballads andsynagogue music of the Jews of Spain.

Ramon is a musicologist, composer,conductor, and the creator of numerouschoral arrangements. Born in Buenos Aires,he sings in in Hebrew, Ladino, Spanish,Italian, and English. Ramon was educatedat the Latin American Rabbinical Seminary;the Manuel de Falla Conservatory ofMusic; the University of Siena, Italy; andthe University of Texas at Austin, where hereceived a doctorate in voice performance.He has served as cantor of Agudas AchimCongregation in Alexandria, Virginia, andTemple Shalom in Chevy Chase, Maryland,and released two CDs of his originalcompositions. Ramon is the president andfounder of Shalshelet: the Foundation forNew Jewish Liturgical Music.

Old Roots and New Branches:Jewish Music from RussiaNatasha J. Hirschhorn

Take a musical journey from 19thcentury shtetl life to the 1920s “VitebskRenaissance” of Marc Chagall and hisfellow-artists; from the repressions of the1930s and accusations in “dangerousformalism” against Schostakovich andhis contemporaries to the blossoming ofJewish cultural and academic institutionsin Russia and Ukraine today. This coursewill explore the story of suppression andunprecedented awakening of the Jewishculture and identity in the former SovietUnion through the personal experienceof a Kiev-born musicologist, composerand performer. Come prepared to sing.

Natasha is a music director of CongregationAnsche Chesed in NYC, conductor of theBrooklyn Jewish Community Chorus and afaculty member of the Academy for JewishReligion, where she was ordained in 1999.A native of Ukraine, Natasha has beenexploring the music of Russian andUkrainian Jewry since her studies inmusicology, piano and composition at theGnesin Music College in Moscow and KievState Conservatory. Her latest CD is called“They Call Me, 9 Meditations on HebrewPrayers.” Natasha is the vice president ofShalshelet: the Foundation for New JewishLiturgical Music.

Special Workshops

Jewish Liturgical Music for the NewMillenniumNorma Brooks, Natasha Hirschhornand Ramón Tasat

Congregational singing is one sign of thevitality of a community. Singing newmelodies can be invigorating and incomposing new music for Jewish prayers,we participate in the chain of tradition.Sing and listen to new music withNorma Brooks, Natasha Hirschhorn andRamón Tasat. This multi-part workshopwill introduce tunes by some of thewinners of the 2004 Shalshelet festivalin Washington, D.C. and compositionsby the workshop leaders whose rootsextend from the Ukraine to Argentina.Translations, transliterations and sheetmusic will be provided whereappropriate; feel free to bring your taperecorder!

Norma is a composer and singer who grewup in Borough Park, Brooklyn, in a Yiddish-and English-speaking family. In 1984 shecomposed her first melody for a Jewishliturgical text. Fourteen of her songs havebeen recorded on a CD, “Your BountifulLight” and collected in a companion book.Norma is a member of Fabrangen, and avice president and co-founder of Shalshelet:the Foundation for New Jewish LiturgicalMusic.

The Artists-in-Residence will be giving aconcert on Saturday evening.

Peace is Greater than anyCommandment (Hezekiah)Hanoch Guy

In four sessions we will explore thewisdom, humor and surprising waysJewish stories and legends humanizeethical precepts about the nature ofpeace within oneself and with family,strangers and within a community. Eachsession will include reading, writing, andenacting scenes to help participantsengage with the stories of Hayyim ofZanz; the woman who spat in the face ofRabbi Meir; Eleazar ben Simeon wholearned to “be soft as a reed”; and the

Poretsky Artists-in-Residence

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Morning Courses

M1 Sephardic Musical TraditionsFrom Italy, Tangiers and Spain Ramón Tasat, Poretsky Artist-in-ResidenceSee page 2 for description.

M3 Bruchim Habaim – Welcome! ACourse of Introduction to JudaismAlison AdlerThis special course welcomes haverim(friends) who may be unfamiliar with ornew to Jewish study and practice.Incorporating hevruta (partner) study ofclassical and modern texts, and theexperience of traditional and new rituals,this course will explore the themes,structure, and spiritual meanings oftefillah (prayer), and the experience andmeanings of Shabbat. Participants’experiences in this course will be supple-mented by the complete range ofInstitute activities: workshops, prayerservices, hikes, meals, and community-wide evening activities.

First-time attendees of the Summer

Institute who register for this class areeligible for a $100 credit on theirInstitute registration, courtesy of theAlbin Family Foundation. [A]

Alison is a rabbinical student in the newtransdenominational program at HebrewCollege, Newton MA. She is an educatorat Temple Aliyah in Needham MA. Herbackground includes an MA in Jewishstudies and an MA in CounselingPsychology. This is her tenth NHCInstitute.

M5 Sefat Emet: A Spiritual Bridgefrom the 19th to the 21st CenturyMitchell ChefitzProfound positive expressions of love,value, and partnership with the Creatorare at the core of Art Green’s Sefat Emet:The Language of Truth, the Torahcommentary of Rabbi Yehudah LeibAlter of Ger, written in 19th centuryPoland. Can the spiritual values ofEurope before the Shoah bridge the gapto 21st century America? Yes, with somefoundation work on our side of the pond.Spirituality and Religious Life [I]

Mitch is a novelist (The Seventh Tellingand The Thirty-third Hour). He is also arabbi at Temple Israel in Miami. For over20 years he was director of the Havurah ofSouth Florida and is a past chair of theNHC.

M7 “The Soul of a Stranger”: ACall for a Jewish Response to theWorld AIDS Crisis Sheila CoopIn the current world AIDS crisis,

Course Descriptions

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lion, mouse and the snare, whose talesuggests a framework for creating peacein the land.

Hanoch Guy, associate professor emeritusof Hebrew literature at Temple University,has taught Hebrew literature and writingfor forty years. He combines SamLauechli’s “Mimesis” myth reenactingmodel with movement, drawing andmeditation. In 2003, he won an award forhis poetry.

Catholic and evangelical Christianorganizations have established a visiblecharitable presence on the front lines –in Africa, the Caribbean, CentralAmerica and elsewhere – while Jews andJewish organizations have been conspic-uous by their absence. Why? What canwe do to address this global tragedy in ameaningful and Jewish way? This courseexplores the dimensions of thepandemic, and invites participants tovisualize and define a spirituallyauthentic Jewish response to the healthcrisis of our lifetimes. [C]

Sheila retired in 2003 from her position assenior vice president of human resourcesand communications from a multi-nationalpharmacy company. Since then, she hasbeen actively involved with the President’sAdvisory Council on HIV/AIDS, with afocus on Africa, South America and theCaribbean.

M9 Midrashim on CreationRichard FriedmanMidrashim are stories, speculations,observations and arguments by theRabbis, which expound, expand, apply orsupplement something in the text of theBible. We will study sections in MidrashRabba about the creation story inGenesis. These midrashim raise basicissues of Jewish values and philosophy.The class will be an opportunity for closestudy of a text, but it will be appropriatefor total novices as well as for those whohave studied midrash before. We will usea bilingual text; some knowledge ofBiblical Hebrew will be invaluablethough not necessary. [A]

Richard has taught text classes at severalInstitutes. He also teaches Talmud and Rashi’s

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Torah commentary at his shul (synagogue).He is a lawyer with the federal government

M11 Zionism Reconsidered: Is aJewish State an Anachronism in the21st Century?Harold GorvineThis course will provide the opportunityfor a reconsideration of classical Zionistthinkers. These will include Herzl, AhadHa-am, Ben Gurion, Jabotinsky, HaRavAvraham HaCohen Kook, his sonHaRav Tzvi Yehudah HaCohen Kook,Buber and Magnes. Can Israel be both ademocracy and a Jewish state? Can aJewish state fully welcome strangers? Wewill consider the views of Boas Evron,Amnon Rubinstein and GeoffreyWheatcroft as they bear on these twoquestions. History and Culture [C]

Harold was honored in June 2001 by theAlumni Association of Akiba HebrewAcademy (suburban Philadelphia) for 35 yearsof being an outstanding teacher of history andJewish studies. This is his 8th NHC Institute.

M13 Jewish Africana Midrash: aJewish Reading of AfricanAmerican Texts on the TanachCarolivia HerronThis course highlights the use andinterpretations of Hebraic themes inAfrican American literature. From well-known African American authors suchas Zora Neale Hurston, (Moses, Man ofthe Mountain), to obscure poets such asAdah Menken, the Tanach (bible) hasinspired literary and spiritual elabora-tions that reveal a profound dialoguebetween African Americans and Jews.Our dialogue continues with a readingand analysis of selected AfricanAmerican texts that function as midrash(commentary). Additional authors

include Phillis Wheatley, Paul LawrenceDunbar, Francis Ellen Watkins Harper,Charles Chesnutt and Ishmael Reed.Arts and Literature [A]

Carolivia is a novelist and retired Englishprofessor who has taught comparative litera-ture, creative writing and African AmericanStudies at Harvard University, Mt.Holyoke College, and the College ofWilliam and Mary. Her publications includeThereafter Johnnie, Nappy Hair, and theshort story “Chamisa,” a midrash on theAbraham-Sarah-Hagar story published inBeginning Anew: A Woman’sCompanion to the High Holy Days.Carolivia is an African American Jewdescended from Sephardic Jews who came tothe Georgia Sea Islands from North Africain the early 19th century.

M15 “The Soul of a Stranger” isthe Face of the Other: JewishPhenomenology and thePhilosophy of Emanuel LevinasDiane KleinLithuanian-born French Jewish philoso-pher Emanuel Levinas (1906-1995)posits an ethics that originates mysteri-ously but decisively in the “face” of “theOther.” His philosophy is closely relatedto his understanding of Judaism andJewish, especially Talmudic, ethicalthemes and outlooks. In this course, wewill familiarize ourselves with Levinas’life and work, taking a close look at bothhis secular philosophical work and hisexplicitly Jewish (what Levinas called

“confessional”) writings about “thestranger.” History and Culture [AD]

Diane is a law professor, most recently atAlbany Law School in New York, and theUniversity of LaVerne College of Law inOntario, California, and a long-timegraduate student in philosophy at U.C.Berkeley. She taught courses in Jewish Lawand Rebbe Nachman at two prior NHCSummer Institutes.

M17 Revisiting the SecondCommandment: Jewish Arts fromthe Bible to the PresentEleni LittThe second commandment states, “Youare not to make yourself a carved imageor any figure...” (EXODUS 20:4).Interpretations of this commandmentrange from a total prohibition on makingimages and sculptures to permittedcreation of a wide variety of art forms.Join me for an ambitious journey (usingtexts and images) that considers theresponses to this commandment overtime (and space!) in the Jewish world.From explorations of the floor plans andinterior design of the mishkan(sanctuary) through the design of ritualobjects in the Middle Ages, the modernwork of Soutine, Modigliani, MarkRothko and Judy Chicago, and consider-ations about creating Jewish art afterAuschwitz, we’ll ask the question: “Whatis Jewish art?” Arts and Literature [C]

Eleni majored in Art and Art History as an

Course Descriptions continued

Oberlin student AvivaRichman (center) firstcame to the SummerInstitute as a ten-year-old.More than a decade latershe feels that her NHCpeer group have found “away of struggling with andcelebrating Judaism in ourlives.” Between Institutes,the group has planned itsown winter reunions andkeeps in touch over aninternet listserver. As achild, Aviva and her sisterNaomi came to theInstitute in order to beindependent. “When wewere little we didn't wantto sit with our Dad duringmeals,” she rememberswith a smile. Now as anadult she relishes theopportunity to study withher father on an equalfooting.

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undergraduate before switching toAnthropology for her Ph.D. She has sincereturned to her first intellectual love, makingand thinking about art, and has combinedthese interests with perspectives fromanthropology and Jewish Studies. Eleni is along-time Havurah teacher, having mostrecently taught about drawing as a Jewishspiritual practice. She lives and davvens(prays) in Princeton, NJ.

M19 Positioning Ourselves forPrayerJoe RosensteinIn this course we will explore some ofthe attitudes that are fundamental toJewish prayer – acknowledging ourblessings, living in God’s house, askingGod for assistance and bringing Godinto our lives. These attitudes reflectchoices we make. Do we, for example,choose to focus on our blessings(adopting an attitude of gratitude) or onour misfortunes? These attitudes are theways we position ourselves for prayer inrelation to what’s larger than ourselves.The course will involve text study,discussion, guided meditation andprayers. Spirituality and Religious Life [A]

Joe is a founder and past chair of the NHCand its Summer Institute, and of theHighland Park (NJ) Minyan. He is theauthor of the new Siddur Eit Ratzon(www.newsiddur.org). In real life, he is aprofessor of mathematics at Rutgers.

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M21 The Emergence andDevelopment of Jewish LiturgyDavid ShneyerThe class will explore the origins ofJewish liturgy (prayer); the motivationsand the concepts that have shaped ourpeople’s prayer experience. We willexamine the impact of the BabylonianExile and the destruction of the 2ndTemple on our liturgy and spirituality.Participants will learn about the originsof the siddur (prayerbook) and ourrelationship to prayer throughout theages. The extraordinary innovations in

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Jewish prayer since the beginnings of theHavurah movement 36 year ago will alsobe considered. History and Culture,Spirituality and Religious Life [A]

David is a singing guitar-playing activistrabbi and cantor living in Rockville,Maryland. A founder of the Fabrangen, heis director of Am Kolel, a Judaic Resourceand Renewal Center, and the president ofMaalot, a local seminary devoted to Jewishmusic, liturgy and ceremonial arts.

M23 Improvising Our Way to GodTracey Erin SmithImprovisation: the art of creatingsomething out of nothing. Thespontaneity of improvisation can openyou to extraordinary surprises, unknownabilities, even to brilliance.Improvisation permits you to draw frommind, heart and body. In this fun andhighly interactive course you will partici-pate in group and solo theatre games.Together we will improvise new rituals,prayers and blessings. Arts and Literature,Spirituality and Religious Life

Tracey is a performer and instructor atRyerson University in Toronto. She designsand leads Improvisation and CreativityPlayshops in Canada and America forpeople of all ages in corporate, private andspiritual settings (www.traceyerinsmith.com).Tracey was an Artist in Residence at the2003 NHC Institute.

Afternoon Courses

A2 Old Roots and New Branches:Jewish Music from RussiaNatasha J. Hirschhorn, Poretsky Artist-in-ResidenceSee page 2 for description.

A4 Illuminating the New YearSarah Beller and Laura BellowsA rich liturgy washes over us each yearduring services for the Yamim Nora’im(High Holidays). But how often do wereally internalize these words and bringthem alive? In this course we willexplore the relationship between text,ideas and images, and transformselections from the holiday prayers andreadings into 2 – or 3-dimensional visualart works. Each participant will create a

Shana Tova/New Year’s card or anotherpiece. While no artistic experience orknowledge of High Holiday liturgy isnecessary, do bring a sense of playfulexploration. All texts will be provided inHebrew and English. (Limited enroll-ment: 15) Arts and Literature [A,F]

Laura is a life-long havurahnik and multi-media artist from Washington, D.C. Herlove of art, Judaism and meaning is expressedin everything from kite-making to Kabbalistic(mystical) color associations, and from poetryto hands-on Jewish education. She regularlyuses art in her teaching to explore, challengeand elucidate Jewish text and traditions.Laura is completing her final year at OberlinCollege in environmental studies.

Sarah has been avidly creating calligraphicartwork since she picked up her mother'srusting calligraphy set in fourth grade. Herdesigns have illuminated Hillel publications,wedding and bar mitzvah invitations, andcommissioned pieces. With a degree in socialanthropology from Harvard University, sheis now a fifth-grade teacher at a publiccharter school in Washington, DC.

A6 History and Mathematics of theHebrew CalendarBen DreyfusWhy do some Hebrew years have 12months and others have 13? Why didsome of the Jewish world observe theholidays two days earlier than everyoneelse in 922 CE? Why will Passover fall inJuly in about 20,000 years? This class

tells the story of the complex Hebrewcalendar from the early days ofwitnessing the crescent moon to ourcurrent mathematical algorithms. By theend, you will be able to calculate whatday of the week Purim will fall in 5800,armed with only a pencil and paper.History and Culture [A]Prerequisites: Familiarity with addition,subtraction, and multiplication required;division recommended. Texts will beprovided in Hebrew and in English.

Ben teaches physics at Stuyvesant HighSchool in Manhattan. He is a founder ofthe Kol Zimrah havurah, and has studiedJewish texts while riding the New York Citysubway and the Jerusalem bus system.

A8 Ruth: A Woman’s Reply to theBook of Judges?Bob FreedmanWe’ll examine the stories, literary stylesand contexts of the biblical books ofJudges and Ruth. We’ll see how Judges,using the metaphor of the gradualdegradation of the institutions thatregulate relationships between men andwomen, recounts the unraveling of thesocial fabric producing moral and civilanarchy in tribal Israel. Ruth heralds thereturn of order and the coming ofsalvation, exemplified by Ruth’smarriage to Boaz in the correct legalmanner. Was the book of Ruth awoman’s answer to the mess made bymen in the time of the judges? Historyand Culture [A]

After a career as a cantor, Bob receivedordination from the Academy for JewishReligion in 2000 and from the ALEPHJewish Renewal Rabbinic Program in2001. He is fascinated by various spiritualtechnologies. Currently Bob is the rabbi ofIsrael Congregation in Manchester Center,VT, and lives there with his wife, Sally,among the beautiful mountains.

A10 “Give me Friendship or Giveme Death!”/”O Hevruta oMitutah!” Friendship in JudaismMarisa HarfordWould you risk your life for a friend?Have your friendships defined yourfundamental beliefs and values? Is afriend the best teacher? We will explore

Course Descriptions continued

Every summer engineerMartin Manley comes tothe NHC Institute fromhis home in Connecticutknowing he will stretch hisexpectations and rechargehis batteries. Some years,the excitement has comefrom immersion in Jewishtexts. Other years it hasflowed from meeting peoplewho are “caring and brightand fun.” Sometimes thehighlight of his week is thespiritual energy ofShabbat. Martin attendsOrthodox religious servicesat home, but at theinstitute he has tried out arange of new experiences:traditional egalitarianservices, Four Worlds“renewal” services,services that focus onchanting or on meditationand the musical servicesled by guitar-strummingmembers of Kol Zimrah, agroup of young havurah-niks from New York City.“Once a person gets ataste of it,” Martin says,“it's an exciting mix.”

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what Jewish sources have to say aboutfriendship, including Biblical andRabbinic stories about friends, theexperience of learning with a studypartner (hevruta), and the moral obliga-tions and limits of friendship. We willbe relating these texts to our ownexperiences and dilemmas, and will useart, drama, creative writing andjournaling in addition to text study (inhevruta, of course!) to explore theseissues. [A,F,C]

Marisa spends her days analyzing literaturewith high-school freshmen in the Bronx. Shehas learned more than she ever thoughtpossible from her wonderful hevruta (studypartner) of three years, has a Master’sdegree in secondary English education, andlikes to sing whenever possible.

A12 Just One PageMarga HirschWe are called “The People of the Book,”but we are actually The People of ManyBooks. We will look at just one page ofseveral of our key books – the Torah,commentaries on the Torah, theMishnah, Midrash and the Talmud (lawcodes). By learning how each is read,and how they relate to each other, wewill discover what these texts havemeant in our tradition and what they sayto us today. Ability to follow a Hebrewtext with a translation will be a plus, butis not required, as all materials will beprovided in English. [A]

Marga teaches Adult Education inPhiladelphia, both as Program Director at

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Har Zion Temple and in the FlorenceMelton Adult Mini-School ParentEducation Program. After attendingSummer Institutes for 25 years, and evenco-chairing one, she is teaching a course forthe first time this summer.

A14 Let’s Play Jewish GeographySherry IsraelJews are one of the most mobilesubgroups in America today, withserious, and often overlooked,consequences for Jewish life. This classwill examine data from the NationalJewish Population Study and relatedsources to learn about some of the causesand consequences of Jewish mobility.Each session will combine exploration ofdata, class members’ own relevantexperiences, and discussions about themeaning of it all for us as individuals andfor our Jewish communities. [C]

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Sherry does Jewish demography, and teachesand consults about Jewish institutions. Sheis active in many professional groups and isa founding and active member of theNewton Center Minyan. Her four childrenand their families live in four different cities,on both coasts, so Sherry has a first-handacquaintance with Jewish mobility.

A16 Where is Talmud? ModernEchoes of the Ancient TextNeil LittThe Talmud (law codes) is full of strangeand unbelievable situations that canbewilder the modern reader.Bewilderment can be transformed todelight, however, when correspondingscenarios are discovered in the creativework of twentieth-century Jews whohave been unknowing conduits for thisoral tradition. While this course does notset out to prove that Bud Abbott, theThree Stooges, Jerry Seinfeld and othersare Talmud scholars, we will discoverTalmudic questions and discourse playingunexpected roles in contemporarypopular culture. Arts and Literature[A,C]

Neil has been reading Talmud every day for thepast five years, completing nineteen tractatesand still going strong. He is past-chair of theNational Havurah Committee and a memberof the Library Minyan at the Princeton JewishCenter in NJ. His audio blog(http://mywebpages.comcast.net/amidlifecrisis)is a running audio journal that includesinterviews with authors and a broad selection ofmusic.

A18 Hane’emarim B’emet, Spokenin Truth: Finding Meaning inHaftarahLarry MagarikThe Haftarah, a selection from theProphets, concludes each Torah readingon Shabbat and festivals. Its pleasantmelody and use in bar/bat mitzvahcelebrations often obscure thechallenging meaning of its prose orpoetry. We will examine the historicalorigin and selection of haftarot and theirblessings, learn about their musicaldimensions, and study four haftarot indepth, including the haftarah for theShabbat at the Institute. All texts will bestudied with clear, easy-to-understandEnglish translations. Spirituality andReligious Life [A]

Course Descriptions continued

Larry is a cantor and author of articles onBible and liturgy in Jewish Bible Quarterlyand Kerem. He has prepared “HaftarahNotes” for his synagogue’s weeklynewsletter for four years and has taughttraditional texts at a number of NHCregional retreats and at the Institute. Larryis a labor and benefits attorney.

A20 B’otot Uvmoftim (With Signsand Wonders): Secrets of thePassover HaggadahElizabeth RichmanHow and why does the haggadah go togreat lengths to exclude Moses from itsretelling of the Passover story, eventhough he represents a central figure inthe Exodus tale? How may the rabbishave used the Rasha (the wicked child)to construct a subtle textual rebuke toJesus and the early Jewish-Christiansects? How many questions were in theoriginal Mah Nishtanah (“fourquestions”) and why? And whattheological messages can we findembodied in all of this? After reviewingthe overarching structure of thehaggadah, we will use a close reading ofTanach (bible), Mishnah and Talmud,and other sources in Rabbinic literatureto explore these and other questions.Text will be provided in English andHebrew. Spirituality and Religious Life [I]

Elizabeth is a graduate of the Beit Midrashprogram at the Drisha Institute for Jewish

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A - text for ALLI - INTERMEDIATE text

AD - ADVANCED textC - CONTEMPORARY IssuesF - suitable for entire FAMILY

Sandy Sussman firstattended the NHCInstitute in 1991, hopingto re-experience “thewarmth and intensity” sheassociated with Jewishyouth group and campexperiences. She found it.Six years later herhusband, Ron Schnur,joined her at the Institutefor the first time, and hasbeen a regular ever since:“The Institute is an active,participatory, multigenera-tional Jewish ‘Brigadoon,’”Ron says. “It exists for oneweek a year. I really enjoybeing with both the kidsand the older people.”Over the years, Ron andSandy say they havelearned that “people yousee only once a year canbecome dear friends.”Adds Sandy: “TheHavurah Institute is toogood not to share.”

Studies and is currently a rabbinicalstudent. She is also a seder (festivePassover meal) leader who grew up notonly with the traditional haggadah, butalso, depending on the year, with herfamily’s homemade haggadah, a vegetarianhaggadah, and a feminist haggadah.

A22 Reading the Divine Body: theRelationship of Text and Body inClassical Jewish MysticismBill ShackmanThis course is designed as an introduc-tion to the canonical texts of medievalSpanish Kabbalah (mystical writings):the Sefer Yetsirah, the Sefer Bahir andthe Zohar. We will explore how each ofthese texts describes the divine in termsof the human body, or anthropos,including the Bahir’s theory of divineorgans and the Zohar’s doctrine ofdivine faces. What is implied about therelation between the heavenly body andour own physical bodies? How does thenotion of a language of creation mediatethe bold anthropomorphism of thesetexts? Texts will be in Hebrew andAramaic with translations into Englishprovided. Familiarity with the basicideas of the Kabbalah will be helpful,but not necessary. Spirituality andReligious Life [I]

Bill is currently a Ph.D. candidate inHebrew and Judaic Studies at NYUspecializing in medieval Jewish mysticism.Besides meditating on the mysteries of theZohar, he enjoys playing bluegrass guitarwith his wife, Emily, and practicing theTaoist martial art of Ba Gua Zhang.

A24 Elisha ben Avuyah, theOutsider Max WeinrybElisha ben Avuyah was a leading rabbiof the 2nd century, a colleague of R.Akivah, teacher of R. Meir, and one ofthe “four that entered Pardes (engagedin esoteric practices).” He became anunbeliever and probably an adherent ofthe outside (Hellenistic) civilization.We’ll read the original midrashim(stories) about him and consider him inhis historical context and as a precursorof modern Jews struggling with unbeliefversus tradition. History and Culture [I]

Max has been a participant, leader andteacher in SF Bay Area havurot for manyyears. He has taught Hebrew, Talmud, andRabbinic texts in havurot, congregations,and at the NHC Summer Institute andregional retreats. Max is a softwareconsultant and urban homesteader inBerkeley.

Thank You

The Institute 2004 Planning and CourseCommittee members are grateful to allthose whose time and energy make theNHC Summer Institute possible. Wealways receive more wonderful proposalsfor courses, workshops, and programsthan we can accommodate. The partici-pation and generosity of so manydifferent individuals demonstrates thebreadth and vitality of havurah Judaismin North America. A special thank you to: • The Albin Family Foundation for

underwriting outreach and program-ming to enrich Jewish Practice.

• The Edith and Henry EverettPhilanthropic Fund that underwritesthe Everett Fellows program and hasbeen supporting the NHC for anumber of years.

• The Rita Poretsky Foundation forsupporting the Artist-in-ResidenceProgram and the NHC.

• Fran Zeitler, who innovated the TeenEnvironmental Program, and has beena long-time NHC volunteer andsupporter of the Children’s Program.

10

Housing

Three housing options are available onthe Franklin Pierce campus.

The suites building is air-conditioned,handicapped accessible and in the centerof campus. Each suite has 6 bedroomswith 2 twin beds per room, one bathroomwith 3 showers, sinks and stalls; and aliving room and a kitchenette withrefrigerator and microwave oven. Suiteswill be used for families with childrenunder the age of 10 (to facilitate babysit-ting) and people with mobility issues.

The apartments are located next tothe suites. Each has 2 bedrooms, with 2twin beds per room, 1 1/2 baths and aliving room with a kitchen with refriger-ator, stove, and dining area. Theapartments do not have air-conditioning.

This summer we are also offeringhousing in townhouses next to the lake.These are a 7 – 10 minute walk to thedining hall which is located near theclassroom buildings. There is ahandicapped accessible studio apartmenton the first floor. The second and thirdfloors are a townhouse with 3 bedrooms,with 2 twin beds each, 3 full bathroomsand a kitchen and living room area. Thetownhouses are air-conditioned.

All accommodations have parkingand washers and dryers nearby.

Please indicate your housing prefer-ence on the registration form.

Commuters

Anyone who lives near the campus canparticipate at a reduced cost byregistering as a commuter. Commuterregistration includes all meals and fullparticipation in the program. Commuterswho wish to stay on campus for Shabbatshould contact the NHC office.

Meals

The NHC and Franklin Pierce Collegehave selected a vegetarian and fish menuwith a wide variety of options. All foodwill be either dairy or pareve. Each mealwill also have vegan options. Kashrut isobserved under the supervision of amashgiach who also participates in theInstitute. If you require a special diet orhave food allergies or sensitivities, pleaseindicate this on the registration formand provide a detailed explanation ofyour needs by June 15. Call the NHCoffice for more information.

Shabbat Guests

Friends and family members of Instituteparticipants and other NHC membersare welcome to join us for Shabbat.Although classes will be over, specialprograms are planned for the weekend.Shabbat guests should plan to arrive onFriday, August 6 between 1:30 and 3:20pm. Programs for the entire communitywill be starting at 3:15 pm. Our Artists-in-Residence will be giving a specialSaturday evening concert.

Transportation

Franklin Pierce College is located offRoute 119 in Rindge, NH, just north ofthe Massachusetts border. Approximatedriving time is 4.5 hours from New YorkCity and 90 minutes from Boston. Thereare airports in Manchester, NH, andBoston, MA. Information about rideshare arrangements will appear in theconfirmation e-mail.

Who will be attending? (please print)

Adult # 1

Name

Age Gender M / F Occupation

Day Phone Eve Phone

E-mail*

Address

City State Zip

Adult # 2

Name

Age Gender M / F Occupation

Day Phone Eve Phone

E-mail*

Address

City State Zip

*Registration confirmation will be sent by e-mail. If you would likeadditional postal confirmation, check here. ■■

Children/Teens Attending Institute*

#1 Name Age Grade M / F

#2 Name Age Grade M / F

#3 Name Age Grade M / F

#4 Name Age Grade M / F

*Indicate age as of August 2005 and the grade the child will beentering in September 2005. Make additional copies of this form toadd class preferences and address information for teens and full-timestudents as needed.

■■ Check here to sign up for Teen Environmental Program (see pg. 3).

PLEASE REGISTER EARLYYour registration implies that you have read and agree to thefinancial terms stated in this brochure. If you live in anothercountry, please obtain payment in U.S. dollars.

Mail this form with your credit card information orcheck payable to “National Havurah Committee” to:

National Havurah Committee7135 Germantown Avenue, 2nd FloorPhiladelphia, PA 19119-1842

Questions? Call (215) 248-1335 or e-mail Institute@Havurah.org

BALANCE DUE BY JUNE 15

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE■■ Applying for Everett Fellowship.

(See pg. 3 regarding this program.)

■■ Applying for work study. (See www.havurah.org for work-study job descriptions.)

Class PreferencesList three class choices per sessions, in order of preference. Listeach course by its number (e.g., M3, A2). Classes are filled inorder of postmark; you are assigned to your highest preferencecourse that is open. If there are additional adults or teens takingcourses, please enclose an additional sheet with their choices.

Adult # 1 Classes Adult # 2 ClassesMorning Afternoon Morning Afternoon

1st choice

2nd choice

3rd choice

Fee Schedulebefore after How June 15 June 15 Many $ DUE

*NHC Membership dues ($36 per adult or $72 per household)

Adult Resident $795 $820

^Adult Commuter $675 $700

Full-time Student Resident $595 $620

^Full-time Student Commuter $495 $520

Children (6 months to 12 years)

#1 Child $350 $375

#2 Child $250 $275

Additional children $150 $175

Pre-paid babysitting (6 nights) $45 $60($45 first child; $30 additional child – subsidized rate)

Limited-Income Resident $595 $620

^Limited-Income Commuter $495 $520

+Shabbat only Adult $275 $300

+Shabbat only Child $125 $150(6 mos to 12 year)

Single-room supplement $125Additional per person. Shared bath.

Private apartment/townhouse $250Additional per apartment.

Private use Golf Cart $250

SUBTOTAL FEES ABOVEOptional cancellation insurance(Multiply subtotal above by .05.)

Tax-deductible scholarship fund contributionRegistering for M3 deduct $100.

TOTAL AMOUNT DUE

AMOUNT ENCLOSED(Minimum 50% of total, after June 15, balance in total.)

*Required and tax deductible.^Includes full program and all meals, including Shabbat.+ Friday-Sunday room and meals from Friday dinner through Sunday breakfast.

PLEASE COMPLETE QUESTIONNAIRE ON REVERSE BEFORE MAILING

REGISTRATION FORM

VolunteerAll adult and teen participants are asked to volunteer a fewhours during the Institute. Please indicate where each familymember would like to serve.

Adult #1 Adult #2 Teen #1 Teen #2

Registration/Check-out

Sales table/Fundraising

Errands

Shabbat preparation

Mentor first-timer

Clean-up

Anywhere needed

YEAR ROUND

Outreach

Lead Services (July 5 Deadline)Please indicate if you would like to lead services (specifywhich services/parts, and in what style, e.g., havurah,traditional-egalitarian, feminist, hasidic, four-worlds, medita-tion, movement, etc.) or if you would like to read Torah,chant haftarah, or give a D’var Torah at the Institute.

Propose A Workshop (July 5 Deadline)If you would like to lead a workshop, please let us know byJuly 5. Send an e-mail to institute@Havurah.org with“Workshop” in the subject line, along with a brief descrip-tion of the workshop and a short bio of yourself.

Topic:

Tell Us About YourselfIs this your first Institute? Y / N

How did you hear about the Summer Institute?

Do you or your children have a roommate or suitemate request?

Do you use electricity on Shabbat? Y / NIf yes, are you willing to accommodate roommates? Y / N

Are you a member of a havurah? Y / N If yes, please provide name of havurah and contact information:

If your health requires any special food, housing, or otherarrangements, please attach a note with specific information.

Housing PreferenceIf you have mobility issues that impact the distance you canwalk, please call the office to discuss your housing options.

If you are attending with children we will try to house you in thesuites to facilitate evening babysitting. If you are not attendingwith children, please indicate your housing preference.

■■ townhouses near lake, (air-conditioned) or

■■ main campus apartments (not air-conditioned)

Permission to be PhotographedIn submitting this registration form, I hereby grant permis-sion for my images and/or the images of my child[ren],captured at the Institute through video, photo, and digitalcamera, to be used in official NHC promotional material,including but not limited to news releases, publications,videos, and the NHC web site. I further waive rights ofcompensation or ownership thereto.

Cancellation Policy and Cancellation InsurancePurchasing Cancellation Insurance at the rate of 5% of yourinstitute total fee will enable you to receive a refund of all ofyour fees minus your membership dues and a $25 administra-tive fee per person, in the event that you must cancel due tounforeseen circumstances.

If you do not purchase cancellation insurance at the timethat you register, refunds will be allocated as follows:• Cancel by May 31: All fees refunded minus membership

dues and $75 administrative fee per person.• Cancel between June 1 and July 15: All fees refunded minus

membership dues and $150 administrative fee per person. • Cancel between July 16 and July 27, 2005: All fees

refunded minus membership dues and $225 administrativefee per person.No refund will be given for those who do not attend, or

cancel after July 28, 2005. You must call the office and let usknow that you are cancelling in order to receive a refund.

Payment Information■■ Check payable to “National Havurah Committee”

■■ Please charge my credit card: ■■ Visa ■■ MasterCard

Credit card #

Name (as it appears on card)

Expiration date

Please fill out both sides of this form completely and return itwith your payment to:

National Havurah Committee7135 Germantown Avenue, 2nd FloorPhiladelphia, PA 19119-1842

Questions? Call (215) 248-1335 or e-mail Institute@Havurah.org

BALANCE DUE BY JUNE 15

REGISTRATION FORM cont’d

PLEASE COMPLETE ENROLLMENT INFORMATION ON REVERSE SIDE BEFORE MAILING

Work Study Assistance

A limited number of work-study positionsare available. In exchange for a week-longcommitment to work at the Institute,participants can attend the Institute for$500 plus NHC membership and partici-pate fully in the rest of the program.

Most work-study positions are in oneof three areas: the Institute office, thechildrens program or kashrut supervision.

To apply for a work-study position,check www.havurah.org to see the openpositions and call the Institute office(215-248-1335) to apply. All requests areconfidential and must be submitted byJune 15, 2005.

NHC Online

Check out the NHCs web site atwww.havurah.org for late-breakingInstitute information and updates oncourses and programs.

All Institute registrants are automati-cally subscribed to nhc-announce, anemail list for announcements from theNHC related to its upcoming programs.The NHC offers two online discussiongroups, nhc-havurah, limited to NHC andhavurah related issues, and nhc-discuss,an open discussion forum on topics ofinterest to members of the NHCcommunity. To subscribe to these lists,go to www.havurah.org and click onNHC Online for complete instructions.

Purchasing Cancellation Insurance atthe rate of 5% of your institute total feewill enable you to receive a refund of allof your fees minus your membership duesand a $25 administrative fee per person,in the event that you must cancel due tounforeseen circumstances.

If you do not purchase cancellationinsurance at the time that you register,refunds will be allocated as follows:• Cancel by May 31: All fees refunded

minus membership dues and $75administrative fee per person.

• Cancel between June 1 and July 15:All fees refunded minus membershipdues and $150 administrative fee perperson.

• Cancel between July 16 and July 27,2005: All fees refunded minusmembership dues and $225 adminis-trative fee per person.No refund will be given for those who

do not attend, or cancel after July 28,2005. You must call the office and let usknow that you are cancelling in order toreceive a refund.

Cancellation Policy and Cancellation Insurance

NHC Board of Directors

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEEChair:

Mark FrydenbergVice-Chair:

Sherry IsraelSecretary:

Sylvia WoodmanTreasurer:

Richard HeibergerImmediate Past Chair:

Neil Zatz Litt

MEMBERS AT LARGEAlison AdlerAdrienne AschSusan BarocasSarah Brodbar-NemzerBen DreyfusJanet HollanderSteve LewisEleni Zatz LittLarry MagarikAnne Mintz

Mike RappeportDan RichmanElizabeth RichmanJane RothsteinDavid RogoffJoe RosensteinHoward WialFrances Zeitler

PAST CHAIRSMitch ChefitzBob GoldenbergRuth GoldstonLeonard GordonJanet HollanderHerb LevineSteve LewisSolomon MowshowitzJoe RosensteinMichael Strassfeld

NHC Advisory BoardMartha Ackelsberg Samuel Barth Judith Baumann

Margrit Bernstein Dana Bogatz Debra CashRachel B. Cowan Sue Levi Elwell Marcia Falk Merle FeldSusan FendrickEllen Frankel Larry GarberRobert Goldenberg Robert Goldston Arthur Green Kathy HartPatricia Cippi Harte Julie HirschBarry Holtz Judith KassRonnie LevinMordechai LieblingFrank LoefflerMichael MaschMiriam MayVictor MillerVanessa Ochs

Drorah O’Donnell SetelMichael PaleyJudith Plaskow Bernard Reisman Neil ReisnerLouis ReiserHarry RosenbluhSaul RubinCarl SheingoldDavid ShneyerHarold SchulweisMarlene SchwartzMel SilbermanSandy SussmanDavid Teutsch Matthew ThomasesMax TicktinMoshe WaldoksArthur WaskowShoshana WaskowDeborah WaxmanDavid ZernerLillian Zerner

Managing DirectorChristine Oliger

Committee ChairsDebra CashSandy Sussman

Planning CommitteeChairsMordecai JacksonDavid Podell

BrochureInstitute Photos:

Mark FrydenbergJoel DeitzNeil Zatz LittJosh RosenbergSharon Rozines

“. . . for you should know the soul of a stranger . . .”

National Havurah Commit tee

27 th SUMMER INSTITUTEAugust 1-7, 2005 • Franklin Pierce College, Rindge, NH

National Havurah Committee7135 Germantown Avenue, 2nd FloorPhiladelphia, PA 19119-1842

Forwarding Service Requested

Phone: (215) 248-1335 • Fax: (215) 248-9760 • E-mail: Institute@havurah.org • Web site: www.havurah.org

Non-Profit Org.U.S. Postage

PAIDJenkintown, PA

Permit No. 9

Dates to Remember:Register by April 30 for FREE Cancellation InsuranceRegister by June 15 and Save!