Intro to Judaism and Hebrew Basics
2025 - 2026
Welcome to Temple Israel’s Introduction to Judaism Class!
Below you will find class resources, including the syllabus, required reading materials, and links.
Note: It is not possible to truly understand Judaism from a class; it must be experienced. Students are strongly encouraged (and warmly welcomed!) to attend Friday night Shabbat services at Temple Israel, as well as festivals and holidays. If you are pursuing conversion, plan to regularly attend services — twice a month is a good goal (we’re not taking attendance).
Conversion Seminar Resources
Sound files:
Download the immersion Mikvah blessings
Syllabus
Preparing for Class
Most classes have both a reading assignment and a text to discuss in class.
Readings are homework and should be completed before class, and are found in the books below or in the links listed under certain classes. Please come to class prepared with at least one question from the reading. When everyone completes the reading, class discussions are much more interesting!
Texts will be studied in class and provided by the instructor.
Books
Note: There is a reading assignment to be completed before the first class.
BOOKS TO PURCHASE BEFORE THE FIRST CLASS:
● Jewish History: A Very Short Introduction by David N. Myers
ISBN-13: 978-0199730988
● Living Judaism: The Complete Guide to Jewish Belief, Tradition, and Practice by Wayne Dosick
ISBN-13: 978-0060621797
● The Sabbath by Abraham Joshua Heschel
ISBN-13: 978-0374529758
TEMPLE ISRAEL PROVIDES:
● Lashon HaKodesh (Hebrew Book)
Curriculum, Dates, and Instructors
Classes are on Tuesdays from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Temple Israel.
Hebrew is 6:00 - 6:30 p.m.
Class topic is 6:30 - 8:00 p.m.
UNIT 1
JEWISH IDENTITY, TIME, AND TEXT
October 21, 2025
Rabbi Zimmerman teaches Jewish Belonging, Behaving and Believing: Who is a Jew? Who are the Jewish People? What is Judaism? What are the Jewish movements?
Reading: Living Judaism, Chapter 2
October 28, 2025
Rabbi Rodich teaches We Were All at Sinai: Jewish Sacred Texts Overview & Introduction to chavrutah, a Jewish peer-learning method of engaging with sacred texts.
Reading: Living Judaism, Chapter 3, pages 74-114
November 4, 2025
Rabbi Rodich teaches Destruction and Rebuilding: The radical move from sacrifice to prayer and the creation of the Jewish legal tradition.
Text: The Stubborn and Rebellious son: Deuteronomy 21: 18-21, Sanhedrin 68b, 70a, 71a2
November 11, 2025
Rabbi Hartman teaches Sunsets and Lunar Cycles: Living in Jewish Time + The Jewish Year in Holidays and Festivals.
Text: A Jewish Calendar
Reading: Living Judaism, Chapter 4, pages 119-180, 196-200
November 18, 2025
Rabbi Rodich teaches Shabbat: A Sanctuary in Time.
Reading: The Sabbath by Abraham Joshua Heschel (approx. 100 pages)
December 2, 2025:
Rabbi Rodich and Alex Bonoff teach The Mitzvah of Jewish Prayer: Siddur and Shabbat Learner’s Service.
Text: Kabbalat Shabbat & Ma’ariv Liturgy
Reading: Living Judaism, Chapter 5
UNIT 2
ANTI-JUDAISM, ANTISEMITISM, GENOCIDE, AND RESISTANCE
December 9, 2025:
Rabbi Zimmerman and Muffy Rudnick teach The Real Story of Chanukah & The December Dilemma.
Text: Maccabees 1:43-2:28 & 2:40-48, Chanukah Blessings
Reading: Living Judaism, Chapter 4, pages 151-155
December 16, 2025:
Rabbi Hartman teaches Crescent and Cross, Medieval Jewish life under Islamic and Christian Rule.
Texts: 1. Fourth Lateran Council, Canons 68 & 69 (yellow badges & exclusion from civil authority.)
2. King Henry III, The Statute of Jewry (England, 1253 & 1275)
3. The Pact of Umar (Creation of dhimmi law for Jews and Christians).
Reading: Jewish History: A Very Short Introduction by David N. Myers (Oxford)
January 6, 2026:
Rabbi Zimmerman teaches The Holocaust & Post-Holocaust Jewish Life.
Reading: Living Judaism, Chapter 4, pages 181-194
January 13, 2026:
Rabbi Rodich teaches Antisemitism Today.
Reading: A Very Brief Guide to Antisemitism, T’ruah, the rabbinic call for human rights. Download the free PDF at https://truah.org/antisemitism/. Scroll to the bottom of the page below the section where you pay for a printed version.
UNIT 3
JEWISH THOUGHT: GOD, ETHICS, AND VALUES
January 20, 2026:
Rabbi Rodich teaches Introduction to Jewish Theologies: God in Torah, Chasidut and Kabbalah.
Reading: Living Judaism, Chapter 1
Optional for those interested in Kabbalah (Jewish mysticism): Listen to this episode of the On Being podcast with Krista Tippet and Rabbi Lawrence Kushner: https://onbeing.org/programs/lawrence-kushner-kabbalah-and-everyday-mysticism/
January 27, 2026:
Rabbi Rodich teaches Contemporary Theologies: Process Theology, God in Reform Jewish thought, Feminist Theology.
Text: Excerpts of work from several modern Jewish thinkers
Reading: Short introduction to Jewish views of God at My Jewish Learning: https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/modern-jewish-views-of-god/
February 10, 2026:
Rabbi Hartman teaches Jewish Ethics & Case Study.
February 17, 2026:
Alex Bonoff teaches Chazanut: Calling out to God through Sacred Music.
February 24, 2026:
Rabbi Zimmerman and Johan Van Parys teach Judaism and Christianity. Johan Van Parys is the Managing Director of Ministries/ Director of Liturgy & Sacred Arts at the Basilica of Saint Mary.
UNIT 4
LIVING A JEWISH LIFE
March 3, 2026:
Rabbi Hartman teaches Birth, B’nai Mitzvah and Marriage: Rituals, customs and practices.
Reading: Living Judaism, Chapter 7, 285-303
March 10, 2026:
Rabbi Zimmerman teaches End of life, grief and mourning in Jewish life.
Reading: Living Judaism, Chapter 7, 303-312
March 17, 2026:
Rabbi Rodich and Wendy Schwartz teach Passover: The Metastory of the Jewish People.
Text: Hagadah
March 24, 2026:
Rabbi Hartman teaches The Jewish Home: Blessings for home, kashrut, Jewish foods, Judaica.
Reading: Jewish Living, Chapter 6
UNIT 5
JEWISH PEOPLEHOOD
April 14, 2026:
Rabbi Zimmerman teaches Zionisms and the State of Israel.
Reading: Living Judaism, Chapter 8
April 21, 2026:
Rabbi Rodich teaches The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict.
April 28, 2026:
Rabbi Zimmerman teaches The American Jewish Community Today.
CONVERSION SEMINARS
Meeting with a rabbi is required for enrollment.
May 12, 2026:
Rabbi Rodich teaches Texts, Background, Liturgy, Ritual.
May 19, 2026:
Rabbi Zimmerman teaches Dynamics of Conversion.
May 26, 2026:
Rabbi Zimmerman facilitates a panel discussion.