Seminars
The Institute offers seminars for general Jewish education and for specific academic and professional programs. All 100 or 200 level seminars are open for general adult education and are offered at a variety of North American locations over intensive weekends - click here for a current schedule. Communities affiliated with the Secular Humanistic Jewish movement are encouraged to contact the Institute if they are interested in hosting a weekend seminar.
Credit from a weekend seminar towards a professional program requires completing assigned reading, attendance at the seminar, satisfactory completion of the response questions, and for the Leadership Program a paper or project. Students have one year to fulfill the written requirements for each seminar. For more information on the Institute's professional training programs, click here.
All graduate seminars are offered as week-long (400 level - required for Leadership, Master's Degree or Rabbinic programs) or two-week long (500 level - required for Master's Degree and Rabbinic programs) summer courses with advance reading and a required seminar paper.
For a current schedule of Institute seminars, click here.
Jewish Culture Jewish History Jewish Music Professional Skills Secular Humanistic Judaism
Jewish Culture (JC)
JC 100) Introduction to Jewish Calendar and Holidays - A review of the holiday calendar of the Jewish people with an exploration of the historical roots of Jewish holidays and of their place in the celebration life of Secular Humanistic Jews. How to blend traditional and modern humanistic themes is at the heart of the discussion. CR: 1
JC 110) Introduction to Life-cycle Ceremonies - A review of the Jewish ceremonies that celebrate life-cycle events. The ceremonies of birth, puberty, marriage, and death are explored from both traditional and secular perspectives. CR: 1
JC 150) Ashkenazic Jewish Culture - An introduction to the history, culture, and literature of the largest Jewish Diaspora experience. Topics include the settlement of the Jews in Northern and Eastern Europe, the development of Yiddish, the story of the Jews in Poland and Russia , and the Holocaust. CR: 1
JC 160) Sephardic and Oriental Jewish Culture - An introduction to the history, culture, and literature of half of Jewish life. Topics include the settlement of Jews in Western Asia, North Africa, and Spain , the development of unique Eastern languages and cultures, and the migration to France and Israel . CR: 1
JC 170) Israeli Jewish Culture - An introduction to the history, culture, and literature of the modern State of Israel. Topics include the emergence of the Zionist movement, the establishment of the State of Israel, the development of Modern Hebrew, great Israeli writers, and the issues of contemporary Israeli life. CR: 1
JC 180) North American Jewish Culture - An introduction to the history, culture, and literature of the largest Diaspora community. Topics include Jewish migration to North America , the transformation of the Jew, radical religious movements, and the emergence of an American Jewish Literature. CR: 1
JC 190) Jewish Culture Elective - covering a variety of topics related to Jewish culture. CR:1
JC 200) Celebration of Jewish Calendar and Holidays - A detailed study of the Jewish calendar and holiday celebrations, both their origins and observances through the ages. Emphasis on the practical skills of creating and leading communal celebrations. CR: 1
JC 210) Celebration of the Jewish Life Cycle - A detailed study of Jewish ceremonies and observances surrounding major events of the life cycle. Learning to create appropriate ceremonies for Secular Humanistic Jews is the major objective of this seminar. CR: 1
JC 410) Life Cycle Ceremonies - A course designed to explore both the history and development of Jewish celebrations of life cycle events, from birth to death, as well as the practical skills of creating original Jewish and secular ceremonies. Reading proficiency in Hebrew required. CR: 3
JC 500) Jewish Calendar, Holidays, Liturgy, and Celebration - A comprehensive discussion of the history of Jewish holidays, customs, and ceremonies, with emphasis on celebrating personal and community events in the spirit of a Secular Humanistic Judaism. Reading proficiency in Hebrew required. CR: 6
JC 510) Cultural Traditions of the Jewish People - A comparative study of Ashkenazic, Sephardic, and Oriental cultures in both the medieval and modern worlds. CR: 6
Jewish History (JH)
JH 100) Ancient Jewish History - An introduction to the major events, literature, and issues from the earliest stages of Jewish history. Topics covered include the emergence of the Israelite nation, the development of the Israelite religion, the story of the two Hebrew nations and the emergence of the Bible. CR: 1
JH 102) The Origins of Judaism - An exploration of the origins of the Jewish people, the sources from which they drew their culture and religion, and the transformations Jewish identity underwent through the centuries. CR: 1
JH 103) The Torah - An examination of a central book in Jewish life. Issues of authorship, authority, historical context and contemporary meaning are all addressed. CR: 1
JH 108) Ancient Jewish History Elective - - covering a variety of topics related to ancient Jewish History. CR:1
JH 110) Hellenistic Jewish History - An introduction to the major events, literature, and issues from this major transitional period in Jewish history. Topics covered include the transition from Temple to Talmud, varieties of Judaism during the Second Temple , the transfer of authority from priests to rabbis, and the flourishing synthesis of Hellenistic and Jewish cultures. CR: 1
JH 112) Jesus and the Jews - An examination of Jesus the Jew and the relations of the early Christian movement to the Jewish community of its day. CR: 1
JH 118) Late Antiquity Jewish History Elective - covering a variety of topics related to Jewish history in late antiquity. CR:1
JH 120) Rabbinic Jewish History - An introduction to the events, literature, and issues from this foundational period for Rabbinic Judaism. Topics covered include the basic ideas, literature, and practices of Rabbinic Judaism, Jewish demographic and migration patterns, the emergence of Hasidism, and Medieval Jewish philosophy. CR: 1
JH 122) The Kabbalah and Hasidism - An introduction to Jewish mysticism and its most widespread modern expression. Topics include the Zohar, Jewish mysticism and Creation, the Tsaddik in Hasidism, and New Age Jewish Religion. CR: 1
JH 128) Medieval Jewish History Elective - covering a variety of topics related to medieval Jewish history. CR:1
JH 130) Contemporary Jewish History - An introduction to the major events, literature, and issues from contemporary Jewish history. Topics include Haskala (Enlightenment) and emancipation, American Jewish history, anti-Semitism, Zionism, Holocaust , Israel , new religious movements, and the transformation of the Jewish people. CR: 1
JH 132) Antisemitism - a survey of the history of the hatred of Jews and Judaism, from its Greco-Roman origins through medieval Christian anti-Judaism to modern racial anti-Semitism. CR: 1
JH 133) Women in Jewish Life - An examination of the role of women in Judaism, as well as the experiences of Jewish women. Topics include Biblical and Rabbinic perspectives, Women and Jewish Law, the Jewish family, Jewish Feminism, the Israeli Experience, and Women Rabbis. CR: 1
JH 134) Jews and Arabs - An historical survey of the interactions of Jews and Arabs, from Islamic origins in Arabia to the heights of medieval Spain , through modern Zionism and anti-Zionism. CR: 1
JH 138) Modern Jewish History Elective - covering a variety of topics related to modern Jewish history. CR:1
JH 500) Ancient Jewish History and Biblical Literature - The story and literature of the Jewish people from beginnings through the post-Exilic theocracy in Jerusalem. Reading proficiency in Hebrew required. CR: 6
JH 510) Second Temple Jewish History and Literature - The story and literature of the Jewish people from the conquest of the Greeks through the completion of the Mishnah. Reading proficiency in Hebrew required. CR: 6
JH 520) Rabbinic and Medieval Jewish History and Literature: Mishnah, Talmud, Codes, and Philosophy - The story and literature of the Jewish people from the development of the Talmud through the emergence of the Hasidic movement. Reading proficiency in Hebrew required. CR: 6
JH 530) Modern Jewish History and Literature - The story and literature of the Jewish people from the rise of the Enlightenment to the present day, including a special emphasis on Jewish nationalism and on the development of alternatives to Orthodoxy. CR: 6
Jewish Music (JM)
These courses give the student a thorough understanding of the history of Jewish music and the music of Secular Humanistic Judaism. The courses are designed to enable musicians and music directors in the movement create more meaningful celebrations and events.
JM 100) History of Jewish Music - The story of Jewish music from ancient times until the present, with a special emphasis on folk music as well as liturgical creations. CR: 1
JM 200) Music of Secular Humanistic Judaism - Understanding the wide range of music available for the celebrations of Secular Humanistic Judaism and how this music can be used. CR: 1
JM 210) Music Direction for Communities - A practicum in the management of choirs, singing groups, schools and participating audiences. CR: 1
Professional Skills (PS)
These courses are designed to give Leaders, Educators, and Rabbis the skills needed to function effectively as full- or part-time professionals in their communities.
PS 390) Field Work for Leaders, Educators, and Spokespersons - CR: 2
PS 400) Jewish Education and Curriculum Planning - An in-depth review of how to organize educational programs for children and adults, how to design an effective curriculum, and how to manage a school. CR: 3
PS 410) Leadership, Management, and Community - Understanding the role of community leader, the requirements of community management and the successful art of speaking, writing, and public relations. CR: 3
PS 420) Homiletics - This course develops the skills of public speaking and writing. The focus will be on inculcating significant oratorical abilities in the future leaders of Secular Humanistic Judaism, but students also examine important past Jewish speeches. CR: 3
PS 430) Philosophic Guidance and Counseling - A focused study of how to provide philosophic guidance to people in need of counseling. Emphasis on personal growth issues, marital and family problems, personal crisis intervention, and issues surrounding Jewish celebrations. CR: 3
PS 440) Rabbinic Internship - Supervised by the Dean of the Institute, this internship may be completed simultaneously with the Rabbinic Program. CR: 3
Secular Humanistic Judaism (SHJ)
SHJ 100) Roots of Secular Humanistic Judaism - A review of the major personalities who laid the foundation of a Secular Humanistic Judaism during the past three hundred years. Topics include the Enlightenment, the literature of Jewish Nationalism, and the philosophic works of humanistic Jewish thinkers. CR: 1
SHJ 110) Basic Ideas of Secular Humanistic Judaism - A review of the fundamental principles of the movement, with a special emphasis on articulating them for a popular audience. Issues addressed include the questions of truth, reality, human nature, ethics, politics, aesthetics, Jewish identity, Jewish history and Jewish culture. CR: 1
SHJ 400) Philosophy of Secular Humanistic Judaism - This course focuses on the philosophy of Secular Humanistic Judaism and how this philosophy connects to the important questions of Jewish and personal life. CR: 3
SHJ 490) Master's Thesis in Secular Humanistic Judaism - Supervised by the Dean. CR: 3
SHJ 495) Rabbinic Thesis - Supervised by the Dean. CR: 3
SHJ 500) History of Secular Humanistic Judaism - A survey of sources of Secular Humanistic Judaism in Jewish history, in contemporary movements, and in the writings and activities of famous Jewish writers, historians, intellectuals, artists, & leaders. CR: 6
