Judaism at Home
Given by Rabbi Levi Lezell
Dates: July - August, 2020 | Lessons Included: 5 | Price: $35 full course
Lesson 1
A Fresh Start
Can you predict how your day will be based on how you wake up in the morning? If yes, you’re not alone! How you wake up in the morning can set the tone for the entire day. This lesson takes a deep dive into Jewish morning routines to explore their rituals, rationales, and deeper messages to help get your day started on a positive note and make your mornings meaningful.
Lesson 2
Food for Thought
Our relationships with food are rather complex. We need to eat to survive, yet so many struggle with obesity, anorexia, and unhealthy eating habits. Unlike pop culture diets that come in and out of fashion, Judaism’s practical wisdom on eating has weathered millennia. By infusing this daily practice with practical insight and purpose, the Jewish rituals introduced in this lesson help us make our eating more mindful, healthful, and spiritually satisfying.
Lesson 3
Hear O Israel
Whether deliberate or spontaneous, vocal or mental, we frequently find ourselves praying. Many find the concept of prayer distant and mysterious, and see the prayer book as a volume that’s closed to their intellection. This lesson seeks to bring prayer to the vibrant hearts and inspired minds of Jews everywhere. Participants will discover the philosophy of prayer, build familiarity with the prayer book, and gain an implementable understanding of the elegant structure and sophisticated mechanics that underlie our daily prayers.
Lesson 4
Rest Assured
Why is Kiddush recited on wine? What is the significance of two covered loaves? Is it important to consume fish and meat on Shabbat? Why gefilte fish? Why cholent? This lesson explores the origins and rationales behind each of these customs, rendering what was heretofore a random assortment for the palate a holistic journey for the soul.
Lesson 5
Rest Assured #2
Shabbat is one of Judaism’s greatest gifts. In a society that prizes multitasking and prioritizes urgencies, Shabbat offers a welcome respite from the noise to ponder what is truly important. However, when it comes to the nitty gritty of Shabbat’s dos and don’ts, many find themselves perplexed by their logic and seeming pettiness. This lesson unveils the wisdom and neat construct inherent in the laws of Shabbat, and translates its model into practical guidelines for modern observance, infused with soul and spirituality.