JUDAISM 101
Comprehensive Introduction to Judaism at Congregation B’nai Israel
Judaism 101 is our congregation’s course for those seeking comprehensive introductory learning about Judaism. Rabbi Block is the primary teacher for this program, which meets in the Library on Thursday evenings, 7-8:30pm. All are welcome to this program, conducted with the rigor of an undergraduate college course but requiring no prior knowledge.
Judaism 101 students range from congregants who have been Jewish all their lives to non-Jews in relationships with Jews, from those contemplating conversion to Judaism to those eager to be well prepared to raise Jewish children.
The course is free for Temple members, with a cost of $100 for all others. For all students, the book for the course, Honoring Tradition, Embracing Modernity: A Reader for the Union for Reform Judaism’s Introduction to Judaism Course, may be purchased from the Temple at our cost. (Couples taking the course together pay only one tuition fee and are welcome to share the book. For non-members, the cost of the book is in addition to the registration fee.) For more information, please contact Rabbi Block, bblock@bnai-israel.us or 210-387-8785. For registration and book purchase, please contact Luke in the Temple office, 501-225-9700 or lfrauenthal@bnai-israel.us.
Judaism 101 – Syllabus
Congregation B’nai Israel
Little Rock, Arkansas
5786 (2025-26)
August 21
Jewish Views of God
Reading: Honoring Tradition, Embracing Modernity, pp. 347-392
August 28
Shabbat
Reading: Honoring Tradition, Embracing Modernity, pp. 69-95
September 4
The High Holy Days: Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur
Reading: Honoring Tradition, Embracing Modernity, pp. 61-68, 99-130
September 18
The Jewish Calendar and the Pilgrimage Festivals: Passover, Shavuot, and Sukkot
Reading: Honoring Tradition, Embracing Modernity, pp. 61-68, 133-177
October 9
Navigating the Prayerbook
Reading: Honoring Tradition, Embracing Modernity, pp. 403-424
October 16
Judaism and Christianity: Similarities and Differences
October 23
Life Cycles 1: Birth and Bringing a Child into the Covenant
Reading: Honoring Tradition, Embracing Modernity, pp. 271-288, 295-316
October 30
Life Cycles 2: Jewish Education, Bar/Bat Mitzvah, and Confirmation
Reading: Honoring Tradition, Embracing Modernity, pp. 289-294
November 6
Life Cycles 3: Marriage (and Divorce)
Reading: Honoring Tradition, Embracing Modernity, pp. 199-268
November 13
Life Cycles 4: Conversion to Judaism
Reading: Honoring Tradition, Embracing Modernity, pp. 577-588
November 20
Life Cycles 5: Death, Mourning, and Life after Death
Reading: Honoring Tradition, Embracing Modernity, pp. 327-342
December 4
Bible and Beyond: Sacred Jewish Texts
Reading: Honoring Tradition, Embracing Modernity, pp. 427-468
December 11
Chanukah and Purim – Ellyn Polsky teaching
Reading: Honoring Tradition, Embracing Modernity, pp. 178-191
January 8
Jewish History I: Creation to the Enlightenment
Reading: Honoring Tradition, Embracing Modernity, pp. 472-487
January 15
Modern Jewish History: Why Three (Plus?) Branches
Reading: Honoring Tradition, Embracing Modernity, pp. 547-549; 566 (Please visit all web sites listed there.), 567-573, 3-25
January 29
The Shoah (Holocaust) – Guest Lecturer, Prof. Dorian Stuber, Ph.D.
Reading: Honoring Tradition, Embracing Modernity, pp. 491-503
February 5
Zionism: Why Israel
Reading: Honoring Tradition, Embracing Modernity, pp. 507-511, 516-518
February 12
History of Israel
Reading: Honoring Tradition, Embracing Modernity, pp. 512-515. 519-544
February 19
The American Jewish Experience
Reading: Honoring Tradition, Embracing Modernity, 550-565
February 26
Jewish Living
Reading: Honoring Tradition, Embracing Modernity, pp. 29-56. 201-224, 365-383, 386-391, 395-400
Bibliography
Rabbi Beth Lieberman and Rabbi Hara Person, editors, Honoring Tradition, Embracing Modernity: A Reader for the Union for Reform Judaism’s Introduction to Judaism Course, New York: CCAR Press, 2017.