Adult Ed Mini Series

An Authentic Jew: Jewish Identity From Biblical To Contemporary Times

When one asks “who is a Jew”, are we looking at a religion, a nation, an ethnicity, a shared history, a language, a people, none or all of the above? Constructions of Jewish identity have different formulations from our initial existence as a tribe, through rabbinic Judaism and into our contemporary age.

The CBS Adult Education Committee will present a three part series that will definitely challenge your ideas on identity formation.

Led by Aaron Howard, the series will examine historic and contemporary texts while leaving room for heresies and your ideas.

All classes begin at 7 PM.

Wednesday, October 16: “Who/What Is A Jew” will look at Jewish identity as it historically emerged through Jewish and non-Jewish texts and laws.

Wednesday, October 23: “What Can DNA Tell Us About Jewish Identity” will explore the controversy in Israel over whether genetic testing could answer the question “who is an authentic Jew”. What do DNA tests fail to capture? Why do some halakhic authorities in Israel favor DNA testing and why does Avigdor Lieberman dislike the idea?

Wednesday, October 30: “Jews Of Color” will examine the current issues playing out on the American left about “white privilege”. Are Jews white? Do Ashkenazi Jews see Jews of color as less than authentic? Is the concept of “white privilege” a racist notion?

Thursdays, March 19, 26, & April 2
Topics TBA