Printed fromJewishFairfield.org
Subscribe
Subscribe to Shabat Shalom Bulletins
View all subscriptions »
Contact
Home
About
Login
Chabad of Fairfield
Impact Reports About Chabad Lubavitch Our Team Contact Us What folks are saying In the News Check us out on Facebook Jewish Community Survey
News12 Connecticut, March 22, 2019 Governor declares Day of Goodness & Kindness Chabad.org News, December 27, 2015 Fairfield Citizen, December 10, 2012 Connecticut Post, Monday, December 5, 2010 Daily Fairfield, Monday, December 5, 2010 Fairfield Patch, Monday, December 5, 2010 The Connecticut Post, Monday, September 26, 2010 The Connecticut Post, Tuesday, December 15, 2009 The Connecticut Post, Monday, December 14, 2009
The Connecticut Post, September 17, 2009 Connecticut Post, April 8, 2009 News12 Connecticut, December 14, 2009 Connecticut Post, December 21, 2008 Minuteman Press, December 6, 2007 Connecticut Post, December 4, 2007 News12 Connecticut News12 Connecticut
About
Jewish Learning Institute Ladies Men Guest Lectures Torah Studies
JLI Registration
Rosh Chodesh Society Weekly Torah & Tea
Pre Rosh Hashana Visit to Ohel Men's Social: Scotch & Steak Super Bowl Party Kosher BLT (Bagels, Lox, Teffillen) Talmudic Thursdays
An Evening with Yair Rosenberg Jewish Daughter of Hamas Past Lectures The Last Jewish Gangster
Torah Studies Registration
Adults
Bat Mitzvah Club Bar/Bat Mitzvah @ Chabad Camp Gan Izzy Chabad Hebrew School CTeen Jr Friendship Circle JCRAFT Jewish Youth Special Events Family Hamantash Bake
About Members Why Join Schedule Registration
B Mitzvah Handbook B Mitzvah Discovery Course B Mitzvah Forms and Docs
About Us Registration Curriculum Parents
MVP | Mitzvah Volunteer Program Moms Socials Adult & Teen Volunteer Opportunities Upcoming Friendship Circle Events FC Calendar 22-23
Shofar Factory Olive Oil Press Matzah Bakery Torah Unwrapped
The Menorah Depot Kids Mega Challah Bake Virtual Kids in the Kitchen
Youth
Holidays Synagogue Friendship Circle Special Events Shalom! Welcome to Jewish Fairfield
High Holidays 5783 First Fridays Chanukah Purim Pesach Shavuot
The Kids Shul Shabbat Services Kiddush Sponsorship Friday Night at Chabad
MVP | Mitzvah Volunteer Program Moms Socials Adult & Teen Volunteer Opportunities Upcoming Friendship Circle Events FC Calendar 22-23
An Evening with Dr. Edith Eger Past Events JWC: Pre Chanukah Resin Pouring
Kitchen Koshering Free Mezuzah!
Community
Timely Capital
Improvements
Donate
About Search Contact

Adult Education

To learn is to live!
  • Home |
  • Jewish Learning Institute
    • JLI Registration
    |
  • Ladies
    • Rosh Chodesh Society
    • Weekly Torah & Tea
    |
  • Men
    • Pre Rosh Hashana Visit to Ohel
    • Men's Social: Scotch & Steak
    • Super Bowl Party
    • Kosher BLT (Bagels, Lox, Teffillen)
    • Talmudic Thursdays
    |
  • Guest Lectures
    • An Evening with Yair Rosenberg
    • Jewish Daughter of Hamas
    • Past Lectures
    • The Last Jewish Gangster
    |
  • Torah Studies
    • Torah Studies Registration
ב"ה

Jewish Learning Institute

WHEN

4 Wednesdays,
7:30-9:00 P.M.

April 26th - May 17th

 
JOIN NOW

LOCATION

At the Berkowitz Chabad House, 452 Brookside Drive, Fairfield

MORE INFO

Fee: $105 (textbook included)
$160/couple (one textbook)

Scholarships available upon request

 

Course Overview


Jewpernatural: Signs, spirits and superstition in Jewish belief

As we understand the natural world better, we have only grown more fascinated by mysterious topics like the meaning of dreams; the existence of angels, demons, and extraterrestrials; and the power of the evil eye. With record interest inspiring curiosity, dread, and mockery, this course probes the Talmud, Jewish philosophy, and kabbalah to provide Jewish perspectives and guidance for those curious about these perennial questions.
 

Lesson Outline

 

— 01
Dreams & Direction

We all dream as we slumber, but do the scenes of our dreams impart messages with lasting significance? And can we control our own dreams, perhaps to reduce nightmares and the like?

In this lesson, students will learn that traditional Jewish sources assert that the degree of meaning our dreams contain correlates with the degree of focus and meaning of our daytime thoughts. The occurrence of nightmares can be reduced through improving the quality of our daytime thoughts, strengthening our faith, and developing a positive Jewish bedtime ritual.

The lesson underlines the basic Jewish belief that there is no destiny that cannot be changed. Even if we are convinced that a particular dream forebodes negative events, we should know that prayer and good deeds can change any destiny.

 

— 02
Stars & Signs

Since the dawn of time, the endless sea of twinkling planetary configurations has been read to shed the secrets of individual Homo sapiens, or to eavesdrop on the celestial pulling of puppet strings attached to our lives. Do the stars in fact influence our natures or provide information regarding our unknown futures?

This lesson shows that there is strong—although not unanimous—support in Jewish sources for the basic validity of astrology. However, any Jewish belief in astrology is tempered by the fundamental Jewish beliefs that human beings always retain free choice regarding their moral conduct, and no destiny is absolute. As a result, even the Jewish authorities that give astrology some validity caution us not to turn to it for information, and to focus instead on faith in G‑d, Who shapes our destinies based on our actions.

 

— 03
Jinx & The Evil Eye

Cultures across the map and down the eras have maintained a belief in the negative powers of an “evil eye” and curses, and produced diverse methods of protection from it. What does Judaism have to say? Is there an evil eye, and what might be its effect? Can people harm others by cursing them?

In this lesson, students will learn that there is strong—although not unanimous—support in Jewish sources for the notion that the evil eye and curses can have damaging effects.

The most prominent Jewish theory for explaining the effects of evil eyes and curses is that they attract added Heavenly scrutiny to an individual—and therefore an audit of their behavior in relationship to the blessings they have in their lives.

The lesson then demonstrates a corresponding and effective approach to providing protection through being more private and refraining from unnecessarily flaunting our blessings.

 

— 04
Para & Normal

Is there other intelligent life out there in the universe? Does Judaism believe in angels and demons? Can we communicate with the souls of our deceased loved ones?

This lesson teaches that the question of the existence of extraterrestrial life does not have serious theological ramifications in Judaism, and there are traditional sources either way. The important Jewish principle is that we human beings are the purpose of creation.

Regarding angels, traditional sources describe them as spiritual entities that play a role in processing prayers to G‑d and His flow of blessings to us. Demons are depicted as impure spiritual forces that cause harm. But both angels and demons lack any independent authority, and thus they should not be subjects of our focus. It is we humans, created in the image of G‑d with the gift of free choice, that have the most meaningful relationship with G‑d.

Finally, students will learn that Judaism believes that the human soul is eternal and continues to exist after death. We can “communicate” with the deceased by performing good deeds in their honor, thereby giving them pleasure and advancing them in their new world, but any form of direct communication with the spirits of the dead is forbidden by Torah law.

 


Chabad of Fairfield
452 Brookside Drive Fairfield, CT 06824-2418
203-373-7551

Powered by Chabad.org © 1993-2023 Privacy Policy