"Judaism's Gifts to the World" Adult Ed Course - Chabad Jewish Center of Sudbury

Class Options | Course Overview

WHEN (Evening)

6 Tuesday's, 7:30-9:00 P.M.
Launching Jan 28th

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WHEN (Daytime)

6 Wednesday's, 1:30-3:00 P.M.
Launching Jan 29th

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LOCATION

Chabad Center of Sudbury, 100 Horse Pond Road, Sudbury, MA 01776

MORE INFO

info@chabadsudbury.com
978-443-0110 | Fee: $99

Course Overview

By most indications, modern society is a model of moral progress, but it wasn't always that way, and indeed it is still evolving and making progress. Join us for a fascinating new course as we explore the journey and history of some of the key cornerstones of today's morality and contemporary values, as they began in Judaism and influenced and bettered the world as a whole.

We will unpack six of the world’s most cherished values and discover how they were delivered to humankind by the Torah. By tracing their fascinating journey to the mainstream, we’ll discover a timeless core of purpose, integrity, and clarity in each value—a powerful gift of guidance as we navigate our own daily choices.

A combination of history, values and learning alongside discussion and an angle to today's world, this new course, will enrich your thinking and enhance our understanding of who we are and what we can bring to the world at large.

Join us at our evening or day course or switch as needed and feel free to invite a friend or two for this meaningful and enriching learning experience.

The course will launch later in January with an evening option beginning on Tuesday Jan 28th at 7:30pm and a daytime option beginning on Wednesday Jan 29th at 1:30pm.

Lesson Outline

Lesson 1
The Gift of Social Responsibility To the ancients, poverty and suffering were unfortunate facts of life for the unlucky to bear alone. It was the Torah that introduced the radical concept of social responsibility. So, what’s the true nature of that responsibility? Whose is it? And how should I relate to those receiving my help?

Lesson 2
The Gift of A Guiding Purpose Abraham, the first Jew, discovered something that shook the foundations of the pagan society around him: there was one—only one—G‑d, Creator of Heaven and earth. Monotheism drastically changed the way humanity has viewed life, purpose, and progress ever since. Discover how.

Lesson 3
The Gift of Respect for Life It might seem axiomatic that human life is valuable, but a hard look at history reveals that the concept was once considered utterly radical. To discover how respect for life became a universal value, we’ll explore the underlying questions: What makes us human? And what are we here to do?

Lesson 4
The Gift of Equality and Individuality Mastery over others was long deemed a birthright: some were born to rule; others to be ruled. Today, civil people agree that no one is intrinsically inferior or superior. This shift is thanks to the Torah’s revelation that we are all equally created in G‑d’s image: just as G‑d cannot be redundant, no human can be.

Lesson 5
The Gift of Work/Life Balance Originally, those who labored did so endlessly. The Torah introduced us to Shabbat, mandating that Jewish people pause from work for a full day each week to focus on life’s purpose, on worship, and on family. As the modern world begins to recognize the benefits of Shabbat, our call to set aside that time of focus is more critical than ever.

Lesson 6
The Gift of Escaping the Cycle Early societies considered human history locked in an endless cycle of war, conquest, peace, and more war. The Torah insists otherwise: we can, must, and will change the world for the better; war will eventually cease; justice and kindness will ultimately prevail. Today’s world is more eager than ever to hear this empowering message. Our closing lesson will suggest ways we can share it.