Center for Jewish Learning and Experience

Hillel classes are offered because the Jewish faith thrives with live, ongoing study of its texts and traditions. Hillel’s goal is to encourage students to grow and develop Jewishly while enriching their overall education at Boston University. It strives to build on what students already know, no matter what level of Jewish education they bring with them to college. Hillel’s other goal is to teach students about the Jewish world they are entering, so that they may take on leadership roles and responsibility for it.

Fall 2011 Class Schedule

MONDAYS:

Rambam
	7:00-8:00pm	Instructor: Rabbi Joseph Polak
	1st Floor Rabbi's Study, Hillel House (213 Bay State Road)
	Meets weekly
	A study of selections from the writings of Judaism's greatest philosopher and halachist, Maimonidies. The selections vary from semester

TUESDAYS:

New Seminar: Maimonides on Conversion
	6:00-7:00pm	Instructor: Rabbi Polak
	1st Library, Hillel House (213 Bay State Road)
	A seminar about conversion and not for the purposes of conversion, this course looks backwards to Talmudic sources of Maimonides. Can one convert to another religion? Is the embraced religion receptive? Is the rejected religion resentful? What is a conversion to a religion from no religion called; is it a conversion? These questions and more are discussed in depth. Note: Beginning November 15 this class will move to Mondays.

Student Talmud
	7:00-8:00pm	Instructor: Rabbi Polak
	1st Library, Hillel House (213 Bay State Road)
	A consideration of the first chapter of tractate Kiddushin, which includes aspects of family law, slavery and real estate law. A background in Talmud is preferable but if you can follow disciplined logical arguements, the language (Hebrew-Aramaic) will not be a barrier.

WEDNESDAYS:

Introduction to Hebrew
	6:15-8:00pm	Instructor: Aviva Reichgott
	1st Lobby, Hillel House (213 Bay State Road)
	Meets weekly (two classes: 6:15pm-7pm and 7pm-8pm)
	Exactly what its title says, this course is intended for people with little to no background in the language and is an interesting and enjoyable foray into reading Hebrew and conducting elementary conversations. Instructor Aviva Reichgott is an Israeli-born mother of several BU alumni and has been a master Hebrew teacher in the Boston area for over 30 years.
The Excitement of Jewish Law
	6:00-7:00pm	Instructor: Rabbi Polak
	Rabbi's Study, Hillel House (213 Bay State Road)
	Meets weekly
	A look at key rituals, practices and values in the Jewish tradition. This semester will look at the traditions surrounding the value of the human person, as expressed in the legal literature around marriage. The course is an excellent over-all introduction to the meaning of Jewish tradition, and presumes no Jewish background on the part of participants.
Talmud, Tracatate Kiddushin
	7:00-6:00pm	Instructor: Rabbi Polak
	Rabbi's Study, Hillel House (213 Bay State Road)
	Meets weekly
	A close look at how the Talmud treats filial responsibilities (kids to parents, parents to kids), betrothement and marriage and other family-law issues. You do not need an extensive Torah-background to enjoy the course, but you do need a mind that does well with systematic legal thinking. A good Torah background helps, in other words (a lot!) but is not essential to understand what is being taught.

THURSDAYS:

Faculty Talmud
	4:00-5:00pm	Instructor: Rabbi Joseph Polak
	1st Floor Rabbi's Study, Hillel House (213 Bay State Road)
	Meets weekly
	A consideration of the first chapter of tractate Kiddushin, which includes aspects of family law, slavery and real estate law. A background in Talmud is preferable but if you can follow disciplined logical arguments, the language (Hebrew-Aramaic) will not be a barrier. (Students admitted with permission)

SHABBAT:
Rabbi's Dvar Torah (Friday night)
	at services	Instructor: Rabbi Joseph Polak
	4th floor chapels, Hillel House (213 Bay State Road)
	Short reflections on Jewish thought and practice delivered in Reform, Orthodox and Conservative services.

Philosophy and the Parasha (Saturday morning)
	8:30am-9:30am	Instructor: Rabbi Joseph Polak
	1st Rabbi's Study, Hillel House (213 Bay State Road)
	This starting point is always the scriptural reading for the week, an halachic text connected to it, and the philosophical problems posed as one text interacts with the other. No pre-requisites; anyone can understand this class.