Our sages imagined a whole cycle of sacred time to prepare our souls for the High Holy Days. It starts on the 17th of Tammuz, the Tzom (Fast) of Tammuz, which is July 19 this year. It encompasses the low point of Tisha B’Av, the 9th day of the Jewish month of Av, the day that commemorates tragedy upon genocide upon misfortune, letting us practice the pain of loss.
This summer series will explore Jewish sacred time in the summer and how to use it and other traditional Jewish spiritual practices, such as Mussar (the 1,000 year old spiritual practice of spiritual accounting), to be the person you want to be. Using texts and discussion, we will explore what the rabbis had in mind and what it can mean for us today.
The next class is August 4 at 7 pm, and others will occur every other Thursday (7/21, 8/4, 8/18, 9/1 and 9/15), from 7 – 8:30 pm.
The class will be at 1429 Butterfield Road, San Anselmo. Please call for directions (or use mapquest or your GPS).
Cost: $18 per class. Come to all, or drop in to one or two.
Week One (July 21): The Jewish Sacred Calendar in the Summer: What were the rabbis thinking?
Week Two: (August 4): What does Tisha B’Av have to say to me? J Introduction to Mussar Practice. Text study from the Talmud and Tanakh.
Week Three (August 18): Getting ready for Elul: How can I use this month to prepare my soul? Let’s practice some Mussar.
Week Four (September 1): In the midst of Elul: What do I still have to do to be ready?
Week Five (September 15): Final touches for this year: How do we keep up the work? Getting ready for Selichot.
Call or email if you have questions. 415.721.7096. rebmeredith@att.net.
I’m there ! Except Aug 4. Thank you. I look forward to learning w you 🙂 and others
Great, Julane! See you there.