ZIG: New Perspectives on Jewish Life

From one-time "take out classes," to peer chevruta (one-on-one learning), to more in-depth learning on specific subjects, Hillel's "ZiG: New Perspectives on Jewish Learning" program has something for you. Check out our offerings below and enjoy!

 

New Jewish "Take-Out" Menu for Jewish Learning

 

Weekly Classes

 

Friday Night Learning

ZiG, short for zil gmar (go and study), is the advice that Hillel gave to someone who wanted to know the essence of Judaism after citing the Jewish version of the Golden rule. Like Hillel, we need to find our own path to truth. Here at the ZiG we’re eager to help you with a variety of learning opportunities. Enjoy the classes!

To register for ZiG classes, email Chris Stauffer at . If you have questions, please email Tilly Shames, or call Hillel at 769-0500.

New Jewish "Take-Out" Menu for Jewish Learning Get a group of 8 or more folks together and we'll bring a snack or dessert and a class to you! Choose from the following options. Contact Tilly Shames for more information or to order you take out class! Appetizers Sephardic cooking: Learn to make your own Sambusak, baba ganoush and all things Sephardic Devorah to Sotomayor: Women as Judges How has Jewish tradition dealt with the idea of women as judges? Do women judge differently than men? Should they? How are women’s roles as leaders changing today? Talmud 101 What is Talmud? Where did it come from? How does it work? A conversation about things we can’t aboutPolitical correctness, offensive jokes, and more. How do we navigate the areas we are not supposed to discuss? IPOD Jews Where does Judaism fit into the lives and decisions of the multi-tasking, entrepreneurial Starbucks generation? Side dishes What is Jewish Law and Where Did It Come From?Where did Jewish law originate and how has it evolved over time? How does Jewish law change? How do we reconcile traditional Jewish law with our modern values? Jews and the blues How does Jewish tradition deal with the issue of depression? Are there any insights that may be useful for people either facing depression or wanting to support friends struggling with depression? Charity or Justice: Jewish Perspectives on GivingHow do figure out and prioritize where we direct our tzedakah (charitable giving)? What lessons and frameworks can we draw from Jewish tradition to help us in this process? How much should we be giving in the first place? Jewish Political Activism: How to integrate Jewish values on critical issuesDo you have to leave your Jewish self at the door when doing political advocacy? What can we draw from in our tradition to help us be better social change makers? Green Jews or Green-Jews: Eco-Judaism? Does our tradition have anything relevant to offer as guidance to help us live our lives in a more sustainable manner? Is living “green” part of one’s Jewish identity or something separate from it? (1, 2, or 3-session series) Meat Dishes Defining life and death: an introduction to Jewish bio-ethics Is brain death consistent with the understanding of death according to halacha (Jewish Law)? Is the definition of human life a priori and fixed or is it always being reshuffled and redefined? How does a a tradition based in texts written 1500 years ago deal with contemporary bio-ethics issues? Develop your own opinion to these questions, as we study these important ongoing debates in Jewish bio-ethics. Impossible Decisions: What could turn a bystander into a victim or a perpetrator into a resister? Together we will explore the impossible decision-making that took place during the Holocaust. Jewish Attitudes Towards AbortionWhat attitudes do religious leaders in the Jewish community take towards abortion? What are the moral and ethical concerns that Judaism has with abortion? Equal? Unequal? Separate? Role and status of women in the Mishnah.How are women treated in the mishna, the earliest Jewish law code? What can we learn from this to the way we think about women’s status and roles today in the Jewish community? God talk How do Jews think about God? How has this changed over time? Do we need to be consistent in our theology? Two Jews, Three Opinions: What does the Talmud, Pirkei Avot (Ethics of the Fathers) and The Simpsons teach us about when and how to argue? Dessert Is Adam Sandler the greatest Jewish commentator of our time? Jews and Tattoos: What are current trends around Jews and tattooing? What does our tradition say about tattoo Can tattoos become part of Jewish expression, like wearing a star of David necklace? Jews in Sports: What is the impact Jews have had in different professional sports? How has the presence of Jewish athletes impacted Jewish identity in general?

Weekly Classes at Hillel Jewish Legal Issues Examine Jewish law today by understanding how it developed through early and later rabbinic writings. Rabbi Rod Glogower. Tuesdays, 8pm Talmud Explore the fascinating world of Talmud through close textual study. Rabbi Rod Glogower. Thursdays, 7pm Hebrew Classes with Dorit Lehavy Advanced Beginning Hebrew: This class is geared for students who know how to read (de-code) Hebrew but have little knowledge of grammar and vocabulary. Thursdays, 6:00-7:00pm Intermediate Hebrew: This class is geared to students who are comfortable reading Hebrew and have a basic knowledge of grammar. It will focus on basic conversation and vocabulary expansion. Thursdays, 7:00pm-8:00pm. Shulchan Ivrit Shulchan Ivrit provides a community for students who want to speak Hebrew and further develop their Hebrew language skills. Students can receive extra credit for their involvement from several Hebrew Studies courses. The group meets every Tuesday from 5:00-6:00pm at Espresso Royale on State St. For more information, contact Ifat , Gilad, or staff advisor, Allie Conn, at alliec@umich.edu. Yoga A great workout for the body and the mind. Each Monday and Thursday, from 6:30pm-7:45pm Hillel offers Yoga classes right here in our Hillel building. Yoga classes are taught by Rachel Portnoy, a professional local yoga instructor from A2 Yoga. Classes are $5 for students and mats are provided. In addition, Hillel offers free late night restorative yoga during our 24 Hour Finals Study program. To get in downward dog with Hillel, please email Tilly, or call Hillel at 769-0500.

Friday Night Learning Friday Night Learning (FNL) is a Jewish learning event that takes place after shabbat dinner in the lounge. Each week, a student selects texts that explore different perspectives on a particular theme, and facilitates a text study and discussion. Students are encouraged to learn the texts in chevruta (pairs) and small groups and enjoy delicious shabbat treats.Coordinated by student leader Yael Mendelson. Contact Yael for more information at yaeltm@umich.edu, .