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Ongoing Classes
Check out our ongoing
adult education programs!
Education isn't just learning about the past.
It's also learning about one's self and one's
relationship to the world around us.
Wisdom Works
Poetic Depths of the Bible
A Book of Mystery, Misdirection, Murder, Mayhem and Other Intriguing Topics Genesis 1-4
-With Rabbi Mordecai Finley
September 3, 10, & 17
7-8 pm Pacific Time
Many narrative sections of the Torah (the first five books of the Hebrew Bible) are universally known as peaks of world literature. Accessing the depths of this great literature is difficult for most people. Theological assumptions often get in the way of seeing the text as primarily addressing the tragic arc of human condition.
In this first of a series of classes, we will study the text from the original Hebrew, with attention to the many literary devices at play – word play, puns, allusions, figures of speech, and so forth. We will pay attention to allusions to ancient mythology as well as other parts of the Bible, as well as ask who wrote the sections under study, why, to whom and to what effect.
Rabbi Finley will not only teach the Bible, but teach how to study the Bible, focusing on how to use the array of study aids on the net. You will read the Bible as you never have before!
Foundation of Wisdom Works®
Part One with Rabbi Mordecai Finley
September 4, 11, and 18
7-8 pm Pacific Time
Wisdom is the greatest thing we can study to accomplish our life’s goals, avoid mistakes, and live flourishing lives. “Wisdom Works®” is an approach to teaching wisdom formulated by Rabbi Finley, principally from the sources of religion, philosophy and psychology.
In this class, Rabbi Finley will go over the foundations of Wisdom Works®: defining wisdom, having a vision for every area of concern in our lives, cultivating the will to realize our vision, mastering the skills to achieve our vision, and how to fight the inevitable inner resistance that we encounter in this work.
Using Philosophy for Personal Growth
with Rabbi Mordecai Finley
September 5, 12, and 19
7-8 pm Pacific Time
The goal of this series of classes, “Theory Thursdays,” is to study philosophical works, not as a way to master philosophy, but rather to use philosophic texts for our intellectual, moral and spiritual growth.
We will start with Socrates, and against nearly all convention, start at the end of the life of Socrates. Based on four dialogues contained in the book The Last Days of Socrates, we witness Socrates fight for his life, accept his death, explain justice, and teach on the soul from his deathbed.
You don’t have to read the dialogues to attend and participate; summaries will do. Our main goal is to understand philosophy, enjoy it, and make use of it in our lives.
We will be studying four dialogues: Euthyphro (the Dufus); Apology (the Apex); Crito (the Incredulous), and Phaedo (the Soul Brother).
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