Summer Limmud: Choosing an Ethical Life

We encounter moral and ethical decisions daily - whether they are regarding our parents, our children, our friends, our workplace, or in the ways we choose to make a difference in the world around us. Jewish wisdom over the ages has much to say about every day ethics and the sense of guided mindfulness required in our relationships. Join us each week as members of our clergy team present on the following topics:

7/7 Honor Your Father and Mother - the Ethics of Parental Obligations (Rabbi Schwartzman) From listening to their advice to supporting their long-term care - understand Judaism's guidance on our relationships with our parents. Cantor Leider will introduce the series.

7/14 Ethics of Speech (Rabbi Saxe) We have all heard that Lashon Hara (evil speech) is strictly forbidden in Jewish tradition, but what exactly is evil speech? How do we apply ancient wisdom to speech, in an age of social media and free information? This class will explore Jewish texts and modern dilemmas on what, when, and how we say what we say.

7/21 The Oys and Joys of Raising Children (Cantor Rhodes) Learn about what Judaism has to say about the complexities of raising children and the ethical dilemmas parents must face. We will delve into some classic child/parent scenarios from different stages of life and see what Judaism can teach us about how to manage them with wisdom and grace, and laughter!

7/28 Ethics of Systemic Justice Work (Rabbi Stein) What does it mean to work for change on issues that might extend beyond our lifetime, or our power to fully transform a situation? How do we tease out some of the nuances and challenges of living up to teachings like "it's not up to you to finish the work, but neither are you free to desist" (Pirkei Avot 2:16)? We'll approach these questions from the perspective of classical Jewish texts, and of some modern fields, like the study of moral injury.

8/4 Business Ethics (Cantor Shochet) How do we understand the role that ethics play in the workplace? Through stories, real-life business situations, and classic texts, we discuss the “10 commandments of Workplace Ethical Values, ” transforming our work and work environment into places for accomplishment, satisfaction, honesty, and integrity.