Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion/Cincinnati’s
Academy for Adult Interfaith Studies announces Fall Classes

Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion’s Academy for Adult Interfaith Studies announces its fall term of classes. Six non-credit, continuing education courses in religious studies will be offered on the subjects of Jesus’ birth narrative, Judaism, the Ancient Near East, sex in Jewish texts, biblical Hebrew, and modern Hebrew. Most courses meet once a week at the College-Institute beginning October 7, 2002 (Hebrew courses begin October 3, 2002).

Jesus’ Birth Narratives: Drawing “Conclusions” from “Beginnings” is an examination and analysis of the presence and absence of stories of Jesus’ birth in the Gospel. Dr. Michael J. Cook, Professor of Intertestamental and Early Christian Literatures at HUC-JIR, will instruct this course.

The Adult Interfaith Academy continues its Introduction to Religion series with An Introduction to Judaism taught by Rabbi David Komerofsky, Dean of Students and Director of Rabbinical School at HUC-JIR, Cincinnati. This course will be guided by students’ questions and will highlight sacred texts and modern practice.

The Peoples and Cultures of the Ancient Near East will be an in-depth exploration of the major people groups mentioned in the Hebrew Bible that existed in the Ancient Near East during the first and second millennia BCE. Dr. Hélène Dallaire, Director of Hebrew Language Instruction at HUC-JIR, will teach this course.

Sex in Jewish Texts, an internet course, will deal with how Jewish texts (from the Hebrew Bible to contemporary Jewish fiction) address sexuality as both blessing and curse. Gender roles and relations as well as communal boundaries and identity will be discussed. Lessons will be posted to student e-mail boxes on Mondays and a virtual dialog will take place throughout the week with course instructor Debra Kassoff, fifth year rabbinical student at HUC-JIR.

Introduction to Biblical Hebrew is a 12-week course that will cover the basics of morphology, grammar, syntax, and pronunciation. Students will finish the course with a solid grounding from which they will be able to continue studying the language either formally in the classroom, or informally on their own or with a private tutor. There will be approximately two to four hours of homework per week. Jeff Cooley, a graduate student at HUC-JIR, will instruct this course.

Introduction to Modern Hebrew is a 12-week course that will emphasize idiomatic Israeli conversational Hebrew. The class will use discussion, music, newspapers, and other interactive techniques. Attendance and work outside of class will be expected. Oren Hayon, fourth year rabbinical student at HUC-JIR, will teach this course.

The cost of one Adult Interfaith Academy course (not including Hebrew courses) is $50. Participants wanting to enroll in more than one course will be charged $10 for each additional course. The fee for either Hebrew course is $100. No previous knowledge of Hebrew is required for these courses. A limited number of scholarships are available based on need. To register for courses or for more information about the Academy for Adult Interfaith Studies, contact Marcia Cruse at 513-221-1875, ext. 353.

At the Academy for Adult Interfaith Studies of HUC-JIR, men and women of different faiths and backgrounds with a shared desire to explore areas of religion in a spirit of free inquiry learn together in a relaxed, enjoyable environment. The teachers are some of the most gifted scholars in the Greater Cincinnati community, including faculty from HUC-JIR, Xavier University, The Atheneum of Ohio, Islamic Education Center, and the University of Cincinnati.