Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion’s
Academy for Adult Interfaith Studies announces Spring Classes
Some of the most gifted scholars in the Greater Cincinnati community, including
faculty and students from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of
Religion, Xavier University, The Atheneum of Ohio, Islamic Education
Center, and the University of Cincinnati, teach courses for the Academy
for Adult Interfaith Studies of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute
of Religion. Six non-credit, continuing education courses in religious
studies are available to men and women of different faiths and backgrounds
who have a shared desire to explore areas of religion in a spirit
of free inquiry and in a relaxed, enjoyable environment. Spring semester
course subjects include the Empty Tomb Narratives of the New Testament,
Hinduism, the Middle East, the process and role of conversion in Judaism,
biblical Hebrew, and modern Hebrew. Most courses meet once a week
at the College-Institute beginning the week of March 3, 2003.
Dr. Michael J. Cook, Professor of Intertestamental and Early Christian Literatures
at HUC-JIR, will instruct Empty Tomb Narratives: Drawing “Conclusions”
from “Endings,” an examination and analysis of the differing narratives
that appear at the end of the Gospels. The harmonization of these divergences
into Easter traditions will also be explored.
Meera Sehgal, a Ph.D. student in sociology at the University of Wisconsin,
will teach An Introduction to Hinduism, the next in the Introduction to Religion
series offered by The Adult Interfaith Academy. This course will provide an
overview of the religious systems of Hinduism, its scriptures, gods and goddesses,
festivals, and its diverse beliefs and practices as expressed through ritual,
mythology, poetry, painting, sculpture, and architecture.
Assistant professor in the Department of History at the University of Cincinnati,
Dr. Elizabeth Frierson, will instruct History of the Middle East. This lecture
and discussion course will explore the history of the Middle East and North
Africa from the rise of Islam to the present. Political and religious development
of the Muslim world as well as social history of ordinary people, cultural history,
and art and architectural history will be explored through primary source documents,
music, textiles, art, architecture, and popular culture.
Frederick Reeves, a rabbinical student at HUC-JIR, will teach the internet
course, I Have Been a Stranger in a Strange Land: A Look at Jewish Conversion.
This course will examine how one converts to Judaism and the role that converts
have played in the Bible, the Talmud, through the long years of Jewish history,
and today in the complex effort of defining who is a Jew in the state of Israel.
Lessons will be posted to student e-mail boxes on Mondays and a virtual dialog
will take place throughout the week with course instructor.
Jeff Cooley, a graduate student at HUC-JIR, will instruct Introduction to Biblical
Hebrew, 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.
Native Israeli and experienced Hebrew teacher, Mazal Rosenblatt, will instruct
Introduction to Modern Hebrew, 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.
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 221-1875, ext. 353.
