Spring, 2023 Courses:
Deep Ecumenism Institute
& Sage-ing Legacy Program*
ALL YERUSHA COURSES ARE HOSTED REMOTELY OVER ZOOM.
Introducing the Deep Ecumenism Institute:
More than Interfaith
The Deep Ecumenism Institute is Yerusha’s home for digging deep and continuing to evolve this revolutionary philosophy, founded by Rev. Matthew Fox, championed by Reb Zalman Schachter-Shalomi, and now by countless scholars, clergy, and lay-leaders. With a growing faculty of innovative teachers, we present the following Spring programs.
Building Bridges: The Holy Listening of Deep Ecumenism and Dialogue-ing
with Maryrita Wieners, MA, LPC
6 Thursdays
5:00 – 7:00pm ET
April 27 – June 1, 2023
We are so used to living in our own worlds and listening from our own distinct neighborhoods, through distinguishing perspectives and biases. This course will open you to deeper presence, learning how to cross the bridge into the other’s world, listen through the other’s ears and see through the other’s eyes. We will be guided by the works of Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi, Rev. Matthew Fox, Abraham Joshua Heschel, and Ramon Panikkar.
The Jewish Wisdom of Jesus and the
Roots of Modern Spiritual Practice
with Hazzan-Maggid Steve Klaper
5 Tuesdays
7:00 – 9:00pm ET
April 25 – May 30, 2023 (no class on May 9)
Judaism and Christianity have each removed Jesus from his place in the lineage of Jewish teachers, but his deeply Jewish message can be understood almost entirely as a daring attempt to re-form the Judaism of his day. In this 5-part interfaith class, we place Jesus in historical context as an innovative, first century sage and teacher of Jewish wisdom. We’ll compare and contrast Kaddish and the Lord’s Prayer as examples of early rabbinic liturgy, explore the intent of the Beatitudes as a means of teaching Torah to the masses, listen to the parables with First Century ears, and much more.
Never Too Old to Learn or Too Young to Be a Sage
Decades of transformative learning, built upon Reb Zalman’s foundational thought and the original curricula developed by Reb Bahira Sugarman and Rabbi Shaya Isenberg, now evolving further through the brilliance of our very own Vatikim/ot (Sage-ing® Mentors).
Join us for two courses:
Discover your Gifts and
Find your Superpower
with Chana Tina (Schachter) Duskis
6 Tuesdays
12:00 – 2:00pm ET
April 25 – May 30, 2023
Reb Zalman was quoted as saying: “Find your major flaw. There lies your glory.” As elders, engaging in life review and repair, we uncover our flaws and celebrate our gifts. Vatikah Chana Tina will guide you through a series of experiences and Sage-ing® exercises to help you discover your superpower.
Sage-ing® in Community:
Strengthening Our Bonds
with Vatikah Audrey Seidman
2 Wednesdays
3:00 – 5:00pm ET
June 7 and 14, 2023
Human beings are social by our very nature. We’ve lived in families, tribes, communities and villages for generations. Yet in today’s world, many people feel that their sense of community is missing. And according to findings of the long-term Harvard Study of Adult Development, the people who turn out to be the happiest and healthiest are those who have good, “warm connections” to others. Join Vatikah Audrey Seidman for two highly interactive workshops that together will help you to enrich this phase of life.
*All Yerusha courses are remotely hosted over zoom. Zoom credentials are shared with students prior to the first session.