Jewish Spiritual Searching: Historical Precedents & Contemporary Responses at Mishkan Shalom

Visitng Scholar Event on Sunday, May 6, 2012

 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Keynote speaker Rabbi Jacob Staub, historian and Professor of Jewish Philosophy and Spirituality at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, will deliver a talk on historical precedents of Jewish spiritual searching, followed by presentations on contemporary responses by Rabbi Nancy Fuchs-Kreimer, Rabbi Yael Levy and Kohenet Shoshana Bricklin. In addition to plenty of time for questions and answers as a full group, each of our four guest speakers will lead smaller group discussions about their areas of special interest.

The path of spiritual seeking taken by Rabbi Elisha ben Abuyah, protagonist of As a Driven Leaf by Milton Steinberg, our One Book Mishkan this year, is just one example of Jews developing new religious beliefs and practices as the world changes around them. Professor Staub will address this topic and provide numerous other examples from his area of expertise, the Middle Ages.

Our panelists will share their experiences about how we continue to broaden and deepen our religious experience of Judaism, in consonance with our history.

This afternoon of scholarship, discussion, reflection and refreshments (of course) is open to

the public. We encourage you to invite friends, family and colleagues to join us for this very special program.