Jewish Study at CSFA
Ongoing Jewish study—Torah, Talmud, Megillot, Hebrew language, the prayerbook, Torah and Haftarah trope, holidays and observances and more—has been part of Jewish life for centuries. The thirst for Jewish knowledge has sustained our people through good times and bad throughout history, offering a vital counterweight to the preoccupation with material concerns and secular desires as well as to the temptation to give in to despair at difficult junctures in life. Torah study is considered to be one of the most important things a Jewish person can do, since it leads to a greater desire to perform good deeds and grow as a human being in all areas of life.
At CSFA, we provide study opportunities designed to appeal as many members of our community as possible. Rabbi Gaffney teaches a weekly course focusing on a different topic each semester, and also conducts classes on Shabbat following services and Kiddush once a month; volunteer members teach courses Jewish reading and the 'Parashat ha'Shavuah' ('Portion of the Week') on a periodic basis; and we study Talmud on Thursday evenings in a group led by a seminary student. Throughout the year we also offer special workshops to familiarize ourselves with the special rituals associated with Jewish holidays; and don't miss the Brunch and Learn sessions which follow Sunday morning minyan services once or twice a month. These usually focus on current and seasonal events, especially our relationship with the State of Israel and with the larger American social and political scene.
Below are our current course offerings:
Rabbi Gaffney's class series, “A Window Into the Soul: The Short Stories of S. Y. Agnon,” continues. S.Y. Agnon is considered one of the greatest of modern Jewish writers. Winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature, Agnon’s stories embrace the last two centuries of tumultuous Jewish history. He captures the essence of the “wandering Jew” ... the ordinary “everyman” of the Polish shtetl; the assimilated Western European Jew as well as the pioneer who makes Israel his home. He explores the full range of human experience ... love stories; the conflict between men and women and between generations and accounts of modern alienation.
The sources for Agnon’s stories are often the Bible, the Talmud and classic Jewish literature as well as myth and folklore. Through his characters he conveys the enduring relevance and meaning of Judaism. Influenced by Franz Kafka and compared to James Joyce and William Faulkner, Agnon’s stories give the reader insight into the complex mind of the writer and his struggle to define and explore the human and the Jewish struggle.
We will examine stories such as “The Kerchief;” “The Tale of the Scribe;” “The Book That Was Lost;” “Agunot;” “The Fable of the Goat;” and “At the Outset of the Day;” among others. In the process, our discussions will foster an understanding of Agnon’s timeless themes relating to Judaism, the Jewish people, Jewish values and Israel.
CSFA's Talmud Study Circle Has Resumed! Led by Gabriel Greenberg, a senior student at the Chovivei Torah rabbinical seminary, we have begun our study of Tractate Yoma. The focus is on the laws and customs of Yom Kippur observance. Come join a convivial group whose insights and life experiences help to inform and enliven our study sessions together. No Hebrew knowledge required.
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