Thursdays, 5 PM, 7 East 10th betw 5th Ave and University

http://www.nyu.edu/bronfman/new/?page=learningfellowship

7 East 10th Street
New York, NY 10003 
(between 5th Avenue and University Place).
Thursdays
5th Floor
5:00-7:30pm

Judaism & The Arts

This course is designed to help artists and those interested in art discover the depth and creativity of their Jewish tradition in the terms they find inspiring and meaningful:

What are the Jewish approaches to individuality, creativity, and uniqueness?
Is it true that Judaism is “anti-art”?

Is there such thing as Jewish art or Jewish aesthetics?
What does the art world have to teach Judaism?

Educational Goals and Syllabus

Goals: 

To develop a deeper understanding of artistic values embedded within the Jewish tradition.
Background:

The stereotype of the artless Jew contradicts the fact that Jews have always been ambitiously engaged in virtually every form of creating. Aside from the easily identifiable Jewish artistic objects, it is important to explore how the underlying values of uniqueness, individuality, spontaneity, movement, and expression become articulated within Jewish wisdom, ritual and practice.
A Learning Community: 

Our study takes place within the context of a safe, open and non-judgmental environment. To foster this sense of community, our Program coordinator will plan a warm and exciting Shabbat event as well as a weekend retreat. 

Dates / Times: 

Judaism & The Arts will take place on Thursday evenings at the Bronfman Center, 5th Floor from 5:00-7:30pm. The exact dates can be found below:

1. September 18th, 2008 - Orientation

2. September 25th - “Judaism as an Art Form”

3. October 2nd - “Thou Shalt Not Create”

4. October 16th - “From Classical to Punk Rock: Judaism as Music”

5. October 23rd - “Writing the Next Chapter: Judaism as Literature”

6. October 30th - “Rabbis as Clowns: Judaism as Theater”

7. November 6th - “Seeing the Light: Judaism as Fine Art”

8. November 13th - “Art and Music in 21st Century American Religion”

9. November 20th - “Cultural Judaism and the Jew of Tomorrow”

10. December 4th - Final Reception. Details to follow.

Contact:

Melanie Meadows 
bronfman.center@nyu.edu
212.998.4123.

The program will run throughout the 2008 Fall semester. Selection is based on an applicant’s expressed desire to benefit personally and Jewishly from the program. 

The Fellowship is designed and led by Rabbi Yehuda Sarna of the Bronfman Center. The weekly sessions consist of:

(1) a dynamic, text-based lecture by Rabbi Sarna 
(2) light dinner, and 
(3) break-out groups where Fellows pursue a pre-selected topic of their interest with an educator.

Requirements:

The Fellowship stipend will be awarded upon fulfillment of the following requirements:

• Attendance at all 10 sessions
• Participation in a Shabbat seminar at a retreat center AND a Shabbat experience at NYU (which includes Friday night dinner and discussion, Saturday lunch and afternoon programming at the Rabbi's apartment)
• A mid-semester reflection paper and final project, where each student presents for 5-7 minutes on an idea they’ve learned over the course of the Fellowship to an intimate group of peers.