Congregation B’nai Israel and the CBI Enrichment Fund Present
Shabbaton with Scholar-In-Residence Judy Klitsner
Friday, March 9th
6:00 pm Services led by Carl Cedar
7:00 pm Shabbat Dinner
8:00 pm Lecture
When Leaders Cross Lines
From Judah and Tamar to David and Batsheba: The Dangers of Charismatic Leadership
How does a religious leader descend into predatory behavior? We compare two biblical stories of leadership gone awry: those of Judah and Tamar and of David and Batsheva. We will note the remarkable similarities between the stories, as well as the chilling patterns presented by, and reiterated in, the Bible.
Saturday, March 10th
9:30 am Services
Noon Kiddush Luncheon
1:00 pm Lecture
When Bad Things Happen to Good Biblical Characters:
The Opposing Cases of Abraham and Job
How could God command Abraham, even temporarily, to sacrifice his son, and expect him to silently accept the horrific decree? See how the book of Job questions the philosophical assumptions– and dramatically overturns the conclusions– of the story of the Akeda. Discover the relevance of both of these biblical stories to deep, ongoing questions of unjust suffering in the world.
$30/Adult, $15/Child (3-12 yrs)
includes all meals and lectures
$5 discount/person for RSVP by March 5th (extended until March 6th!)
No charge for 5778 CBI Enrichment Fund Annual Patrons
Judy Klitsner is a senior lecturer at the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies, where she has been teaching Bible and biblical exegesis for more than two decades. A disciple of the great Torah teacher Nechama Leibowitz, Judy has had a profound impact on a generation of students, of whom many now serve as teachers and heads of Jewish studies programs in the US, the UK and Israel. In her teaching and in her writing, Judy weaves together traditional exegesis, modern scholarship and her own original interpretations that are informed by close readings of the biblical text. She lectures and holds a visiting lectureship at the London School of Jewish Studies. Judy’s teaching style is lively, interactive and text-based, and she is particularly fond of uncovering the “vibrant conversation” that takes place between the Bible’s parallel stories. Judy Klitsner is the author of Subversive Sequels in the Bible: How Biblical Stories Mine and Undermine Each Other (Jewish Publication Society, paperback by Koren Publishers). The book received a 2009 National Jewish book award.