SPI

Subject

SPI

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

ajr.edu

Subject

SPI

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

ajr.edu

Subject

SPI

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

ajr.edu

Rabbi Jill Hammer, PhD In Genesis and Psalms, there’s She’ol. In the Talmud, there’s resurrection, the Garden of Eden, or the heavenly yeshiva . In kabbalistic times, reincarnation is in. And in modern times, no one agrees. In this course, we’ll learn about traditions of the afterlife that Jews have accepted in different eras, and we’ll begin to understand how and why Jews have shifted their beliefs across time. This class will help prepare participants to understand Jewish traditions concerning death and the afterlife, clarify their own approaches, and consider pastoral and ritual issues in the light of these traditions. This course will count as a Spirituality elective or a general elective. last offered Fall 2022 Required textbooks: Gillman, Neil, The Death of Death: Resurrection and Immortality in Jewish Thought. ISBN: 1580230814 Amazon $15.08 Raphael, Simcha Paull, Jewish Views of the Afterlife ISBN: 1538103451 Amazon $46.06

Subject

SPI

Credits (min)

2

Credits (max)

2

Credit unit

credits

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

ajr.edu

Rabbi Jill Hammer, PhD From Genesis to the Talmud, from the Zohar to folklore, Jews have used dreams as a means of self-understanding and a vehicle for divine revelation. This class will have two components: first, we will read and analyze a variety of Jewish texts, rituals, and prayers on dreaming to understand the role of dreaming in Jewish practice. We’ll also consider several contemporary Jewish dream practices. Second, we will work with our own dreams to understand dreamwork as a spiritual practice and as a pastoral resource. We will discuss and practice Jewish rituals related to dreaming, and hold dream circles to mine our own dreams for wisdom and spiritual growth. Students should bring a dream journal with at least four or five recorded dreams to the first session last offered Fall 2023 Required textbooks: Hammer, Rabbi Jill, Undertorah: An Earth-Based Kabbalah of Dreams ISBN: 1532362005 Amazon $20.82 Ner-David, Haviva, Dreaming Against the Current A Rabbi’s Soul Journey ISBN: 1949290751 Amazon $16.69 Kamenetz, Rodger The History of Last Night’s Dream: Discovering the Hidden Path to the Soul ISBN: 0061237942 Amazon; $11.81

Subject

SPI

Credits (min)

2

Credits (max)

2

Credit unit

credits

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

ajr.edu

Rabbi Jill Hammer, PhD The Architecture of Ritual is a course that allows Jewish leaders to consciously explore, from a scholarly and experiential perspective, what ritual is, what ritual does within the life of individuals and communities, what a clergyperson’s role is in creating and performing ritual, and how ritual can be effective in the lives of modern Jews. The course will cover ritual as a phenomenon (what it is, why it exists, how it is structured) as well as explore individual ritual topics with an eye toward determining how ritual works, clarifying ritual structures, practicing ritual innovation, and considering the function of clergy as ritual leaders. Last offered Spring 2025 Required Textbooks: Bell, Catherine. Ritual: Perspectives and Dimensions., ISBN: 0199735107, Amazon $45.99 Hoffman, Lawrence. The Art of Public Prayer. ISBN: 1893361063, Amazon $13.53 Schildkret, Day. Hello, Goodbye: 75 Rituals for Times of Loss, Celebration, and Change, p. 1-6. , ISBN: 1982170948, Amazon $17.68 Suggested Reading: Driver, Tom. Liberating Rites: Understanding the Transformative Power of Ritual. ISBN: 0367160323, Amazon $43.99 Fall 2025 | 5786

Subject

SPI

Credits (min)

2

Credits (max)

2

Credit unit

credits

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

ajr.edu

Rabbis Rachel Barenblat and David Markus Rapid sociological and technological (r)evolutions mean that “doing Jewish” digitally is probably here to stay in some form. What spiritual (r)evolutions should follow suit, and how can spiritual leaders most skillfully nourish and respond to them? Topics will include ritual theory and innovation in digital contexts, emerging halakhot and minhagim of digital community, visuality’s gifts and challenges in digital spaces, best practices for psycho-spiritual depth in digital and hybrid contexts, and specific applications for teaching, Shabbat, haggim, conversion, and lifecycle events. Participants will be asked to contribute actively, creatively and skillfully to this rapidly developing new frontier of Jewish spiritual and community life. This course w Spring 2021

Subject

SPI

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

ajr.edu

Subject

SPI

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

ajr.edu

Rabbi Jeff Hoffman, DHL This course will engage the arts as tools to reveal interpretations of sacred text that go beyond explanations available through conventional approaches such as written commentaries. The visual arts including oil pastels and watercolor paints; creative writing including poetry and short story or a short script for a play; and music; will be utilized in a deep encounter with Jewish text from the Bible to the modern period. Students will be challenged to not only apply the arts to reveal midrashic (associative) interpretations as is often the goal in an artistic beit midrash , but also peshat (contextual) interpretations. Required textbooks and Materials: Jewish Publication Society, JPS Hebrew-English Tanakh ISBN: 0827607660 Amazon $19.69 Various primary sources, articles and excerpts from books on Populi. Any required article or excerpt mentioned in the syllabus will be found on Populi The projects for this class will require the following art supplies. For each one, I have provided a link to an inexpensive version on Amazon but similar materials are also acceptable. A set of oil pastels. Recommended: Oil Pastels by Artist’s Loft - A set of 36 available on Amazon for $16.98. Oil pastels can be thought of as sophisticated crayons or crayons for grownups. Link to Amazon here . Watercolor Paints & Brushes Set with Palette. Recommended: Watercolor Paint with 48 colors, three brushes and detachable palette. $8.99. Link to Amazon here. Watercolor/Oil Pastel Paper Pad. Recommended: Hapikalor 9” x 12”, 140 lb. cold pressed paper pad of 20 sheets. $8.99. Link to Amazon here. Summer 2025 | 5785

Subject

SPI

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

ajr.edu

Subject

SPI

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

ajr.edu