THURSDAY: Philip Roth mini-course starts (FREE)
plus today: Judaism 101 early-bird deadline (save $30)
THURSDAY September 3 marks the start of a three-week Jewish Culture 101 mini-course discussing three delightful Philip Roth short stories exploring Jewish identity:
• The first class (September 3) looks at “Defender of the Faith,” in which an upstart Jewish private forces his assimilated sergeant to face the conflicts inherent in being an American, a Jew, and a soldier.
• The following Thursday (September 10), we’ll examine “Eli, the Fanatic,” which tells of an acculturated Jewish lawyer, Eli Peck, who when charged with expelling a “fanatical” Hasidic yeshiva that has moved into his suburban community, begins to wonder who, exactly, is the fanatic.
• We’ll take a week off for a September 17 pre-Rosh Hashana Debbie Friedman 101 class, and
• we’ll finish up the three-part Roth series on September 24 with my favorite short story of any kind ever, “The Conversion of the Jews.” That gorgeously written and richly evocative tale shows Ozzie, a bar mitzvah boy whose rabbi cannot answer challenges to his theology, respond by forcing the rabbi to adopt Christianity. It’s delightful.
Today, September 1, is the LAST day for the early-bird rate of $95 for Judaism 101, an eight-week overview that meets every Wednesday at Noon EDT starting October 7. (Regular tuition is $125.)
Judaism 101 explores Jewish history, life cycle, calendar, Israel, values, Hebrew, theology, Bible, and the Jewish home. All are welcome: Jews with no background; Jews with minimal or moderate Jewish educations; and non-Jews. Limited to 40 participants. Register: bitly.com/Benkof101
PLEASE NOTE: As before, my Jewish Culture 101 classes on Mondays and Thursdays are free to all with no expectation of payment. However, if you’re enjoying the classes and can pay the $6 tuition, please consider doing so.
Here’s the upcoming calendar, with links:
Thursday, September 3 Philip Roth’s “Defender of the Faith”
Monday, September 7 Schoolhouse Rock-y (Lynn Ahrens songs)
Thursday, September 10 Philip Roth’s “Eli, the Fanatic”
Monday, September 14 The Holocaust and American Jewish Culture
Thursday, September 17 Debbie Friedman 101
Monday, September 21 Arthur Miller 101
Thursday, September 24 Philip Roth’s “The Conversion of the Jews”
Wednesday, October 7 Judaism 101 starts