Change Through Acceptance: The Chasidic Notion of Teshuvah
Thursdays, September 14-28, 2023, 7:00–8:15 pm & Friday, September 29, 2023, 4:30–5:30 pm
In Person (The Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan & Central Synagogue)
Instructor: Rabbi Michael Strassfeld
Location: The Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan (9/14, 9/21, 9/28) and Central Synagogue Pavilion (9/29)
Each year during the High Holidays, we engage in the challenging process of teshuvah, change or repentance. The rabbinic notion about teshuvah can be summed up as: “Just say no,” stopping ourselves when faced with the temptation to do something wrong. Chasidism suggests a different path, where we acknowledge our mistakes, accept the truth about ourselves, and work to be the person we deeply want to be. Rabbi Michael Strassfeld will lead us through select texts, in an exploration of the Chasidic notion of change. For all levels. No previous background or knowledge of Hebrew required.
This class is organized by the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan and co-sponsored by Central Synagogue. At registration, select "non-member" and use code TESHUVAHCS for a discounted rate ($36).
Rabbi Strassfeld will join Central participants for a fourth session before Shabbat services at Central, to discuss more deeply the ideas and questions raised in the three-part series. You won’t want to miss this special addition to the class: Friday, 29 September, 4:30-5:30pm in the Pavilion.
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Rabbi Michael Strassfeld's new book, Judaism Disrupted: A Spiritual Manifesto for the 21st Century, re-envisions Judaism for the contemporary moment. He is rabbi emeritus of the Society for the Advancement of Judaism. This year also marks the fiftieth anniversary of the publication of his best-selling book, The Jewish Catalog.