Come for study, stay for dessert

Board of Rabbis invites community to learn together

“Two Jews, at least five opinions,” is the oft-repeated joke about the diversity of Jewish thought and belief on any given topic.  While some may bemoan such a lack of uniformity, others, including the Board of Rabbis of Greater Rhode Island, see this diversity as a source of strength and something to be shared and celebrated.

For this reason, the Board of Rabbis is holding to its second annual “Drash & Dessert” evening of study for the community on Feb. 7 at 7 p.m. at the Dwares JCC. The theme is “Elu v’Elu: Navigating Difference While Building Community.” The program begins with havdalah, features four learning sessions taught by pairs or trios of local rabbis and concludes with a dessert buffet.

“We are a very diverse community,” said Rabbi Elyse Wechterman, member of the Board of Rabbis and coordinator of the evening event.  “Often, it is hard for us to eat together or pray together, but we can always study together,” she said.  “The members of the Board of Rabbis enjoy learning together, and we want to bring that cross-fertilization and passion for learning to the entire community.”

The Hebrew phrase Elu v’Elu translates as “These and these” and refers to a Talmudic passage in which the opposing viewpoints of two rabbis are both considered holy, explained Wechterman. The entire quote reads “These and these are the words of the living God.”

The evening of study is designed to explore this theme.  Sessions will include “Is it better to be right or polite: a look at a playful but serious Talmudic text” with Rabbis Alan Flam, Wayne Franklin and James Rosenberg; “Heaven, Hell and the Afterlife” with Rabbis Andrew Klein and Alvan Kaunfer; “Being JewISH Today: the place of Jewish Particularism in a Universalist World” with Rabbis Michelle Dardashti, Marc Mandel and Sarah Mack; and “Meditations and Spiritual Practices with Rabbis Barry Dolinger, Mark Elber and Aaron Philmus.

There is no cost for this event and no prior Jewish knowledge is required. 

This program is a follow-up to last year’s successful Drash & Dessert, which also featured teachings by rabbis from different institutions and denominations throughout the region. This year’s event is co-sponsored by the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island and is supported by the Alliance’s William G. Braude fund, named for Rabbi William Braude, spiritual leader of Temple Beth-El in Providence from 1932-1987 and a strong advocate of Jewish learning and education.

For more information, please contact Larry Katz, director of Jewish Life and Learning at the Alliance, 401-421-4111, ext. 179 or lkatz@jewishallianceri.org.