You Shall Be Holy: Practical Jewish Ethics

This nine-week course will explore practical ethics from a Jewish perspective. We’ll begin with the foundation of Jewish ethics, the injunction to love your neighbor as yourself. This ideal is tempered by a realistic view of human nature. Ethical topics include: judging others fairly; gratitude; repentance and forgiveness; the struggle to control anger, envy, hatred, and revenge; and fair speech, including lashon hara (evil tongue), criticism, and lies. We’ll conclude with a discussion of the role of God in ethics and the mitzvah (good deed) of Torah study, whose ultimate purpose is ethical action. Required text: A Code of Jewish Ethics, Volume 1: You Shall Be Holy by Rabbi Joseph Telushkin.

Thursdays, 6:30 – 8:30 PM, at First Parish United Church, 9 Cleaveland Street, Brunswick

9 sessions: October 19, 26; November 2, 9, 16, 30; December 7, 14, 21

Tuition: $170/JCA member, $185/General public

8 student minimum

Registration deadline: Wednesday, October 4

Class cancellation and refund policies

• JCA closures will be announced via WCSH, WGME, WMTW, and on www.mainejewish.org and the JCA’s voicemail at (207) 772-1959.
  Brunswick class follows Bath Iron Works 3^rd shift – call 442-3311 x2. Make up days may be scheduled where noted.
• A minimum number of students may be required for classes to be held. If a class is canceled due to insufficient enrollment, registered students will be notified and will receive a full refund or the opportunity to transfer to another class.
• Refunds are available through the first week of class minus a $25 processing fee, and then pro-rated for medical reasons only.
• If an instructor must cancel one session of a class, students will be notified and will receive a pro-rated refund for that session if no make up date can be scheduled.