Hannukah is the most celebrated Jewish holiday in America today — but for many, the deeper significance is lost under piles of dreidels, gifts and latkes. To help rediscover the meaning of this ancient tradition, Harford Chabad will host a Pre-Hanukkah class Nov. 27.
The class is a comprehensive examination of the historical Jewish responses to discrimination and persecution. It surveys those communities who chose to assimilate into the wider society, and those that chose instead to shut the doors of the ghetto and recede into their own insular world. By integrating the underlying beliefs that compelled these courses of actions, the class seeks to open a third, better alternative.
The class will be Nov. 27, at 7:30 p.m. and held at 1543 Redfield Rd. Bel Air, and includes a PowerPoint presentation and text handouts, though it is free. Students are encouraged to call Chabad of Harford County at 443-353-9718 or email Rabbi@HarfordChabad.org to RSVP. Reservations can also be made on Chabad's Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/HarfordChabad/events
This class presents the fundamentals of Judaism and students will have the opportunity to encounter classic primary texts and engage in open discussions.
"This class is truly novel in the way it probes the depths of classic Jewish thought to address an issue we all face in contemporary Jewish life," Rabbi Kushi Schusterman, the class instructor, said in a press release. "I am looking forward to the great discussions that these texts will generate. The dialogue among participants is often my favorite part of the class."
"Whether you consider yourself Reform, Conservative, Orthodox or unaffiliated, this class will enhance your holiday no matter your level of observance" Rabbi Schusterman said.