On Line Psalms class from Jerusalem

Below you will find a wonderful learning opportunity that is being offered by the Conservative Yeshiva in Jerusalem !




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The Conservative Yeshiva is pleased to announce an On-Line Tehillim (Psalms) Course beginning the week of February 10, 2008. The 14-week course will study one Psalm each week and continue through the end of May, 2007. The course is open to Yeshiva alumni, members of USCJ congregations, USCJ staff, and others who are interested in furthering their Jewish learning through study of Psalms.



Description: This course will study Psalms of daily Pesukei DeZimra and of Kabbalat Shabbat. The goal of the course is to develop skills for the study of Tehillim in Hebrew, to develop familiarity with Biblical poetry in general and with Psalms specifically. The course is designed to provide tools for Psalms and Tanach study in Hebrew, as well as expand students understanding of Psalms that are part of the daily and weekly tefillot (prayers).



Format of the course: This is an asynchronous class - the teacher will post materials each week for study in hevruta (or individually), as well as background material and questions. Students can log-on at any time and participate in online forums for discussion. The teacher will be a frequent contributor to the forums and will be available to answer questions. Students are expected to spend 1-2 hours per week in partner study and contributing to the online forums.



Study Materials: The study materials provided in the course serve as a guide to each individual Psalm. The materials include questions and insights regarding the background, setting, structure, language, poetics and spiritual meaning of each Psalm. The materials are designed for use with the Hebrew text of the Psalm, a Biblical lexicon and concordance. Additional explanation of the use of these tools as well as a bibliography will be provided.



In addition to working on their own with the Hebrew text, students will be encouraged to make use of traditional and modern commentaries in Hebrew or English (depending on each student’s Hebrew language skills). References to secondary source material will be provided for many of the Psalms studied.



Students of all Hebrew levels and Jewish learning backgrounds are welcome to join the class. The class will focus on Hebrew language skills and students are encouraged to make use of tools for improving Hebrew language throughout the course. Students should be self-motivated and willing to devote 1-2 hours per week to study. Hevruta study is strongly encouraged for all students including those with no prior experience in hevruta study!



Instructor: Rabbi Gail Diamond (RRC ’93) is the Assistant Director of the Conservative Yeshiva in Jerusalem , where she has taught Psalms since 2001. She also teaches for Project Oded, Bat Kol Institute, and the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College , and formerly taught at the Academy for Jewish Religion in New York . Gail served as a pulpit rabbi for seven years before making aliyah in 2001.



Tuition: $250. Since a goal of the class is Hevruta study, a 10% discount will be given to hevruta partners who sign up together for the class. Alumni of the Conservative Yeshiva receive an additional 10% tuition discount. Students from Asia, South Africa , Eastern Europe and other developing nations will receive a 50% tuition discount.



Registration: To register for the class, alumni of the Conservative Yeshiva only click on the link below and answer the survey:



Here is the link to the survey

If the link above doesn't work, please copy the URL below and paste it into your browser

https://uscjisrael.researchsuccess.com/programs/Survey.asp?nSurvey=94&SurveyeeID=6442

If you are not a Yeshiva alum, please click on the link to the Conservative Yeshiva on-line registration system, https://uscjisrael.researchsuccess.com/ and choose “on-line learning spring 08” for your choice of program. Follow the instructions for completing the on-line application.

Please share this announcement! Additional on-line courses are planned to begin in February. If you have questions about the course or about on-line learning with the Conservative Yeshiva, please contact Rabbi Gail Diamond at yeshiva@uscj.org .



Conservative Yeshiva of United Synagogue

8 Agron Street, PO Box 7456

Jerusalem, Israel

011-972-2-622-3116

011-972-2-624-6473 (fax)

yeshiva@uscj.org

www.ConservativeYeshiva.org