Tuesdays, April 6, 13 & 20
7:00-9:00 PM on Zoom
Laynie Soloman, SVARA
** Registration is now closed. To learn about more opportunities to learn with SVARA, write to beitmidrash@germantownjewishcentre.org.
SVARA Faculty Member Laynie Soloman will teach a 3-session online bet midrash where will we will dig into SVARA’s traditionally radical approach to Talmud learning, all in a queer, radically inclusive learning space. All you need is the ability to sound out the alef-bet and we’ll have you learning in the original in no time!
The first of the three sessions will include the CRASH talk. In this introductory talk, SVARA faculty lay out our philosophy of the Talmud and the rabbinic revolution that gave rise to it–along with important vocabulary and concepts for anyone learning Jewish texts. We will explain where the Talmud came from, why it was written, what its purpose is, and why the study of it has been so important for Judaism and the formation of the Jewish mind. This lecture is both an overview of the ultimate goals of the Jewish enterprise, as well as a crash course in halachic (Jewish legal) jurisprudence. Beyond its application to Judaism, the CRASH Theory is a simple but elegant model of how all change happens—whether societal, religious, organizational, or personal. Originally conceived to explain the history of disruptive innovation within Judaism, it has proven helpful to many in understanding and navigating moments of disruptive change in their own lives. Join us for the CRASH talk and a dive into the SVARA method of learning Talmud.
Laynie is a passionate teacher of Jewish text, thought, and tradition, they believe deeply in the power of Talmud study as a healing and liberatory spiritual practice. They have spent several years learning and teaching in various batei midrash (homes for Jewish learning) including at Hadar, an egalitarian yeshiva in New York City, where they currently serve as an adjunct faculty member. Laynie is completing a Dual M.A. in Talmud/Rabbinic Literature & Jewish Education from the Jewish Theological Seminary, and holds a B.A. in Religious Studies from Goucher College. They love facilitating experiences of Jewish learning that uplift the piously irreverent, queer, and subversive spirit of rabbinic text and theology, and they have taught and lectured on these topics in various community spaces, campuses, and in academic settings. When not in shul or learning Talmud, you can find Laynie reading about liberation theology, collecting comic books, and singing niggunim.
Register Now!
This class is offered as part of our Open Beit Midrash (Open House of Learning) series, which provides our community with a steady stream of learning opportunities that stir our hearts, ignite our minds, and inspire connections among one another. Our study is rooted in Jewish text and carried out through hevrutah (partnered) learning.
From November 10, 2020-May 11, 2021, we will gather every Tuesday night for learning. Each class in the series meets for three consecutive weeks and is facilitated by a different teacher. All texts are provided in the original language and in English translation, giving each hevrutah (learning pair) the ability to move at their own level and pace. All sessions will meet on Zoom until further notice.
For a full list of courses offered and to register, click here.