Discontinuity Web.png
Lex Rofeberg headshot 1 - square - Lex Rofeberg.png
Discontinuity Web.png
Lex Rofeberg headshot 1 - square - Lex Rofeberg.png

Jewish Discontinuity: The Ancient Tradition of Upending Jewish Tradition

from $239.00

with Lex Rofeberg
—
When
Starts October 21st
Wednesdays, 1:00-2:30 pm ET · 10:00-11:30 am PT
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The most ancient Jewish tradition is upending Jewish tradition. It is important that that sentence be the first sentence of this course – it will probably be the last as well.

The phrase “Jewish continuity” is used frequently today. When it is, it is often from the vantage point of those who believe Judaism has existed, in a relatively coherent (continuous) form, for thousands of years. It then becomes our responsibility, in the 21st century, to receive that relatively-continuous Judaism, preserve it, and pass it on to future generations of Jews.

Understanding Judaism as one ongoing tradition -- changing a bit over time but still “continuous” from Genesis (or Mount Sinai?) till today -- is an ideological and political choice. In ways we don't always notice, it has ramifications for how Jews think about, talk about, and live out their Jewish practice. In this course, we will explore whether that choice – sometimes consciously, and sometimes sub-consciously – sidelines every Jewish community of the past that didn’t “win” major debates about what Judaism should be. We will also consider how, for those striving to re-invent Jewish practice for our time, alternative frameworks could allow us to more deeply relate to the Jewish past, as we invent and re-invent Judaism today.

This course will embrace unlearning as much as learning – and there will be moments of confusion alongside moments of comfort. If you're looking to break open your assumptions of what Judaism has been -- and, perhaps more importantly, what it might yet be -- this is the course for you!
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This class will be recorded and available to enrolled students to watch later.

This class is not eligible for rabbinical school credit.

Cost

This course is available at a sliding scale cost of $359 (the true cost), $299 or $239.

If you can afford the full price, we hope you will choose that option, which allows us to continue to offer lower rates and scholarships to those who otherwise would not be able to access this learning because of financial barriers.

Click here to donate to JUs financial aid fund to support financial equity and access to education for all students.

If you need financial aid beyond the sliding scale, please fill out this form, and we will get right back to you.

Sliding Scale Prices:

with Lex Rofeberg
—
When
Starts October 21st
Wednesdays, 1:00-2:30 pm ET · 10:00-11:30 am PT
—

The most ancient Jewish tradition is upending Jewish tradition. It is important that that sentence be the first sentence of this course – it will probably be the last as well.

The phrase “Jewish continuity” is used frequently today. When it is, it is often from the vantage point of those who believe Judaism has existed, in a relatively coherent (continuous) form, for thousands of years. It then becomes our responsibility, in the 21st century, to receive that relatively-continuous Judaism, preserve it, and pass it on to future generations of Jews.

Understanding Judaism as one ongoing tradition -- changing a bit over time but still “continuous” from Genesis (or Mount Sinai?) till today -- is an ideological and political choice. In ways we don't always notice, it has ramifications for how Jews think about, talk about, and live out their Jewish practice. In this course, we will explore whether that choice – sometimes consciously, and sometimes sub-consciously – sidelines every Jewish community of the past that didn’t “win” major debates about what Judaism should be. We will also consider how, for those striving to re-invent Jewish practice for our time, alternative frameworks could allow us to more deeply relate to the Jewish past, as we invent and re-invent Judaism today.

This course will embrace unlearning as much as learning – and there will be moments of confusion alongside moments of comfort. If you're looking to break open your assumptions of what Judaism has been -- and, perhaps more importantly, what it might yet be -- this is the course for you!
—
This class will be recorded and available to enrolled students to watch later.

This class is not eligible for rabbinical school credit.

Cost

This course is available at a sliding scale cost of $359 (the true cost), $299 or $239.

If you can afford the full price, we hope you will choose that option, which allows us to continue to offer lower rates and scholarships to those who otherwise would not be able to access this learning because of financial barriers.

Click here to donate to JUs financial aid fund to support financial equity and access to education for all students.

If you need financial aid beyond the sliding scale, please fill out this form, and we will get right back to you.

About Lex

Lex (he/him), in his role as Senior Jewish Educator of Judaism Unbound, co-hosts and produces its weekly podcast, facilitates many of its live digital events, and oversees the UnYeshiva: a digital center for Jewish learning and unlearning.

He graduated from Brown University with a degree in Judaic Studies, and was ordained as a rabbi in by ALEPH: The Jewish Renewal Movement. You didn’t ask, but he would like you to know that his rabbinic-ordination speech looked at OutKast’s song “Hey Ya” through the lens of Jewish numerology.

A native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Lex lived for two years in Jackson, Mississippi — working for the Institute of Southern Jewish Life — and he currently lives in Providence, Rhode Island, with his wife Valerie. He serves on advisory boards, or boards of directors for The Shalom Center, Tikkun Olam Productions, and Mitzvah Matzos.

One of Lex's favorite spiritual practices is singing and playing piano at the Providence airport baggage claim, every Tuesday evening. Contact Lex via Lex@JudaismUnbound.com with any questions about this course!