YEAR-ROUND WEEKLY LEARNING

Queer Love, Adventurous Sex...and Just Sex and Love in General: A Queer Take on Romance and Relationships in the Talmud

Besides the fact that the Rabbis of the Talmud were "queer" (you'll have to come to SVARA to find out what we mean by this), yes, they also thought about, discussed, and recorded for us what they had to say about queer relationships. They recorded (with amazing empathy) stories of their fellow Rabbis who were in love with one another as well as stories of fellow Rabbis whose wives and daughters were in love with one another (recorded with much less empathy, unfortunately). Come learn some queer, new - and not-so-new - takes on some very old, but very exciting, texts.

SVARA’s year-round weekly learning program is for serious learners who want to incorporate Talmud study into their lives as a spiritual practice. Each session begins with two hours of chevruta learning in the bet midrash, followed by two hours of shiur (lecture and discussion). Students are expected to devote another two hours per week to their learning outside of class.

While all texts are studied in the original Hebrew/Aramaic from the Vilna Shas, no prior text experience is necessary. The ability to sound out Hebrew characters (without comprehension) and know the Hebrew alphabet are minimum prerequisites, although students with more Hebrew skills will be able to advance more quickly. Students in the year-round weekly program are expected to make a serious commitment to their learning. The level of instruction is comparable to a first-year rabbinical school Talmud course.

Buy your bagels and lox at the Whole Foods through the lobby, and bring them with you upstairs to the Bet Midrash. Chevruta (paired study) from 9:00 am – 11:00 am. Shiur (lecture and discussion) from 11:00 am – 1:00 pm.

TWO CLASS OPTIONS!

Fridays, 10:30am-12:30pm, beginning March 18, 2011
Location: Skokie TBD
Spring Trimester Tuition: $400

- OR -

Sundays, 9:00am-1:00pm, beginning March 13, 2011
Location: Center on Halsted, 3656 N Halsted in Chicago
Spring Trimester Tuition: $400

For more information and an application, please contact SVARA at info@svara.org.

EVENING COURSES

SVARA's Bet Midrash at Anshe Emet (aka “Gourmet Talmud”)

SVARA now offers a multi-level, drop-in bet midrash every Wednesday evening. Sign up for the entire semester or drop in whenever you're able. Students will learn b'chevruta (with partners) during the first half of each class. Shiur (discussion) will follow during the second half. We learn a different text each week and no outside-of class chevruta work is required. Beginners who can just sound out the Hebrew letters learn the same text, in the same room, as advanced yeshiva-bochurs who will be learning that very text, but with commentaries and codes. SVARA's drop-in bet midrash meets at Anshe Emet Synagogue in Lakeview. Take advantage of the option to enjoy a gourmet kosher dinner while you're learning, catered by fellow SVARA-nik and renowned chef Laura Frankel.

Wednesdays, 7:00-9:00pm
Tuition: $20/class for drop-in students, $10/class if you sign up for all 10 classes. Small extra charge for dinner (RSVP in advance).
Location: Anshe Emet, 3751 N Broadway in Chicago.

For more information, and to register, contact SVARA at info@svara.org.

TEEN SVARA

Teen SVARA, now in its sixth year, is both serious in its approach to text study and casual and informal in its overall feel. A safe and fun environment is balanced with a rigorous encounter with text, the acquisition of Talmud study skills and the development of insight into the very sophisticated Rabbinic tradition. There is a sense of community among the students and Rabbi Lappe that is both warm and open. SVARA students have a feeling of being in something of a special club—one that is intellectual, spiritual, and social all at the same time.

Each session begins with "check-in's," during which time the students catch one another up on what has happened in their lives since the previous session, sometimes bringing in ethical dilemmas from their everyday lives, or just things they've been thinking about. The students are prepped for the day's text by being introduced to the broad issues the text will address, as well as any particularly difficult vocabulary or halachic concepts in the text. They then prepare the text in chevruta (pairs of two), after which we come together as a group to "unpack" the text, paying close attention to technical terms, grammar, vocabulary, etc., and then addressing the deeper meanings of the text. The "unpacking" inevitably leads to a freewheeling discussion that goes beyond the boundaries of the text and into issues in the students' real lives, beliefs, philosophy, etc.

Teen SVARA meets weekly and is open to 8th-12th graders, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. No student is ever asked to identify their sexual orientation and, like all SVARA students, are referred to by the pronoun of their choice.

Teen SVARA will be accepting new students for the Spring 2011 term, which begins Tuesday, February 22nd.

Tuesdays, 7:30-9:00pm
Location: Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation, 303 Dodge Ave in Evanston