Judaism of the Heart: An Introduction to Hasidic Thought

Dates: Tuesdays — November 10, December 1, January 19, February 9, March 2, April 6, May 4
Time: 7:00 – 8:15 pm
Mode: In-Person (with Zoom possible, if needed)
Faculty: Rabbi Nathan Kamesar
Fee: $18 for Society Hill Synagogue Members • $108 for the General Public

What would it mean not only to practice Judaism, but to be deeply moved by it?

In this seven-session course, we will explore some of the central ideas of Hasidic thought: the presence of God in everyday life, the search for spiritual attachment, the power of prayer, the role of joy and sadness, the struggle with failure, and the possibility of transforming ordinary experience into sacred service.

Using carefully selected texts from Norman Lamm’s The Religious Thought of Hasidism, we will study these teachings together in class and consider both their original meaning and their relevance for contemporary Jewish life. No prior knowledge of Hasidism or advance reading is required — only curiosity about the inner life of Judaism and the ways Jewish tradition can speak to the heart as well as the mind.