Sh'ma » Discussion Guide

Sh'ma » Discussion Guide http://www.shma.com A Journal of Jewish Ideas Mon, 06 Feb 2012 13:00:43 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 en hourly 1 Discussion Guide – Consumerism http://www.shma.com/2012/02/discussion-guide-consumerism/ http://www.shma.com/2012/02/discussion-guide-consumerism/#comments Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:10:45 +0000 admin http://www.shma.com/?p=4981 2. What is the changing relationship between production and consumption? Is the Jewish community — by way of independent minyanim and a host of other indie nonprofits — experiencing a blurring between those who “produce” Jewish experiences, learning, etc. and those who “consume” them?
3. What is the impact of the growing costs of “doing” or “consuming” Jewish — from synagogue membership to day school tuition? Are Jewish ritual practices being transformed by a consumer spirit?]]>

What are our moral obligations as consumers? For example, in a more globalized economy, how do we take into account the conditions of manufacturing what we buy? Are we, as individuals, what we own?

What is the changing relationship between production and consumption? Is the Jewish community — by way of independent minyanim and a host of other indie nonprofits — experiencing a blurring between those who “produce” Jewish experiences, learning, etc. and those who “consume” them?

What is the impact of the growing costs of “doing” or “consuming” Jewish — from synagogue membership to day school tuition? Are Jewish ritual practices being transformed by a consumer spirit?

]]> http://www.shma.com/2012/02/discussion-guide-consumerism/feed/ 1 Discussion Guide – The Jewish Electorate 2012 http://www.shma.com/2012/01/discussion-guide-the-jewish-electorate-2012/ http://www.shma.com/2012/01/discussion-guide-the-jewish-electorate-2012/#comments Mon, 02 Jan 2012 02:40:21 +0000 admin http://www.shma.com/?p=4850 2. What would you want to ask each presidential candidate?
3. Have Jews become more polarized as an electorate? Is there a “Jewish vote”? If so, is it more divided today into separate cohorts than in previous elections?
4. Is Judaism by nature “conservative” — that is, it conserves tradition? Or is it “liberal” — a tradition based on prophetic vision? Or both?
5. What role will jobs creation, the economy, and other domestic issues play in the election — and do your Jewish sensibilities influence your opinions on these issues?]]>

Is Israel being used in the election as a wedge issue? When did bipartisanship on Israel change?

What would you want to ask each presidential candidate?

Have Jews become more polarized as an electorate? Is there a “Jewish vote”? If so, is it more divided today into separate cohorts than in previous elections?

Is Judaism by nature “conservative” — that is, it conserves tradition? Or is it “liberal” — a tradition based on prophetic vision? Or both?

What role will jobs creation, the economy, and other domestic issues play in the election — and do your Jewish sensibilities influence your opinions on these issues?

]]> http://www.shma.com/2012/01/discussion-guide-the-jewish-electorate-2012/feed/ 0 Discussion Guide – Walking a Jewish Path http://www.shma.com/2011/12/discussion-guide-walking-a-jewish-path/ http://www.shma.com/2011/12/discussion-guide-walking-a-jewish-path/#comments Thu, 01 Dec 2011 05:01:14 +0000 admin http://www.shma.com/?p=4711 2. What might Jewish institutions do differently to be more inviting and welcoming to Jewish seekers?
3. Is a Judaism based on blood and inheritance racist?]]>

Did you take a circuitous path to Jewish practice? If so, where did it start and where did it lead you?

What might Jewish institutions do differently to be more inviting and welcoming to Jewish seekers?

Is a Judaism based on blood and inheritance racist?

]]> http://www.shma.com/2011/12/discussion-guide-walking-a-jewish-path/feed/ 0 Discussion Guide – Jews & United Nations http://www.shma.com/2011/11/discussion-guide-jews-united-nations/ http://www.shma.com/2011/11/discussion-guide-jews-united-nations/#comments Tue, 01 Nov 2011 04:15:38 +0000 admin http://www.shma.com/?p=4435 2. Should Israel care about what happens at the United Nations?
3. Do you think the Arab states will ever accept a Jewish state in the Middle East?
4. How might the Israeli leadership move forward toward a two state solution with Palestine? If so, how?
5. Why is attention — good or bad — disproportionately focused on Israel? Is Israel held accountable to a different, higher standard?
6. How has the U.N. vote influenced the position, or status of the United States in the Middle East and as a global leader?]]>

Is it legitimate to draw parallels between the U.N. recognizing the State of Israel and a state of Palestine?
Should Israel care about what happens at the United Nations?
Do you think the Arab states will ever accept a Jewish state in the Middle East?
How might the Israeli leadership move forward toward a two state solution with Palestine? If so, how?
Why is attention — good or bad — disproportionately focused on Israel? Is Israel held accountable to a different, higher standard?
How has the U.N. vote influenced the position, or status of the United States in the Middle East and as a global leader?

]]> http://www.shma.com/2011/11/discussion-guide-jews-united-nations/feed/ 0 Discussion Guide – Tzedakah http://www.shma.com/2011/10/discussion-guide-tzedakah/ http://www.shma.com/2011/10/discussion-guide-tzedakah/#comments Mon, 03 Oct 2011 03:04:16 +0000 admin http://www.shma.com/?p=4271

What are our obligations to and how do we prioritize the needs of Jews and non-Jews in our tzedakah?

Should tax laws distinguish charitable organizations that address poverty and disaster relief from those that support cultural or educational programs?

Can giving time or service be counted as part of our tzedakah?

At a moment of financial vulnerability, how do we balance the need to fund basic services vs. funding innovative visionary projects?

]]> http://www.shma.com/2011/10/discussion-guide-tzedakah/feed/ 0 Discussion Guide – The Akedah http://www.shma.com/2011/09/discussion-guide-the-akedah/ http://www.shma.com/2011/09/discussion-guide-the-akedah/#comments Thu, 01 Sep 2011 04:30:25 +0000 admin http://www.shma.com/?p=3906

Why did Abraham argue with God at Sodom but not argue when told to sacrifice his son?

Why would God ask Abraham to sacrifice his son? Was the binding of Isaac a test of Abraham?

How do you reconcile morally challenging religious texts with continued reverence for tradition and Torah?

What does it mean to you to say, “Hineini, Here I am”?

]]> http://www.shma.com/2011/09/discussion-guide-the-akedah/feed/ 0 Discussion Guide – Health, Healing, Hope http://www.shma.com/2011/06/discussion-guide-health-healing-hope/ http://www.shma.com/2011/06/discussion-guide-health-healing-hope/#comments Wed, 01 Jun 2011 22:23:51 +0000 admin http://www.shma.com/?p=3612

Are there connections between belief, spirituality, physical health and mental health, and, if so, what are they?

What is your vision for a community-based multifaceted program in healing and health? That is, how might our institutions — both teaching and communal membership organizations — be transformed to offer healthier, more vibrant opportunities to address illness, suffering, health, death, etc.?

Are healing circles helpful? How so? What role does the Misheberach prayer serve? Does it add to the healing of the individual? Is it recited for the benefit of the person praying?

What are the legitimate expectations of our communal leaders who serve people facing illness and loss?

What roles do the cultural and expressive arts — music, painting, dance, etc. — play in the process of health and healing?

]]> http://www.shma.com/2011/06/discussion-guide-health-healing-hope/feed/ 0 Discussion Guide – Israel’s History http://www.shma.com/2011/05/discussion-guide-israels-history/ http://www.shma.com/2011/05/discussion-guide-israels-history/#comments Tue, 03 May 2011 01:13:19 +0000 admin http://www.shma.com/?p=3549

What roles do historical myths play in building a nation’s narrative?

How might we think critically about history while also honoring the stories that have come to define who we are?

The year 1948 is a pivotal one in Jewish history. How has your understanding of it deepened over the past years?

How might we revitalize the celebration of Yom Ha’atzmaut?

]]> http://www.shma.com/2011/05/discussion-guide-israels-history/feed/ 0 Discussion Guide – Metaphor http://www.shma.com/2011/04/discussion-guide-%e2%80%93-metaphor/ http://www.shma.com/2011/04/discussion-guide-%e2%80%93-metaphor/#comments Fri, 01 Apr 2011 21:10:17 +0000 admin http://www.shma.com/?p=3407

God as warrior, God as midwife. What role does metaphor play in understanding and deepening our reading of biblical narrative, our relationship to God?

In what ways does a prayer book acknowledge the various ways we come to know God? How is metaphor a gateway into prayer? Does it open or close a path to a personal God?

Are words “incidental” to prayer?

What assumptions do you bring to your encounters with text? How are those assumptions complicated by your secular experiences?

]]> http://www.shma.com/2011/04/discussion-guide-%e2%80%93-metaphor/feed/ 0 Discussion Guide – Jewish Identity http://www.shma.com/2011/03/discussion-guide-jewish-identity/ http://www.shma.com/2011/03/discussion-guide-jewish-identity/#comments Tue, 01 Mar 2011 12:07:47 +0000 admin http://www.shma.com/?p=3231

What does “Jewish” look like, and how do our own stereotypes limit our openness to and welcoming of a wider array of Jews?
How does a post-ethnic America — with an African-American president — influence Jewish identity?
What should joining the Jewish people require? How does one become Jewish?
Is accepting post-ethnic Judaism surrendering to assimilation and eventually to the demise of American Judaism?
What role do ideas such as “peoplehood” or “descent” play in the debates about Jewish identity?

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