Passion for Learning.
Next Beit Virtuali Online Education Opportunity . . .
(All Beit Virtuali members have exclusive access to the complete online catalog of past classes.)
Previous Classes: All Beit Virtuali Members gain access to all recordings of previous classes
Can I lie to save face? To protect feelings? To make a graceful exit? To destroy my enemy? Since the Torah does NOT say "Thou Shalt Not Lie," what does Jewish tradition actually teach?
One Class: April 10, 2022. 6 PM CET, 9 AM PT
All Beit Virtuali members have access to all classes.
Extended!
How in the world can we understand angels, especially the huge roll they place in High Holy Days liturgy, in a late modern world? For two weeks leading up to Rosh Hashana, let’s look at the words, music, and potential meanings that just might turn out to be unexpectedly transformative.
Dream and Nightmare Interpretation
:
From Jewish Sources
We know about Jacob’s ladder. We know about Joseph and Pharaoh. But does our tradition say anything about waking up in a cold sweat? Can Jewish texts help us navigate the frightening images from our unconscious, or should we just leave it all to Freud and avoid eating pizza with anchovies before bed?
What, Who, and Why were the Prophets? January 9, 16, and 23, 2022 9 am PST, 6 pm CET
IMPORTANT: As I work through German bureaucracy, the only current way that I can accept international payments is via Patreon, which is not really meant for classes or one-time services. If you would like to join the class, but are unable or do not wish to support Beit Vituali at this time as a member, the way into the class is to sign up for one month and then cancel. In the Patreon membership model, I will on an ongoing basis require membership at the 3rd Tier (Talmid Chacham) or higher to access adult ed. As Beit Virtuali is still at the very beginning, I will currently accept any membership tier for class access, but of course will need to throttle back as Beit Virtuali grows. (The current plan is to allow this through Feb.) It is never quite comfortable having this discussion at all, but there is a massive time commitment to prepare for such a class, and as I am now independent of a congregation, this is also about basic sustenance. Thank you all for understanding, and I look forward to seeing you in our next class.
Class 1 of 3: The class where we forget eveything we think we know about the prophets and prophecy. (Jan 9, 2022 @ 18:00 CET / 12:00 pm EDT / 9 am PDT)
Class 2 of 3: Meet the Prophetesses and Prophets! (Jan 16, 2022 @ 18:00 CET / 12:00 pm EDT / 9 am PDT)
Class 3 of 3: The evolution of the Prophetic message from Pre-Torah until “Today”? (Jan 23, 2022 @ 18:00 CET / 12:00 pm EDT / 9 am PDT)
TO SIGN UP: Please click on the button to become (even temporarily) a member of Beit Virtuali.
All Patreon Beit Virtuali Members will automatically receive the zoom link and passcode via Patreon and direct Email.
For a thousand years Judaism has rejected a God that has any human attributes. The Torah itself seems to suggest this far earlier, but yet is still filled with God walking, talking, and being referred to as He. We might intellectually be able to move past this, but in our hearts, how do we pray to a concept or a metaphor?
All Beit Virtuali members have access to all classes.
Online Adult Education: We will begin with seminar and multi-session classes before the High Holidays 2021. What we teach will be organically decided over time based on the interests of our growing community, but please take a moment to scroll down and vote for some of your interests.
Podcast: Day Drinking With The Rabbi. As questions arise each week as part of our classes, YouTube channel discussions, and email, items that can be best addressed in longform podcast discussion (with a little vodka thrown in) will be tackled with depth, humor, and no hangover. Stay tuned for links to subscribe via your favorite podcast provider. Day Drinking with the Rabbi will begin in Elul.
YouTube channel: There are so many people seeking for answers that are just not fully addressed in the way we want. Our current plan is to have three tracks on our channel: Judaism 101, Going Deeper, and our weekly podcasts. More tracks will be added as you begin to respond and let us know what you want to explore. Videos will be posted weekly starting in August, 2021.
Tell us what you want to learn
The core of Beit Virtuali is learning - not just what we learn but how we learn. We start with the proposition that Judaism is something that is relevant today and worth exploring.
Then, once we enter, we let our tradition spin forth and follow our questions wherever they need to go. We do not fit our discussions into a dogma. If the subjects that arise are difficult, we work through them.
If our own pain arises in our discussion, we give thanks that we have had the opportunity to elevate ourselves and each other. If disagreements arise, we embrace them and model for the world once again how we can disagree and become strong through our differences.