Jewish Learning Institute (JLI)

Previous Courses
 

Nurturing Relationships: Jewish Wisdom for Building Deeper, Richer Connection in All Your Relationships

Relationships don’t just happen—they’re nurtured. This course empowers you to enhance, enrich, and nurture all your interpersonal relationships—at home, at work, and beyond. 

Explore classic Jewish texts to uncover knowledge and skills for practicing empathy, active listening, agreeable disagreement, interpersonal optimism, constructive criticism, and effective relationship repair. 

Decisions of Fate: Your Jewish Compass for Navigating Questions of Medical Ethics

Explore the guiding Jewish values that help inform choices on common medical questions. This course will equip students with the tools to chart a path through four areas of medical ethics: experimental treatments, extending life, pregnancy questions, and caring for a body. Gain an enriching perspective on how the Jewish

Advice for Life: The Lubavitcher Rebbe's Guidance for Leading a More Purposeful Life

The Lubavitcher Rebbe’s spiritual leadership is the force behind the modern Chabad movement.

Join this new multimedia course from the Rohr Jewish Learning Institute to journey through the Rebbe’s practical wisdom on work, family, health, and well-being. Discover how the Rebbe applied Jewish values to serve as a guide for finding deeper meaning in everyday life.

Experience the Rebbe’s exceptional approach to uncovering timeless meaning in everyday questions of health, work, family, fulfillment, struggle, and inner peace.
 

The World of Kabbalah: Revealing How Its Mystical Secrets Relate to You

Discover the core mystical and spiritual teachings of Kabbalah and their relevance to everyday life. You’ll learn to think like a Jewish mystic and gain powerful insights to fuel deeper self-understanding and personal growth. Curious why there’s so much buzz around Kabbalah? Discover it for yourself by attending The World of Kabbalah.
 

Jewpernatural: Signs, spirits and superstition in Jewish belief

As we understand the natural world better, we have only grown more fascinated by mysterious topics like the meaning of dreams; the existence of angels, demons, and extraterrestrials; and the power of the evil eye. With record interest inspiring curiosity, dread, and mockery, this course probes the Talmud, Jewish philosophy, and kabbalah to provide Jewish
perspectives and guidance for those curious about these perennial questions.
 

Course through Judaism's Most Important Titles, and the Authors Who Inscribed Them

A panoramic overview of 3000 years of Jewish learning, this course introduces you to the works that earned us the title "The People of The Book." 

You will experience the different genres that shape Jewish life, including Tanach, Midrash, Talmud, Halachah, Philosophy, Kabbalah, Musar, Chasidism, and meet the influential personalities who drove thirty centuries of Jewish scholarship.

Whether you're meeting these texts for the first time or as a seasoned scholar, this course will inform and enrich all your Jewish learning.

Nothing is off-limits as this refreshingly open course asks piercing questions about G‑d and delivers profound, insightful answers. An enlightening study into G‑d’s nature, G‑d’s goal for creation, human experiences of G‑d, the role of religion, and the function of miracles and prayer, this course promises to satisfy your questions, including those you didn't know you had.
 

Talmudic analysis and mind-bending logic have long been a hallmark of Jewish scholarship. But buried beneath much of the discussion and legalese are core Jewish values that fuel so much of the debate. This course examines a number of key legal issues that reveal fundamental ethical considerations that serve as the engine of Jewish civil law.
 

Meditation from Sinai: Mindful awareness and Divine spirituality to help you think, feel, and live more deeply.

Judaism places great emphasis on action. As a result, many Jews are unaware of another important facet of the Jewish tradition: deeply meaningful teachings about mindful awareness, spirituality, and meditative practices. This course advances the uniquely Jewish approaches to these fascinating topics. Whether you've practiced meditation before or not, this course will both inspire and practically guide so that you can reap the benefits of a more spiritual and mindful life

We cannot let antisemitism define our Judaism, but we cannot ignore it either. As direct memory of the Holocaust fades, Jews around the world are wondering whether the patterns of past centuries are returning, in both the Old and New Worlds, where Jews experience more hate crimes than any other group.

Are Jewish people doomed to be stuck in this cycle forever? Is there a way to escape this history of hate?

Outsmarting Antisemitism takes this dark subject on squarely, with a sense of unabashed optimism, profound faith, and a distinctly Jewish approach.

Through illuminating source texts and captivating case studies, this course considers the sources of this ancient scourge, along with the appropriate strategies for overcoming it. It’s time to find the confidence to fight hate with hope and to stand tall against antisemitism with positivity, purpose, and plenty of Jewish pride!

For thousands of years, the prophecies of a “messianic age” stretched the imaginations of even the most fervent believers.
Not anymore.
Instant media, mass social movements and a global pandemic have shown us how suddenly and radically the world can be rewired by the actions of a few.
Why not for the good?
Join us to demystify the Jewish idea of a perfect world and discover a practical path for reaching it in our lifetime.

Who hasn’t wondered what happens when we die? We know what happens to the body. But what happens to the soul at birth and again at death?

- Is there really a “better” place after this one?
- Do our loved ones continue to connect with us?
- Can I relate to an afterlife if I’m not spiritual?

At once practical and powerful, reflective and relatable, Journey of the Soul teaches a Jewish perspective on life that begins before birth and lasts well after a person’s passing.
It’s a journey we all take, and it’s yours to explore this winter.

A lush garden...a snake...forbidden fruit...temptation...the sin of knowledge...shame...mortality...
What is really going on?

Revisit six seemingly absurd stories you likely remember from Hebrew school. Uncover their hidden themes and eye-opening insights into the mysteries of life.
~ What is the deeper meaning behind these stories?
~ How did they shape the Jewish worldview?
~ What wisdom do they hold for you today?

By most indications, modern society is a model of moral progress. Yet when it comes to everyday values, we still grapple with the big ones…

   - What are our responsibilities toward the less fortunate?
   - How do we fashion a more moral and equal society?
   - How can we make a move toward more cohesive family living?

Join us to unpack six of the world’s most cherished values and how they were delivered to humankind by the Torah. By tracing their fascinating journey to the mainstream, we’ll discover a timeless core of purpose, integrity, and clarity in each value—a powerful gift of guidance as we navigate our own daily choices.
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We yearn to feel happy, self-assured, and enthusiastic, yet we’re consumed by feelings of doubt, regret, insecurity, and suffering. Do our delicate positive emotions have a fighting chance at being in control? This course explores negative emotions in a completely new light, offering spiritual mechanisms that allow us to remain upbeat no matter what life brings.

This six week course offers formulas to remain upbeat and happy despite hardships, feelings of guilt, or personal inadequacy. Based on the Chassidic teachings of the Book of Tanya, this course studies spiritual mechanisms that allow one to survive-and thrive- despite life’s difficulties.

Whether you’re seeking relief from stress; you’re hoping for focus, clarity, and connection to a raw and vulnerable place deep within you; or you just want to start each day from a positive, humble, and grateful frame of mind, this course is for you.

Jewish wisdom teaches profound techniques to give wings to our emotions and words to our yearnings, allowing us to make contact and communicate with something larger than ourselves and feel comfort and shelter within a reality that’s more whole, more intense, more real, and more beautiful.

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In Crime and Consequen

ce, we explore 3000 years of Jewish wisdom concerning criminal convictions, sentencing, crime prevention, and rehabilitation. We challenge our thinking, pondering the application of Talmudic principles to real and complex, modern-day cases, and we get to the heart of questions such as:

Should we consider testimonies given in exchange for a reduced sentence as reliable evidence?
What is the goal of punishing criminals? is it to gain retribution for the victim, keep criminals off the streets and safeguard from future crime, set an example and instill the fear of law, or to rehabilitate the criminal and reintroduce him to society?
Is life-without-parole a justifiable penalty? Is it within our right to sentence a man to death? When would these be warranted? Is there a better way?

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Most people, even the devout, struggle with beliefs about G‑d. It is easy, for example, to affirm the basic tenets of Judaism during a prayer service, but when it comes to trusting G‑d with our daily decisions, many share a secret, painful fear that G‑d isn’t really looking out for them. Many of us have been brought up under the assumption that mainstream science is incompatible with our Jewish faith. So when we see compelling evidence for biological evolution, for example, we feel forced to choose between science and our faith. Wrestling with Faith was created to tackle questions like these—the “big issues” that keep people from an intimate relationship with G‑d. The course acknowledges the often unspoken doubts and fears that all people share, and seizes their invitation for us to dig deeper for the answers.

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Is the world real? What is time? Where does our sense of self come from? Why does evil exist? If G‑d already knows what we will do tomorrow, is our "freedom of choice" nothing more than an illusion? Does the word "G‑d" actually mean something, or is it just a way of referring to whatever it is that we cannot explain? Imagine that we were able to rethink everything we know about the universe, the laws of nature, our own consciousness—even the very idea of existence and reality. Imagine the new insights we would gain, and the fresh perspective with which we would embark on the journey of life each morning. What Is? does exactly that. Drawing on the wisdom of Chasidic teaching, the most basic building blocks of existence are reexamined from the bottom up, revolutionizing our understanding of life, reality, and our place in the world. 

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In the era of social media, the value of healthy communication among family, members, and associates is widely appreciated, even as its form now undergoes a drastic shift. How do we find suitable paths for effective communication?  This course explores Jewish insights into forging positive, effective, and fruitful interactions.

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Debate is not only encouraged within Judaism but resides at the very heart of our history and theology. Great Debates in Jewish History explores six fundamental conflicts that pitted the greatest Jewish minds against each other—six instances of divergent perspectives, including several that are still debated today.

Discover stirring and surprising accounts that span two millennia of Jewish disputation, reflecting the panorama of Jewish history and its monumental political, ethical, and spiritual challenges. Encounter the gripping narratives of six fascinating eras, the intellectual tension and points of view they unearth, and the light they shed on the most fundamental of Jewish beliefs.

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One fateful week in June 1967 redrew the map of the Middle East.

Fifty years later, Israel continues to face numerous existential threats.

Experience an inspiring and thrilling account of what was then considered the most improbable and astonishing victory in all of military history.

Drawing on ideas of great Jewish writers and thinkers from throughout the ages, Survival of a Nation presents the Six-Day War as you’ve never experienced it before.

Its six sessions confront the impossible yet important questions of our time with affectionate and fervent patriotism, while also remaining realistic, and morally anchored.

This spellbinding course will sweep you up in its narrative force and abiding love for our nation’s history and the best of its traditions, and will not let go of you until it’s done.

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You’re programming the safety features of a self-driving car. Should you favor the life of the driver over that of a pedestrian? You stole and crashed a car, and, in the process, saved the life of the owner’s child. Are you liable to pay for damages? At a party you find a car-winning bottle top. Does the prize belong to you, or to the guy whose party you’re attending? In this course, you’re in the driver’s seat! Discuss and debate original Talmudic texts and formulate convincing arguments to solve these and other fascinating intellectual puzzles.

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There is no one magic pill or secret formula that will turn you into an overnight sensation; success is a product of who you are, what you believe, how you behave, and lots of hard work. Nobody can do the work for you, but Jewish wisdom and positive psychology have insights that will help you cultivate signature strengths, deal with weaknesses, and overcome the obstacles to your success.

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Tales of kings and conspirators, prophets and warriors, magic-makers and miracle-workers: This course analyzes some of the Bible’s most controversial episodes, uncovering powerful insights into the human spirit and man’s purpose on earth.

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It’s a good thing Jews like to ask questions, because there’s hardly a more effective way to learn than by asking a good question. From the profound to the almost profane, and everything in between, this course will address some of the most puzzling aspects of Jewish tradition.

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Journey of the Soul explores the mysteries surrounding the spiritual dimension of our existence—our destiny that continues even after we’ve shed our earthbound body suit. We examine the transition of the soul into the hereafter, the kinds of legacies that are valued even after we’ve forsaken this earthly existence, and the accompanying emotional journey and rituals that help the soul—and those closest to it—prepare for its new reality.

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