How do we tell the story of the exodus this Passover?
ONLINE
Thursdays, 11:00am - 12:00pm , April 4th- 18th 2024
“I cannot believe we are experiencing this! How could this happen? What is the future going to be like?” If you are like me, we have all asked these questions. Only a few months ago we celebrated 75 years of the Jewish State, and suddenly it is as if everything we thought we knew is in doubt.
Course Description :
For most of our history, we have gathered around the Seder table in times of great uncertainty. In fact, the very way we celebrate the Seder is a far cry from the way it was celebrated in the land of Israel, with the throngs of people converging on Jerusalem with their Paschal Lambs. The very core of the Seder, the Temple sacrifices, are relegated to a space on a Seder plate and random comments. Instead, the story of redemption- telling the story to our children and grandchildren, and even ourselves, became the core of the Seder evening. The Seder itself was forged in a time of major physical dislocation and emotional uncertainty.
In this three-part series, we will look at some of the core Haggadah texts as they pertain to the present predicament in which we find ourselves. We will explore broken matzot and the hidden afikomen, tales of rabbis speaking of redemption through a dark night, promises given to Abraham unfulfilled, and the meaning of Elijah’s cup in law and lore. Finally, we will ask what it means every year to say ‘Next Year in Jerusalem”.
Thursdays, 11:00am -12:00pm (EST)
Rabbi Frederick ‘Fred’ Klein, a board certified chaplain, is Director of Mishkan Miami: The Jewish Connection for Spiritual Support, a program of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation and serves as Executive Vice President of the Rabbinical Association of Greater Miami. In this capacity he overseas Jewish pastoral care support for Miami’s Jewish Community, trains volunteers in friendly visiting and bikkur cholim, consults with area synagogues in creating caring community, and organizes conferences on spirituality, illness and aging. As director of the interdenominational Rabbinical Association of Greater Miami, he provides local spiritual leadership with a voice in communal affairs. Rabbi Klein also is engaged in teaching Torah to Jews of all backgrounds. He serves as the in-house rabbi for the Jewish Federation of Miami. Rabbi Klein is Miami native and graduated magna cum laude from Brown University, where he received a bachelor’s degree in religious studies. While in rabbinical school at Yeshiva University, he received an MA in Bible at Revel, and later earned an MPhil in Jewish history from Columbia University. During rabbinical school, Rabbi Klein was awarded the Wexner Graduate Fellowship, and has received numerous awards for his work with aging populations and community work.
