Sunday, January 22, 3-5 p.m.
What’s A Nice Jewish Girl Like You Doing In A Place Like This? Jews, Prison and Spirituality
On Zoom only Contact info@tikkunvor.org or check your email for the Zoom link
For the last twenty-eight years Elaine Leeder has been working in prisons, first at Elmira Correctional Facility, then San Quentin, and now in prisons all over the state of California. Her teaching, then running self-help groups and now doing Victim/Offender Dialogues, has shown her that there is redemption, remorse and contrition behind the walls. People can be transformed even in the most oppressive of circumstances.
Leeder will discuss the Jewish values like Teshuvah, Chesed and Tikkun Olam that deeply inform her work. She will describe the forgiveness she sees in victims (or victims’ families) for some of the most horrendous of crimes like murder, kidnapping, rape and robbery. Her presentation will focus on real situations that will inspire and touch you and you in profound ways. Her own growth has been deeply informed by these powerful stories.
Wednesday, January 25, 7-8:30 p.m. with Rabbi Shifrah
How Many Names Are There? A Conversation about What We Believe, What We Call God, and How We Decide
On Zoom only Contact info@tikkunvor.org or check your email for the Zoom link
Judaism has many names for God. Traditionally, Adonai and Elohim are the most frequently used names in prayer. But God is also known by El Shaddai, Shekhinah, Havayah, YaH, Yod-Hei-Vav_Hei, HaMakom, Ruach Kol Chai, El, Ha-Rachaman, and many other names. In Kabbalah, there are at least 72 mystical names for God. In Islam, people speak of there being 99 names for God, many of which are quite similar to Names used in Judaism. How do you like to think of God, and what name or names do you like to use? Why does that resonate with you? What’s it like for you when you’re praying in a service, and a different name is used from the one you expect, prefer, or are accustomed to? Let’s talk about it!
