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March 7, 2 pm: Intermarriage: Beyond the Questions
In Europe and the US, Jewish communities are nervous about the future. The intermarriage question that scared the previous generation was never ‘solved’ (what would that even mean?), but became a reality that makes life sweet and complex and confusing. We’ll look at three biblical models of intermarriage (Abraham, Moses and Solomon), and discuss what are the issues facing us today, in the new Jewish community in Germany and in Minnesota.
March 14, 2 pm: Jews and Plague?
The last year has shaken our lives, and made us confront a new world of lockdowns, isolation, panic, confusion. Jews don’t have any magic answers for these, but they are blessed with a 3,000-year old collective memory. We’ll look at Jewish responses to plagues and pandemics over the centuries, and see whether some of those models can help us today.
March 21, 2 pm: The Climate Crisis – where do our responsibilities start and end?
Having woken up to the effects of human industrial activity on our planet, we know we have to do something about it. We don’t need Judaism for that. But we’re confronted with big questions: Should I deal with local or global problems first? Do I have any power as an individual to change anything? How much should I invest in this battle?
Josh Weiner is a 35-year old rabbi, social worker, tour guide and Jewish educator. Grew up between London and Jerusalem, and eventually moved to Berlin with his wife, Noémi. He is the first graduate of the new Zacharias Frankel conservative rabbinical seminary in Berlin. Speaks English, Hebrew, German and French.
Josh works on a number of educational initiatives in Berlin,as well as lecturing at Potsdam University. He helps coordinate educational activities at the Fraenkelufer Synagogue, visits schools and mosques as part of the Meet2Respect initiative, does one-on-one teaching and guidance with young Jews in the city, and teaches at Base Berlin, Kreuzberg Beit Midrash and the home-based empowerment project “Berlin Tisch”, among others.
