Without some greater goal to aim for, life is a boring cycle of sleep, eat, work, repeat. We each should have a mission, something that drives us and gives meaning to our lives. Living with this awareness adds color to grey, spice to the bland. Discover how we can connect to our purpose as individuals, and as part of the Jewish nation.
Forget Briggs Myers. To get a true glimpse of your personality, enter the fascinating world of the sefirot, the ten character traits that form who we are: kindness, pride, fortitude… We’re each a composite of these ten building blocks. Knowing what they are and how they work helps us better understand ourselves and the people around us.
Chasidic philosophy abounds with references to the four worlds. What are they? Where are they? And how do they help us understand life? Delve into original Chasidic texts and study these fundamental ideas at their source.
It’s a sixty year old question that the world still insists on asking: Does Israel have a legal or ethical right to exist? Do historical bonds count for anything in modern law? What about competing claims to the land? This session takes a compelling look at the complex legal issues surrounding Israel and its capital, Jerusalem.
In the event of divorce, how does a court decide the fate of the children? Join a timely discussion with Judge Dickler and Rabbi Reiss on the rights of fathers and mothers—and protecting the best interests of the children—comparing the legal position to the Torah perspective.
The value of life is immeasurable— but is the same true for its increments? Are the medical advances some see as life-supporting in fact simply death-prolonging? This session discusses important end-of-life decisions many families face today, and offers the Jewish perspectives on dying with dignity.
Learn from Master Confectioner, Sima Silverstein, the secrets of creating breathtaking and sensational Royal Icing cookies. This hands-on workshop will teach you to decorate like a pro, so that at your next party you can design your own beautiful creations to impress your guests. Each participant will leave with her own set of uniquely designed cookies. This class is suited to both beginners and more advanced decorators. Skills taught will include icing consistency, techniques for outlining, flooding, quilting, wet on wet techniques and more.
AquaTread™ is a unique comprehensive total-body cardiovascular aquatic workout that develops, strengthens and tones muscles, burns fat, significantly improves range of motion and flexibility, and builds stamina—all with no stress on joints and little muscle fatigue. It's the fitness program of the future, available to you today.
This session requires swim attire.
When large corporations cannot meet their obligations, the livelihood of thousands of families, the financial health of numerous creditors, and sometimes the economy of entire cities are at stake. How can attorneys help ensure the best possible outcome and avoid economic disaster—and what’s Jewish law’s view of responsibility for debt? Don’t miss this enlightening panel discussion with two of the nation’s leading restructuring attorneys and a legal scholar.
Millions of Americans are walking around with implanted pacemakers and defibrillators. When should these devices be deactivated to allow nature to take its course? This session addresses this important question from the perspective of Jewish ethics and sheds light on similar end-of-life medical quandaries.
On the seventh of June, 1967 the Israel Defense Forces captured the Temple Mount and returned it to Jewish hands for the first time in two thousand years. One of the first people to reach the holy stones of the Wall was a young soldier named Avraham Duvdevani. We travel with him through the winding streets of Jerusalem, racing toward the Wall as gunfire rings out, on the way to liberate the eternal heart of the Jewish people.
J.R.R. Tolkien’s books about Hobbits, dwarves, wizards and elves are known to millions around the world. What is not well-known is the Jewish link to his stories—and how that knowledge can impact our appreciation of Judaism today.
Judaism is not stuck in the synagogue. It affects everything in our lives. Everything we touch must be made holy. The way we eat, the way we sleep, the way we do business. But should there be a limit to our attempts to sanctify the mundane? What should we try to uplift and what must be left alone? This class is a textual study of Judaism’s quest to engage the physical world in spirituality.
This Pilates group provides an engaging environment and opportunities for individual guidance and attention. This class was designed for both beginners and advanced exercise enthusiasts and focuses on developing core strength and flexibility, as well as building muscle, which facilitates weight loss.
Joint business ventures and financial investments are serious business. How does one protect one’s financial investments and ensure the best return while maintaining high ethical standards? Jack Levin, a prominent business attorney, who wrote the textbook on venture capital and entrepreneurial investments, will share effective legal strategies. Rabbi Shlomo Yaffe will provide a Jewish legal perspective on the ethics of financial partnerships and business investments.
Are doctors being unfairly targeted with malpractice lawsuits? Are these lawsuits driving up the cost of medical care and limiting its availability? Professor David Hyman, a leading national authority on health law, will analyze the problems and benefits of the medical malpractice system. Rabbi Dr. Edward Reichman will discuss Jewish law’s perspective on the accountability of doctors as healers in their communities.
Learn from Master Confectioner Sima Silverstein the secrets of creating breathtaking and sensational Royal Icing cookies. This hands-on workshop will teach you to decorate like a pro so that at your next party you can design your own beautiful creations to impress your guests. Each participant will leave with her own set of uniquely designed cookies. This class is suited for both the beginner and more advanced decorator. Skills taught will include icing consistency, techniques for outlining, flooding, quilting, wet on wet techniques and more.
Throughout the generations the Talmud has long been the moral compass of Jews and non-Jews alike. But few of us today deal with goring oxen, clay vessels or our neighbor’s fruit tree. What do the ethical principles of Jewish law contribute to our lives in an era of sophisticated financial markets, intangible intellectual property, and digital communication?
Join this panel of insightful Jewish minds as they address the most important concerns of the day. Explore weighty issues with these highly intelligent and knowledgeable scholars. No subject too controversial, no challenge shirked.
This Pilates group provides an engaging environment and opportunities for individual guidance and attention. This class was designed for both beginners and advanced exercise enthusiasts. Classes focus on developing core strength and flexibility, as well as building muscle, which facilitates weight loss.
In 1787, a signer of the Declaration of Independence attended a Jewish wedding in Philadelphia. His incredible letter describing this event affords us a deeper appreciation of the Jewish marriage ceremony—and of the founding of America.
Does Jewish law have its own version of the First Amendment? Does Judaism legislate itself out of the public square? Would it dare challenge this most American of values? Explore the Torah’s perspective of one of today’s most polarizing issues: the clash between religion and government.
An introduction to the unique world of the ma’amar—the Chasidic Discourse: Using the text from the ma’amar, "V'yvchar Lanu", Dr. Brawer will introduce us to the style, method and process involved in understanding the profound and mystical meanings embedded within ostensibly simple verses and ideas in Jewish tradition, and how they are illuminated through the lens of Chasidic thought.
Why is there a need for a universal system of ethics? Isn’t a good conscience enough? Do the right intentions guarantee good moral decisions? This discussion with Talmudic scholar Rabbi Adin Even Yisroel Steinsaltz will explore the Jewish perspectives on classic ethical quandaries and provide an ethical base for making even the most difficult decisions.
Prayer is a personal conversation with G-d with infinite potential. By looking closely at the prayer liturgy, we discover how to initiate this conversation, sustain it, and get the most out of it.
The level of political tension between liberals and conservatives seems to be continually intensifying. Which side is the Torah on—or is there even a side? How can we heal this rift? This session will strive to uncover the roots of an authentically Jewish view of political science while contemplating its relevance to the modern world.
In a detailed analysis of the ma’amar (Chasidic Discourse) "V'yvchar Lanu." Dr. Brawer will lead the group on a journey into the depths of the profound and mystical meanings hidden within the mitzvah of sounding the shofar on Rosh Hashana.
In this session we will address abortion, one of the most polarizing issues in contemporary discourse, from the perspective of Jewish law and ethics. Does a woman always have the right to terminate her pregnancy? Or does life begin at conception, and destroying a fetus tantamount to murder?
In the thick tomes of the Talmud are buried stories of romance and courtship that rival today’s best novels. It seems that the Sages were as much experts in affairs of the heart as they were in Jewish law. But what lessons do these heartwarming episodes have for us? Can the flame of love that flickered centuries ago cast light on our lives today?
Believe it or not, the silliest and most serious day of the Jewish year have a lot in common. Find out why in this textual analysis of the antithetical yet overlapping components of Purim and Yom Kippur. Understanding the appropriate time and place for revelry and seriousness in Jewish law and philosophy will foster a closer relationship with our Creator.
Learn from the Master Confectioner Sima Silverstein the secrets of creating breathtaking and sensational Royal Icing cookies. This hands-on workshop will teach you to decorate like a pro so that at your next party you can design your own beautiful creations to impress your guests. Each participant will leave with her own set of uniquely designed cookies. This class is suited for both the beginner and the more advanced decorator. Skills taught will include icing consistency, techniques for outlining, flooding, quilting, wet on wet techniques and more.
The Lubavitcher Rebbe’s social, religious and educational campaigns all drew from one unshakeable belief: the infinite value of the individual Jew. Learn how, in a movement that quickly grew to encompass thousands of people and places, the Rebbe’s focus always remained on the individual Jew—and the conviction that he or she was worth the world.
Jewish law has a highly sophisticated system that governs the responsibilities of the guardian of another person’s property. Is he liable for the loss or damage to the property? To what extent? Why? This yeshivah-style, beginner-friendly workshop traces the development of the law from its Talmudic origins to its current application.
Of all the medical advances in the 21st century few have impacted the Jewish community more than the field of genetics. From adult carrier testing to fetal testing, to the incorporation of DNA testing into Jewish law, to pre-implantation genetic diagnosis, this session will explore the modern world of genetics from a Jewish perspective.
Join this panel of insightful Jewish minds as they address the most important issues of the day. Explore weighty topics with these highly intelligent and knowledgeable scholars. No subject too controversial, no challenge shirked.
The Lubavitcher Rebbe’s passion for Rambam (Maimonides) and his works is legendary. Thirty years ago the Rebbe began a daily learning program of the Rambam’s classic Mishneh Torah, which tens of thousands of Jews have enthusiastically embraced. In this multimedia presentation, discover the remarkable similarities between these two great visionary global leaders and scholars born 800 years apart in different parts of the world.
The frontier of science today has become the new alchemy with the promise of making virtually anything out of anything. Our mastery over matter is giving rise to a whole new sense of the physical universe. Armed with the prescience of the kabbalists stretching back over millennia, we hope to demonstrate how novel technologies transforming the dense, opaque, and inert qualities of materiality need no longer mask the inherent spirituality hidden therein.
AquaTread™ is a unique comprehensive total body cardiovascular aquatic workout that develops, strengthens and tones muscles, burns fat, significantly improves range of motion and flexibility, and builds stamina, all with no stress on joints and little muscle fatigue. It is the fitness program of the future, available to you today.
This session requires swim attire.Meet the Twins—and Their Soul Sisters! What are the ties that bind this fascinating quartet: twin sisters who grew up in a Chasidic enclave in Brooklyn, now residing thousands of miles apart on opposite coasts, and the soul sisters they met along the way? This unique session will take us on a journey without a speed limit from the capital of Wisconsin, to Silicon Valley—the road will be anything but well traveled.
When the bullets start flying and the tanks are rolling, do the standards of peacetime apply? It takes great moral authority to tell soldiers what they can and can’t do as they fight for their lives. That’s why the Torah lays down uncompromising rules of engagement that regulate the harsh realities of armed conflict. Take a sober and thorough look at the Jewish laws and ethics of warfare.
Veteran diplomat Shahar Azani has argued for the Jewish state in boardrooms, summits, and conferences across the globe. Here, he takes us on a behind-the-scenes tour through the corridors of Israeli power. What are the challenges faced by the Jewish state? What are the solutions? And how can we help in this struggle for the truth and peace?
Abraham and Sarah didn’t just have a model marriage, they were also superb parents. So were all the Patriarchs and Matriarchs. What was their secret, and how can emulating them help us become the spouses, parents and human beings we wish to be? Be privy to a rigorous analysis of our forebears that forges a new path for us today.
SS Lieutenant Colonel Adolf Eichmann’s trial in Jerusalem by an Israeli court electrified the world. The public debate it sparked on where, how, and by whom Nazi war criminals should be brought to justice was a watershed moment in how the civilized world found the means to deal with the legacy of unprecedented genocide.
Witness our differences melt away as four diverse high powered women from very different walks of life share their individual challenges and successes. In tandem with a dynamic moderator, they take us behind the scenes for a peek into their personal and professional stratosphere, and celebrate their Jewish womanhood.
Learn from the Master Confectioner Sima Silverstein the secrets of creating breathtaking and sensational Royal Icing cookies. This hands-on workshop will teach you to decorate like a pro so that at your next party you can design your own beautiful creations to impress your guests. Each participant will leave with her own set of uniquely designed cookies. This class is suited for both the beginner and the more advanced decorator. Skills taught will include icing consistency, techniques for outlining, flooding, quilting, wet on wet techniques and more.
Together we are greater than the sum of our parts. Join in a soul-stirring round table discussion and share your thoughts, aspirations and prayers for a better tomorrow.
Let the teachings of Chasidut flow into your prayers and inspire your personal conversation with G-d.
Rabbi Shapiro is a certified instructor in Israeli self-defense systems Krav Maga and Haganah (F.I.G.H.T.). Drawing upon these systems as well as elements of Brazilian Jujitsu and Mauy Thai Kickboxing, Rabbi Shapiro’s techniques teach students how to defend against an attacker who is stronger, more skilled, and even armed. His methods are easy-to-learn, and ideal for novice students as well as advanced martial artists. Rabbi Shapiro also instructs on conceptual principles of self-defense, the legalities of using physical force, and the perspective of Jewish Law (Halacha) on self-protection.
For men ages 13 and up.
Participants are encouraged to wear loose fitting clothing and tennis shoes or sneakers.
When Rabbi Benjamin Blech was asked by the Lubavitcher Rebbe to go on a speaking tour in the Far East, he balked. The counsel the Rebbe gave Rabbi Blech changed his outlook on Jewish identity forever, and inspired his philosophy of a Jewish solidarity that disregards our individual differences.
You won’t find it there, but the Bible could easily fit in the relationships section of your local bookstore. This lecture surveys the classic stories and mitzvot of the Torah to extract five principles that define love in today’s world. Unearth the manual for powerful relationships that lies beneath the Torah’s surface.
Rapidly evolving social philosophies and ethical trends have significant impact on the way doctors practice. Ethical standards appear to be flexible and a reflection of the mores of the times. Nonetheless, a common perception persists, that medicine is grounded in timeless, lofty values consistent with high moral purpose. This session will explore the attribute of rachamim (compassion) as developed in the literature of the Kabbalah, and postulate the following: as an underlying ethical constant it is immutable, especially applicable to physicians, and, as an absolute, can never be fully achieved.
An opportunity for a small group of interested participants to partake in an intimate dialogue with the speaker on subjects of their choosing
‘The Tipping Point’ is that subtle moment when an idea suddenly catches on and establishes a new reality. Sometimes all it takes is that little extra something to effect exponential change. Do you know which small step will propel you to a whole new level of spiritual and emotional self-actualization? This lecture offers inspiring and practical insights on how to discover and maximize your personal tipping point.
What makes a Jewish wedding special? What is a chuppah? Why is a glass broken at the apex of the ceremony?
Join a lively and interactive workshop given by Chaya Teldon, as she guides participants through the intricate and fascinating details that comprise a Jewish wedding. Using her warm wit and humor Teldon draws her audience in, explaining the various ancient customs and laws that govern the wedding and the weeks leading up to this special time.
This tour of the International Museum of Surgical Science will surely fascinate anyone with an interest in the history of medicine and the human body. Learn about relationships between great medical and Jewish personalities, and study the rabbinic responses to medical and scientific developments.
This is a double session. Participants will leave the hotel at 10:30am and return in time for lunch. Space is limited; advance reservation is required.
* Please note that since the museum may contain human remains, it is suggested that kohanim not attend this session.
The modern Israeli government is 66 years old, and the first coins she minted tell the story of more than 3,000 years of Jewish traditions. These coins give us insights into Jewish holidays, various holy objects used in the Temple, verses from the Torah, and Jewish history throughout the ages.
On July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was approved by the Continental Congress. Soon after, an American Jew by the name of Jonas Phillips wrote a letter, in Yiddish, about what had transpired in the newly formed United States. His life story gives us incredible insight into what America offered the Jews—and what our obligations as Jews in America must be today.
Relive the trials and triumphs of one of the most colorful personalities in Jewish history. Learn of David’s ferocious battles against the Philistines, hear the song of his harp, and follow the mighty King’s transformation into the sweet singer of Israel. Watch ancient Jewish history come to life and discover why our people have turned to Psalms for solace and strength throughout the ages.
"Can you prove that G-d exists, and that the Torah is from Heaven?" This talk challenges the validity of the concept of "proof". The talk addresses two general forms of knowledge: “cognition”, knowledge derived from external sources, and “cognizance”, which is awareness from within. Using deceptively simple illustrations, Dr. Brawer will demonstrate that recognition of the truths of Judaism, although supported by cognition, is established beyond question through cognizance.
Travel back in time to 17th century Europe to learn how Chasidism was born and grew. Where did it spring from? What are its beliefs? And does it have any relevance to today’s society? Get a fresh perspective on this misunderstood movement and find out how we can still be mystics in a modern world.
This inspiring lecture—spiced with humor, stories and time-tested wisdom—demonstrates how even a slight adjustment in our perspective can open new doors to happiness, harmony, satisfaction and gratification in the most important relationships of our lives. Gain insight into how we can build stronger and better bonds with our spouses, children, and loved ones.
Rabbi Blech takes you with him on his incredible journey as he meets Vendyl Jones, the man who inspired the story of Steven Spielberg’s hero in his masterpiece, Raiders of the Lost Ark. Learn why the Lubavitcher Rebbe told Vendyl that his finds represent “one of the most important discoveries of our time” and how this former Christian minister founded an international organization of non-Jews known as B’nai Noach committed to observing the seven universal “Laws of the Descendents of Noah.”
As the sun dips below the horizon and the glow of dusk settles over Chicago, we welcome the Shabbat queen. More than just a time for friends, family and feasts, Shabbat is an island in time where we can rediscover ourselves and the important things in our life. This inspiring talk readies us for this holy day, the preparations for which parallel our preparations for Moshiach’s arrival.
He never visited Israel, but nevertheless the Rebbe was sought out by her prime ministers and generals. Why did they value his advice on the most intricate political and military issues? How did an American rabbi come to mean so much to a Middle Eastern country? Be privy to a revealing investigation of the Rebbe’s complex relationship with Zionism and modern Israel—and his fierce love for the land and her people.
Is astrology kosher? From the horoscopes in the newspaper to the psychics in the street, everyone claims they can see our future in the stars. But does Judaism claim that as well? Are such practices even permitted by Jewish law? Is there any room at all for astrology in our lives? Find the answer in this informative and entertaining analysis of astrology in Jewish thought.
The Bible first hit the shelves some 3,300 years ago and hasn’t been revised since. How, then, does it remain relevant today? Do the stories of slaves and deserts and Canaanite tribes really matter anymore? An analytical look at the tales of the Torah reveals a wealth of contemporary meaning for our modern lives.
What better way is there to enhance your Shabbat experience than by delving into the weekly Torah portion? This workshop will explore Parashat Va’aetchanan and Moses’ dramatic parting speech to the Jewish people.
What is the purpose of prayer—doesn't G-d know what we need? What should we really be praying for? Join us as we examine the prayer of Chana, mother of Samuel the Prophet, for insight into this important topic.
Anti-Semitism is rearing its ugly head in Europe; Israel faces new existential threats. It’s easy to grow pessimistic about the Jewish future. But do we have to feel that way? Drawing on profound Torah lessons and historical parallels, this talk offers an optimistic look at the future of the Jewish people.
This session will address the latest developments and news items in the medical and scientific world from a Jewish perspective. Topics will include: genetics, the relationship between the Torah and DNA, the definition of parenthood in the 21st century, e-cigarettes, Chimerism, printing human organs, artificial heart transplants and the analysis of the brain activity of Ariel Sharon.
Comedian Marc Weiner entertains us with a hilarious spoof on all things Jewish.
We are a judgmental people, with labels for every type of individual: left wing, right wing, ultra-orthodox, secular. Is it ever possible to get along with someone whom we don’t see eye-to-eye with?
The study of the Tanya is the work of a lifetime, but its lessons can be put to use from day one. In this deft and masterful overview of the first twelve chapters Tanya, you’ll learn the fundamentals of Chabad philosophy and learn how to apply these powerful tools to every area of your life.
New technologies raise new ethical questions that require guidance. Every ethical system evaluates technological advances against the criteria of its moral code. In Jewish tradition, that touchstone is halachah, the corpus of Jewish law and ethics. But how is the halachah applied to novel technologies that our ancestors could not even have imagined? In this session, Professor Steven Resnicoff will present an outline of the halachic issues raised by cloning, and discuss how contemporary experts in halachah have analyzed the related questions.
Rabbi Shmuel Lew, one of the foremost Jewish leaders in London, was guided in his community outreach by the Lubavitcher Rebbe. From his personal conversations, phone calls, and countless letters from the Rebbe, Lew continues to draw inspiration from the Rebbe’s insight into community work and about life itself.
The challenges and rewards of providing medical care to the Lubavitcher Rebbe are unique amongst doctor-patient relationships. Every decision that cardiologist Dr. Ira Weiss made was amplified and watched by the Rebbe’s thousands of followers, creating a unique responsibility for ensuring the Rebbe’s health. Along the way, the doctor learned lessons from the rabbi that would change his life.
Jewish life in Chicago began back when the city was founded. Since then it has grown to be one of America’s largest Jewish communities, and a crown jewel among Jewish cities worldwide. Take a trip down memory lane and revisit the milestones and landmarks that mark the history of Jewish Chicago.
