Through knowledge and insights gleaned from our 3,300-year-old heritage, 'Journey to the Self' is a stimulating, interactive fellowship provides participants with a body of spiritual wisdom that both illuminates their path to self-discovery, whilst nurturing their Jewish identity.
Emotions often assume a dominant role in our decision-making, for better or worse. Each week, we will explore a different emotion with the aim of generating a clear understanding of how it affects ourselves and our relationship with others.
Using the standard, Western approach as a backdrop, we will then contrast the Torah’s approach to that particular emotion. In this way, students will gain a deeper appreciation of both themselves and the wisdom of The Torah.
The U.S constitution stands on Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. Yet, despite its ever-increasing investment in material goods, technology, and the entertainment industry, statistics inform us that Americans are more unhappy than ever before. In this class, we will explore Judaism's program for happiness, and remarkably, we'll discover that true happiness does not, in fact, depend on owning anything!
We will begin by discussing various scientific and psychological approaches to the meaning laughter, both in terms of its necessity for the human psyche and its function as an evolutionary mechanism. Yet, even today, despite a field crowded with over 80 theories, scientists are still left baffled as to the essential purpose of this uniquely human trait. Through exploring themes of laughter as they appear throughout Torah, we will unravel the deeper meaning behind this mysterious phenomenon and in turn, its practical implications for us.
Through discussing popular examples of feelings of shame and embarrassment, we will attempt to generate a common denominator behind an emotion that the Talmud describes as being 1 of the 3, inherently Jewish traits. Through textual analysis of both the story of Adam & Eve and Cain & Abel, we will emerge with a deeper understanding and appreciation of shame, and its vital role in promoting self-growth.
Upon discussing the damaging effects of jealousy on ourselves and others, we will segue into addressing the mitzvah against speaking negatively of our fellow Jews, and the deep connection it has with feelings of jealousy. We will then discover how practical applications of ‘Loving your neighbor as yourself’ provide us the long-term strategy for judging others on the side of merit. Ultimately, allowing us to live more peaceful and productive lives.
Most of us only wish to lead happy, stress-free lives, yet, the reality is very different. In this class, we will explore the theme of inspiration and disappointment. Through examining various mile-stone events, as they are recorded in Torah, we will be able to discern a basic pattern woven into the very fabric of life that will allow us to emerge with a fresh, fundamental approach to these emotions. The ‘take-home’ - an original, optimistic formula for confronting life’s inevitable letdowns and setbacks.
Albeit, not a class about emotions, however, Rabbi Dessler’s classic exposition of ‘The Range of Free Will', provides us with a comprehensive understanding of how our emotions - as overwhelming as they may be - are an essential part of G-d’s curriculum for maximizing our self-growth and potential. A deep and thorough understanding of this subject provides participants with the necessary framework in which the previous 5 classes should be placed.
As such, we will be able to recognize that our reaction to any of these emotions is indeed a choice that immediately affects our own self-growth.
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