New Course Asks: What Does It Actually Mean to Be a “Light unto the Nations”?
[CORAL GABLES] – Most Jews have heard that Judaism has something to say to the world. The book of Isaiah famously idealizes the Jewish people as a “light unto the nations.” But ask the average Jewish person what it actually means—what specific message Judaism wants to share with the world—and you’re likely to get a long pause.
A new four-part CLE course from the Rohr Jewish Learning Institute (JLI) wants to change that. For All Humankind, launching [Date] at [Chabad of Town], takes on a part of Judaism that most Jews were simply never taught: its outward-facing moral vision for all of humanity.
“There’s a whole side of Judaism that even committed Jews often don’t know about,” says Rabbi Avraham Stolik, who is gearing up to teach the course. “We know how to be Jewish for ourselves—Shabbat, holidays, lifecycle. But Judaism also carries a specific moral message intended for all people. This course finally unpacks what that message is.”
What the Course Covers
Over four sessions, participants will explore seven foundational values that Judaism has carried since before Mount Sinai—values intended not only for Jews but for all humanity. The course traces these ideas from Abraham’s original teaching through their implications for everyday life: What makes right “right” and wrong “wrong”? What is the purpose of educating children? Do our individual moral choices add up to something larger?
Scholarly Endorsements
Gulie Ne’eman Arad, PhD, of Ben Gurion University’s Department of Jewish History, called the course “an eye-opener for many Jews about their past, present, and future place in the world.”
Rabbi Jacob J. Schacter, PhD, Professor of Jewish History and Jewish Thought at Yeshiva University, praised the course as “wise, learned, and sophisticated,” noting that it addresses “one of the most foundational issues confronting not only Jews but all those interested in understanding the core values of contemporary society.”
Why Now?
At a moment when Jewish identity is under pressure from the outside and questions about purpose are rising from within, the course offers what its organizers describe as a strong, positive answer to the question: Why does being Jewish matter?
“After this course,” Rabbi Stolik says, “when someone asks you—at the office, at a dinner, at your own kitchen table—what Judaism actually stands for, you’ll have a clear answer. And it’s one you’ll be proud to give.”
Details
Course: For All Humankind
This course will satisfy the continuing education (CLE) requirements of lawyers and legal professionals in the state of Florida.
Dates: Four Wednesdays beginning April 29, 7:30-9 p.m.
Location: Chabad of Coral Gables, 1827 Ponce de Leon Blvd, Coral Gables
Instructor: Rabbi Avraham Stolik
Registration: Learn more or register or contact JLI@ChabadGables.com/call 305-490-7572 for inquiries.
Cost: $99, includes student textbook. Some scholarships available upon request.
All are welcome. No prior knowledge required.
About JLI: The Rohr Jewish Learning Institute is the world’s largest network of Jewish adult education, offering courses at over 900 locations worldwide. JLI courses are open to all, regardless of background or affiliation.
