This course explores the foundational idea of “Shabbat Menucha” (Sabbath rest) as a restorative tool for holistic wellness. Along the way, we shall examine the development of Shabbat rituals, track the evolution of new practices, and broach a discussion of the ultimate Sabbath portrayed in mystical thinking.
This course - in addition to being a primer on the major holidays of the Jewish calendar - is intended to provoke conversations about taking good care of our bodies and our souls, with multiple frames such as Kabbalah, the Seven Dimensions of Wellness, and the numerous confrontations of COVID-19.
An exploration of the lives and deeds of our ancestors Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebekah, Jacob, Rachel, and Leah, through a close reading of selected texts in the Book of Genesis, related passages from the Midrash, and four liturgical selections.