Torah Hub Continues With Series on Judaism and Social Justice

Now in its third season, Torah Hub continues this fall with an exploration of Judaism and Social Justice.  A North Shore Adult Jewish Education Collaborative, Torah Hub is a free program supported by a JFNS Sustaining Grant, funding that is designed to continue successful programs that were originally funded through Community Innovation Grants.

“It has been great to watch Torah Hub grow over the past two years from the seed of Rabbi Aaron Fine’s idea to a successful, dynamic program,” says Alanna Cooper, JFNS Director of Adult Education and Torah Hub Program Director, “This year’s program will engage some of the most critical issues facing American Jews today.  We are fortunate to have a great line-up of speakers and teachers who will be coming from afar to share their energy and cutting-edge work with us here on the North Shore.”

This year’s sessions will be held in Peabody as well as Marblehead and will focus on a single theme with the goal of developing a sustained and meaningful community-wide discussion on Judaism and Social Justice.

The series begins on Oct. 18 at the NSJCC in Marblehead with a keynote lecture featuring nationally-recognized Jewish community leader Rabbi Jill Jacobs, Executive Director of Rabbis for Human Rights-North America, entitled “Jewish Social Justice: New Fad or Ancient Tradition?” Rabbi Jacobs will examine the religious, historical, and cultural roots of social justice in the Jewish tradition, and consider why and how contemporary American Jews can be involved in social justice and human rights.

The Monday night portion of the series, led by Temple Sinai’s Rabbi Fine, will take place at Aviv Center in Peabody on Oct. 29, Nov. 12 and 19, and Dec. 10 at 7:30 p.m. Topics will focus on Jewish Food Ethics for the 21st Century.

The Thursday night portion of the series, lead by Rabbi Margie Klein of Congregation Sha’arei Shalom in Ashland, will take place at the JCCNS in Marblehead at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 25, Nov. 8 and 29, and Dec. 6 and will focus on “Transforming Ourselves, Transforming the World.”

In the final session, a symposium scheduled for Dec. 13 at 7:30 p.m. at the NSJCC in Marblehead, local rabbis, including Aaron Fine, Baruch HaLevi, Emily Mathis and David Meyer, will engage in the conversations generated over the course of the program.

All sessions are free and open to the public. Registration is required and participants are welcome to register for one or both locations. Register on line at http://www.jfns.org/torahhub.aspx, or contact Alanna Cooper at acooper@jfns.org , 978-224-4096.