MIDRASHA
CENTER FOR
ADULT JEWISH STUDIES Immigration

Between now and the end of Sukkot, the following classes and special
events will be offered by Midrasha and its program partners in the Jewish
community. For a complete fall brochure and registration form, call the
Midrasha office at 354-1050.

"Inside the Rabbinic Mind"

Rabbi Rod Glogower, Midrasha Scholar-in-Residence and Rabbi of the
Orthodox Hillel Minyan at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

12 Tuesday mornings starting September 21 • Midrasha Library
10:30 AM to 12 noon • Tuition $108

This advanced-level study group continues to explore various genres of rabbinic literature, including
Talmud, midrash, medieval codes and commentaries, and responsa. Reading knowledge of Hebrew is
helpful but not required. Study sessions focus on central ideas and values in rabbinic Judaism and/or tie in
with upcoming Jewish holidays or other significant dates on the Jewish calendar. New students are
cordially invited to join this study group.

"Scattered Pearls: The Sephardic Diaspora"

Professor Miriam Bodian, University of Michigan Department of History , Ann Arbor

Sunday, September 26 • Co-sponsored and hosted by Temple Emanu-El, Oak Park
1:00 to 3:00 PM • Tuition $12

The era of convivencia (co-existence) among Jews, Muslims, and Catholics in the Iberian peninsula came
to a violent end with the Seville pogroms of 1391. This pivotal event, followed by the decree of expulsion
from Spain, forced conversions in Portugal, and two centuries of intimidation and persecution by the
Inquisition, precipitated the decision by hundreds of thousands to leave their homes in Sepharad and
establish new Jewish communities in places like Cochin in India, Sated in the Holy Land, Izmir and
Constantinople in Turkey, Recife in Brazili, Salonika in the Balkans, and the European cities of Venice,
London, Amsterdam, and Hamburg. This slide lecture will survey the flow of the Sephardic diaspora as it
took root in numerous new communities - communities that flourished, each with its own character and
flavor, until World War II.

"Who is a Jew? A Case Study from 17th Century Jewish History"

Professor Miriam Bodian
4 Monday nights, October 4, 11, 18, and 25 • Temple-Emanu-El
7:00 to 8:30 PM • Tuition $36 (*)

A large population of converted Jews and their descendants remained in Spain after 1492. In 1497, the
entire Jewish community of Portugal was forcibly converted to Catholicism. Some conversos chose exile,
but the majority who stayed behind were totally cut off from Jewish tradition for generations. With the
opening of Atlantic trade in the late 16th century, many conversos fled north to the mercantile centers of
London, Amsterdam, and Hamburg. When they arrived, however, they faced difficult encounters both
with the host, non-Iberian environment and with Ashkenazic Jews, who had enjoyed an unbroken chain of
tradition unaffected by the Iberian traumas of Inquisition, exiile, and conversion. The Portuguese and
Spanish conversos did not reject their past, yet desperately wished to be part of the Jewish world, whose
ritual life was completely alien to their experience. This slide lecture course will explore the issues of
identity, bi-cultural loyalty, and the clash of values that characterized this fascinating chapter of Jewish
history. (*) Combined tuition rate for Professor Bodian's September 26 lecture plus October mini-course
is $42. Members of Temple Emanu-El should contact their Education Center for special TE tuition rates.

"Eve and Beyond: Legends of Jewish Women"

WISH NEWS

Cantor Gail Hirschenfang, Temple Beth El
3 Monday nights, October 4, 11, and 18 • Co-sponsored and hosted by Temple Beth El
7:00 to 8:00 PM • Tuition $18

This series will explore some of the female role models of our tradition through the lens of a feminist
sensibility, using biblical and midrashic sources. Our subjects will include Sarah, Esther, Lilith (how many
people know about Adam's first wife?), and others. In the process of examining the Jewish tradition's
portrayals of these women, we will discuss what this means to us in our lives as contemporary Jews.

Watch for more information about Midrasha's
fall schedule in future issues of the Jewish News.

Midrasha Center for Adult Jewish Learning
is a division of the Agency for Jewish Education.

21550 West 12 Mile Road, Southfield, MI 48076
354-1050 (fax 354-1068)

Surges In August

Jerusalem (JTA) — August
and inflation will drop to 8
was a banner month for im-
percent, conditions ripe for
migration to Israel, after a
the successful absorption of
less-than-impressive July.
immigrants.
In all, 8,047 people made
Treasury officials also
aliyah, including 6,113 from
point to a 1.25 billion shekel
the republics that formerly
($450 million) increase in
constituted the Soviet
funds allocated to the
Union. By contrast, only
various ministries dealing
3,939 immigrants arrived
with absorption matters,
from the ex-Soviet republics
such as housing, education
in July.
and employment.
Immigration from the re-
publics to the United States
was also up in August, with
3,364 newcomers arriving
under the U.S. government's
refugee program, according
to the Hebrew Immigrant
Washington (JTA) — In the
Aid Society in New York.
wake
of the historic Israeli-
A total of 40,994 Jews from
Palestinian accord signed at
the former Soviet Union
the White House this week,
have arrived in Israel so far
Israel and Jordan have
this calendar year, and an-
taken a major step toward
other 23,616 have arrived in
peace by signing an agree-
the United States, according
ment specifying the com-
to the Soviet Jewry Research
ponents of a future treaty.
Bureau of the National Con-
ference on Soviet Jewry.
The signing of the agree-
The Israel numbers are
ment at the State Depart-
ahead of where they were at
ment was less high-profile
this time last year, but still
than the Israeli-Palestinian
disappointing compared to
ceremony featuring Presi-
the huge influx of immi-
dent Clinton, Israeli Prime
grants who arrived here in
Minister Yitzhak Rabin and
1990 and 1991.
Palestine Liberation Organ-
Some have charged that
ization Chairman Yassir
Arafat.
more immigrants would
come if the government
But the move is never-
spent more money on job
theless significant because it
creation and immigrant ab-
is the first indication that
sorption.
progress can be made on
The issue came up during
tracks other than the Israeli-
recent deliberations over the
Palestinian one in the
115 billion shekel ($40
bilateral negotiations Israel
billion) state budget for
is conducting here with Jor-
1994, which was approved
dan, Syria, Lebanon and the
by the Cabinet.
Palestinians.
Immigrant Absorption
The Israeli-Jordanian
Minister Yair Tsaban, who
agreement is a framework
was one of four Cabinet min-
for the two countries to
isters to vote against the
negotiate such issues as
budget, said it would not
security arrangements,
adequately address the
arms control, territorial
needs of new immigrants.
disputes, the refugee prob-
Several other ministers
lem, water rights and econ-
bitterly argued that the
omic cooperation.
budget failed to reflect the
Israel and Jordan have
heightened priority assigned
long been on the verge of in-
to immigration by the Labor
itialing this agreement. The
government when it was
Israeli-Palestinian accord on
elected last year.
self-rule in the administered
They also claimed it fell
territories apparently gave
far short of addressing the
the final push needed to
needs of the poor, the elderly
push this agreement
and the unemployed.
through.
But Finance Minister
The document was initial-
Avraham Shohat defended
ed by Elyakim Rubinstein,
the budget plan. He said it
chairman of the Israeli nego-
increased social spending by
tiating team with the Jorda-
27 percent over such spen-
nians, and Fayez Tarawneh,
ding in 1993.
the Jordanian ambassador
Mr. Shohat projects the
to the United States. Secre-
budget will create 75,000
tary of State Warren
new jobs, that unemploy-
Christopher presided over
ment will fall to 9.6 percent
the ceremony. 111

Israel, Jordan
Sign Accord