OUR COMMUNITY
J
ewish learners in Metro
Detroit from teens to
adults can embark upon
a new path to study — thanks
to “Thoughtful Judaism,” a
new curriculum designed by
the Shalom Hartman Institute
of Jerusalem.
Taking a pluralistic approach
to Jewish education, the course
will spark deeper conversations
on where today’s Jews fit in
with their tribe — in terms of
faith, ethics, practice and com-
munity.
Thoughtful Judaism is
brought to Detroit by a two-
year $60,000 grant from the
Hermelin-Davidson Center for
Congregation Excellence.
According to Rebecca
Starr, director of
regional programs
for the Shalom
Hartman Institute
of North America,
Thoughtful
Judaism is a cur-
riculum based on
wide-sweeping thoughts and
concepts about Jewish identity
and peoplehood for the 21st
century rather than focusing
on the details of practicing
the religion. She hopes that
the new curriculum will lead
to the “deep meaningful con-
versations” that people in the
Jewish community need to
have as they continue to deal
with and emerge from the
pandemic.
“The Detroit Jewish com-
munity needs to shake the
notion that they can wait out
the pandemic and go back to
the synagogue or other Jewish
institutions just as they did in
2019,” Starr said.
“Going back to shul will
be different, and so will the
way we do Jewish learning
and education. Thoughtful
Judaism is much more about
answering questions like what
it means to be part of a collec-
tive, a tribal people and what
is my role in this collective.
“It’s much different from
answering questions like,
when and how do we light
Shabbat and Chanukah can-
dles. Those elements are
important, too, but this curric-
ulum is designed to elevate the
conversation about Judaism.”
TRAINING EDUCATORS
Early in August, Starr trained 17
local rabbis and Jewish educa-
tors from 13 area Jewish institu-
tions on the adaptable, modular
curriculum at an in-person
seminar at Temple Israel in
West Bloomfield.
“The big takeaway we gave to
those who attended the training
[in person and on Zoom] was:
The Hartman Institute gives you
the four volumes of the curricu-
lum, and you have the creativity
and know your constituents and
the ways to create classes for
them,
” Starr said.
New class answers what it means to be a “member of the tribe.”
Thoughtful Judaism
STACY GITTLEMAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER
22 | SEPTEMBER 2 • 2021
16 Detroit-area rabbis
and Jewish educators
gathered in person at
Temple Israel to learn
about Thoughtful
Judaism.
Rebecca
Starr