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

