We all know a lot about Adam and Eve, the patriarchs and matriarchs, and the leaders of the Exodus. This course is not about them. It is about more obscure characters in the Torah who nevertheless made a huge impact. Through close textual reading and analysis of rabbinic texts we will learn the untold stories of four fascinating people: (a) Malkitzedek – the king who sold his soul; (b) Jethro – the opinionated priest who enabled Revelation; (c) Elisheva – the long-lived, but unsung, heroine of the Israelites; and (d) Bilaam – the wayward prophet who lost it all. Scott Lang wrote in his memoir, “Look Out For The Little Guy!” – we’ll be doing just that…

Rabbi Dr Raphael Zarum is Dean of LSJS and holds the Rabbi Sacks Chair in Modern Jewish Thought at the school. He is a rabbinic leader, lecturer and author with a passion for teaching traditional Jewish texts and innovative educational programming for young and old. Rabbi Dr. Zarum earned a PhD in Theoretical Physics from King’s College London, leading to the publication of a number of papers on Quantum Chaos Theory. He also completed an MA in Adult Education, with distinction, at the Institute of Education in London. As well as Dean of LSJS, Rabbi Dr Zarum currently serves as the Scholar-in-Residence at the Central Square Minyan in Hampstead Garden Suburb. He studied at Yeshivat HaKotel in Jerusalem and the Kollel of the Judith Lady Montefiore College in London where he received rabbinic ordination. Rabbi Dr Zarum is a graduate of the prestigious Jerusalem Fellows programme at the Mandel Leadership Institute in Israel. He was the first Head of faculty of the Florence Melton Adult Mini School UK and was Director of Text-Based Jewish Education at the UJIA Centre for Informal Jewish Education. He is the creator of the Torah L’Am crash course and is the author of the ‘Torat Hadracha’ and ‘Jampacked Bible’ educational study guides.

May 30, 2023 12:30 PM Part 1 – Malkitzedek
Jun 6, 2023 12:30 PM Part 2 – Jethro
Jun 13, 2023 12:30 PM Part 3 – Elisheva
Jun 20, 2023 12:30 PM Part 4 – Bilaam

CSP Partners: Beth Israel (San Diego, CA), Brotherhood Synagogue (Gramercy Park, NYC), Congregation Adath Jeshurun (Elkins Park, PA), Congregation Beth Shalom (Seattle, WA), Congregation B’nai Tzedek (Fountain Valley, CA), Congregation B’nai Israel (Tustin, CA), Jewish Collaborative of Orange County, Shomrei Torah Synagogue (San Fernando Valley, CA), Temple Bat Yahm (Newport Beach, CA), Temple Beth David (Westminster, CA),Temple Beth El of South Orange County (Aliso Viejo, CA), Temple Beth Emet (Anaheim, CA), Temple Beth Ohr (La Mirada, CA), Temple Beth Shalom (Needham, MA), Temple Beth Shalom (Santa Fe, New Mexico), Temple Beth Sholom (Santa Ana, CA), Temple Emanuel (Newton, MA), Town & Village Synagogue (NYC, NY), Temple Judea of Laguna Woods, CA, University Synagogue (Irvine, CA), Valley Beth Shalom (Encino, CA) & Walnut Street Synagogue (Chelsea, MA)