The blog of the Roaring Fork Valley (Reform) Jewish community
77 Meadowood Drive • Aspen, CO • 81611
Rabbi David Segal and Cantor Rollin Simmons

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Rabbi Sid Schwarz, Scholar-in-Residence, July 26-30

Rabbi Sid Schwarz
Scholar-in-Residence, Aspen Jewish Congregation
July 26-30


FRIDAY, JULY 26 - Shabbat in the Sanctuary (Chapel)
  • “Re-imagining the American Synagogue”
    Rabbi Sid will be the speaker at our 6:00 pm Shabbat service
  • Shabbat dinner after services at private home | for Fellows (see below for sponsorship info)
SATURDAY, JULY 27 - "Davening out of the Box" (Chapel)
free and open to the public - RSVPs appreciated (rabbi@aspenjewish.org)
  • 10:00 am. Gather in gallery for light breakfast and coffee
  • 10:30 am. "Davening out of the Box" in sanctuary with Rabbi Sid and Cantor Rollin
    Join us for an innovative and inspiring Shabbat morning experience
    • 12:00-12:30 pm. Lunch provided.
    • 12:30-1:30 pm. Prayer text study with Rabbi Sid
    SUNDAY, JULY 28 - Board Leadership Workshop (9:00am-1:00pm)



      SUMMER SEMINAR SERIES 
      (Registration required - see below)

      MONDAY, JULY 29 - Chapel Gallery
      • Seminar #1: “Jewish Megatrends: Charting the Course of the American Jewish Future”
        10:00 am-12:00 pm
      • Lunch provided for all participants. 12:00-1:00pm.
      • Seminar #2: “Musar: How Jewish Wisdom can Unlock Your Full Human Potential”
        1:00-3:00 pm
      • Catered dinner with Rabbi Sid at Aspen Alps community room.
        Included for Fellows, $65/person for seminar registrants.
        6:00-8:00 pm
      TUESDAY, JULY 30 - Chapel Gallery
      • Seminar #3: “Israel: Between Conscience and Solidarity”
        10:00am-12:00pm
      • Fellows private luncheon with Rabbi Sid, Rabbi David Segal will lead special learning session over lunch.
        Maroon Creek Club, 12:30-1:45 pm


      CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR THE SEMINAR SERIES
      SPACE IS LIMITED - RESERVE NOW!

      Fellows
      $1800/couple, includes all seminar and meals 
      (Shabbat dinner, Monday dinner, and Tuesday luncheon)
      For Fellow level sponsorship, you may call the office instead at 970-925-8245

      Regular registration
      $180/person, includes all seminars and Monday lunch
      additional $65/person for Monday dinner

      All participants will receive a copy of Sid's most recent book,
      Jewish Megatrends: Charting the Course of the American Jewish Future



      Detailed Session Descriptions

      Friday 7/26, 6:00 pm

      Re-Imagining the American Synagogue
      Like countless others of their generation, many young American Jews have abandoned the religion of their birth to search for a spiritual home in other traditions. Institutional religion has been dismissed by a generation of seekers. Sid’s 2000 book, Finding a Spiritual Home, helped shape the synagogue transformation efforts of the past decade. In this presentation Sid will share insights about how to re-think the paradigm of the American synagogue in a way that might help congregations do a better job of engaging the next generation of American Jews.  

      Saturday 7/27, 10:00 am

      Davening Out of the Box
      You should attend this prayer experiences if: a) you are often bored at services; b) you have no idea why anyone would willingly attend a worship service: c) you are a deeply spiritual person but services don’t always work for you; d) you want to go where prayerful Jews have never gone before.  Through discussions, song, movement and sharing, participants, from young to old, will walk away with a new appreciation for the shabbat liturgy and the transformative power of prayer. 
      Important note: If you want to participate in this service, you must be in your seat by 10:30am. While people may leave whenever they choose, it will be impossible to appreciate or understand the experience if you are not there at the beginning. 

      Post-Lunch Conversation
      Following lunch, there will be a conversation about reactions to the morning experience with an opportunity to ask questions of Rabbi Sid. 

      Monday, 7/29 

      Jewish Megatrends: Charting the Course of the American Jewish Future
      The American Jewish community is riddled with doubts about the viability of the institutions that well served the Jewish community of the 20th century. Synagogues, federations and Jewish membership organizations have yet to figure out how to meet the changing interests and needs of the next generation. This talk will look at the social norms that are shaping the habits and lifestyles of younger American Jews and suggest four guiding principles that can actually lead to a renaissance in Jewish life.  

      Musar: How Jewish Wisdom can Unlock your Full Human Potential
      This workshop introduces participants to the Jewish practice of Musar—the cultivation of admirable “soultraits”. This centuries old methodology brings individuals face to face with the triggers that lead them to behave in ways that are not always admirable. It provides practical skills to cultivate attributes like gratitude, humility and contentedness. 

      Tuesday, 7/30

      Israel: Between Conscience and Solidarity
      Today Israel has a polarizing affect in American Jewish life. For some Jews, Israel is at the center of their Jewish life; for other Jews, Israel represents a morally problematic phenomenon. This presentation looks at the changing perception of Israel in the consciousness of American Jews and proposes a way to relate to Israel that, for now, is the road less traveled.


      Watch an interview with Rabbi Sid on "Calling and Chutzpah"