Introducing Ritual Lab & Learn: An adult education series
What makes something a ritual? Is it the act itself? The intention behind the act? How often it’s performed? Who performs it? On Sunday January 13, 2019, 23 of us gathered to explore these questions as part of the introduction to Ritual Lab & Learn, a new adult education series.
Ritual Lab & Learn will meet twice a month to learn about new Jewish home ritual. We’ll meet at the JCC on Second and Fourth Sundays, 12:30-2:00 pm. The schedule is (updated as of April 19, 2019 to reflect a few changes):
- January 27: Daily blessings
- February 10: Eating and drinking
- February 24: (Cancelled due to weather)
- March 10: Covering the head
- March 24: Mezuzah
- April 14: Shmirat HaLashon (speech ethics)
- April 28: Creating our own rituals
Why is the series called ‘Lab & Learn’? Because there are 2 tracks:
Just Learn: Attend any or all of the sessions. In each class, we’ll learn a new type of Jewish daily home ritual, including where it comes from, how and why it was practiced in the past, and how we might practice it today.
Lab & Learn: Commit to practicing the assigned ritual for a two-week period. During the 2 weeks, you’ll journal on your practice, and meet once with an assigned chevrutah (study partner) to discuss your practice.
Want to sign up for the Lab track, or have questions about which track is right for you? Email Rabbi Ora.
More on the topic of ritual:
Rabbi Ira Stone teaches that ritual practices are a way of ‘interrupting time’ to help us be more human.
Sigal Samuel takes a look at a design lab making rituals for secular people.
