Regina Jonas
Seminar Winter 2024 Curriculum

The Regina-Jonas-Seminar is part of a long and rich tradition of rabbinical education in Germany.
We train rabbis who serve Jewish communities and institutions of Liberal Judaism in Germany and Europe with competence and passion.
Teaching and studies focus on the richness of the biblical scriptures, rabbinic literature and Jewish tradition in synagogue and life practice from Sinai to the present day.
We are guided by our connection to the entirety of the Jewish community (Klal Yisrael) and the State of Israel; we are committed to the values of Torah study, Jewish solidarity, pluralism and egalitarian Judaism, interfaith dialog and social justice.
We recognize our responsibility for the religious, spiritual and ethical development of all our students.

Rabbi Dr. Ulrike Offenberg – Jewish communal reality in Germany

In this course, students deal with the historical, structural and sociological characteristics of the Jewish community in Germany. We learn about the main features of post-war history, the emergence of communities and Jewish institutions after the Shoah and their different conditions of existence in East and West Germany. The development in unified Germany, the immigration of Jews from the former Soviet Union, the challenges, conflicts and changes lead up to the present day. This course introduces students to their future professional environment and is taught in German.

Wednesday noon

Rabbi Prof. Yehoyada Amir and Rabbi Anita Kántor – Homiletics, the art of drashot

This two-semester course examines the development of darshanut over the centuries and its role and influence in Jewish community life both inside and outside the synagogue. The literature used ranges from Torah to the challenges of modern times. Students will apply the techniques they have learned in a practical component.
Wednesday noon

Rabbi Prof. Yehoyada Amir / Rabbi Prof. Elisa Klapheck – Paradigms of modern Jewish existence

“From Mendelssohn onwards [hat] our whole people underwent the torture of all these truly embarrassing questions and the Jewishness of each individual now danced on the needle-point of a why” (Franz Rosenzweig, “Die Bauleute”). Modernity has produced numerous paradigms for the understanding of Judaism and Jewish identity, many of which are in tension with one another. This is why today’s Jewish discourse is characterized by competing paradigms of Jewish existence. The course deals with the construction of Jewish identities and the process of their creation. Over the course of the semester, we will explore the theoretical foundations of Jewish identity in ethics, nation, religion, halacha, civilization, foreignness and counterculture, covenant and post-ethnic categories. Several hours of this course will be taught by Rabbi Elisa Klapheck, who will focus on female intellectual representations of modern Jewish existence.
Thursday morning

Rabbi Dr. Ulrike Offenberg – Megillot and other text sources of the holidays

The course is designed to last two semesters. We will study the Megillot, apocryphal and rabbinic texts that form an essential part of the Jewish calendar. Exploring the relationships between text and calendar, their liturgical use and traditional and modern interpretations will provide students with a deeper understanding of these sources. In the winter semester, we will focus on the Megillat Kohelet, the Books of Maccabees as well as Talmudic sources on Hanukkah, Tu Bishvat and the Megillat Esther. In the summer semester we will concentrate on the Megillat Shir HaShirim, Ruth and Eichah.
Thursday noon

Rabbi Yehoyada Amir / Rabbi Anita Kántor / Rabbi Dr. Ulrike Offenberg – Aspects of rabbinical leadership in the community

The aim of this course is to prepare and support students’ practical work in communities. How do you prepare for an internship? What challenges need to be considered? What impact can rabbis have on the development of the congregation? We will identify challenges in synagogues and congregations and discuss the role of the rabbi.
Thursday afternoon
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