Torah Studies

Dear Friend,

Chabad of Longmont, is proud to present our Torah Studies catalog of classes for our 2012 academic year.

At Chabad, we value a deep, rich learning experience and we aim to provide this in an unequivocal way. This is why we have brought you a Torah Studiesprogram of the highest caliber, developed by the world-renowned Rohr Jewish Learning Institute. The program brings you a series of stimulating text and discussion based classes that take place on a weekly basis. Our lessons will engage you in a multidimensional way by challenging you intellectually, spiritually and emotionally. They explore contemporary issues through a Torah perspective as well as tackling timeless questions in the Jewish tradition.

I invite you to browse through the topics in this catalog and to join us for some weekly inspirational study. In this new season, we will also offer classes about the upcoming Jewish holidays – Lag Ba'Omer and Shavuot. These classes are open to all, whatever your level of learning may be, and we encourage you to bring your friends along.

Shalom,
Rabbi Yakov Borenstein 

	WEDNESDAY, APRIL 25, 7 P.M. Stop the Gossip Cultivating a Slander-Free Mentality Whether we do it out of peer pressure, to show people how much we know, or just to make ourselves look better, gossip is gossip, and it’s wrong. This lesson examines why people might talk badly about others and how we can cultivate a gossip-free mentality.
	WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 7 P.M. My Life or Yours Between Selfishness and Self-Preservation Two travelers traverse a desert with enough water for only one to survive. Whose life comes first? Is self-preservation a selfish ideal? When is it important to put yourself first? And when do you have a prior duty to worry about the well-being of others?
	WEDNESDAY, MAY 9, 7 P.M. Seasons for the Soul Jewish Festivals in Answer to Life’s Challenges Beyond a collection of random celebratory events, each of the Jewish festivals provides tools to overcome common challenges such as grief, physical hardship, emotional turmoil, financial distress, and anxiety. This lesson will explain how.
	WEDNESDAY, MAY 16, 7 P.M. Here Today, Gone Tomorrow What Really Matters? Really. The financial crisis demonstrated that nothing is certain. What we have today is no indication of what will be tomorrow. This lesson uncovers Jewish wisdom that helps us look beyond the facade of materialism, to discover what really matters in the long haul.
	WEDNESDAY, MAY 23, 7 P.M. The Kabbalah of Cheesecake What’s the Fuss over Milk and Meat? Unyielding. Compassionate. Standing firm. Giving in. What is the ideal temperament? This lesson sheds Kabbalistic insight into the relevance of Torah here on earth, and the laws of mixing milk and meat.
	WEDNESDAY, MAY 30, 7 P.M. Challenging Intuition Three Life-Lessons from King David's Counselor Just when you think you have everything figured out, you discover a whole new realm of depth that takes you to the next level. This class finds personal meaning in three pearls of wisdom from the last testament and life lessons of Achitofel, King David's advisor.
	WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6, 7 P.M. Igniting the Spark Within A Wholesome Approach to Personal Growth Your greatest strength is what is most unique to you. Whether you are looking to be a better parent, an influential person, or are just simply looking to find more happiness, this class will help you look within to find the skills you'll need to develop your personal talents.
	WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 7 P.M. Spirituality or Reality Is Home Where the Heart Is? From the synagogue off to the bank, divided between sometimes conflicting realms, the Jew has occupied the role of a realist—living in the here and now, and the role of a spiritualist—ascribing to a higher reality. This lesson offers a surprisingly realistic and practical approach in identifying the domain of the Jew.
	WEDNESDAY, JUNE 20, 7 P.M. The Jewish Phoenix Stories of Leadership and Revival Determination is the wake-up call to the human will, and leadership is the revival of a nation. From the Crusades to the Holocaust, time and time again Judaism has been brought back from the brink of survival to flourish once more. This lesson examines the methods of great Jewish leaders who brought renewed life and hope to their generation.
	WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27, 7 P.M. I Wasn't Ready to Say Goodbye A Jewish Approach to Grief How do you deal with the loss of a loved one? Is it even possible? This lesson wrestles with one of life’s most painful challenges, confronting grief, pain, and the struggle to move on.
	WEDNESDAY, JULY 4, 7 P.M. Seeing the Half-Full Glass The Secret of Transformative Positive Thinking To the casual observer, life’s road is marred with bumps and ditches. This class trains us to peel back the layers of darkness and discover life's true character of joy.