Open Learning

Jewish Thought

April 2025
Apr 24
Apr 24, 2025

AJU and Shoah Legacy Writers honor Yom HaShoah through the stories of Holocaust survivors, told through their children’s voices. Join us for a powerful online Yom HaShoah event featuring members of Shoah Legacy Writers, an organization dedicated to preserving and sharing the stories of Holocaust survivors through their children’s voices. Through the lens of “The […]

Free
Apr 28
Apr 28, 2025

This four-part class will be held on Mondays, April 28, May 5, 12, 19 Examine FDR’s response to the Holocaust, the debate over bombing Auschwitz, and America’s role in rescuing European Jewry. In this four-part class we'll explore Franklin D. Roosevelt’s response to the Holocaust, examining key decisions, missed opportunities, and the political forces that shaped U.S. actions. […]

$145.00
Apr 29
Apr 29, 2025

Join us for a riveting journey into the stories excluded from the Hebrew Bible, where history, theology, and mystery collide. What if the Bible had included books filled with angels, demons, and hidden secrets of creation? During the Second Temple period, some Jewish communities read a fascinating collection of texts that were ultimately excluded from […]

$320.00
May 2025
May 01
May 01, 2025

Explore Hebrew’s deep Semitic roots and uncover how its ancient origins shaped the language we speak today. Join Elon Gilad and Hebrew at AJU for a special Yom Haatzmaut (Israeli Independence Day) program exploring the roots of modern Hebrew! Gilad will take you on an exploration of Hebrew etymology, tracing the fascinating evolution of the Hebrew […]

Free
May 01
May 01, 2025

Learn how the fall of the second temple gave rise to a messianic movement that transformed the world. Discover the dramatic origins of Christianity and how it emerged from the ashes of ancient Judea’s greatest crisis. When the First Temple fell in 586 BCE, the Jewish people faced an existential reckoning, leading to the evolution […]

$320.00
May 06
May 06, 2025

Historian Shari Rabin explores how Jews navigated religious identity, racial dynamics, and historical events in America’s Southern States. From Alexandria Louisiana to Galveston Texas, the vibrant history of Jews in the South is a mystery that has yet to be fully explored by historians, until now. Join us for a fascinating conversation with ISJL’s Shira […]

Free
May 29
May 29, 2025

Join this powerful discussion on reimagining the Psalms in the shadow of the Holocaust, exploring faith and resilience through poetry. My brother was only five years old // Adonai our mother taught him // to love You that You // would not let him stumble // would not let him fall   Join us for an […]

Free
June 2025
Jun 10
Jun 10, 2025

Discover the courageous efforts of American aid workers who risked their lives to rescue refugees during World War II. Three groups, three motivations, three methods—one shared goal: to save as many lives as possible in the chaos of World War II. Join two renowned Holocaust historians Debórah Dwork and AJU’s Michael Berenbaum as they discuss […]

Free
Jun 12
Jun 12, 2025

Learn how ancient Jewish wisdom offers practical guidance for love, rest, justice, and joy in everyday life. Judaism is more than a religion—it’s a culture that blends ritual with real-life wisdom. In The Jewish Way to a Good Life, Rabbi Shira Stutman explores how Jewish traditions endure because they meet our deepest needs, from shiva’s […]

Free
Jun 16
Jun 16, 2025

Two academics, one Jewish and one Muslim, come together to show how much their faiths have in common—particularly in America. In a time marked by rising tension and division, Following Similar Paths offers a powerful reminder that hope is in the stories we share and the bridges we build together. Join authors Samuel Heilman and […]

Free
Jun 26
Jun 26, 2025

Discover the Jewish story of Lithuania, from Europe’s Jerusalem in Vilna, the impact of WWII, and today’s resilient Jewish community. Join Nick Sayers as we delve into his personal journey to uncover the history of Jewish life in Lithuania. Through a blend of family history and historical analysis, this class addresses key questions about Jewish […]

Free