Torah Studies

Dear Friend,

Chabad of Las Cruces, is proud to present our Torah Studies catalog of classes for the fourth season of the 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 Studies program 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, you will also find classes about the upcoming Jewish High-Holidays – Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur and Sukkos. These classes are open to all, whatever your level of learning may be, and we encourage you to bring your friends along.
 

Shalom,
Rabbi Bery Schmukler
Chabad of Las Cruces

	WED, JULY 11, 7 P.M. Judaism in a Nutshell What’s at the Core of Our Belief System? Love your fellow as you love yourself. Belief in one G‑d. These are some of the  classic fundamentals of Jewish ideology. This lesson explores a less familiar and more surprising statement of our sages that summarizes the ultimate message of Torah.
	WED, JULY 18, 7 P.M. Koshering Our Characters How to Shed Unwanted Traits How do you make non-kosher dishes kosher? This lesson explores Torah’s mechanism for extracting deeply saturated, unwanted substances and how it can empower us to shed our undesired character traits.
	Opportunity in Disguise How to Turn Around a Difficult Situation You lose a good job. Your marriage is falling apart. Your inner sense of security is crumbling from within. This class teaches you to seek out the opportunity buried within the misfortune.
	The Jewish Festival of Love An Inside Look at an Unusual Holiday The 15th of Av on the Jewish calendar is traditionally commemorated as a day of matchmaking and festivities. Why all the celebrations? This lesson explores the deeper significance of this unusual Jewish holiday and why the sages dubbed it the most joyful day of the year.
	WED, AUGUST 8, 7 P.M. Homeland or Holy Land? Our Dual Allegiances to the Land of Israel In addition to being our ancestral home, Israel is also the spiritual nexus of the world. Through a study of its indigenous fruits, this lesson will help you appreciate the multiple dimensions of Israel in a new light.
	WED, AUGUST 15, 7 P.M. Too Much of a Good Thing The Sin of Being Too Observant Is it a good thing that you can’t get enough of a good thing? If you’re willing to do more good, why not do it? This class discusses life and Judaism as a delicate divine recipe in which adding is subtracting.
	WED, AUGUST 22, 7 P.M. Justice and Compassion When What’s Right Isn’t the Right Thing to Do While the Jewish judicial system upholds the rule of law, preference is always given to compromise and settlement over litigation. This lesson presents a Jewish approach to judicial proceedings in which justice is served alongside compassion.
	Firstborn Rights The Effects of Children on Marriage Are your responsibilities to your children a matter of choice? Why does Judaism favor the firstborn child? This lesson discusses the power of children in turning a husband and wife into a father and mother.
	WED, SEPTEMBER 5, 7 P.M. Kosher Pride Confessing the Things You do Right If you’re always wrong, you’re never wrong. This class explores the mysterious mitzvah of “confession of tithes” to discover powerful lessons about the importance of acknowledging the good in ourselves and in others.
	WED, SEPTEMBER 12, 7 P.M. A Sword in the Bedroom Holding Onto Moments of Clarity to Withstand Temptation In this inspiring biblical account of character, courage and determination, Palti ben Layish, an unsung hero and King David’s personal confidante, teaches us how we can develop our own characters to become who we know we should be.
	Just One More Second Chance Divine Compassion and the Nature of Forgiveness Yom Kippur represents the idea that G‑d gives us a chance to start over. Judaism appreciates the value of incremental growth, realizing that man cannot become perfect overnight. This lesson explores the nature of divine forgiveness and when we should be forgiving of others.
	The Pursuit of Happiness Why Happiness Is So Elusive What is happiness? We all want it, but tend to look for it in the wrong places. This lesson explores the quest for happiness and uncovers a clue to unlocking its secret from a bizarre Talmudic tale.