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SJC to present Alfred Gross Memorial Lecture June 14

May 31, 2014

Seaside Jewish Community will present “Entering Eden and Strolling Through ParRDes,” the seventh annual Alfred Gross Memorial Lecture, Saturday, June 14 at SJC, 18970 Holland Glade Road, Rehoboth.

The program will begin with a service at 10 a.m.; the presentation at 11 a.m.; lunch, which is free but requires reservation, at 12:30 p.m.; and the afternoon program at 1:30 p.m.

Rabbi Amy Scheinerman, the Hospice Rabbi of Howard County and a prominent national speaker, will present the story of the Garden of Eden through the four levels of interpretation that have guided Jewish exploration of sacred texts since antiquity (PaRDeS), and explore fascinating and surprising examples from the imaginative to the mystical.

“Many people think they know the story of the Garden of Eden,” says Scheinerman, “but few truly do. Most of us do not realize that we read this story through the lens of early interpretations that roam far from the biblical text. There’s fun and fascinating information here for everyone, and no background is required.”

Scheinerman received her bachelor’s degree from Brown University; she has studied at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem and Princeton Theological Seminary. She was ordained in 1984 at HUC in New York, where she also received a doctor of divinity degree in 2009. She is the immediate past president of the Baltimore Board of Rabbis and has served conservative, reform, and unaffiliated congregations.

The Alfred Gross Memorial Lecture is presented as a tribute to Gross’ contributions to education and tradition at SJC. He began his affiliation with SJC at a restaurant gathering that led to the beginnings of the synagogue 15 years ago. Almost immediately, Gross, who had completed most of a degree in rabbinical studies, began leading Sabbath and religious holiday services.

Until his death five years ago, he continued to teach classes and teach other members to lead services. He also taught Bar Mitzvah classes, Torah study, history and more. These memorial lectures honor his devotion to Jewish learning and knowledge.

 

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