Prospectus

Too often, Israel is presented as a simplistic, black and white issue. Too often, Israel is framed purely in terms of conflict. Too often, we lack the balanced space to think and discuss, to reflect and hear.  This has never been more clear than in the months after October 7. If you feel this way too often, and are passionate about Israel, 10 Truths is for you. The world’s first collaborative space for high school students who would like to develop critical thinking skills; online critical awareness; conflict management EQ; and a solid, balanced, long-view of Israel. Rav Ramon Widmonte takes our youth on this paradigm-shifting journey. Because sometimes, things aren’t black and white.

Preparation and introspection for the first Days of Awe after October 7. We stood last year, on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur: a few weeks or days before October 7th. How do we stand there again? How have we changed? How have our processes and tefillot (prayers) changed?   Using the machzor meaningfully is always a challenge. This year, there’s another layer of challenge. How do we see these prayers in the wake of October 7? Can we read into them our failure of the year before and how then do we approach the next?

“All the people saw the thunder and lightning, the blare of the horn and the mountain smoking… Then Moshe, Aharon, Nadav and Avihu, and seventy sages of Israel ascended; and they perceived the G-d of Israel, and beneath His feet was like the forming of a sapphire brick and like the appearance of the heavens for clarity...” Sh’mot 20:15; 24:9-10 At Mount Sinai, the Jewish people encountered the Holy One in a supreme moment of connection. Ever since then, the idea of coming close to Hashem is one that people strive for in different ways – from prophecy and the holy fire of the times of the First Temple to meditation and prayer. Today, many struggle to reconnect, to find the wonder and awe in the world and to link to the Divine. Many are trying "quick and easy" solutions – do they "work"? Is it part of our tradition? Is it right? Are they just chemical illusions of intimacy? Join The Academy, Yochi Ress and guests for a very different journey, aligning our hearts and minds with wonder and awe. We’ll unpack the history of spiritual ecstasy in Judaism, and consider how Halachic and experiential elements of our religion are interwoven. How do we find the connection channels that are more personally resonant and relevant? How does this all fit into our spiritual and physical wellbeing?

“When the Lord returns the returnees to Zion, we shall be like dreamers” (Psalms 126:1) The book of Ezra-Nehemiah is the Biblical record of the Jews’ return from Babylon to Jerusalem, while Iraqi Jews returned to the modern State of Israel in Operation Ezra & Nehemiah in the 20th century. The culture and society of Iraqi Jews was one of the most venerable, passionate, rich and integrated in the Jewish world. But then it all came apart in an explosion of antisemitism, and most left for the Holy Land. Sarah Sassoon and guests explore both these incredible stories, their historical context, the journey of return to a nascent state and the emotional and spiritual quest and struggles both faced. Two different yet similar tales – yet both ask: What happens when the dream becomes real?

A Tanach Journey Not for nothing is the Tanach known as “The Book of Books”. For millennia, it has stirred debate, rebellion, war, love, cruelty and hope. But inspiring as it is, we are often daunted at the sheer size of it – 22,000 verses in 24 books that span thousands of years! Cover the entire Tanach—one book at a time, one hour at a time, one week at a time. Gain insight into its central themes and messages. Learn the history, marvel at the imagery and explore its understanding of G-d, humanity and this world. Because a story this daring deserves to be told. Grand introduction: A Bird’s-Eye View of Tanach Breishit Shemot Vayikra Bamidbar Devarim

Join the Academy on the next part of the Tanach Journey, as we begin the Nevi’im – the Prophets. We meet the Jewish people standing on the banks of the River Jordan, about to enter the Land of Israel and take up their destiny. While we know some of the stories, heroes and heroines, there are many others to meet and much more to learn about the life of the Jewish people in their land.   Why are these books in our Bible? What paradigm-shifting, assumption-breaking, mind-blowing ideas do they give us? Let’s find out – one book at a time, one hour at a time, one week at a time – from a Bird’s-Eye View.   Through the narratives of the first sovereign State of Israel, and the prophets that speak truth to power, we’ll learn of the ups and downs of Jewish history, as the people wrestle with fulfilling their part in the covenant and setting up a society that is based on morality, freedom and seeing the image of G-d in the face of the other.   Take part in this unique opportunity to explore the ultimate Jewish text in all of its glory and grit.   Sessions:  Intro to Nach  Yehoshua  Shoftim  Shmuel  Melachim  Yishayahu  Yirmiyahu  Yechezkel  Trei Asar

A Study of Judaism’s Environmental Perspective. “Despise no-one and deem nothing impossible; for there is no person who does not have his hour – and there is no thing that does not have its place.” Pirkei Avot/Ethics of our Fathers 4:3 There’s never been a better time than now to consider our place on the planet, as human beings and as Jews. In fact, way back in the Garden of Eden, humanity was given a job to do: To work and to protect the planet. How do we fulfil this mandate? How should we as Jews look at the world around us? Is there such a thing as animal rights in the Torah? Is recycling a mitzvah (command) from the Torah? What’s so special about trees anyway? From biodiversity to sustainability, from conservation to green spaces… turns out all these are part of our way of life as a species and a people. Together we’ll seek to understand how important – and Jewish – it is to be green.

The literature of grief and hope across 2,000 years. On this 9th of Av, our memories of destruction of 2,000 years ago have been overlaid with the destruction of a few months ago. Our ancient texts take on new meaning and elicit questions: How do our texts make meaning of a singular event? How do they help us today? The book of Eicha – Lamentation – was written at the time of the destruction of the first Temple. Kinnot – poems of lament – have been written for a thousand years or more across our long and tragic diaspora in response to massacres, crusades and holocaust since then. We will look at the need to write and pray in reaction to an event, to making meaning of memory and to attempt to understand what more we need to do in the face of destruction. Join the Academy for an experiential look into the literature that reacts and responds to grief and tragedy, both on the 9th of Av and on October 7th.

The miracle of Chanukah took place in 165 BCE. But in fact, this victory against all odds is the middle of the story, one that stretched over years before and continued long after. Yet it is that moment that we commemorate, with lights of oil, and oily doughnuts, hallel and special prayers, encompassing two types of miracles – the military and the menorah.   Yet for such a long, important festival, there’s little about it in the Talmud and nothing in the Tanach. How do we know the story? Who were the Maccabees? What are the Books of the Maccabees and the obscure Megillat Antiochus, who wrote them and why aren’t they ensconced in our canon? Join the Academy to unpack these questions, read a little of the Megillah we don’t read - and discover more about the momentous chag of light and war.

The Haftarah is a passage from the Nevi’im (Prophets) that is recited after Torah reading on Shabbat and Festival mornings (and on some afternoons too).  The origins of this reading are lost in the mists of time. Was it in response to persecution, polemics or was it part of an ancient educational methodology? Why were these particular chapters or portions chosen? How did this come to be associated with bar-mitzvah celebrations? Sadly, for many, the reading of the Haftarah has become an opportunity to escape the shul service and get a schnapps; swapping a 2,000-year-old for a 12-year-old.  This course is an opportunity to unpack this often-overlooked part of the shul service, and discover some of the most beautiful texts in the world, their prophetic authors, the patterns that they created – and a very different blend.

"Bad men need nothing more to compass their ends, than that good men should look on and do nothing." ~ John Stuart Mill Do you feel besieged on Israel? Do you wish you had the knowledge and skills you need to engage in the ways you feel you could? Do you wish you had a grasp of the big picture as well as the details on Israel? Do you wish to understand the other side's narratives? Too often, we lack the balanced space to think and discuss, to reflect and hear. This has never been more clear than in the months after October 7. If you feel this way too often, and are passionate about Israel, the Israel MasterCourse is for you.  Join the Academy for the world’s first collaborative space to develop critical thinking skills; high-level as well as granular knowledge on Israel; online critical awareness; exposure to all sides and narratives; skills to educate, communicate and engage in adversarial communication. Because silence is not an option.

Jewish law, thought and ethics - from Amalek to Hamas to the ICJ “You shall erase the memory of Amalek from under the heavens; do not forget!” Devarim 25:19 As we find ourselves in a time of war, we turn to the Torah to understand and to be our guide.  What does the Torah think about war? Does it encourage it or is it a necessary evil? Does the Torah countenance or perhaps require what Israel currently stands accused of: genocide? Are references to Amalek genocidal? From the first war recounted in the Torah through the laws given in Devarim (Deuteronomy), to the Talmud and classical thinkers and commentators, the Torah portrays a breathtakingly nuanced view. Join the Academy for a deep dive into a clash of civilisations: the Torah’s ethics of war and its creation of a universal attitude towards life and the use of force - impacting and changing Western thought forever.

The book of Yehoshua (Joshua) is the sequel to the Torah, charting the beginning of the Jewish nation’s attempt to forge a State in the Holy Land and the challenges they encounter. It is a book that looks at the realisation of the vision of the Torah, and the beginning of ‘real life’ in a real land with all its complexity.  How will they balance their faith in G-d with a normal life of working the land? Will the Holy Land be Holy or just another country?  This journey through the book of Yehoshua is an exploration of the people and places of our past – of the reality versus the dream. It is the end of the beginning.

Exploring the book "Not in G-d's Name" by Rabbi Jonathan Sacks ztz’l. I believe that I am a character in our people’s story, with my own chapter to write, and so are we all. To be a Jew is to see yourself as part of that story, to make it live in our time, and to do your best to hand it on to those who will come after us. – Rabbi Jonathan Sacks ztz’l Rabbi Sacks, thinker, philosopher, rabbi and leader, loved books and words, authoring more than 20 during his life. These works, erudite, passionate have inspired and changed lives. In them, Rabbi Sacks’ approaches to life, humanity and Judaism are so often radically different from our expectations: they are transformative, counterintuitive and more relevant even years later. The Academy Book Club is a space for those who love reading, who love books, or think, as many of our ancestors did, that the true wealth of the Jewish people lies in our ideas, thoughts and books.  Here we will showcase and discuss one of Rabbi Sacks’ works, delving into its ideas, many unusual, new or even controversial. Through looking at the themes, we’ll appreciate the power of words, particularly those of one who could be said to be “the master of words.”

The powerlessness of Jewish women was never clearer than October 7, 2023. And the crimes against them were ignored and even debated by the very organisations that were meant to stand up for women – UN Women and others. Then there were the female officers and soldiers of the IDF who, months before the massacre, warned the upper echelons that disaster was coming… but they were ignored.  Thousands of years ago, the Tanach, on the other hand, gave a voice to the silence. In the days where women had no voice, this book gave them one – or told their stories so that they would not be forgotten and their messages would be heard.

The Rabbi Sacks Machzor Club The prayers we say on Rosh Hashanah span more than thirty centuries and some need decoding if they are to speak to us today. – Rabbi Jonathan Sacks ztz’l, Introduction to the Rosh Hashanah Machzor Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur celebrate the creation of the world, the coronation of its Creator and our moment to return to G-d and our true selves. The Machzor – the festival prayer book – of each is meant to aid us in this quest. Yet, we are daunted by the concept, the often-opaque language, and the sheer number of pages of the book before us. How do we connect to the shul service or to the prayers themselves? In response, Rabbi Jonathan Sacks ztz’l created a translation where he expressed the poetry and power of these ancient Hebrew prayers, while in his introductions and commentaries, provided a whole new meaning of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Join the Academy and Gardens Shul as we delve into Rabbi Sacks’ words as he expresses the power behind prayer, weaves together text and philosophy, and unpacks the themes of self-change, faith, love, hope, spirituality, forgiveness, and love of G-d and humanity.

Exploring the book "Radical Then, Radical Now" by Rabbi Jonathan Sacks ztz’l. The Academy Book Club and Sydenham Shul have begun unpacking some of the works of Rabbi Jonathan Sacks ztz’l. Rabbi Sacks, thinker, philosopher and leader, loved books and words, authoring more than 20 during his life. In them, Rabbi Sacks’ approaches to life, humanity and Judaism are so often radically different from our expectations: they are transformative, counterintuitive and relevant today. This term, we’re reading Radical Then, Radical Now, a powerful testimony to the amazing resilience of the Jewish people who have, through their endurance of four thousand years of persecution and exile, earned a unique place in history. In that space, we created an identity for ourselves through shared dreams of freedom, justice, dignity and human rights. Rabbi Sacks asks three penetrating questions: Who am I? Who are we? And how did we lose our way? Through a journey of self-discovery – his own – he reminds us of the legacy we carry and our responsibility to ourselves, our nation, our G-d – and the human race.

Approaching the High Holy Days with Rabbi Jonathan Sacks I am my Beloved’s and my Beloved is mine. — Song of Songs 6:3 G-d believes in us more than we believe in ourselves. — Rabbi Jonathan Sacks ztz’l   This time of year – the month of Elul and the High Holy Days – is filled with energy, emotion and self-contemplation, and Rabbi Jonathan Sacks wrote much about it, whether in his machzorim (festival prayer books) or in articles and books on the subject.   Join the Academy as we reflect on some of Rabbi Sacks’ favourite themes, such as self-change, faith, love, hope, spirituality, and forgiveness, and his flair for interweaving text and philosophy, love of G-d and humanity.    Delve into your High Holy Days with Rabbi Sacks words and thoughts where we will not only begin to understand but also reflect on what these holy days mean for us today.

Learn and practice – the art of Jewish self-defence and the Jewish ideas behind it   “Jewish blood is not free for taking, is not hefker.” (Rav Soloveitchik, Kol Dodi Dofek) For two thousand years, Jewish blood was treated as worthless. Just over 150 years ago, Jews began to question what they could do to defend themselves. But the idea of Jewish self-defence is not modern at all. It is rooted in the Torah, Jewish history and values – from Abraham to Deborah to Yehudit to the Maccabees, Bar Kochba and beyond. Since October 7th, these ideas and skills have been cast in a new light, becoming more relevant than ever.    Join the Academy and the CSO for a unique learning and practical experience. In the first part of each session, we’ll unpack the concept of self-defence in the Torah, Jewish values and law and in our history. We’ll look in the mirror, at how we saw ourselves in our land some 3,000 years ago, and how we see ourselves today. The second part is a practical self-defence and awareness workshop, run by expert trainers of the CSO and is free of charge.