1. Printing: Your printer might not print the same way our printers do, so make sure to try a couple of test prints. If things aren’t aligning quite right, experiment with the Scale to Fit Paper setting. It’s located in the Print dialog – just click Full Page Slides to get to it. And did you notice we made fold marks for you? They are really light, but if you don’t like them showing on your brochure, click View, Slide Master, and delete them before you print. Customizing the Content: The placeholders in this brochure are formatted for you. If you want to add or remove bullet points from text, just click the Bullets button on the Home tab. If you need more placeholders for titles, subtitles or body text, just make a copy of what you need and drag it into place. PowerPoint’s Smart Guides will help you align it with everything else. Want to use your own pictures instead of ours? No problem! Just click a picture, press the Delete key, then click the icon to add your picture. If you replace a photo with your own and it’s not a flawless fit for the space, you can crop it to fit in almost no time. Just select the picture and then, on the Picture tools Format tab, in the Size group, click Crop. The Institute for Basic Judaism 2016-2017 The Institute for Basic Judaism For more information contact Rabbi Richard Plavin, Director (860) 573-4503 riplavin@gmail.com www.ibjewish.org Introduction to Judaism is a pathway for the adult learner who wishes to discover or deepen Jewish knowledge. In 20 sessions we will provide a journey into Jewish spirituality, thought, ritual and culture. We will also discuss the scope of Jewish history, the meaning of Jewish peoplehood, Jewish diversity and the importance of Israel to the Jewish people. An Introduction to Judaism Program serving Central Connecticut Offered in partnership with the Miller Introduction to Judaism Program at American Jewish University Where and when will classes meet? Classes will meet at area Conservative synagogues. The first five sessions will meet at Emanuel, followed by Beth El, B'nai Tikvoh Sholom and Beth Sholom B'nai Israel. The program will meet on 21 Thursday evenings beginning on October 20, 2016. The introduction to Judaism module meets from 7:35 – 9:15 PM. From December 1, 2016 until February 9, 2017, a beginners Hebrew reading module will be added, meeting from 6:30 -7:25 PM. (Cost will depend upon number of registrants.) Program Fees: $295 per participant. Significant others and full-time students will receive a 50% discount. Students who have registered for the course in prior years will receive a 30% discount. There will be required readings. Many will be from texts you will want to acquire. Some readings will be provided as handouts. There will be an additional fee for the Hebrew reading module based on the number of students. Special arrangements may be made for reasons of financial need. Contact Rabbi Plavin to discuss your need confidentially. This program is endorsed by the Rabbinical Assembly of Greater Hartford

2. Printing: Your printer might not print the same way our printers do, so make sure to try a couple of test prints. If things aren’t aligning quite right, experiment with the Scale to Fit Paper setting. It’s located in the Print dialog – just click Full Page Slides to get to it. And did you notice we made fold marks for you? They are really light, but if you don’t like them showing on your brochure, click View, Slide Master, and delete them before you print. Customizing the Content: The placeholders in this brochure are formatted for you. If you want to add or remove bullet points from text, just click the Bullets button on the Home tab. If you need more placeholders for titles, subtitles or body text, just make a copy of what you need and drag it into place. PowerPoint’s Smart Guides will help you align it with everything else. Want to use your own pictures instead of ours? No problem! Just click a picture, press the Delete key, then click the icon to add your picture. If you replace a photo with your own and it’s not a flawless fit for the space, you can crop it to fit in almost no time. Just select the picture and then, on the Picture tools Format tab, in the Size group, click Crop. From past participants: “Observing Mitzvot (commandments) is the primary way Jews live a religious life. We express our search for God and our quest to live in holiness through the observance of Mitzvot. The Mitzvot inspire us by focusing our thoughts and elevating our feelings: they guide us toward behavior imbued with certain values and goals. The observance of Mitzvot shapes our actions and sanctifies our behavior. We make ourselves open to the spirit through the act of fulfilling Mitzvot.” - Rabbi Pamela Barmash The study of Mitzvot is the major focus of IBJ. Who are our students? You will learn about:  History and culture of the Jewish people  Holy days and festivals  Sabbath  Passover  Jewish concepts of God and ethics  Synagogue and its services  Life cycle observances including: birth bar & bat mitzvah marriage death  Kashrut: the Jewish dietary laws  Anti-Semitism and the Holocaust  Israel and Zionism  Diversity of contemporary Jewish life The Institute provides educational background for all seeking to learn about Judaism, including: “ “ “ “ Jews who never had the opportunity of a Jewish education in their youth. Prospective Jews-by-Choice who need to meet the academic requirements of conversion to Judaism. Individuals who want to better understand the religion of their significant other or a family member. Non-Jews who may have an intellectual curiosity about the mother faith of both Christianity and Islam. I found The Basic Judaism class with Rabbi Plavin to be very informative and easy to follow. I particularly enjoyed the way he pulled our class together like the new family we were beginning to form. I found the class and Rabbi Plavin to be warm and inviting to new comers as well as patient and kind. I found him to be extremely tolerant and accepting of people and their beliefs. Through this class I found myself falling in love with Judaism. Thank you so much for facilitating the wonderful class....It was truly a once-in-a-lifetime learning experience...I couldn't have asked for a better teacher or better introduction to this religion I have chosen!