The Ethical Life:Jewish Values in an Age of Choice

A Turnkey Curriculum in Jewish Ethics from 91快播

From political and financial scandals to rapid progress in biomedical science and technology, the complex issues of modern society are, at their core, issues of ethical and moral concern. Now more than ever, we require a solid understanding of how Jewish ethics can inform our discussions and decisions about the critical questions of the day. Judaism has a long history of wrestling with moral questions, responding to them in a way that considers all sides of an issue.

This complete, turnkey course for adult learners gives rabbis and educators the resources to facilitate nuanced communal conversations grappling with today鈥檚 most pressing ethical dilemmas. It includes videos featuring 91快播 faculty, other expert scholars, and practitioners in the field; classical and contemporary texts; an extensive leader鈥檚 guide; and additional resources online.

How to Order

The price for this complete course is $500. This includes all video lectures on USB, and password-protected access to all course materials online.

Discounts are available.If your organization is not able to afford this price, please emailethical.life@jtsa.edu.

We are also pleased to have launched The Ethical Life: A 91快播 Curriculum for Teens in Fall 2023. The two curricula can be purchased together at a 25 percent discount.

What the Curriculum Includes

  • Video Lectures: 91快播 faculty members and other expert scholars lecture for approximately 10鈥15 minutes, offering a reasoned position on an ethical dilemma.
  • Sourcebook: The sourcebook includes primary texts for each lecture鈥攊n the original language and with English translation鈥攁nd recommended background readings.
  • Leader鈥檚 Guide: An extensive collection of resources for course leaders, including guidelines for conducting conversations about ethics; recommendations for how to structure each session; an outline of each video lecture; hevruta questions and explanatory notes for primary sources; illustrative case studies; suggested discussion questions; and recommended background resources.
  • 鈥淰oices from the Field”: Videos 3鈥5 minutes long featuring individuals from the American Jewish community who, in their professions, grapple with ethical challenges on a daily basis.

All course materials are housed on a password-protected online platform. Video lectures are also provided on a USB drive. Textual sources are provided as PDFs, to be printed locally by each participating community or accessed on electronic devices for a paperless experience. The Leader鈥檚 Guide is provided both in print and online as a PDF.

Course Contents

I. Foundational Sessions

  1. Introduction:
    • The Centrality of Ethics to Jewish Life: Chancellor Arnold Eisen
    • Does Ethics Need God?: Dr. Alan Mittleman
  2. The Sources of Jewish Ethics:
    • Ethics and Halakhah (Law): Rabbi Gordon Tucker, PhD and Rabbi Elliot Dorff, PhD
    • Ethics and Aggadah (Narrative): Dr. Eitan Fishbane
    • Ethics and the Lived Experience鈥擜 Feminist Approach: Dr. Michal Raucher 

II. Ethics of Global Citizenship and the Public Good

  1. The Ethical Dimensions of Food Production: Dr. David Kraemer
  2. Fracking: A Case Study in the Ethics of Neighborly Relations: Rabbi Eliezer Diamond, PhD
  3. Is Teshuvah Possible? Rethinking Mass Incarceration: Rabbi Jill Jacobs
  4. Modern-Day Slavery and Our Ethical Responsibility: Rabbi Gordon Tucker, PhD
  5. The Ethics of Torture and Just War: Rabbi Melissa Weintraub 

III. Personal and Interpersonal Ethics

  1. Advance Directives and the Ethics of End-of-Life Care: Rabbi Mychal Springer
  2. Disabilities and the Ethics of Inclusion:Rabbi Daniel Nevins
  3. Surrogacy and the Ethics of Relationships: Dr. Michal Raucher
  4. Better than Normal? The Ethics of Enhancement: Rabbi Leonard Sharzer, MD
  5. Is Lying Ever Ethical?: Rabbi David Hoffman, PhD 

A Modular Framework

The videos and accompanying materials are designed to be used by clergy or educators as part of an ongoing study program, rather than as stand-alone sessions. However, each unit stands on its own, so course leaders may select which sessions they wish to include and in what order they wish to teach them. 

What People Are Saying

鈥91快播 offers rabbis in the field a tremendous resource in The Ethical Life. The materials themselves are beautifully put together and reflect the high level and seriousness behind the curriculum. The complementary videos are professional and integrate seamlessly. My adult students are really enjoying the text study and video lectures, and I鈥檓 grateful to 91快播 for embarking on the project.鈥
鈥擱abbi Joel Levenson, Midway Jewish Center, Syosset, NY

鈥淭he Ethical Life course gave the students the ability to make connections between Jewish wisdom and the 21st century.鈥
鈥擱abbi Kobi Chumash, Temple Shalom, Colorado Springs, CO

鈥淚 taught The Ethical Life to an active and animated group of about 25 adult students. They were engaged with the texts and the videos, enjoyed the opportunity to study with 91快播 scholars and benefitted from the sustained discussion about each topic. When we concluded the course, they asked for more time and topics.鈥
鈥擱abbi Baruch Frydman-Kohl, Beth Tzedec Congregation, Toronto, ON

鈥淭he fundamental wisdom of the ancient masters combined with the wisdom of contemporary Jewish scholars demonstrates that the Conservative Movement continues to evolve and broaden its scope to address the ethical issues of the 21st century. Some issues were timeless and some were timely.鈥
鈥擟ourse Participant, Fair Lawn Jewish Center/ Congregation B’nai Israel, Fairlawn, NJ

Contact Us

To learn more about this course, please contact ethical.life@jtsa.edu.

Sites offering The Ethical Life include:

North America

  • Calgary, AB鈥擝eth Tzedec
  • Phoenix, AZ鈥擝eth El Congregation
  • Scottsdale, AZ – Congregation Or Tzion
  • Aliso Viejo, CA鈥擳emple Beth El of South Orange County
  • Long Beach, CA鈥擳emple Beth Shalom of Long Beach
  • Los Angeles, CA鈥擳emple Beth Am
  • Los Gatos, CA鈥擸avneh Day School
  • Walnut Creek, CA鈥擝鈥檔ai Tikvah
  • Colorado Springs, CO鈥擳emple Shalom
  • Bloomfield, CT鈥擬andell JCC
  • Bloomfield, CT鈥擳he Neshama Center for Lifelong Learning @ B’nai Tikvoh-Sholom
  • Greenwich, CT鈥擳emple Sholom
  • Manchester, CT鈥擝eth Shalom B’nai Israel
  • Middletown, CT鈥擜dath Israel
  • Stamford, CT鈥擳emple Beth El
  • West Hartford, CT鈥擝eth El Temple
  • Washington, DC鈥擜das Israel Congregation
  • Washington, DC鈥擥eorgetown University Jewish Life
  • Boca Raton, FL鈥擝’nai Torah Congregation
  • Boca Raton, FL鈥擲haarei Kodesh
  • Clearwater, FL鈥擟ongregation Beth Shalom
  • Delray, FL鈥擳he Neshamah Institute
  • Fort Myers, FL鈥擳emple Judea
  • Gainesville, FL鈥擟ongregation B’nai Israel
  • Naples, FL鈥擝eth Tikvah of Naples
  • Chicago, IL鈥擜nshe Emet Synagogue
  • Highland Park, IL鈥擭orth Suburban Synagogue Beth El
  • Northfield, IL鈥擜m Yisrael Conservative Congregation
  • Springfield, IL鈥擳empleB’rith Sholom
  • Springfield, IL鈥擳emple Israel
  • Louisville, KY鈥擪eneseth Israel Congregation
  • Lexington, MA鈥擳emple Emunah
  • Natick, MA鈥擳emple Israel of Natick
  • Needham, MA鈥擳emple Aliyah
  • Pittsfield, MA鈥擪nesset Israel
  • Taunton, MA鈥擜gudath Achim
  • Worcester, MA鈥擟ongregation Beth Israel
  • Baltimore, MD鈥擟hizuk Amuno Congregation
  • Damascus, MD鈥擟ongregation Or Chadash
  • Frederick, MD鈥擝eth Sholom Congregation
  • Olney, MD鈥擝’nai Shalom of Olney
  • Potomac, MD鈥擟ongregation B’nai Tzedek
  • Rockville, MD鈥擪ol Shalom Synagogue
  • Ann Arbor, MI鈥擝eth Israel
  • Portage, MI鈥擟ongregation of Moses
  • Southfield, MI鈥擟ongregation Shaarey Zedek
  • West Bloomfield, MI鈥擟ongregation Beth Ahm
  • Minnetonka, MN鈥擜dath Jeshurun Congregation
  • Northfield, MN鈥擟arleton College
  • Northfield, MN鈥擲t. Olaf College
  • Northfield, MN鈥擳emple Sholom
  • St Louis Park, MN鈥擝eth El Synagogue
  • Creve Coeur, MO鈥擟ongregation B’nai Amoona
  • St Louis, MO鈥擩ewish Federation of St Louis
  • St Louis, MO鈥擪ol Rinah
  • St Louis, MO鈥擧illel at Washington University in St. Louis
  • St Louis, MO鈥擲t. Louis Jewish Community Center
  • Charlotte, NC鈥擳emple Israel
  • Raleigh, NC鈥擝eth Meyer Synagogue
  • Omaha, NE鈥擝eth El Synagogue
  • Nashua, NH鈥擳emple Beth Abraham
  • Basking Ridge, NJ鈥擟ongregation B鈥檔ai Israel
  • Bridgewater, NJ鈥擳emple Sholom
  • Cherry Hill, NJ鈥擳emple Beth Sholom
  • Closter, NJ鈥擳emple Emanu-El
  • East Windsor, NJ鈥擝eth El Synagogue
  • Fair Lawn, NJ鈥擳he Fair Lawn Jewish Center/Congregation B’nai Israel
  • Hoboken, NJ鈥擴nited Synagogue of Hoboken
  • Livingston, NJ鈥擳emple Beth Shalom
  • Long Beach Island, NJ鈥擩ewish Community Center of Long Beach Island
  • Middletown, NJ鈥擟ongregation B’nai Israel
  • Millburn, NJ鈥擟ongregation B’nai Israel
  • Morris Plains, NJ鈥擜dath Shalom
  • Oakhurst, NJ鈥擟ongregation Torat El
  • Rockaway, NJ鈥擶hite Meadow Temple
  • Scotch Plains, NJ鈥擟ongregation Beth Israel
  • Somerset, NJ鈥擳emple Beth El
  • South Orange, NJ鈥擮heb Shalom Congregation
  • West Orange, NJ鈥擝’nai Shalom
  • Teaneck, NJ鈥擟ongregation Beth Sholom
  • Ventnor, NJ鈥擲hirat Hayam
  • Woodcliff Lake, NJ鈥擳emple Emanuel of the Pascack Valley
  • Albany, NY鈥擳emple Israel
  • Dix Hills, NY鈥擠ix Hills Jewish Center
  • Flushing, NY鈥擧ollis Hills Bayside Jewish Center
  • Flushing, NY鈥擳emple Gates of Prayer
  • Greenport, NY鈥擟ongregation Tifereth Israel
  • Mamaroneck, NY鈥擶estchester Jewish Center
  • Mount Kisco, NY鈥擝et Torah
  • Newburgh, NY鈥擟ongregation Agudas Israel
  • New City, NY鈥擭ew City Jewish Center
  • New York, NY鈥擟entral Synagogue
  • New York, NY鈥擣ort Tryon Jewish Center
  • New York, NY鈥擯ark Avenue Synagogue
  • New York, NY鈥擲utton Place Synagogue
  • New York, NY鈥擳own and Village Synagogue
  • Niskayuna, NY鈥擟ongregation Agudat Achim
  • Oceanside, NY鈥擮ceanside Jewish Center
  • Orangeburg, NY鈥擮rangetown Jewish Center
  • Pelham Manor, NY鈥擯elham Jewish Center
  • Port Chester, NY鈥擟ongregation KTI
  • Port Washington, NY鈥擳emple Beth Israel
  • Roslyn Heights, NY鈥擳emple Beth Sholom
  • Rye, NY鈥擟ommunity Synagogue of Rye
  • Rye, NY鈥擟ongregation Emanu-El of Westchester
  • Scarsdale, NY鈥擲haarei Tikvah
  • Syosset, NY鈥擬idway Jewish Center
  • Syracuse, NY鈥擳emple Adath Yeshurun
  • White Plains, NY鈥擳emple Israel Center
  • Cincinnati, OH鈥擜dath Israel Congregation
  • Columbus, OH鈥擳ifereth Israel
  • Pepper Pike, OH鈥擝’nai Jeshurun Congregation
  • Toronto, ON鈥擜dath Israel Congregation
  • Toronto, ON鈥擝eth Tzedec Congregation
  • Vaughan, ON鈥擝eit Rayim Synagogue
  • Bethlehem, PA鈥擟ongregation Brith Sholom
  • Dresher, PA鈥擳emple Sinai
  • Harrisburg, PA鈥擝eth El Temple
  • Harrisburg, PA鈥擟hisuk Emuna Congregation
  • Lancaster, PA鈥擳emple Beth El
  • Penn Valley, PA鈥擟ongregation Beth Am Israel
  • Reading, PA鈥擪esher Zion Synagogue
  • Richboro, PA鈥擮hev Shalom of Bucks County
  • Montreal, QC鈥擲haare Zion
  • Knoxville, TN鈥擧eska Amuna Synagogue
  • Memphis, TN鈥擝eth Sholom Synagogue
  • Dallas, TX鈥擟ongregation Shearith Israel
  • Houston, TX鈥擟ongregation Or Ami
  • San Antonio, TX鈥擟ongregation Agudas Achim
  • Alexandria, VA鈥擜gudas Achim Congregation
  • Arlington, VA鈥擟ongregation Etz Hayim
  • Hampton, VA鈥擱odef Sholom Temple
  • Seattle, WA鈥擟ongregation Beth Shalom
  • Glendale, WI鈥擟ongregation Beth Israel Ner Tamid

International

  • Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg鈥揕iberal Jewish Community of Luxembourg in Esch/Alzette
  • London, UK 鈥 New North London Synagogue

This course is made possible through the generous support of the Hereld Institute for Jewish Studies of 91快播.