Land and Spirit to explore ties that bind

By Jewish Review

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“The Land and the Spirit,” a new six-week class from the Rohr Jewish Learning Institute, will explore the ties that bind Jews to Israel at three locations in the Portland area beginning Oct. 30.

“I’m really excited about teaching this class,” said Portland’s new JLI Director Rabbi Motti Wilhelm. “Israel is something we all care passionately about. We’ll explore why the world is so passionate about it and why it keeps making headlines.”

“As a nation, we’ve spent much more time out of Israel than in it, but for thousands of years we stand in shul three times a day and face Israel,” said Wilhelm.

Wilhelm attended the JLI’s training program in New Jersey in July with about 300 instructors who will teach the course at JLI sites worldwide.

Locally, the course will be offered 7:30-9 p.m., Tuesdays, beginning Oct. 30, on the eastside at 5130 SE 30th Ave. and in Lake Oswego at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, 14811 Kruse Oaks Dr.; and 7:30-9 p.m., Wednesdays, beginning Oct. 31, on the west side at the JLI, 6686 SW Capitol Hwy.

Topics for each week are: The Promised Land, Living on the Land, The Holy Land, Whose Land is it Anyway? A Land Like Other Lands? and Israel and the Diaspora.

Graduates also will be able to join a JLI trip to Israel in the spring that will build on the curriculum.

Wilhelm will teach the class in Lake Oswego and on the west side of Portland; Rabbi Dov Bialo will teach the eastside class.

Cost of the six-week class is $100, which includes textbooks. For more information and to register, contact the JLI at 503-977-9947 or JLI@chabadoregon.com.