B'nai Havurah - Drop in weekly 
Dial-in number: 319-527-2841 When prompted, access code: 441926

More than a year ago, a few of us decided to read the rest of the Tanakh -- not the first five books of Hebrew Bible we read on Shabbat, but the rest. In 2019-2020, we read how the walls of Jericho tumbled down and Samson got his hair cut. Bathsheba took her famous bath, Jezebel went to the dogs, and Elisha saw a chariot so mystical a major mystical movement is based on it.

Now, it’s fall 2020 and we’ve reached Jeremiah, who could have had an interesting conversation with Cassandra (and modern climate scientists) about what it feels like to see the future and not be believed. Jeremiah and his colleagues take us into the Iron Age as it looked to a group of charismatic men from Israel and Judah trying to understand their perilous political situation. 

Once a week we read three to six chapters of Tanakh out loud. Those of us using an annotated Tanakh share some of the notes. We ask each other questions and share our reactions, maybe throw in some art, music and archaeology.  Western culture is suffused with visual art, music, novels, and movies depicting what’s in the rest of Tanakh. Why not learn more of our own stuff? 

All attitudes toward the text welcome, from reverent to what-the-f** is this and anywhere in between.

Registration is not required. All are welcome to join us for this informal and always fascinating drop-in program! 

Facilitator: Pat Madsen, a B’nai Havurah member for the better part of 30 years, has written liturgy, studied for a master’s in Judaic Studies, sat as a judge, practiced law, acted in local theaters, read more than is necessary and taught at the Denver Institute for Jewish Studies.