My G-d: Defining the Divine

This interactive class was created by The Rohr Jewish Learning Institute and is part of a six-week course. You can attend the whole course or just a single class.

My G-d: Defining the Divine

9 November - 14 December 2022

6 Wednesday evenings

19:30-21:00

Location: Community Centre, 1-3 Elliott's Place / Zoom

Price: £60 / £45 Supporters Club members

Book the full course

Course Overview

Nothing is off-limits as this refreshingly open course asks piercing questions about G-d and delivers profound, insightful answers. An enlightening study into G-d’s nature, G-d’s goal for creation, human experiences of G-d, the role of religion, and the function of miracles and prayer, this course promises to satisfy your questions, including those you didn't know you had.

Lesson Details

Lesson 1 The Basics

Let’s become familiar with G-d’s basic bio: What is G-d and where is He? Does G-d have a gender? And who created G-d?

 

Lesson 2 His Nature

Let’s learn a bit about how G-d operates: Does G-d have feelings? Does He communicate with us? Does He ever act illogically? Why does He have so many names? And why is it that many write “G-d” with a hyphen?

  

Lesson 3His Reasons

Let’s discover why G-d does what he does: Why did G-d create me—does He need me? And why did He create evil—does He need evil? Can I question G-d? And why is He described in the Bible as “wrathful” and “jealous”?

Lesson 4 His Expectations

Let’s discuss G-d’s expectations of us: Do I have to believe in G-d to be Jewish? What if I have doubts about G-d?

Do I need to fear G-d? That doesn’t sound very appealing!

Lastly, I’m okay with believing in G-d, but I’m not religious. Can I still have a relationship with Him?

Lesson 5 His Paradoxes

Let’s delve into some of the deeper Divine mysteries and enigmas:  Can G-d create a rock that He can’t lift? Does His foreknowledge of events preclude my free choice? Is there anything that G-d finds difficult to do? And if G-d has decided to do something, can I change His mind?

Lesson 6 Our Relationship

Let’s deepen our understanding of our relationship with G-d: Why can’t we see G-d? Because we can’t see Him, can we reconcile His existence with science?

Why is Judaism so obsessed with idolatry—is G-d jealous?

Last of all: I’m a spiritual person; do I need to follow the Torah’s “system” to have a relationship with G-d?