Learning Fellowships
Overview
Hillel at FIU Learning Fellowships are experiential, conversational seminars for students, looking to deepen their understanding of a variety of subjects on their terms. Our job is to help you explore these subjects in a safe space and find your voice, your community, and your answers.
The Program
We offer 4 Jewish Learning Fellowships (aka JLFs) this semester. Each fellowship meets once a week, for
8 weeks, for an hour, starting in February. It is open to all FIU students and will be taught virtually.
Additionally, fellows earn $200 at the end of the semester. We also invite Fellows to reflect on their big
questions over a virtual 1:1 with our teachers and staff. We are looking for a small cohort, spaces are
extremely limited, if you are interested, apply today!
Registration Form
Tikkun Olam and You - Tikkun Olam Learning Fellowship
Mondays at 1 pm, starting February 8
Facilitator: Emma Breitman // In partnership with
Hillels of Warsaw and Brazil
Together with students from Poland and Brazil dive deep into the concept of Tikkun Olam
(Repair the World) and understand how justice is a core tenet of Judaism. Through the
combination of Jewish texts and modern-day sources, we will explore topics ranging from
empathy to inclusion to power dynamics to unpack why pursuing Justice is a Jewish value.
2/8 The Power of Empathy
How is being empathetic at the very core of Tikkun Olam? How can we use our empathy to
make a difference?
2/15 How do we Wield Power?
Who has power in our world? Where do Jews land in this? How is power wielded within our
own community?
2/22 For Whom am I Responsible: Community Care
What are the Jewish values behind caring for those inside and outside of our community?
3/1 Who’s In and Who’s Out
What does inclusion really look like in our work and what obligation do we have to include others in our work?
3/8 Oops I did it Again - Making Mistakes
Discomfort can often be part of justice work as we unlearn our implicit biases. How do we learn to be okay with being uncomfortable?
3/15 Agree to Disagree
What happens to Justice work when people disagree with one another? How does Justice work benefit from disagreement?
3/22 Treat Yourself to Self-Care
It is common in justice work to assume that it's all about helping others, but you cannot help others if you don’t take care of yourself first. How is self care essential to Tikkun Olam?
3/29 Leaders of Tomorrow
Using the story of Passover as a case study, how was leadership central to Jewish liberation? Who are some prominent leaders of this moment who are helping to liberate us all?
Faces of Israel - Israel Learning Fellowship
Wednesdays at 6:30 pm, starting February 10
Facilitator: Anni Lupu // In partnership with Hillel at FSU
The word “Israel” means different things to different people. Some will think about the
conflict, some about the culture, and some about religion. But what makes a country? Its
people. The people of Israel are the ones who made history, created the culture, and built
the country. In this fellowship we will present and discuss different sides and aspects of
Israel through its people and their stories.
2/10 Shalom!
Introduction and get to know each other
2/17 The Conflict: Background
A conversation with Michelle Rojas-Tal, director of the Israel Fellow program
2/24 The People of Conflict
A conversation with Mohmed Yassin, a Palestinian-Israeli student from the University of
Minnesota.
3/3 IDF Panel
A panel with former Israeli soldiers to discuss their personal stories and talk about their experience in the military.
3/10 From the Kibbutz to the City
The history of Israeli fashion: a conversation with Liri Cohen Mordechai, a fashion blogger and lecturer.
3/17 the Ethiopian community in Israel
Watching an episode from the tv show ‘’slicha al ha’sheela’’ (sorry for the questions) where Israeli-ethiopians answering tough questions about their experience being ethiopians in Israel. Following this, we will host a panel with 2-3 Israel fellows from the ethiopian community who will share their personal perspective on race issues in Israel and America.
3/24 Rainbow Tour TLV
Join us on a virtual journey through the historic streets of queer Tel Aviv, where we will hear from all corners of the LGBT arch about the challenges and successes of the community from then until today.
3/31 Yallah, bye!
Concluding the fellowship with a Passover surprise!
Torah: Rated “R” - Jewish Learning Fellowship
Thursdays at 6 pm, starting February 11
Facilitator: Olga Zelzburg Alterman // In partnership with UM Hillel
Explore the familiar Biblical narratives with your FIU & UM friends in a new, unexpected
way. Never taught before, this course tackles the most profound questions based on a
controversial Israeli satire television show “The Jews Are Coming”. Each session will focus
on a different story through video sketches, commentary, and occasional pop culture
references. Be prepared our course is rated R, parental supervision (not) recommended.
02/11 You shall not covet your neighbor’s house, nor his wife… But what if you do?
Are 10 commandments too much to handle?
02/18: God, open the Red Sea, I dropped my iphone!
The story of Exodus, revisited.
02/25: Esther the queen, or Esther the escort?
Is the Purim story really the original Game of Thrones?
03/04 Snip & Ouch
The touchy story of brit milah aka the very first circumcision.
03/11 Dad, put that knife down
The ethics or zeal of sacrificing your own child.
03/18 Oh brother, I hate you!
Sibling rivalry in the story of Joseph.
03/25 Torah Erotica
The Song of Songs or how the most explicit text became one of the holiest expressions of Judaism.
04/01 A time to be born, and a time to die
What did Ecclesiastes smoke? Or the most mysterious, esoteric poetic compilation in the Torah.
The Torah of Rick & Morty
Wednesdays at 3 pm, starting February 10
Facilitator: Rabbi Russ Shulkes
Rick and Morty gifts us the anti-heroes the world desperately needs and probably deserves.
While our protagonists struggle against intergalactic police, tyranny, run of the mill plots,
and monotonous existence, ironically their worst enemies are usually themselves. While
many view Judaism’s perspective on ethics and morality as monolithic, in truth Judaism
enjoys a multifaceted tradition of subversive and anarchistic ideas as well, that Rick and
Morty can lend a hand in teaching us about. During our weekly conversations, we will
explore concepts like meaning, evil, and the purpose of life as we welcome Ricky and
Morty as our guest rabbinical guides along with a mix of text study and cartoon video clips.
Wubba Lubba Torah Dub!
Course outline:
- The Multiverse: Do we live in the best possible world?
- Cosmic Horror: Understanding the vast unknown
- Lucius Needful: the Devil and all things evil
- Meeseeks: Is existence pain?
- Is it better to be a ‘Rick’ or a ‘Jerry’?
- Do you have an irrational attachment to freedom?
- Does God owe us anything?
- “Scientifically speaking, traditions are an idiot thing”: Science, Faith and Religion
