Ben Zoma said: Who is wise? One who learns from everyone, as is said,
“Because everyone has been my teacher, I have gained understanding.” —(mAvot 4:1)
Rabbi Hanina said: From my teachers I learned much, from my colleagues still more,
but from my students most of all. –(BT Ta’anit 7a)
This is a list of the various classes and workshops I have taught. For more information about my teaching and for student endorsements, please read here
Elijah the Prophet: Zealotry, Despair, and Hearing kol d’mama daka (Sept 15, 2016)
Ruach HaYam Workshop at Congregation Eitz Chayim, Cambridge, MA September 15, 2016. Ruach HaYam study sessions provide a queer Jewish look at text, but are open to any learning or faith background and friendly to beginners. Study starts promptly at 7:15 pm. However we open the doors at 6:45 for schmoozing. Feel free to bring your own veggie snack for the early part. —- A parking consideration is in effect for the three blocks around EC during all regularly scheduled events. Accessibility information: MBTA accessible, all gender/accessible bathrooms, entry ramp. This study is led by Penina Weinberg. We will do…
The Hannah Narrative: Listening to (my, your, their) Inner Voice (August 18, 2016)
Ruach HaYam Workshop at Congregation Eitz Chayim, Cambridge, MA August 18, 2016. Ruach HaYam study sessions provide a queer Jewish look at text, but are open to any learning or faith background and friendly to beginners. Study starts promptly at 7:15 pm. However we open the doors at 6:45 for schmoozing. Feel free to bring your own veggie snack for the early part. —- A parking consideration is in effect for the three blocks around EC during all regularly scheduled events. Accessibility information: MBTA accessible, all gender/accessible bathrooms, entry ramp. This study is led by Penina Weinberg. The Hannah Narrative,…
Majesty Thrown to the Dogs: Queen Jezebel and the Assault on Transgender Womanhood (July 7, 2016)
Ruach HaYam Workshop at Congregation Eitz Chayim, Cambridge, MA May 26, 2016. Study starts promptly at 7:15 pm. However we open the doors at 6:45 for schmoozing. Feel free to bring your own veggie snack for the early part. Ruach HaYam study sessions are open to any learning background and friendly to beginners. For those arriving by car, parking is allowed within 2 blocks on event nights. We are proud to have the co-sponsorship of Keshet for this event! This study will be co-led by Mischa Haider and Penina Weinberg. They have recently begun collaborating on articles drawing wisdom from…
Batsheva – In her own Voice (April 28, 2016)
Ruach HaYam Workshop at Congregation Eitz Chayim, Cambridge, MA Join us for an interactive study of Batsheva, in her own Voice. Study will be led by Penina Weinberg. 6:45 pm for schmooze. Bring veggie snacks if you wish. Study will begin promptly at 7:15pm. Congregation Eitz Chayim 136 Magazine Street, Cambridge, MA April 28, 2016 Batsheva’s story begins with a bath on a roof-top, where her life is overpowered by King David’s (2 Samuel 11-12). But at the end of King David’s life, Batsheva, as Queen Mother, holds the keys to the kingly succession and sits at the right hand…
Rebecca, Isaac, Jacob and Esau: A Queer Look at Family, Love, Jealousy and Gender in the Hebrew Bible (February 25, 2016)
Ruach HaYam Workshop at Congregation Eitz Chayim, Cambridge, MA Join us for an interactive study of Rebecca, Isaac, Jacob and Esau. Study will be led by Penina Weinberg. 6:45 pm for schmooze. Bring veggie snacks if you wish. Study will begin promptly at 7:15pm. Congregation Eitz Chayim 136 Magazine Street, Cambridge, MA February 25, 2016 RSVP here We’ll do a close reading of the story of Isaac, Rebecca, Jacob and Esau. We’ll follow through on what we learned from Song of Songs 8:6 For love is as strong as death [“The love which Isaac bore to Esau” –from Song…
And the Fire Flashed all Around: Introduction to Song of Songs (January 28, 2016)
Ruach HaYam Workshop at Congregation Eitz Chayim, Cambridge, MA Join us for an interactive text study of the Song of Songs. Study will be led by Penina Weinberg. 6:45 pm for shmooze. Bring veggie snacks if you wish. Study will begin promptly at 7:15pm. Congregation Eitz Chayim 136 Magazine Street, Cambridge, MA January 28, 2016 RSVP here “And the fire flashed all around.” >> What does flashing fire have to do with Song of Songs? << “I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine.” >> How did this sensual love poem find its way into the Hebrew…
THE SOUL OF DAVID (December 17 2015)
Ruach HaYam workshop at Congregation Eitz Chayim Join Ruach HaYam for an interactive text study of the soul of David. Study will be led by Penina Weinberg on December 17, 2015 at Congregation Eitz Chayim, 136 Magazine Street, Cambridge, MA. Join us at 6:45 pm for shmooze. Bring veggie snacks if you wish. Study will begin promptly at 7:15pm. Parking is allowed within a three block radius on event nights. According to the Book of Samuel, “The soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.” (1 Sam 18:1). Our study…
MOTHERHOOD, MANHOOD AND WAR: A QUEER LOOK AT GENDER AND POWER IN THE SONG OF DEBORAH (November 12, 2015)
Ruach HaYam Workshop at Congregation Eitz Chayim, Cambridge, MA A close reading of Deborah, Jael, Sisera’s mother, Sisera, and Barak to see what we can learn about stereotypical gender roles, non-normative gender roles, and how power is wielded. We also consider the nature of war.
READING DEBORAH, JAEL AND SISERA’S MOTHER (JUDGES 4-5). A QUEER CONVERSATION ABOUT WOMAN (August 2015)
Nehirim Women’s Retreat – Workshop Here we are at a Women’s retreat. What does that word mean to us? Did we come because it is a woman’s retreat, or despite the label? Does the tag, name, identity, of woman sit comfortably with us, uncomfortably, indifferently, fluidly, or perhaps not at all? We will jump start a conversation about identity with a study of three interrelated, but quite different, women in the Bible. Deborah the judge and warrior, Jael the dangerous hostess, and Sisera’s mom, who glorifies war and is a tragic figure. Only Deborah is an Israelite. All are found…
TANAKH STUDIES TWICE MONTHLY (2009 to 2015)
Fall 2009 to Spring 2015 at Congregation Eitz Chayim Joshua, Judges, I and II Samuel, I and II Kings The Israelites from Conquest to Monarchy – close readings of the Former Prophets, chapter by chapter, book by book, informed by ethnographic, anthropological, historical, and gender studies.