"The Parsha classes were perhaps the most exposure I have had to Jewish scripture. I enjoyed the weekly frequency of our sessions because it allowed me to follow the happenings in the Torah and it related the Parshah to our lives.The Shabbaton was an interesting and wonderful experience. I had the chance to visit or eat at 5 different family’s homes and each was wonderfully welcoming. Overall it was educational,fun and I am thankful for the class and the Shabbaton experience and also the Rabbi's efforts in planning it all."

MW

"I really enjoyed the time I was fortunate enough to spend learning about the weekly Torah portion . At college, it can be hard to find time to keep in touch with the parsha every week, having a busy schedule, lots of homework, and many extracurricular activities. By meeting once a week on Thursdays, I was able to refresh and expand my knowledge of the parsha each week and maintain a connection to Judaism despite my busy schedule. However, this time spent learning was much more than that. During these sessions, I was exposed to new ideas and possibilities that I had never before considered. I was truly challenged to change the way I think about something and to look at everything from more than one perspective. This challenge stimulated my mind and made the text truly come alive for me in a way that I did not before think was possible. It was this part of the program that really made a great impact on me. There are so many interpretations and so many levels of understanding contained in every single word. This incomprehensible concentration of significance is what truly amazes me. I would like to thank the Rabbi for letting me know about this amazing opportunity. I am very appreciative."

GP

"This course was a great experience for me because I have not been involved in Jewish life on campus very much before this. It was an easy and fun way to learn about various aspects of Jewish culture as well as the Torah. I had never had such a unique teaching of Jewish thought because I came from a cultural background and it was very exciting to study what I had known before but never really understood. I had also never experienced a Shabbat, until I was a part of this course. Having the class in the middle of the day during lunch was especially convenient for me because I am often busy in the afternoon and at night. I would be very interested in taking another course like this one and continuing my Jewish education."

TK

"This weekly parsha class has enlightened me to some of the most important and powerful ideas of Judaism. From discussing the weekly parshah, I have learned incredible lessons that I will carry forth with me as I leave college and embark on the next stage of my life. I feel blessed for the opportunity to learn week after week and for the wisdom that i have learned in this seminar. The Shabbaton that I participated in was also a wonderful experience. I stayed with an incredibly kind and welcoming family who took care of me in addition to their four children. Everyone I met was friendly and happy to see me there even though I was a total stranger to most of them. I had the chance to relax and interact with numerous people and families int he St. Louis Jewish community, something I might not have had the chance to do if not for this program. I am grateful to have had the chance to participate in this program, truly an amazing experience."

JG

"This class was one of my first text studies, and one of my first times studying the weekly parsha. I used to be intimidated by odd English, but after this class, I can now follow it. I found myself enjoying following the story. When we missed one class because of Thanksgiving, I asked questions to complete the parts of the story I missed from that week’s parshah. Before this class, I knew some Biblical names, but I knew no stories or meanings behind them. I have since become familiar with several Bible characters and the connections between them. I found it interesting how we would look at one line and use several other sources to interpret it several ways, and I look forward to harnessing this skill with future text study."

LC

"I love learning with the Rabbi because it is one of my only connections to Judaism on campus. Because of the Parshah program, I am now more tied to Judaism and I am more knowledgeable about its lessons. There isn’t a strict lesson plan. We arrive, begin chatting, and voila! We are talking about some deep Jewish concept. This style of learning has shown me that no matter what you are discussing, there is a Jewish perspective on the topic. Lastly, studying weekly has provided me a great break from the stressful world, and allows me to think about the spiritual world. It's almost like a second Shabbat. Speaking of Shabbat… the Shabbaton I spent in the St. Louis Jewish Community was absolutely wonderful! The tight-knit families and peaceful homes make me want to live in a place with a similarly strong community.Weekly studying continues to be a positive impact on my life – and that is why Judaism will always be a priority of mine. "

MH

"Taking the Parsha class this semester was a really great experience for me, as I got to analyze and better understand the text of the Torah itself, and do so in a thoughtful learning environment. Subsequent discussions involved a wide range of topics.Something I always felt strongly about was discussed in the last class – the significance attributed to humiliation in Jewish law. For as long as I can remember, I have spoken about this to people – that humiliating or embarrassing someone is one of the worst things you can do, according to Jewish law—but learning about the textual roots of this belief, and how it precisely relates to Judaism, was really special for me. This final message, from the last class, is one that has stayed with me."

RS