The founder of Chai Mitzvah, Scott A. Shay, has written a new book called In Good Faith: Questioning Religion and Atheism. This book explores the most common atheist critiques of the Bible and religion, incorporating Jewish, Christian, and Muslim voices. The result is a fresh, modern re-evaluation of religion and of atheism.
The book is the basis of our new program,
In Good Faith Discussion Groups.
Janice Crocco, a former elementary school teacher originally from Bayside, Queens, is Sisterhood President and a Religious School teacher at Beth Israel Congregation in Florence, South Carolina. (a very small congregation consisting of approximately 50 families). She has an active In Good Faith discussion group, and has shared her experiences with us.
CM: What inspired you to start an In Good Faith Discussion group? How has this topic, and the discussions it ignites, impacted on you and your group?
JANICE: Our group was looking for another avenue to study Judaism and how we fit in the world with other religions. In Good Faith was introduced to us through an email from Chai Mitzvah. I brought the book up to our group and was met with enthusiasm. Rabbi Aaron Sherman has led the group by looking at certain chapters, asking how these chapters fit into our individual lives and outlooks, and asking why, as Jews, these insights are important. The two hours we set aside for discussion and study always speed by at a lightning pace. Chai Mitzvah sessions are ways we have learned about others in our very diverse group, their background, position in life, and perspective about how we conduct ourselves repairing the world.
CM: What are some discussions you’ve had so far, and looking forward, which topics look especially interesting to you?
JANICE: As a group we have studied how and why G-d chooses to be good and/or evil and how the Torah teaches us how we should act. If the stories in Genesis are not true, what can we learn and what is the moral of the story? The session discussing this topic was a long and interesting session. Punishment was another discussion that triggered a moral discussion with very different opinions and interpretations. The discussions are sometimes an interesting debate with today’s political views.
There is a fascinating new topic of study this year – Aseret: The Big Ten, focusing on the Ten Commandments as Core Values. Group members look at each Commandment, or Diber (literally “statement”) both from the simple level and the underlying meaning, sparking lively and relevant conversations.
More than 20 adult Chai Mitzvah groups have chosen Aseret as their focus for the year.
In order to find out how this new topic is working,
we asked an experienced Chai Mitzvah participant!
Phyllis Bigelson is Past President of the WRJ Pacific District and an active Chai Mitzvah participant. Her sisterhood group at Temple Ahavat Shalom in Northridge CA is in its third year. Here is what she shared with us:
CM: What first attracted your sisterhood to the Chai Mitzvah program?
PHYLLIS: I attended a session on Chai Mitzvah a few years ago at a WRJ convention. It seemed intriguing, as I have always loved Torah study and this seems like an extension to that. At our next sisterhood event I asked if anyone was interested and 12 women immediately stepped up. Our group decided, instead of having one facilitator, we would each take one month and lead a session. The monthly facilitator decides on the direction to be taken with the monthly topic.
CM: How has Chai Mitzvah impacted you and your group?
PHYLLIS: Our group has become very close. We have a large span of ages and experiences, yet we have formed lifetime friendships through our close sharing with each other. During our first year of Chai Mitzvah, we jointly and separately did community service projects, such as helping at Operation Gratitude. During our second year of Mussar, we shared and learnt a great deal about each other and ourselves. Our monthly sessions have been emotional and joyful, as we shared our past experiences, present situations and future goals.
CM: Now in your third year, you’re using our new curriculum, Aseret. What are some discussions you’ve had so far, and looking forward, which topics look especially interesting to you?
PHYLLIS: We just held our first introductory session using the new Aseret program. As we share our own experiences and knowledge at each session, we all learn a great deal from each other, in addition to the topics and are looking forward to this new program!
Temple Beth Or Dayton, OH
Temple Beth Abraham Tarrytown, NY
Habonim Dror of North America Brooklyn, NY
Women of Rodef Shalom San Rafael, CA
Monroeville Chai Mitzvah Self Study Pittsburgh, PA
Cape Cod Synagogue Hyannis, MA
Oseh Shalom Laurel, MD
Mandell JCC Senior Group West Hartford, CT
The Community Synagogue Port Washington, NY
Jacksonville Jewish Center Jacksonville, FL
Library Learners Indianapolis, IN
Marquette Manor Indianapolis, IN
Congregation Shirat Hayam Swampscott, MA
Young Israel West Hartford, CT
Congregation Simchat HaLev Syosset, NY
Temple of Israel Greenville, SC
Indy Jewish Educators Indianapolis, IN
JWRP Indianapolis, IN
Barrack Academy Bryn Mawr, PA
Tampa JCC & Federation Active Adults Tampa, FL
Congregation Mekor Shalom Tampa, FL
Temple Israel West Bloomfield, MI
Moishe Pod Indianapolis, IN
Temple Shalom Chevy Chase, MD
Congregation B’nai Torah Trumbull, CT
Michalee Merritt was looking for a spiritual experience outside of her synagogue walls, with people who were looking for the same thing as she was. She found that Chai Mitzvah provided the framework for just such an experience, and started a Chai@Home friendship group.
“It was so easy to get the group started,” Michalee told the Chai Mitzvah newsletter. “The materials make it easy – we didn’t have to do lots of preparation before each session. Meeting each month in someone’s home, we did Mussar.
Our group, which began as acquaintances, are now close friends
because the topics are so wonderful and the conversation questions
sparked discussions that brought us close together.
We are going to continue this year with the new Aseret curriculum.”
It is easy to start a Chai@Home group. Just ask two friends and have them each ask two friends. The materials are turnkey, but if you’d like extra help, you can attend free webinars (also recorded and posted on the Chai Mitzvah website).
Register your group and order materials. Get ready for a fun and meaningful experience!
West Hartford, CT
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info@chaimitzvah.org
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