A quest for knowledge

Intro to Judaism class attracts variety of students

LEISAH NAMM
Managing Editor

Bethany Friedlander, right, teaches Phoenix's first UAHC Introduction to Judaism class.

Photo by Leisah Namm

Although he was raised in a non-denominational Christian household, Jason Knust was drawn to Judaism during a spiritual quest.

Sean Emery grew up in a mixed-marriage household - his father was Jewish and his mother Christian - and he was told he could make his own choice. For years, he called himself Jewish, but it wasn't until about a year ago that he began to actively pursue his roots.

Stacey Donovon was raised Catholic, married a Jewish man and has been living a Jewish lifestyle for 11 years.

Although their stories differ, students enrolled in the UAHC Introduction to Judaism class all have the same goal - to learn more about Judaism.

The program debuted in the Valley in October 2002, although it has been offered in Los Angeles since 1983.

The 18-week course, sponsored by the Union of American Hebrew Congregations - Reform Judaism's association of synagogues - is designed to provide a basic foundation in Judaism. The course is required for those considering conversion to Judaism, but many of its students are Jews-by-birth who seek a refresher course in the principles and practices of Judaism, according to the UAHC Web site, www.uahc-psw.org.

Locally, the program is held at Temple Chai in Phoenix, although it's open to the entire community. Instructor Bethany Friedlander says her students' backgrounds vary from those who were raised Jewish and have some Jewish education to non-Jews who have had little exposure to Judaism.

Others "feel like they've been brought up supposedly as Jews, but they asked, 'how can I be Jewish if I don't know anything Jewish?' " she says.

About 25 people, ages 23-50, are enrolled in the class, although most are in the younger range, Friedlander notes.

Class topics, often presented by local rabbis, range from holidays and marriage to conversion and mourning.

"It's not a class that says, 'these are candlesticks, this is a challah, this is a challah cover and this is Shabbat,' " Friedlander says. "It's 'what does Shabbat mean?' "

During the course of the class, students are required to attend a Shabbaton, complete reading assignments and write in a journal to express thoughts about their experiences.

The class often breaks into small study groups to help the participants get to know each other, an important element since they're going through similar experiences, Friedlander says.

For Knust, whose previous Jewish learning was purely academic - reading books on his own - working with his fellow students is the highlight of the course.

"It's a great experience to work with other people and to learn together," Knust says. It helps to "fill in any gaps you might get from just reading about it in a book."

A feeling of community is what Emery enjoys most.

"I think that's the biggest thing that has kept me going," he says. "I think it's a great community."

In fact, some of the students have invited classmates to Shabbat dinners in their home.

Various paths have led the students to this class.

Emery is currently studying Hebrew, among other topics, with Rabbi Mark Bisman of Har Zion Congregation, a Conservative congregation in Scottsdale. He says he enrolled in the class to learn the basics of Judaism and decide if he's definitely interested in converting. He attends Shabbat services regularly and his goal is to have an adult bar mitzvah in less than five years. "I can actually read and write Hebrew after 10 months," he says.

"I decided to jump in with both feet and be more observant and actually kind of pursue my roots, and that's what got me here," he says.

"The reason I continue is because it has just felt right for me. ... It fits me."

For Knust, his reason for signing up for the class was "to learn more and to interact with other people who might be in the same or similar situation."

He was raised in a non-denominational Christian environment, and the more religious he became, the more he realized that a lot of it "didn't really jive" with what he felt.

"I've always been really interested with what's been going on in Israel," Knust says. "As I learned more about that, I sort of learned about Jews on my own in a sense to learn more about Israel. As I started to learn more about the practices, the beliefs, the traditions, it really sort of made sense to me. Something clicked."

Since Knust's wife and their 1-year-old son are not Jewish, he's unsure what his next step will be.

"It's been a challenge because I'm trying not to push anything on her, while at the same time trying to be able to explore for myself what I believe and what I want to do and practice," Knust says. "It's tough because when we got married, it wasn't an issue so it's kind of hard to say, 'Oh, by the way I'm going to convert and we're going to be Jewish.' You can't just do that. But I still wanted to know as much as I could about it and see where it goes.

"Even if I don't convert because of family concerns, I'd like to always learn more about Jewish wisdom," he says. "I think it helps me focus on being a better person."

Donovan grew up in a Catholic home and attended Catholic school, but says her parents weren't really religious. For years, she studied different religions until she married her husband, who is Jewish.

"So for the past 11 years, I have been practicing the Jewish faith unofficially," she says.

For many years, she learned about Judaism from her husband and mother-in-law. "Now I am ready to take the next step by studying further and converting," she says. "The idea of taking my Jewish name one day and the whole conversion process is so exciting."

She and her husband have an 8-year-old son who went through a conversion process at birth and is being raised Jewish.

After the class ends, Donovon plans to take as many classes as she can.

"I want to learn how to read and write and speak Hebrew and to share a wonderful life with my family based on and around a strong Jewish faith, belief and love."

The next class is scheduled to start in the fall, but an additional one might be offered in March if there's enough interest, Friedlander says.

Tuition, including books, for either one or two people, is $325, including a non-refundable $20 registration fee. Cost is $250 for members of UAHC-affiliated Reform congregations.

For more information, call Beverly Ross at UAHC, (888) 834-8242, ext. 23.

Contact the writer at leisah_namm@jewishaz.com.

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