I started a new 18-session course at the synagogue last Monday night, called introduction to Judaism. It’s required for my acceptance into the bat-bar mitzvah group. At first I said, “Me? Take an intro to Judaism course?” However, when I saw the book list, I realized that all the books are new to me (probably fresh versions of things I’ve been reading for 40 years). Another reason the course will be interesting is the makeup of the students.
When the course began some 15 years ago, it was described as for people planning to convert. About 3-4 years ago they changed the name and immediately Jews began taking it. The Jews are a various lot: people with non-Jewish spouses who have decided to (a) convert or (b) promised to raise the kids as Jews, the kids are now ready to education and the non-Jewish spouses, while not planning to convert, wants to be part of the child’s experience. Others described themselves as Tuesday, Thursday, Sunday dropoffs at religious school who never learned anything and now, as adults, want to know what they missed.