With antisemitism and unspeakable violence in Israel-Palestine forcing the American Jewish community to wrestle deeply with questions of identity and solidarity, the need for future-oriented conversations is clear. But how do we go about having them? Scholarship, art and aesthetics, strategic foresight, and ritual development all give us different tools through which we can begin to construct generative and imaginative frameworks of a Jewish future. Over the course of three weeks, we will explore some of these tools together, placing the work of Judeo-futurism in the context of Afrofuturism and other indigenous futurisms as well as traditional future-oriented Jewish liturgy. We will examine Jewish thinkers and leaders who are doing Judeofuturist work right now. And ultimately, we will get to practice types of Judeofuturist thinking and planning in an experimental community together around a shared focal topic of a common future impacted by climate relocation.

Tuesday 5/13: Building Blocks for Judeo-Futurism: Orienting Ourselves in Past, Present, and Future

What will it take to have vibrant, pluralistic, diasporic, hopeful and proud American Jewish communities in the year 2075? During our first class together, we will––as the title aptly states––orient ourselves within the larger history of Jewish futurisms. Are we thinking about the future Jewish-ly or simply thinking about various Jewish futures? In other words: what makes Judeo-futurism different from all other futurisms? Using scholarship, liturgy, and other modes of “futurisms,” we will begin to collaboratively define our own understandings of the relationships between Jewish histories, presents, and futures.

Due to the cumulative nature of the content, participants are strongly encouraged to attend all three sessions:

Tuesday 5/20: Building Blocks for Judeo-Futurism: Surveying the Landscape of Judeo-Futurism
Tuesday 5/27: Building Blocks for Judeo-Futurism: Practicing Judeo-Futurism

Becca Leviss is a current candidate for a Masters in Theological Studies at Harvard Divinity School, where she explores the intersection of religion, ethics, and politics, especially in community building and civic engagement work. Her current studies focus on the ongoing relationships between Black and Jewish scholarship and activism, and how those insights can inform critical frameworks for imagining a future for Jewish identity and a pluralistic democracy. She spent her past summer with Mormon Women for Ethical Government (MWEG) investigating how their model of faith-based organizing teaches and encourages civic empowerment and engagement while countering ideological extremism. Prior to her time at Harvard, Becca helped build the fundraising team at Protect Democracy – a leading nonprofit in the US democracy movement – where she managed institutional giving and major gifts.

Who are these classes for?

Our classes are for everyone—whether you’re brand new to the topic or have been engaging with it for years, we encourage participation from people of all backgrounds, identities, and experience levels. Unless otherwise noted, no prior knowledge or experience is needed. Not sure if a class is for you? Email us at Learning@Lehr.haus!

Why are there tickets at different prices?

Our tickets utilize a Pay-What-You-Can model so attendees can pay a range of prices based on what they are able to pay to allow for greater accessibility. Please select the price point that feels right for you.

Can I eat during class?

While we do not serve food in the study, you are welcome to order and enjoy drinks during class and join us for a meal before or after class. We highly recommend making a reservation if you know you'll be dining with us. Visit www.lehr.haus/reservation to check availability and book a table.