Teaching Topics

Bio: [Or skip to Topics] A Covenant Award Finalist for excellence as an innovator and experiential Jewish educator, Rabbi Milgram is author of six books, including the Jewish Lights Reclaiming Judaism trilogy. Dubbed by the Squarer Rebbe as “Reb Goldie” during her teachings trips in Russia and Ukraine for Project Kesher, she has lectured or given workshops or in-service trainings in over 250 cities and over 30 countries including numerous universities, congregations, JCCs and Hillels, as well as for The 92^nd Street Y, New York Open Center, Project Kesher, JDC, and also Esalen and Isabella Freedman retreat centers.

R'Goldie's career path has included serving as co-Dean of The Academy for Jewish Religion, as a Jewish Federation and Board of Jewish Education Executive Director as well as teaching courses at Princeton University, Yeshiva University’s Wurzweiler School of Social Work, Gettysburg Colleges, for the Aleph Ordination Programs, Auburn Seminary and The Won Korean Reform Buddhist Seminary. For the 2011 Winter winter season she will also be serving as Rabbi-in-Residence and Jewish family education consultant for Kol HaNeshamah in Sarasota, Florida. Full resume.

Rabbi Milgram is presently spearheading two major initiatives, Living a Mitzvah-Centered Life©, a program of resources and mentors for motivated communities, educators and students focusing upon 44 mitzvot core to meaningful daily Jewish living. She also continues her leadership of the Bar/Bat Mitzvah Family & Educator Institute Initiative, offering Bar/Bat Mitzvah Family Enrichment workshops and educator training world-wide (see Bmitzvah.org for free teachings). Rabbi Milgram's doctoral and many subsequent innovations in principles and methods of bar/bat mitzvah motivation, preparation and celebration are found in Make Your Own Bar/Bat Mitzvah: A Personal Approach to Creating a Meaningful Rite of Passage (Jossey-Bass), and even more in the Bar/Bat Mitzvah chapter in Living Jewish Life Cycle: How to Create Meaningful Jewish Rites of Passage at Every Stage of Life (JewishLights.com).

Reb Goldie and her hubbatzin Barry Bub, MD are also known for their Rebbe-on-the-Road (ROR) travelogues now available are on-line as a free e-book.

Meaning & Mitzvah [1, 2 or 3 hr workshop or shabbaton; warm and empowering sermon, or in-service for educators on teaching mitzvot also available]

This interactive workshop begins with each participant sorting through a deck of Reb Goldie's Mitzvah Cards. You will likely be surprised how many mitzvot are new and exciting that can be incorporated into your daily life in ways that are profound and accessible. Make new friends and deepen existing community connections as Reb Goldie helps us all care for ourselves, as well as for others, as we explore the sacred art of living a mitzvah-centered life.

Cultivating Spiritual Intimacy: How Judaism Can Help Us Grow Closer To Those We Love

At a recent national Jewish conference the question of our times was cited as: "Why Be Jewish?" Rabbi Goldie Milgram offers a host of empowering answers in this 18 minute- 2hr talk on how to create more meaningful and memorable Jewish experiences and rites of passage.

The Bar/Bat Mitzvah Family Adventure [1, 2 hr or preferably 3 hr workshop for families and educators; separate in-service training]

This joyful, deep and dynamic program features family, child and adult-centered activities that will help you achieve an emotionally satisfying, intellectually fascinating, spiritually connected and logistically excellent bar/bat mitzvah process. Bar/bat mitzvah candidates ages eleven and above are welcome and must attend sessions with at least one adult. Mature siblings and grandparents are also most welcome. Can be brought to your local community and this is offered at Camp Isabella Freedman in 2010.

How to Create a Meaningful and Memorable Jewish Wedding [18 min-1.5 hr]

So much spirituality and opportunity for marriage-enhancing intimacy is embedded in the Jewish wedding and so few know about this. The author of Living Jewish Life Cycle: How to Create Meaningful Jewish Rites of Passage at Every Stage of Life will show you how to appreciate the sacred sequences, creatively adapt traditions for every kind of family, and how to prepare spirituality. This time in your family's life will shift from stressful to soaring!

Towards a Restorative Theology: Exploring the Mitzvah of Yirah [Text study, 1 hr or 1.5 hr]

The mitzvah called "yirah," is a powerful portal to expanded consciousness and energy for living that can only be awkwardly translated as awe/fear. In this interactive session, come discover the elements of a hopeful, restorative theology grounded in the mitzvah of yirah. All texts provided in both Hebrew/Aramaic and English.

Rebbe on the Road Stories [storytelling appropriate for Shabbat service, classroom, sisterhood/brotherhood meetings, Limmud, etc.]

Delight in a stories that has riveted Jewish families and adults world-wide. Starting-off with Reb Goldie's true story of two of her miraculous adventures in the Ukraine and then a story from South Africa's Roben Island, and many more may well change your understanding of the power, meaning and relevance of living each day through a Jewish lens.

Currents and Controversies in Jewish Bioethics [Lecture or workshop, can be keyed to a wide variety of levels since R’ Milgram currently teaches this at seminary and university level, Hillels, Limmuds, at elder hostels, for Hebrew High School and of course adults; panel appearance or moderation options welcome.]

From the 20^th to the 21^st century huge changes have occurred regarding major topics in Jewish bioethics within Orthodoxy through Reform and everywhere in between. Organ donation and transplantation has gone from prohibited to a matter of pikuakh nefesh (with the exception in Orthodoxy of heart transplant issues) across the full spectrum of Jewish practice and the history of that rapid progression will be the opening focus of this program. Time permitting, abortion, plastic surgery, genetic design, euthanasia, etc. will be addressed in the discussion and dialogue period.

Kabbalah of Nature Country Walkers [1.5, 2 or 3 hour or shabbaton outdoors-in-nature program for all mature enough to walk and learn together]

On these walks you'll discover or expand your appreciation of the power of metaphor, the way most every word in Torah becomes a portal to expanded consciousness. Out in nature we will exploring how the metaphor of stone or water [depending on geographic region] is used in Torah, Talmud, midrash, Zohar, poetry, imagery, prayer and Jewish meditation. This method is at the root of authentic traditional Jewish mysticism. No experience is required; texts are in Hebrew and English translation.

The Torah of Metaphor [talk during services or text study for oneg. Option for this to be guided chevruta]]

When one thinks about it, there are so many ways stone, tzur/even, is used in prayer and Torah—and it is not at all what it seems to be. For that matter, ever wonder why Jews leave a stone on a grave? The full answer is stunningly fascinating and mystical. Come get "stoned" with Reb Goldie, our Torah study will fly high

Threshold of Eternity [oneg, class (ages 13 through adults) or group study session; often teach this at Limmud conferences]

The Adon Olam will never be the same for you after we study this familiar prayer in depth with relation to metaphor and issues of personal belief and spirituality.

Begin with Yourself but Don't End with Yourself: Ahavat Yisrael [1 or 2 hour workshop, grade 9 through adults]

This chevruta workshop looks at a variety of Jewish texts about the mitzvah of loving the Jewish people. It is a mitzvah that makes many uncomfortable, that has numerous expansive elements, it is a mitzvah to discuss in our communities emotionally, intellectually, spiritually, and practically. The skills of chevruta will be taught as well during this session, all texts provided in both Hebrew/Aramaic and English.

The Alien and the Day School (or Hebrew School) [assembly or classroom]

An alien will walk into the room and declare itself as representing it's leader. The leader is deporting every group off of planet earth and is looking for reasons why your particular religious group's practices might be of benefit to his galactic empire. Students work in small groups to prepare their testimonials re the meaning and relevance of their choice of aspects of Judaism for the alien representative. After listening, faculty and Reb Goldie assist student groups in reframing their understanding of Judaism as a beautiful, powerful, meaningful and coherent system of daily practices that add so much to life.

Methods of Excellence: Introduction to Experiential Jewish Education

The principles and methods will have create a reputation for your religious school that will create of Experiential Jewish Education as developed by Rabbi Goldie Milgram will lead to a waiting list of students for your school. All schools that book this session will receive 3 free follow-up conference call sessions for your teachers to share how it's going and be mentored in using this material.

Specifically for Jewish Chaplains: A New Pastoral Model for Preparing the Dying to Say the Shema, inquire please for details.