Animals as Jewish Spiritual Teachers

In the magical world of Torah stories, animals speak, guide, and even see angels. Their diverse powers and insights call us to mochin d’gadlut, expanded awareness of our fellow creatures and our own potentialities. In this class, we will explore stories from Torah and midrash about snakes, donkeys, ravens, sheep and more, using text study, discussion, bibliodrama, reflective writing and quiet time outdoors. We will discover Torah’s respect for animals in their natural setting, explore the power of animals as spiritual symbols, and reflect on our own ability to interact with creation. A four day class at the ALEPH Kallah, taught by Rabbi Laura Duhan Kaplan.