About This Course
The purpose of this course is to build foundational homiletical practices into your life as a darshan (preacher) and maggid (storyteller). The course also has relevance for students who may not be preaching pulpits, the majority of PRS students, but will use public speaking skills regularly in their life and work. This course will not focus on the theories of analyzing text or the theology of preaching. Instead, this will give you the practical skills needed to begin preaching effective sermons and other speeches today.
Class is held every Tuesday evening at 8 PM Eastern Time on Zoom
Course objectives
At the end of this course, students will be able to:
- To articulate multiple theoretical approaches to homiletics
- To define the traditional Jewish approaches to what is now called “homiletics”
- To name some of the great Jewish preachers
- To identify different hermeneutic techniques used in sermons
- To identify different sermon styles for different contexts
- To understand the basic techniques for delivering a sermon
- To deliver the same sermon in more than one manner
- To articulate their own theology of preaching and how it connects to their rabbinate
Meet Your Instructor
Rabbi Nachshon Siritsky
Originally from Montreal, Canada, Rabbi Siritsky spent time living in France, Cuba and Israel before moving to the United States in 1997. He studied at several Orthodox yeshivas, including Pardes in Jerusalem, prior to beginning his studies as a Reform rabbi at Hebrew Union College. For Rabbi Siritsky, studying Judaism from traditional perspectives was important because "it was important to understand what we were reforming". Rabbi Siritsky believes in making educated choices from the rich set of resources provided by Jewish tradition, in order to ensure that every ritual and prayer is meaningful. Rabbi Siritsky was a founding board member of the Society of Classical Reform Judaism, due to his unwavering commitment to advocacy for interfaith families and the creation of inclusive Jewish communities that are unconditionally welcoming of all spiritual seekers, regardless of their religious background, relationship status, identity or Hebrew speaking ability. In addition to nearly a decade working in synagogues, teaching, counseling and participating in life cycle events, he is also trained as an interfaith chaplain, and worked with the American Red Cross after 9/11, providing counseling and support at the family assistance center, Ground Zero and the morgue. This led Rabbi Siritsky to get a second Masters in Social Work, and to spend several years working as a psychotherapist, social worker, counselor and chaplain in multiple settings including hospice, palliative care.Smicha, MHL, Hebrew Union College MSW, Louisville Kent School of Social Work
