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The Observant Life Study Cycle

The Observant Life:
The Wisdom of Conservative Judaism for Contemporary Jews

Torah and Study Cycle

A decade in the making,  The Observant Life, has been described as a Conservative Judaism’s Shulchan Aruch. It addresses the most profound Jewish questions: how to remain loyal to the tradition while living in the contemporary world. By partnering each chapter in the book with the weekly Torah portion, we will explore the biblical and rabbinic roots of our way of life.

Supplemental material for each chapter will be published in OJCs’ Torah Table Talk. Copies of  The Observant Life (edited by Rabbis Martin Cohen and Michael Katz) are available through the synagogue office, on line, and in book stores. It is also available for Kindle and Nook. Numbers mark the opening page of each chapter. Click here to download a PDF version of this calendar.

Genesis
October 13        Bereishit           Personal Appearance 373
October 20        Noah                 The Environment 874
October 27        Lekh-L’cha        Israel 339
November 3      Vayera              Caring for the Needy 806
November 10    Haye Sarah      The Life Cycle 239
November 17    Toldot               Between Siblings 693
November 24    Vayetze            Personal Integrity 360
December 1      Vayishlah          Disabilities 831
December 8      Vayeshev          Gossip, slander and Tale-bearing 582
December15     Miketz               Chanukah
December 22    Vayigash           Repentance 412
December 29    Vayehi              Grandparents and grandchildren 709

Exodus
January 5         Sh’mot              Marriage
January 12       Va’era               Sex, and Single Jews 632
January 19       Bo                     Neighborly Relations 712
January 26       B’shalah            Tu B’Shvat
February 2       Yitro                  Shabbat 98
February 9       Mishpatim         Labor relations; 508
February 16     Terumah           Charitable Giving
February 23     Titzaveh            Purim
March 2           Ki Tisa              Ethics in the work place, 529
March 9 Vayakhel-Pekudei       Synagogue Life 61

Leviticus
March 16          Vayikra             Prayer 5
March 23          Tzav -               Prayer 5
March 30          Passover
April 6               Shemini            The Dietary Laws 305
April 13             Tazria-Metzora Medical Ethics 751
April 20 Acharei Mot-Kedoshim  Same Sex Relations 657
April 27             Emor                 Holy Days and Holidays Part 11, 187
May 4                B’har-B’hukotai  Loans and Lending, 556

Numbers
May 11              B’midbar           Military Service 479
May 18              Naso                 Torah Study 81
May 25              B’ha’alotekha    Contracts 540
June 1               Shelah              Taxation 551
June 8               Korah                Intellectual Property 571
June 15             Hukkat              Commerce 491
June 22             Balak                Interfaith Relations 727
June 29             Pinhas              Crime and Punishment 458
Jul 6                  Mattot-Masei     Civic Morality, 439

Deuteronomy
July 13              D’varim             Repentance 412
July 20              Va’et’hanan       Parents and Children 673
July 27              Eikev                 Crime and Punishment 458
August 3           Re’eh                Tzedakah 391
August 10         Shoftim             The Secular Justice System 452

August 17         Ki Tetze              Animals 856
August 24        Ki Tavo              Citizenship 427
August 31        Nitzavim-Vayelekh    Bequests and Inheritances 57