Videos organized for Convert to Judaism classes Chicago

People on youtube have been asking for a list of the videos as we organize them for our Conversion to Judaism program in Chicago area. Here they are. They are also on my website www.jonathanginsburg.net or the synagogue site www.ehnt.org

Introduction to Judaism Video Series

1. Values Videos to be viewed during the 16 weeks
Jewish Values 1-3
Jewish Values 4-6
Jewish Values 7-9
Jewish values 10-14
Jewish Values 15-21
Jewish Values 22-27
Jewish values 28 on


2. For the exam 100 Questions, a series of ten videos with the answersare at the bottom of this. Try the exam first on your own

3. Memorization items videos (and/or use the CD)
Memorization exercises for conversion class 1-9
Memorization exercises for conversion class 10-16


4. By Session

Session 1 Theology/Mitzvot

What Jews believe
God and the Holocaust-evil
Judaism: Learn, Live, Love-the spiritual essence
What are the basics of Judaism? JewU 120
What does God really want from us? JewU 121
Choseness and Judaism Jewu151
Why God? JewU 173
Happiness from a Jewish view JewU 156
Devil and Judaism/ What do we believe? JewU 180
God's Names, Bible, Talmud, Prayers JewU 141


Session 2 Texts
Introduction to the Torah JewU 154
Ten Commandments
What is a mitzvah? Is it a good deed? JewU 122
Mishnah Gemarah Talmud 101
Hebrew Bible introduction
Intro to Devarim-Deuteronomy JewU 160
Have a problem with a Biblical verse? JewU 161
Building a Jewish library JewU 177

Session 3 Models/Spiritual Judaism
Jewish Spirituality-Five models
The Jewish Star as a teaching tool



Session 4 Synagogue and ritual objects
Jewish ritual home items

Torah Aliyah Honors 101 How to have an aliyah
Jewish prayer shawl Tallit Tallis 101
Jewish Kippot, Yarmulkes, head Coverings
Mezuza-what is that box on a Jewish home?
Minyon Prayer quorum: rules and history JewU 140

Session 5 Prayer
Shaharit-the Jewish morning Prayer service
The Shem-Hear O Israel the Lord our God the Lord is One
Minha The Jewish Afternoon Prayer service
Jewish prayer service-Maariv/Evening
Jewish Blessings Brachote -2 JewU 166
Cliff notes on Jewish prayer and Bible melodies JewU 168
What are those strange movements in Jewish prayer? JewU 174
Jewish Songs series 1 Birkat hamazone JewU 134
Jewish Songs and Prayers series 2 JewU 136
Jewish Songs and prayers series #3 JewU 137
Jewish Songs and Prayers JewU 144
Jewish Songs and Prayers JewU 145
Jewish Songs and Prayers JewU 146
Cohenim Priests In Judaism
Sacrifices and Judaism
Parashat Parah dvar Torah for March 10 2007
Amen-what does it mean? JewU 178
Mourner's kaddish how to say it JewU 139



Session 6-hst
History of religion -what order? JewU 171
Jewish history Abraham to Hannukah
Hasidim 101
False Messiahs in Jewish History JewU 165
Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, Zealots JewU 164
12 tribes of Israel JewU 143

Session 7


Shabbat-an introduction
Sabbath Kiddush sanctification and havdalah ceremonies chant
History of Shabbat Candle Lighting JewU 176

Session 8
Jewish understanding of TIME
Origins of Jewish holidays
Selihote-penitential service prior to Rosh Hashanah JewU 123
Rosh Hashanah Jewish New year
High Holiday Bible readings JewU 153
Shofar-Ram's horn
Yom Kippur Jewish Atonement Day
Repentance-Teshuva in Judaism
How world's smartest person helps with Yom Kippur JewU 163
Biblical Book of Jonah-its meaning JewU 152
Sukkot and Simhat Torah

Session 9
Purim Homintaschen vs. Hannukah Latke debate
Hannukah The real story
Hannukah songs and blessings sung
Purim the true story



Session 10
Seder Plate Basics for Passover
Passover Haggadah explained briefly
Passover joke: Why is this night Passover song
Haggadya the little goat explained
Omer-the 49 day period between Passover and Shavuot
The Festival of Shavuot First fruits Hag Habikorim
Tisha bAV Ninth of Av saddest day in Jewish year

Session11
Kosher 101
Meat and Milk JewU 172
Vegetarianism and Judaism JewU130

Session 12-Jewish peoplehood/Conversion

Jewish Denominations Movements
Reform Judaism Strength and Challenges JewU 119
Conservative Judaism JEwU 114
Orthodox Judaism strengths and challenges JewU 120
Secular Jewish Humanism JewU 169
Converting to Judaism
Jews and Jesus
Chrisitian and Jewish differences JewU 182
How do non-Jews achieve salvation? Noahide laws JewU 155
Understanding Jewish talk, terms usage
Some Yiddish expressions JewU 167
Jewish last names JewU 181




Session 13
Anti-Semitism-a brief history
Holocaust 2007 Shoah
(especially if you have young children-these 3)
The story of the Tattooed Torah Holocaust story for children
About the Tattooed Torah-how it got to be written


Session 14 IsraelIsrael's 59th birthday Happy birthday
Palestinian Refugees "return" wrong
Israel: the greatest country
What can we personally do to help Israel
It's Not Israel's Fault
AIPAC Crucial for America and the World
Refuting Kristof's March 17 NYT piece on Israel
What's Wrong with Jimmy Carter's Book?
Shameful British Boycott






Session 15-Life
Bris Milah and Jewish Baby namings
Raising Children to be Jewish
Jewish Marriage Ceremony
Tattooing and Piercing in Jewish Tradition
Euthanasia Mercy Killing from a Jewish view
Capital Punisment Death Penalty from a Jewish View
Abortion from a Jewish perspective




Session 16-Life
Jewish Divorce
Aging well -a Jewish view JewU 158
Jewish Funeral Practices 101
Origin of Yizkor memorial service
Jewish view of the Messiah and Messianic era
Resurrection from a Jewish perspective
Life After Death-a Jewish View of Olam Habah JewU 175
Reincarnation and Judaism JEWU 179

100 Q EXAM
100 Q's Jews Should Know -1 Bible
100 Q's Jews Should Know -2-Synagogue and prayer
100 Q's Jews Should Know -3 Home
100 Q's Jews Should Know -4 Sabbath and Holidays Home
100 Q's Jews Should Know -5 Sukkot and Passover
100 Q's Jews Should Know -6 Minor Holiday and High Holidays
100 Q's Jews Should Know -7 Jewish Life
100 Q's Jews Should Know -8 Jewish belief
100 Q's Jews Should Know -9 History
100 Q's Jews Should Know -10 Israel