RS101.3 – Rabbinic Seminar 3
Caregiving through the Changes and Challenges of Life

Instructor: Rabbi Russ Resnik,
Dates: JSpring Trimester – March 30 – June 8, 2025
Location: https://mjti.populiweb.com
Zoom: Join meeting 390 690 7088 or click https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3906907088

COURSE DESCRIPTION
The effective Messianic Jewish leader must have skills in spiritual guidance and caregiving, as well as basic skills in short-term pastoral counseling for their congregants during times of crisis. This course equips the student to provide such counseling. Further, this course will help rabbis to provide effective support and resources to congregants as they prepare for and experience the changes and challenges of life. The course is built on the rhythm of the Jewish lifecycle and draws on sources that validate and enhance a Messianic Jewish identity. It addresses related issues such as mental illness, addiction, and abusive relationships, with a specific focus on when and how to refer congregants to professional help.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES
After completing this course successfully, the student will be able to:

• Respond more effectively to emotional and spiritual needs of congregants and others in the larger community.
• Understand family dynamics and their role in the life of congregants and the congregation as a whole.
• Identify and effectively address problem issues specific to the millennial/GenZ generations.
• Recognize and respond to common behavioral health issues, as well as substance and behavioral addictions.
• Create a plan for enhancing pastoral care in the congregation.
• Understand when and how to make professional referrals..

RELATIONSHIP TO THE CURRICULUM
This course is required for the Master of Rabbinic Studies Degree and the Madrikh Program and is limited to Rabbinical or Madrikh program students.

RELEVANCE
Providing simple spiritual direction and caregiving, as well as short-term pastoral counseling is essential to congregational leadership. The skills needed for this area of ministry are often not directly addressed in rabbinic, biblical, or theological studies. This course provides a practical and hands-on introduction, founded on Messianic Jewish values and perspectives to this whole area.

PREREQUISITES
None

TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS
The student must have a computer or online device and high-speed internet access. For assistance with Populi, please get in touch with Rabbi Michael at admin@mjti.org.

FORMAT
Video conferencing via Zoom. Written reflections via an asynchronous blog on Populi.

REQUIREMENTS
Attending all interactive lectures via Zoom, timely completion of pre-assigned reading before weekly class, weekly reflections on readings, and group interactions are to be posted on the asynchronous blog.

REQUIRED TEXTS

• Friedman, Rabbi Dale A. Jewish Pastoral Care, 2nd Edition: A Practical Handbook from Traditional and Contemporary Sources. Woodstock: Jewish Lights Publishing, 2005.
• Friedman, Edwin H. Generation to Generation: Family Process in Church and Synagogue. New York, London: The Guilford Press, 2011.
• Before the first class, students should read the first two sections of Generation to Generation (190 pages) and Jewish Pastoral Care, Introduction, pp. xii–xxv. Additional reading assignments are listed in the Course Outline below, with listed handouts made available during the course.