Getting Ready Spiritually for the High Holy Days - 3 classes

We are proud to offer over the next three Tuesday evenings, a three week study of the classic
work, Duties of the Heart, by Rabbi Bahya ibn Paquda. The book is divided into many "gates."
Our focus of study will be just the three gates most germane to the spirit of the holy season -the Gate of Dedication of Purpose, the Gate of Humility, and the Gate of Repentance.

In the first gate (September 9, 7 PM) we will examine:

a) what is meant by "dedicating one's actions to G*d"
b) how to dedicate one's actions to G*d
c) which acts must be dedicated to G*d
d) things that deter you from dedicating your actions to G*d
e) how to stave off the blandishments of the yetzer hara
f) the obligation to guard and control one's thoughts.

In the second gate (September 16, 7 PM) we will examine:

a) what is humble submission
b) the various types of humility
c) the circumstances that make you humble
d) when to be humble and submissive
e) how to become submissive
f) how a humble person should conduct himself
g) the hallmarks of humility
h) is humility a prerequisite for other good qualities, or
can they appear without humility?
i) can a person be proud and humble at the same time?
j) the benefits of humility in this world and in the hereafter

In the third gate (September 23, 7 PM) we will examine:

a) the definition of repentance
b) the categories of repentance
c) the essentials of repentance
d) the elements of repentance
e) specific details of repentance
f) things that motivate a person to repent
g) deterrents to repentance
h) is one who repents equal to a Tzaddik?
i) can a sinner repent of any sin?
j) advice for a person who finds it difficult to repent

All classes are free for members.
Non-members $72 per class- or $318 for all three!
Membership is free the first year.
No Hebrew is required.
All classes will be conducted in English.

Please contact the office to register for the class at 570-421-8781.
Because of the nature of the subject matter, no more than
ten participants will be permitted to enroll for each class.
You may sign up for each class separately, or for all three
classes.

Friends, it's terribly important to commit to some kind
of spiritual preparation to reap the full benefit of Rosh
Hashana and Yom Kippur.

Just showing up, while always a good thing in and of itself,
without any spiritual preparation is akin to drinking a fine
wine sans the swish and the sniff,

or it's akin to taking the final without studying.
You'll take it, but when it was over
you'd wished you had prepared better
to get more out of it. See you there!

Humbly yours,

Rabbi Melman

P.S. To get an overview about Rabbi Bahya ibn Paquda,
go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bahya_ibn_Paquda.