When a group of eight couples in their 40s and 50s meet once a month to discuss different Jewish topics with Rabbi Yechiel Baitelman, co-director of Chabad of Richmond, no subject is off limits. The program is called Toward a Meaningful Life.<\/p>\n
\u201cI set the agenda for discussion each month, but if there are other subjects the group is interested in exploring, they\u2019ll send me their questions ahead of time and we can have a meaningful, focused discussion when we meet together as a group,\u201d said Baitelman.<\/p>\n
The group of friends meets in the privacy of their homes, and rotates houses from month to month. The rabbi is open to any subject on which he can offer an insightful Jewish perspective. So far, topics discussed have included discovering your personal mission statement; marriage, love and intimacy; home and family; and purpose in life. Upcoming topics will include work; charity and wealth; pain, loss and anxiety; and religion and faith.<\/p>\n
Jill Topp, a member of the couples group, values these sessions with the rabbi.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s not judgmental at all, and we\u2019re not even members of Chabad,\u201d she said. \u201cI love his style of guided learning, and what\u2019s important to me is that he allows us to be the Jews that we are, and want to be.\u201d She said they discuss issues related to being in healthy relationships of all sorts, from a Jewish perspective.<\/p>\n
Debbie Aarons, another participant, said, \u201cOur group is mixed, we\u2019re not all Orthodox Jews, but we\u2019re like-minded Jews and lifelong learners. Being part of this couples learning group sends a good message to our kids. It tells them that being Jewish is not just about going to shul once a week or a few times a year. It\u2019s about continuing our Jewish learning and having meaningful conversations.\u201d<\/p>\n
Shay Keil, who also attends the group, finds it interesting to see how the other couples, who are his friends, respond to discussions about relationships from a religious perspective.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not something we talk about when we socialize, so it\u2019s fascinating to hear their points of view on these topics,\u201d said Keil. He commented that he finds it beneficial that they\u2019re friends coming together, because it adds that social element to it. \u201cI also like that our kids see us going on a Sunday night to a class that\u2019s connecting us to Judaism, and that it\u2019s not just about going to shul,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs Jews, we struggle with all sorts of religious and other issues,\u201d said Baitelman. \u201cWe\u2019re a people that questions everything and wants to know why \u2013 or why not. Life is about purpose and meaning, and people want to understand their role in the world. So, during these couples classes, we explore all kinds of Jewish subjects and everyone has a chance to contribute. Hopefully, by the end of each meeting, couples have a better insight and understanding of Jewish topics, both personally and as part of the Jewish people.\u201d<\/p>\n