Spring & Summer 2012 @ OASIS Abq

Great Courses @ OASIS:  You know about OASIS, right?  OASIS (as stated on the organization's website) is

... a unique educational program for adults age 50-plus who want to learn, grow and explore new ideas. We promote successful aging through lifelong learning, health programs and volunteer engagement.

OASIS Albuquerque has just announced their Spring & Summer 2012 line-up of classes.  Registration is now open.  

As usual, Executive Director Michael Nutkiewicz has made sure there are plenty of courses of Jewish interest.  This session's courses and instructors include:

Pioneer Women's Stories 
Thu 17 May 2012 @ 10:30 am - #43 
Instructor:  Norma Libman 

What It Is:  On the trail West, it was the women who prepared the meals, mended clothes, kept track of the children, helped new babies into the world, nursed the sick, and so much more. They did it all while walking most of the way, sometimes pregnant or with a baby in their arms, sometimes both. Come hear Norma Libman tell the stories of real pioneer women taken from their own journals and letters.

Jewish Wisdom About Aging 
Tue 22 May 2012 @ 1:00 pm - #72  
Instructor:  Min Kantrowitz 

What It Is:  The Jewish tradition speaks directly to concerns that touch some of the most sensitive and vulnerable areas of our psyche: mortality, aging, and their effects on ourselves and our loved ones. We will examine Jewish approaches to getting older using ancient and contemporary Jewish texts in translation.

A Brief History of Chess: From India to Modern Times 
Wed 20 May 2012 @ 1:00 pm - #68 
Instructor:  Lior Lapid 

What It Is:  This presentation will examine the history of chess from its origins in India to modern times. We will cover the evolution of the Queen from weakest piece to strongest piece, chess in the age of chivalry, conflicting religious attitudes regarding chess, depictions of the game in literature and film, chess as a state-sponsored activity in Lenin's USSR, and the modern dominance of chess-playing computers. No prior knowledge of chess is required.

Hebrew: Tongue of Prophets & Sages, Pioneers & Programmers 
Mon 04 & 11 Jun 2012 @ 1:00 pm - #46 
Instructor:  Paul J Citrin 

What It Is:  The first session will examine the history, structure, idiomatic expression, and values of the Hebrew language. We will look at Hebrew's pre-Biblical roots, its flowering in Biblical literature, and its post-Biblical development to the 18th century. Session 2 will explore how Hebrew was revived as a spoken language for daily secular life, from commerce to comedy to creative expression in the digital age.

Religious Liberty in New Mexico: An ACLU Perspective 
Tue 05 Jun 2012 @ 1:00 pm - #17
Instructor:  Peter Simonson 

What It Is:  The Bill of Rights sets forth two seemingly contrasting principles regarding religion: that government shall neither inhibit the exercise of religion nor endorse any particular set of religious beliefs. How do public schools and other government entities negotiate these principles? Where do problems arise, and how is religious freedom threatened in the state of New Mexico? The executive director of the ACLU of New Mexico discusses these questions using current examples from the organization's work.

Classical Kabbalah: An Introduction to the Zohar 
Thu 24 & 31 Jul 2012 @ 1:00 pm - #73
 Instructor:  Michael Nutkiewicz 

What It Is:  The thirteenth century Zohar (Book of Splendor) is the central text of Jewish mysticism, otherwise known as Kabbalah. It interprets the Bible as a complex symbolic world, and offers a metaphysics about the inner life of God. It has influenced not only Judaism, but has also impacted Christianity, and in our time inspired "pop" kabbalah. This course will interest people fascinated by history, religion, philosophy, or literature.

The Significance of the 1912 Presidential Election 
Wed 01 Aug 2012 @ 10:30 am - #34 
Instructor:  Noel Pugach 

What It Is:  One hundred years ago, the United States was in the midst of one its highly contested and significant presidential elections. Four political parties fielded candidates--each with an ideological position of its own; each with its policies for a better America. After the dust had settled, the Democratic candidate Woodrow Wilson emerged the victor, winning only a plurality of the popular vote. We will examine the election and evaluate its larger significance.

The Economics of Gravity:
Economic Impact of the Coming Scientific Revolution 
Wed 08 Aug 2012 @ 10:30 am - #83 
Instructor:  Scott M Tyson 

What It Is:  A scientific revolution appears imminent. It will likely involve the unification of quantum theory with relativity theory, and the understanding of gravity. The revolution will offer the prospect for an abundant, benign supply of energy that redefines the concept of "green energy." But this next revolution may represent a disruptive technological, economic, and societal event on a potentially unprecedented scale with huge consequences to our nation and all humanity.