The Jewish Learning Institute (JLI) will present the new course “Money Matters: Wisdom of the Ages on Today’s Economic Crisis”. The six-session series is accredited for 7.5 MCLE credits and will commence during the week of January 22.
Rabbi Dovber Berkowitz of the Jewish Learning Institute of Contra Costa will conduct the six-session course at on six consecutive Tuesday mornings beginning January 24 from 10:00 - 11:15 AM at Chabad of Contra Costa, 1671 Newell Ave. Walnut Creek, CA 94595. The course will also be offered on six consecutive Tuesday evenings beginning January 24 from 7:30 - 8:45 PM at the Contra Costa Jewish Day School, 3836 Mt. Diablo Blvd. Lafayette, CA 94549.
"The recent failures in the financial industry have drastically changed the way we think about business," explains Rabbi Dovber Berkowitz, the local JLI instructor. “At JLI, we deeply believe that business should be a force for good, and that's why we're presenting students with timeless Talmudic insights into real-world ethical dilemmas.”
Find out what's happening in Walnut Creekwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Spanning a wide range of intriguing subjects, “Money Matters” discusses the personal ethics of bankruptcy and freeloading. The course we will also address topics in social ethics such as living wages, insider trading, CEO compensation and collective bargaining.
Some of the topics “Money Matters” covers include: Should trading on privileged information be considered a crime? Do you have the right to earn as much as possible? What are the responsibilities of the rich? Does Judaism have a view on capitalism and social responsibility? Is it ethical to declare bankruptcy and discharge your debt? What is Judaism’s view on unions, collective bargaining and strikes?
Find out what's happening in Walnut Creekwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
"Markets need morals, and morals are not made by markets. They are made by schools, the media, custom, tradition, religious leaders, moral role models and the influence of people," said the British Chief Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks. "Jewish ethics have a long past and a massive resource of wisdom. That is why courses such as JLI’s 'Money Matters: Wisdom of the Ages on Today’s Economic Crisis' are so important."
Like all JLI programs, "Money Matters" is designed to appeal to people at all levels of Jewish knowledge, including those without any prior experience or background in Jewish learning. All JLI courses are open to the public, and attendees need not be affiliated with a particular synagogue, temple or other house of worship.
Interested students may call 925-269-9554, email JLI@JewishContraCosta.com or visit ww.myJLI.com for registration and other course-related information.
