The Secular Humanist Jewish Circle is sponsoring a lecture, "Torah as Mythology," by Rabbi Miri Fleming on May 19.
Fleming will talk about myths, the traditional stories that serve to explain phenomena, beliefs and customs of a specific people.
Her talk will be from 2 to 4:30 p.m. She will address the question of what the Torah, or five books of Moses, is to the Jewish people and why it is regarded by some as the word of God, for others as history and for others nothing more than "just an old book."
Fleming will review the reasons that some Jewish people still read and study the Torah from beginning to end every year and how a book written so many years ago can be relevant in 2012.
Before coming to Tucson in 1985, Fleming lived in Israel, where she attended elementary school through college. She was originally from Argentina, and Spanish was her first language. While raising a family in Tucson she received master's and doctoral degrees in education from the University of Arizona.
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Following a first career as a teacher and school administrator, Fleming was ordained through the Jewish Renewal ALEPH Rabbinic Program.
Fleming is fluent in Hebrew as well as knowledgeable of Jewish religious sources, history, customs and traditions. She does not serve a particular congregation but works as a community rabbi, performing life cycle ceremonies, leading holiday observances and teaching classes for non-affiliated Jews in Tucson and surrounding areas.
The lecture will be held at the Dusenberry-River Library, 5605 E. River Road, at North Craycroft. It's free and open to the public. Participants are asked to bring a snack to share as well as a nonperishable food item for the Community Food Bank.
A brief Oneg and socializing will round out the afternoon.
To RSVP contact Susan Rubin at 577-7718 or srubinaz@comcast.net
The Secular Humanist Jewish Circle is a local group, organized to meet the affiliative needs of cultural, humanist, secular Jews (and their non-Jewish family members/partners) in the greater Tucson community.
The organization is open to families and individuals of all ages.
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