Jewish Federation of St. Louis will continue its Sh’ma: Listen! Speaker Series with events on Dec. 11 and 12 featuring David Jaffe, who will serve as community scholar-in-residence with the Center for Jewish Learning.

Jaffe is a writer, activist and spiritual seeker whose teaching and writing explore the intersection of moral-spiritual development and ethical action in the world. He has directed of social justice programs at the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Boston and Avodah: The Jewish Service Corps. Jaffe is founder and principal of the Kirva Institute, where he teaches applied Jewish wisdom. He serves as a faculty member at The Mussar Institute and the Institute for Jewish Spirituality retreats. 

From 6 to 9 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 11, Jaffe will lead a workshop on “Jewish Wisdom for Living with Moral Courage.” Participants will explore how we shape our lives to express or deeply held values. For beginners and experienced practitioners alike, this program will explore a Mussar theory of change followed by an in-depth study of choice and free will. The session will include lecture and small study and reflection groups where participants will get a taste for how Mussar can have an immediate impact in their daily lives. Reservations are required. Tuition is $20; light kosher dairy dinner included.

From 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday, Dec. 12, Jaffe will lead a lunch and learn on “Engaging the Other, Bridges and Boundaries.” The session will examine the question, “As a Jewish community, how can we engage with others on issues of common concern like racial justice while strengthening Jewish identity and acknowledging our own diversity?” A light kosher dairy lunch will be served at no charge. Reservations are required for lunch. Brown bag lunches are welcome.

 All events will take place at the Jewish Federation building, 12 Millstone Campus Drive. For more information, contact Cyndee Levy, Director of the Center for Jewish Learning, at [email protected] or 314-442-3754. To RSVP, contact Stephanie Schultz at 314-442-3763 or [email protected]. 

 The events are co-sponsored by the Center for Jewish Learning, the Saul Brodsky Jewish Community Library and the St. Louis Jewish Book Festival. Sh’ma Listen! receives funding from the Lubin-Green Foundation, a supporting foundation of Jewish Federation, and Hank Webber and Chris Jacobs.