The Goldstein/Leibson Scholar-in-Residence program presents nationally recognized scholars and educators that lecture on various Jewish subjects. Through funds established at the Jewish Community of Louisville, Nicole and David Goldstein and Phyllis and David Leibson are able to offer Jewish education to the surrounding communities at no charge. The Scholar-in-Residence being presented on Monday, May 17 at 7:30 p.m. at the Jewish Community Center Patio Gallery is Rabbi Norman Cohen.

Dr. Norman Cohen is the former Provost of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in New York City, where he is also Professor of Midrash. Renowned for his expertise in Torah studies and midrash, he lectures frequently to audiences of many faiths. Dr. Cohen was a participant in Bill Moyers’ Genesis: A Living Conversation series on PBS. His books include: Self, Struggle & Change: Family Conflict Stories in Genesis and their Healing Insights for our Lives, Voices from Genesis: Guiding us through the Stages of Life, The Way into Torah, Hineini in our Lives, and Moses and the Journey to Leadership: Timeless Lessons of Effective Management from the Bible and Today’s Leadership (October 2006), all published by Jewish Lights.

“His insights and lessons bring text to life in a way that I have never experienced before. You don’t want to miss this unique opportunity to hear from one of the most outstanding Bible scholars of our time,” says Marty Ruby.

Dr. Cohen will be presenting “How the Bible Can Help Me in My Struggles as a Parent and as a Child”. Through the use of selected midrashim, Dr. Cohen will confront some of our own struggles as human beings living today. Midrash is the process by which the ancient rabbis sought to respond to the challenges which they faced. Midrash also enables us to find contemporary meaning in the Bible as it relates to the essential and timeless questions with which we all deal. How will these stories relate to me, help me cope with my problems and relationships? See what the biblical characters can teach us about who we are, as we search for meaning in our lives, and who we aspire to be.

Rabbi David Ariel-Joel states, “The best part is Professor Cohen’s amazing ability to make the Biblical issues relevant to my life. Abraham or Moses become you; their problems, their struggles, their issues, are so similar to ours. It makes you want to dive into the text, and hope that the lessons with Professor Cohen will never end.”