Jewish Consortium Offers Feng Shui Class

What does Feng Shui, the ancient Chinese science of creating a harmonious environment, have in common with Jewish sensibilities? Enough, apparently, to fill a six-week course this fall.

The class, “Eco-Kosher and Feng Shui,” is one of several being offered in Agoura Hills and Thousand Oaks by the Conejo Valley Consortium for Adult Jewish Education.

On Thursday, the series begins with a lecture on “The Tao of Judaism” at Temple Beth Haverim in Agoura Hills. Rabbi Edward Feinstein of Valley Beth Shalom will explore what Jewish tradition offers to people seeking a deeper meaning to everyday life.

On Tuesdays beginning Oct. 27, the consortium will offer a course on creating a satisfying Jewish home life, titled “Jewish Home Depot: Six Tools for the Jewish Home of the 21st Century.”

The Feng Shui class is scheduled for Wednesdays, beginning Oct. 28, and “Carnal Israel,” a Thursday night course on gender, love, and marriage in ancient Israel, begins Oct. 29.

“One reason Judaism has survived for thousands of years is its adaptability to contemporary life,” said Bonnie Somers, a spokeswoman for the Jewish Federation/Valley Alliance, one of the groups in the consortium. “These courses show an awareness of both modern trends and timeless truths.”

With the help of a licensed counselor, a rabbi and a financial planner, the consortium is also offering a two-month series beginning Oct. 14 called “Making Marriage Work,” which will address how to resolve conflicts, communicate better and achieve greater intimacy.

This course includes a private meeting with a counselor.

Thursday’s lecture on “The Tao of Judaism” costs $10. It begins at 7:30 p.m. at Temple Beth Haverim, 5126 Clareton Drive, Suite 140, in Agoura Hills. The other courses cost $45, except for “Making Marriage Work,” the cost of which has not yet been determined, Somers said.

For more information on enrolling, call Maxine Meyer of the Jewish Federation/Valley Alliance at (818) 464-3230.