LIVE UPDATES
Purim Sameach! Check my Megillat Esther 5785!
I will lead Shabbat Pequdei at my youth synagogue, CJB, Rio de Janeiro
Next public activity: reading of Haftarat Vayaqhel at Kehilat Neshamá, São Paulo
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Everything nobody ever told you about the Bible!
What if I tell you that the Bible is not monotheistic? Or that the true meaning of the Ten Commandments is quite different from what you know? And more: that our idea of God is very distinct from the one revealed to us by the Sacred Text?
This may sound strange, but when you comprehend what has been misunderstood for centuries, your vision of the Scriptures will never be the same.
It's time to know the truth. Here, you will learn to read the complex Sacred Texts in a simple and clear way. What once seemed difficult or even inaccessible will make sense as never before.
WHAT THEY ARE SAYING ABOUT FLAVIA VIRGINIA
A presence that welcomes and provokes self-investigation
“Flavia Virginia is, above all, an amazing mentor.
I have been receiving her guidance for a long time and in very different aspects of my life: professional challenges, relationship issues, spirituality, new perspectives of seeing the same situation, always with the ability to simultaneously welcome, provoke self-investigation and produce movements, whether internal or external.
Her quality of presence is another aspect that inspires me in itself. Even in very challenging situations, her work is loving and light, perhaps because it makes me feel that I am being heard in a broad way, which ends up giving me the same impression of myself and the same search for presence.
Flavia Virginia is passionate and cheerful, with an intelligence and expressiveness that also greatly stimulate me. The unique way in which she articulates her varied knowledge in favor of a clearer vision reminds me that my life is important; that, in itself, is worth its weight in gold.”
Ana Luiza
Singer
Knowledge and power to guide a path of discovery
“The process I experienced with Flavia was such a special gift for me that it is difficult to put into words its power. I met her at a special moment in my life, when I was following the process of preparing my son for his Bar Mitzvah.
We are secular Jews and my son brought the desire to have his Bar Mitzvah, which also awakened in me the desire to understand the place of spirituality in my life. In this context, Flavia became a reference, an essential and inspiring interlocutor, who enhanced a trail of unexpected, touching and very beautiful discoveries. There were only eight meetings, but they were profound and sensitive.
In the year that I turn 50, being able to access this space of spirituality, of the feminine and discover the Judaism that makes sense to me—and going through this experience at the same time as my son—was transformative and made feelings overflow that will continue to mobilize and accompany me. I know that the journey is still ongoing and having Flavia’s sensitivity, strength, knowledge and power makes this journey unique.”
Barbara Rosenberg
Lawyer
Building a body of knowledge together
“Teaching is more than just transferring information. It is about building a body of knowledge together. This partnership is achieved through a teacher-student relationship based on trust, empathy, and competence. In this process, teacher Flavia Virginia, through thought-provoking classes, guides her students (and I have been her student for many years) to meaningful learning, leading them to seek new ideas, new perspectives, and concepts through questioning and reflection. Her work inspires in each of us a constant search for knowledge and establishes a continuous and dynamic learning process, influencing our actions and understanding of our Tradition and History. Thank you for the opportunity to study and learn together.”
Renata Barco
Professor in Applied Human Nutrition
JEWISH CALENDAR
THIS WEEK
'ניסן א'-ז
Nisan 1-7
March 30-April 5
PARASHAT HASHAVU‘A
פרשת ויקרא
Parashat Vayiqra
“And He called”
This is the third book of the Torah, whose narrative takes place after the exodus from Egypt and the revelation of God on Mount Sinai. The emphasis is on rituals, laws and codes of moral conduct. In this parashah, after anointing the Tent of Assignment and the priests who will officiate in the tabernacle, God instructs Moses regarding the sacrifices that are to be made thereafter.
LATEST POSTS
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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Only Jews can take the courses?No; the courses are open to anyone, in accordance to what is ennunciated (for example, if there is a "Course for children aged 5 to 10", naturally only children this age will be accepted).
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Is the Jewish Bible the same as the Christian Bible?The Jewish Bible is almost exactly the same as what Christians call the Old Testament, except for a few texts that were not canonized by the Jews, such as Bel and the Dragon and Maccabees, for example. The academic term for the Jewish Bible is “Hebrew Bible” and, for the Christian Bible, “Gospel”. The Hebrew term for the Hebrew Bible is Tanakh (also spelled Tanach). When I use the term “Bible” I am always referring to the Hebrew Bible, although I may occasionally use one or another reference from the Gospel to illustrate something.
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What is the Torah?The Torah itself is the “Pentateuch”, also called “The Five Books of Moses“”; but it is common to use the term to refer to the entire Hebrew Bible, whose name in Hebrew is Tanakh. So, if someone says “I will study Torah”, they probably mean that they will study the Bible as a whole, but it is good to keep in mind that, technically, the Torah is only a third of the Bible, which is also composed of the Prophets (Neviyim) and Writings (Ketuvim).
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Do the courses have a religious approach?In general, my approach is non-religious, always seeking a more multidisciplinary view. In some cases, however, the content is, in itself, religious, as, for example, in the lecture “Preparing for Yom Kippur”. Since Yom Kippur is a festival in the Jewish religious calendar, we talk about it by also addressing religion.
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Do religious people have anything to gain from your courses?My personal experience is that the biblical author, coming from another era, very different from ours, wrote his texts without thinking about religion as we would think today, but with a deeply spiritual feeling, so to speak. Thus, it is not necessary to do a religious reading to encounter the Spirit, or God, the Creator of the Universe—whatever name is given to this subtle and powerful dimension. The very form of narrative used by the various biblical authors always brings this dimension back to us—which is why, I believe, the text has been so alive for so long. I say this based on what I feel, but also considering the feedback from my students over time.
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What is the main age range of the courses?I speak to an audience of young adults and up.
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Do you teach bar/bat mitzvah classes?Yes.
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Do you teach conversion classes?I have courses where I talk about all the main characteristics of the religion, but they are not exactly conversion courses and I personally do not convert people. If you are interested in talking more about the subject or getting some guidance, please contact me through the contact form for private consultations.
WHAT TO DO NOW?
It's very simple: you now have the right place to learn the Bible, with the following features:
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difficult words and obscure meanings will be left behind;
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you will learn how to differentiate between religious information and contextual information;
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courses and lectures are recorded (with some exceptions) and you will have access to them for a year;
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your questions and particular interests can also be addressed and you will have a premium experience.