Beginning Monday, Nov. 3, the Rohr Jewish Learning Institute will present "How Happiness Thinks: Jewish Perspectives on Positive Psychology," the institute's new six-session fall 2014 course.
Rabbi Yossi Labkowski will be conducting the classes on Monday evenings in Cape Coral at the Chabad Jewish Center, 1716 Cape Coral Parkway, W., and Rabbi Minkowicz will be conducting the classes in Fort Myers on Wednesday mornings and Thursday evenings at Chabad, 5620 Winkler Road.
Rabbi Zalman Abraham of JLI's headquarters in New York says that being happy can depend on one's perspective, explaining, "How Happiness Thinks is based on the premise that to be happy, you can either change the world, or you can change your thinking."
While drawing on 3,000 years of Jewish wisdom on happiness, the course, which was prepared in partnership between JLI and the Washington School of Psychiatry, builds on the latest observations and discoveries in the field of positive psychology.
How Happiness Thinks offers participants the chance to earn up to 15 continuing education credits from the American Psychological Association (APA), American Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), California Board of Behavioral Sciences (CBBS), Social Work Board of the State of Maryland, and the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC).
The course explores to what degree surroundings and circumstances effect ones overall happiness, potential challenges to living a joyous life, and whether G-d cares if people are happy or not.
Like all previous JLI programs, How Happiness Thinks is designed to appeal to people at all levels of Jewish knowledge, including those without any prior experience or background in Jewish learning.
All JLI courses are open to the public, and attendees need not be affiliated with a particular synagogue, temple, or other house of worship.
Interested students may call 239-963-4770 or visit www.myJLI.com for registration and other course-related information. JLI courses are presented in Cape Coral and Fort Myers in conjunction with Chabad Jewish Center - Cape Coral.