Adult Education 5780
Our theme for the year 5780 is Being Jewish in a non-Jewish world: Locating Ourselves in the Mirror of History.
WHAT are the opportunities and challenges of engaging in the secular world as Jews?
HOW do we find space for Jewish practice in our modern lives?
HOW do we reconcile the history of our people with the realities of the 21st Century?
Visiting Scholars
The History of the State of Israel: Unpacking the first 72 years.
Wednesdays | 12:30 pm
Class will begin May 13 | 4 Sessions
Temple Beth-El and St. Mark’s Episcopal Church present a joint weekly seminar with Guest Scholar Uri Feinberg.
Uri Feinberg has been a Jewish Educator for almost 25 years. With a MA from Hebrew University in Contemporary Jewish Studies and as a licensed tour guides since 2000, Uri uses his talents as a story teller, historian and astute political observer to help provide clarity in the midst of an every changing international reality.
ADVANCED REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED*
*A link to join the class will be sent upon registration.
Session 1 – May 13 – The foundation of Zionism: Was this in fact the beginning? We will begin in the middle of the 19th century, looking forward but with a glimpse behind us. We will follow this new movement through its unity and division, its ideology and practice. This will propel us towards the aftermath of WWI, the British Mandate period. (Video of Session 1)
Session 2: The British Mandate will leave its mark, for better and for worse, on the region, on the Jews and. on the Arabs living here. Immigrations, legal and clandestine; partitions accepted and rejected; city scapes and agricultural fields. Tension, threat and hope, all set the stage for the Sinai-esque moment of the founding of the State of Israel. (Video of Session 2)
Session 3: With yearning now behind us, living as a sovereign in our land is a miracle manifest. With doors open for the ingathering of Jews around the world, great heights will be reached even when missteps and mistakes are made along the way. Achievement and challenge will present itself, as we continue through the momentous early decades of the young state.
Session 4: The momentous early decades will make way for the momentous latter decades. Becoming a nation amongst the nations, internal strife, pride and power, overcoming threat, internal and external, success at home while reaching out to help the world. All of these descriptions don’t do justice to all that the State of Israel has seen, done, been proud of, and been devastated by. Hopefully by the end of our seminar, we will strengthen a foundation of knowledge about the State of Israel, we will be able to zoom out and zoom in, contextualize and look forward. However, true success will be established if we can part ways and feel comfortable asking the question- why do I care? What does this mean to me? And now that I know what I know, how does this affect me?
Year Long Learning
Monthly Mussar
Sundays | 9:30 am
Class will begin October 6 | 9-month course
Mussar is an age-old Jewish practice for becoming a better human being, not for the sake of oneself, but rather for the sake of Tikkun Olam—making the world a better place for the sake of others.
Beginning in October we will offer Monthly Mussar with a Social Action Component—for those more advanced Mussar learners. The group will plan a social action activity to match each month’s topic or middah.
This course will be facilitated by Geri Gregory, a trained Mussar Facilitator and the Temple’s Member Services Coordinator. The per-student cost for the course is $10 per month, or $90. To register, pay and for information, contact Geri.
More Adult Learning Opportunities Coming this Fall
Torah Study
Saturdays | 9:00–10:00 am
Join with other dedicated learners as we continue to make our way through the entire Torah text. For more than 20 years we have gathered on Saturday mornings to engage in a close reading of the Hebrew Bible. All learners are welcome to share in the dialogue and discussion.
Stepping Stones to Jewish Knowledge: A Basic Judaism Course
This year’s Stepping stones class is full. Look for future dates this program will open in our monthly bulletin.
Wednesdays 6:30 – 8:30 pm
Section 1A — Stepping Stones to Jewish Knowledge
6:30-7:45 pm
Open to anyone who would like to reinvigorate their Jewish knowledge or begin their journey to conversion. Topics include life cycles, holidays, prayer, history, and theology.
Section 1B — Beginning Hebrew, The Aleph Bet
7:45-8:30 pm
(note: Stepping Stones and Hebrew will be taught concurrently each week)
Section 2 — Choosing Judaism
Delve deeper into the topics previously learned as well as the more personal conversion process, including group discussions, journaling opportunities, and community partnerships with congregants.
Members interested in attending the Stepping Stones to Jewish Knowledge course are encouraged to do so. This group becomes a community during the course, registration for the entire first section is necessary.
Completion of the Introduction to Judaism course is a requirement for all conversion candidates. If you have questions about the conversion process please contact Iris Berman-Smith .
Adult Hebrew
Wednesdays | 10 sessions | beginning June 3
Class 1: 6:00 to 7:00 pm
Beginner class; basic knowledge of the Alef-Bet is required.
Class 2: 7:15 to 8:15 pm
Intermediate class; experience with Hebrew beyond the Alef-Bet is required. This class will focus on learning different aspects of the Hebrew language.
Fee: $80 for members and $105 for non-members. Your registration and payment are due prior to June 1. For online registration and payment, click HEBREW REGISTRATION .
For further information, contact Rachel Walsh.
Temple Book Chavurah
Tuesday, June 7, 2020 – 7:00 PM
The Huntress by Kate Quinn
“Quinn deftly braids the stories of a female Russian bomber pilot, Nazi hunters, and a young Bostonian girl staring down evil in the most unthinkable of places. The result is a searing tale of predator and prey, transgression and redemption and the immutable power of the truth. An utter triumph!” (Pam Jenoff, New York Times Bestselling Author of The Orphan’s Tale)
RSVP or ask to be added to the notification list for this group and to receive the Zoom Invitation prior to each session by contacting Geri Gregory at gro.asle-hteb@ireg.