Weekly Life Long Learning
Chevrah Torah (Torah Study) Saturday Morning
9:00am in the Library
In Judaism, the study of our sacred texts is considered an act towards Divine Connection on par with prayer. It is rare that one has the time to be “spiritually selfish,” meaning to take the time to further one’s own spiritual development. Chevrah Torah is an opportunity to explore, struggle and delve in a nurturing and intimate environment.
Hosted in the intimate setting of our library, surrounded by learners of every age and various backgrounds, our Torah study lifts up our sacred stories to examine the existential and timeless societal quandaries of the human condition. No formal knowledge of Judaism or Hebrew is necessary; every study session is made accessible through commentary and translation.
To register, click on the class time you prefer.
Jewels Meditation Elul
Chaplain Marita Anderson
The month of Elul, leading up to the High Holidays, is a time of introspection, reevaluation of priorities, and soul searching. It's a time of re-orienting our lives toward our truth and the essence of who we want to be. How do we face the difficulties of everyday living and move forward with hope? How do we live our days with integrity and the best of our inner nature? How do we support each other in growth, wisdom, and connection? Let's practice together, expanding into these questions and contemplating the wisdom of the Jewish tradition in preparation for the Days of Awe.
Tuesdays, 7:00pm-8:00pm Zoom Only
October 3, 24, 31, November 7, 14, 21, 28
December 5, 19, January 2, 9, 23, 30
February 6, 13, 27, March 13, 20
April 3, 10, 17, May 1, 8, 15
Register HERE
Hebrew With Ilan-Transforming Our Prayers
Ilan Weismark
Hebrew Prayers with Ilan is back for another round, this time a two-part class where you can improve your reading/chanting skills while deepening your understanding and relationship to the prayer.
When Science 'Proves' Our Sacred Stories:
Rethinking Torah
Rabbi Spike Anderson
Rabbi Anderson’s Rosh HaShanah sermon focused on the medical benefits (body & mind) of compassionate giving. But can we go deeper? Using the 2022 book, Wonder Drug: 7 Scientifically Proven Ways That Serving Others Is the Best Medicine for Yourself, we will re-examine the Torah narratives of Creation, Noah, the Exodus from Egypt, and the Jewish meta-mission to Tikkun Olom/Healing a broken world. Using the most modern scientific studies, be prepared to see Torah in an entirely new light.
Fridays, 10:00am-11:00am In-Person Only
November 4, 11, 18
December 2, 9, 16
Register HERE
Jewish Meditation
Chaplain Marita Anderson
The Jews Are Coming
Rabbi Rachael Miller and Rabbi Max Miller
The Jews are Coming is an Israeli satirical television series that is like the SNL of Israel…but better. Every sketch leaves the viewer with subjects to discuss. Topics range from biblical stories, Zionist history, Israeli current affairs, pop culture.
Everyone can find something to laugh at, be offended by, and walk away from having learned something new about Israel and the Jewish people. There are very few English-subtitled sketches available on YouTube, but Rabbi Rachael and Rabbi Max had an “in” with the creator and will be able to offer many more sketches to our community!
Tuesdays, 7:00pm-8:00pm Zoom Only
January 17, 24, 31
Register HERE
Wednesdays, 12:00pm-1:00pm In-Person Only
January 18, 25, February 1
Register HERE
The Greatest Memes In Jewish History
Rabbi Max Miller
Memes are more than photos and gifs passed around on the internet! Memes (rhymes with “genes”) are the building blocks of culture: paintings, words, stories, songs, anything that gets repeated between two people is a meme. The stronger the meme the more people know it.
If I said, “Fore score and seven years ago…” you think Lincoln. If I said “You had me at hello,” you think Jerry Maguire. If I said something looks like “Starry Night,” you think Van Gogh. These are strong memes. We’re going to survey the greatest Jewish memes of history from “Let there be light” to “The Marvelous Ms. Maisel.”
The Jewish Civilization?
Rabbi Spike Anderson
What are we Jews? And what is ‘Judaism’? Are we a ‘people’? A ‘culture’? A ‘religion’? …or something even more profound? From our inception, we Jews were ‘tapped’ to become, and bring to the world, a new way of ‘being’, of interacting, and of aspiring.Through Jewish text, liturgy, history and politics we will examine the idea behind a Jewish Civilization, and the state that it is in today.
A Jewish Study of the Christian Bible
Rabbi Max Miller
Join Rabbi Max for a Jewish reading of the Christian Bible. As Jews living in a Christian-majority country, we must familiarize ourselves with the text many of our neighbors hold dear. Learning about the Christian Bible can build bridges of partnership, defend against Antisemitism, and even help you to become stronger in your Jewish identity! Together, we will uncover the points of connection and contention between Jews and Christians that will make us better neighbors and more informed Jews.
No Prior Knowledge Required
Unpacking For Israel
Rabbi Rachael Miller
Left and right might not mean what you think they mean when it comes to Israeli politics and society. In the weeks in and around the Israeli High Holy Days, we will unpack the ever-changing Israeli political sector, reviewing how the political landscape of Israel has affected global politics, the Israel-U.S. relationship, peace in the Middle East, and the cost of cottage cheese.
