Adult Education

Lifelong learning is a cherished value and tradition here at Congregation B’nai Israel. Our adult education program engages our learners in a wide variety of formats and compelling topics, including Hebrew language, Jewish texts, tradition, values, music, ritual, Israel and contemporary topics. Check out the current line up here.

We strive to offer single and multi-session courses that appeal to all ages and stages, at varied times during the week to enable everyone to participate. If there is a topic that interests you … or something you want to learn … please let us know!

Recurring Classes – Weekly

DEATH IN JEWISH TRADITION AND LORE
WITH LEN HAUSMAN
There is no more uncomfortable subject than death, even more so in
these times. Rituals and practices around death are a window into a
culture’s beliefs and views not just of death, but also of life. They can be
viewed as psychological defense mechanisms to soften the reality of
death and pain of loss for the bereaved. They function as guides to how
a community supports those in grief. While there is no one way to
mourn, they offer a roadmap for of the those who have lost a loved one.
Exploring what Jewish tradition has to say about death is fascinating.
While our rituals and practices have evolved some over the centuries,
their basis has not. We have centuries-old Halacha – Jewish law –
surrounding death, but there is also a fair dose of folklore and even
superstition in the mix. And surprisingly, a number of our rituals are also
seen in the practices of other cultures.

To Join Zoom Meeting, click HERE.
Meeting ID: 846 1749 5276 / PW: CBI

About Lecture Leader Len Hausman:

Len Hausman has had an interest in the music of Israel since his youth. He completed a year of training in Israel toward being a teacher in the diaspora, sponsored by the World Zionist Organization. He has enjoyed teached teaching on a range of subjects at CBI and other venues. Professionally, Len is a psychologist with practices in Greenwich Village, New York and locally.

 

To view the class held on 11/13, click HERE. 

 

The Upright Path: How Pirkei Avot (Ethics of Our Ancestors) Can Transform Our Lives

Thursday Mornings from 10:00-11:00 a.m. on Zoom, beginning October 23rd.

Join us weekly on Thursday mornings as we study the commentaries of Rabbis Tamar Elad Applebaum and Gordon Tucker on Pirkei Avot and aspire to instill the lessons of this timeless text into our lives.
This course will be taught by Rabbi Ari Isenberg .

To register, please email Joi Noel HERE.

For class materials, click HERE.

Talmud Class

Monday Evenings from 7:30-9:00 p.m. on Zoom, beginning October 24th

This semester ~ Origins of the Jewish Prayer

Study the Origins of Jewish Prayer as it is discussed through the Talmud with Rabbi Akiba Lubow.

 

Recurring Classes – Monthly

Chanting Circle with Len Hausman

Sunday Afternoons from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. on Zoom

 

Special Programs

Ongoing Opportunities

Hebrew‌ ‌Reading‌ ‌~‌ ‌At‌ ‌Any‌ ‌Level‌ ‌

Whether‌ ‌you‌ ‌want‌ ‌to‌ ‌learn‌ ‌the‌ ‌aleph-bet,‌ ‌become‌ ‌proficient‌ ‌in‌ ‌a‌ ‌particular‌ ‌prayer‌ ‌or‌ ‌a‌  few‌ ‌prayers,‌ ‌improve‌ ‌your‌ ‌Torah‌ ‌reading,‌ ‌or‌ ‌lead‌ ‌a‌ ‌service,‌ ‌contact Cantor Lorna Wallach ‌for‌ ‌individual‌ ‌30-minute‌ ‌sessions‌ ‌at‌ ‌a‌ mutually‌ ‌convenient‌ ‌time‌ ‌to‌ ‌study‌ ‌on‌ ‌your‌ ‌own‌ ‌terms.‌ ‌

Introduction‌ ‌to‌ ‌Torah/Haftarah‌ ‌Chanting‌ ‌ ‌

Reach‌ ‌out‌ ‌to‌ ‌Cantor‌ ‌Lorna‌ ‌Wallach‌ ‌to‌ ‌arrange‌ ‌a‌ ‌time‌ ‌for‌ ‌private‌ ‌lessons‌ ‌learning‌ ‌Torah‌ or‌ ‌Haftarah‌ ‌trope.‌ She‌ ‌will‌ ‌work‌ ‌with‌ ‌you‌ ‌until‌ ‌you‌ ‌are‌ ‌ready‌ ‌to‌ ‌confidently‌ ‌chant‌ ‌from‌ ‌the‌ ‌Torah‌ ‌for‌ ‌Shabbat‌ ‌or‌ ‌a‌ ‌simcha‌.‌ ‌

Please contact Cantor Loran Wallach to discuss your interests!