Happy is the one who finds wisdom, the one who gains understanding.—Proverbs
The adult education committee seeks to provide meaningful Jewish learning to the Adat Shalom community through classes, lectures, informal sessions on Hebrew, Jewish history, Jewish literature, Torah, Talmud, prayer, Israel and other topics of interest to the congregation. Our goal is to challenge and inspire the adult members, irrespective of their prior level of Jewish learning, to
Resources for Life Long Learning: |
| D'var Torah & D'var Chinuch Resources |
| Reconstructionism Reading List, Member Book Recommendations and More! |
No exams, no grades-- just stimulating discussions related to Judaism. Anchored by Rabbi George (President, The Institute for Science and Judaism), supplemented by Rabbis Fred, Sid, Cantor Rachel, members of Adat Shalom having expertise in particular subjects, and outside scholars, the adult education program seeks to explore “things we always wanted to know but were afraid to ask.” Classes such as introduction to Judaism, translating the Bible, contemporary Jewish philosophers, and the influence of Yiddish on Jewish life are examples of the subjects we discuss.
As Doris Cohen says, “Learning and studying with fellow congregants is akin to praying together and, therefore, is a very different experience from attending a class elsewhere.”
Please join our classes where you can share your thoughts as we build community through learning. Search for upcoming Adult Education opportunities by clicking on the Calendar link on the left menu bar.
The Clergy Series
Rabbi Fred Dobb
Engaging the World Jewishly: Tikkun Olam, Interfaith Connections, and Eco-Theology
Rabbi Fred's recent doctoral and
sabbatical studies covered this very ground, and he's excited to bring
the most interesting reflections back home to Adat Shalom. Join us to
sample a variety of around-the-world views on how spirituality ignites
and informs our efforts to save our planetary home -- and how green
actions and consciousness might just be what third-millennium religion
needs.
Rabbi George Driesen
Engaging with Jewish Literature after the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible)
Participants will discuss readings
in Talmud, Midrash, Medieval Bible Commentators, Kabbalah, Teachings
of the Hasidic Masters, and the Prayer Books. The course will
include in-depth reading (about 50 pages of text between sessions) and
discussions.
Hazzan Rachel Anne Hersh
Engaging Jewish Liturgy: Prayer Practices
This course will encourage participants
to use their own life experiences to develop an understanding of how
to approach t'filah (prayer).
Rabbi Sid Schwarz
A God Antenna Workshop
Rabbi Sid's Kol Nidre sermon observed that we are all equipped with a “God Antenna,” though for many of us it is both unrecognized and under-utilized. In this three-part series we will look at ways that we might become more attuned to the spiritual, transcendent, and non-rational parts of our life experience.
Morah Chaya Silver
How to Avoid Raising Feral Jewish Children
When we are blessed with children who are savvy, smart, and advantaged, how can we teach them empathy, self management skills, and respect for other people, places, and situations? Does the Torah share any insights on this for Jewish parents? Let's study text, talk, and share in this four session course. We encourage parents of young children and tweens to attend.
Co-sponsored with Young
Families & with the Torah School.
Jewish History
& Thought
Rabbi George Driesen
A Close Reading of the Tanakh (the Hebrew Bible)
Continuing the Tanakh study Rabbi George has led in previous years, this course will begin with several weeks study of Koheleth (Ecclesiastes) and then will turn to the Book of Chronicles (I & II), which we will compare with narratives elsewhere in the Tanakh. We will read and compare Chronicles with the parallel passages in 2 Samuel and the books of Kings, relating to the two kingdoms and in the earlier books. Some adjustments in the program pacing may be made in response to participants' preferences. New participants are welcome.
Rabbi Emanuel S. Goldsmith
Modern Jewish Thought: Personalities, Ideas, Movements
Rabbi Goldsmith, a widely published Reconstructionist leader, is an expert in modern Judaism and in Yiddish and Hebrew language and literature. In this class he will explore the evolution of Jewish thought from Spinoza's challenge to Traditional Judaism to the Haskalah, Zionism, and Mordecai Kaplan.
This course is offered in cooperation
with Ring House, where classes will be held. We encourage people of
all ages to participate. (Ring House can accommodate the classes on
different days of the week during the first semester. A regular
meeting day, to be agreed on by the group, will be scheduled for the
second semester.)
Donald Kane
Becoming Jews
The Biblical Archaeology Forum (BAF) at the Rockville JCC is co-chaired by Adat Shalom member Donald Kane. BAF presents a series of illustrated, scholarly lectures on archaeological research and the history and texts of ancient times in the western world, with a focus on Israel. Adat Shalom members are invited to put these lectures on their November through May calendar. Lecture descriptions may be found at : JCCGW.org/BAF
Adat Shalom is co-sponsoring BAF's April 18, 2012 lecture by Donald Kane: Becoming Jews. Donald's lecture focuses on how differently the Israelites, Judeans and Rabbinic Jews understood the rules of ritual purity, familial and religious descent, and scripture. As co-sponsors, Adat Shalom members may attend this lecture at the reduced entry fee of $5.00.
Co-sponsored with the Biblical
Archaeology Forum, Rockville JCC
Text Study
Coffee & Torah Discussion
Once a month on Shabbat morning,
we welcome experienced students of Torah and new learners to contribute
to a close analysis of the week's parashah. With guidance from many of our talented lay
leaders, we share insights from Torah and learn how to connect scripture
to our daily lives. Spirited conversation, hot coffee, and a nosh give
Shabbat an energizing kick-start.
Exploring Talmud
Sharing expertise and learning
is the heart and soul of Talmud exploration. Under the guidance
of volunteer lay leaders, we use the tools of Talmudic analysis to deepen
understanding of how these texts continue to offer insight and add meaning
to our lives. The informality and intimate size of the group allow ample
opportunities to ask questions, learn, and develop ideas with the help
of others. Knowledge of Hebrew is NOT necessary.
Rabbi Ilyse Kramer
Learning & Teaching Talmud
In this course, you will learn how to study Talmud -- and how to teach it -- by doing it. Rabbi Ilyse Kramer, a highly respected Talmud teacher at the Institute for Christian & Jewish Studies, will guide us in this introduction to Talmud and chevruta study. The Rabbi's broad and deep knowledge, her lively teaching style, and her sense of humor will appeal to those who are new to Talmud -- and to those already in the know. (The class is in English; Hebrew not required.)
Participating in this course requires a commitment to all five classes and a willingness to lead or co-lead our Shabbat afternoon Talmud study sessions. Our organizing session will be held on October 30. We are especially encouraging post-Bar/Bat Mitzvah members with an interest in the Talmud to learn with us.
The schedule:
Sunday, October 30: Study and collaborative course planning
Sunday, November 20 & Sunday, December 18: Study and collaborative teaching
Spring sessions: Two
classes – six to eight weeks apart, continuing studying and collaborative
teaching (time/dates still to be determined)
Literature and the Arts
Helen Leneman
Biblical Stories through Music
Two classes -- one on Biblical Women Who Kill; another on Biblical Seductions -- will provide a crash course in some of the lesser known, or less frequently explored, stories from our tradition.
Co-sponsored with Creative
Arts
Adat Shalom Book Club
Our long-standing book club is open to all Adat Shalom members and is held every month or so at members' homes. At each meeting, the gathered group agrees on the next meeting dates and the next book to be read. Here are the details about the next two meetings:
To the End of the Land, by David Grossman Nemesis, by Philip Roth
Thursday, October 20 @ 7:30 Thursday, November 17 @ 7:30
Home of Myrna & Neal Goldenberg
Home of April Schwartz
For more information, please contact
Charlotte Baer at CBaer@attglobal.net.
And more...
Kit Turen
Quiet Retreats
A Quiet Retreat (much like Shabbat)
offers the opportunity for letting go of the hectic pace of life and
brings our kavanah (intention) and attention to connection with the
Divine. It offers a significant time to enter into this sanctuary of
silence; a silence which can provide an important and enriching balance to
modern life. The program will be led by Kit Turen, who initiated our
Adat Shalom's Pre-High Holy Days Quiet Retreat. Kit is experienced in
the spiritual gift of quiet and silent retreats. Our initial retreat
will be held on March 24 at Adat Shalom.
Hazzan Rachel Anne Hersh, Myrna Seidman & others
Jewish Living: The Basics for Adults
If you have not had a bar or bat mitzvah, or you want to encounter basic Judaism on an adult level, this series of courses is for you. The program will be both didactic and experiential, as well as intellectually and spiritually stimulating. The group will meet with a series of teachers over the course of 18 months. At the conclusion of the program, participants will join in a public celebration at an Adat Shalom Shabbat service. Even more significant, they will walk away with better tools for participation in Jewish life, new insights into Jewish wisdom for everyday living, and a greater appreciation for the sweep of Jewish history. If you are interested in participating in the program and/or in helping to implement it, please contact either Myrna (myrnaseidman@verizon.net) or Hazzan Rachel (cantorrachel@adatshalom.net) .
New Programs Seek Leaders
(such as you)
Members have suggested many additional
programs, but the Jewish Studies committee needs your help in organizing
them. Programs seeking leaders include:
History & Text Study with Visiting Scholars
With sufficient interest -- and much-needed volunteer facilitators -- we will bring Rabbi Leila Berner and other scholars to teach additional courses. Interested? If so, would you help coordinate this effort?
Parent-focused Jewish Studies
In cooperation with the Torah School, Young Families Committee, and other groups, we are seeking leaders to initiate additional Jewish Studies programming for parents with school-age children. Please help us select topics and/or speakers that address the interests of parents of growing children.
Hebrew Language Studies
Depending on interest, Hebrew language courses are now being formed. Both guest scholars and volunteers will teach.
Basic Hebrew Literacy (lay-led; no cost)
Prayer Book Hebrew with Ira Unger (estimated cost: $200 per person)
Shabbaton
Planning has begun, but we could use your help -- on this (and other) Jewish Studies programs.
Interested? Please let us know.
__________
For
more information...
... to share suggestions... or to tell
us that you'd like to help with Jewish Studies programming and /or
logistics, please get in touch. We'd love to hear from you.
Ellen Pechman: empechman@earthlink.net
Alan Mairson: amairson@gmail.com
Adat Shalom Reconstructionist Congregation
7727 Persimmon Tree Lane
Bethesda, MD 20817
E-mail info@adatshalom.net
Phone: 301-767-3333 x106 | FAX: 301-767-3340
Shabbat Services: Saturdays, 9:30 a.m.
We are an affiliate of the Jewish
Reconstructionist Federation
and part of the Chesapeake Region of
the Jewish Reconstructionist Federation (CRJRF)
