October/November 2017 Adult Education Offerings

It’s getting chilly. Come warm up your brains!

Mussar, Torah Treks, Jewish Conversations, Wise Aging and more

Adult Education programs at Beth Israel are designed for adults who wish to continue or begin Jewish learning.  Members and non-members are welcome to attend.  The Rabbis, Adult Education Chairs, and members of the committee plan the year’s educational offerings and welcome requests and ideas to consider for future years. Here is this year’s schedule of classes. Please also check out mekomtorah.org for other offerings. 

UPCOMING TORAH TREKS: The Next Generation:  Rabbinic views on LEADERSHIP
At 12:30 following Shabbat services and potluck lunch
October 28       R. Nathan Martin     Leadership in the Tanach and Tradition
November 18       R. Helen Plotkin      The Invention of Post-Temple Judaism: from the Sacrifices of Priests to the Leadership of Rabbis

Jewish Conversations with Rabbi Helen Plotkin at Ohev October 24th, 2017 7:30 PM   through   9:00 PM   The History of Jewish Meaning Topic : Creation - What did the Bible learn from its neighbors? We’ll look closely at biblical creation stories and at creation myths from Babylonia and Egypt, uncovering an ancient conversation about the nature of the universe and the meaning of life. The stories in the Bible turn out to be nodes in an ongoing discussion! We’ll understand our own stories better by asking “As opposed to what?”   More dates, more info. at Mekom Torah.

Wise Aging with Rabbi Shelly Barnathan at BI October 31st, 2017 10:00 AM- 12:00 PM   Baby boomers and empty nesters are pioneers in understanding and making the most of the “third chapter” of life, years full of potential for learning and growth. Wise Aging is a program designed to offer rich Jewish resources and support for living these years with spirit, resilience, and wisdom. More dates, more info. at Mekom Torah.

A Global Day of Jewish Learning  November 12   This year Jewish Reconstructionist Communities is participating in the Global Day of Jewish Learning on Sunday, November 12th with a program at Kol Emet in Yardley, Pennsylvania featuring Lori Lefkovitz, Ph.D. as our community speaker.  This year’s theme is Beauty and Ugliness and we are sponsoring an in person program at Kol Emet from 10:00 a.m.-1:30 p.m. including Lori’s talk.  The event will begin with breakfast followed by Lori’s talk followed by one set of workshops led by local rabbis including Rabbi Anna Boswell-Levy.   Lori’s talk will be livestreamed through the Global Day website.  We will share the link when it is available. More Information about programming can be found at  https://www.jewishrecon.org/event/global-day-jewish-learning-2017