Adult Education

The Torah study group meets every Saturday at 9:00 a.m. at the synagogue. Bagels and a lively discussion of the week's Torah portion are standard fare. Everyone is welcome!

Lunch & Learn

2012/13

Rabbi Benjamin Sternman

Those who cannot remember the past are con-demned to repeat it.  - George Santayana

Over the course of the year we will examine critical junctures in Jewish History and discuss the lessons we can learn from the challenges of the past and how we might apply those lessons to our own times.  All are invited and welcome to attend. Please bring your own lunch.  Noon on Tuesdays at Adat Chaverim.

October 16            - Early Kings and the Divided Kingdom
November 13        - Destruction of the Temple/Exile
December 11        - Hasmonean Dynasty
January 15            - Destruction of the Second Temple/Diaspora
February 12          - Medieval Jewry of Europe
March 12               - The Golden Age of Spain
April 9                    - Haskalah/Hasidism/ Denominations
May 7                     - Zionism/Holocaust/Israel

Additional Offsite Lunch & Learns are TBD

Beginner’s Hebrew

Course Description: This class is a continuation of Hebrew, Stage One and will study the Hebrew language through our prayers and their meanings.

Textbook:

Aleph Isn’t Enough by Linda Motzkin

Course Instructor: Eric Castaneda

Eric Castaneda has taught Hebrew, Stage One and Beginner’s Hebrew at our Temple for several years. He is proficient in Hebrew, French and Spanish and is currently teaching French at West Mesquite High School.

Dates & Time: Wednesdays at 6:30 PM, beginning September 12th and following the Religious School calendar

Note: This class follows the Religious School calendar which is posted on the Temple website (www.adatchaverim.org) subject to change. Class members will be notified in advance of the changes.

Living a Jewish Life
2012/13

Course Description: Living a Jewish Life is an introductory course to understand Jewish thought and practice. It is meant for Jews who would like a refresher course, those who are considering conversion to Judaism, and interfaith couples who would like to study Judaism together. There is outside reading and preparation for classes.

Course Instructor: Rabbi Sternman

Dates & Time: Tuesdays 7:30 PM - 9:00 PM

October 16, 23, 30; November 6, 13, 27; December 4, 11; January 8, 15, 29; February 5, 12, 26; March 12, 19; April 9, 16, 23, 30; May 7, 21

Textbooks:

A History of the Jewish Experience by Leo Trepp

Intro to Judaism by Einstein & Kukoff

Jewish Living by Mark Washofsky

The Jewish Holidays by Michael Strassfeld

Advanced Jewish Adult Learning

Description: Taught by Rabbi Sternman and other rabbis within the community. Advanced Jewish Adult Learning will explore in depth topics of the rabbis’ choice. Rabbi Sternman will teach a 6-session class on Pirkei Avot, a collection of stories and aphorisms from the Misnah. He will also teach a 6-session class on Business Ethics in the Talmud, the subject on which he wrote his rabbinic thesis.

     UPDATE:

Adult Jewish Education will begin on Tuesday morning, October 16th with Rabbi Robkin from DATA of Plano.  Rabbi Robkin is known for his openness in tackling difficult and sometimes misunderstood or taboo subjects.  He will be teaching Perfecting our Character Traits 101.  He will teach for five weeks (Oct. 16, 23, 30; Nov. 6, and 13).
 
We will then take Nov. 20th off, and starting on November 27th, Rabbi Sternman will teach Pirkei Avot Sayings of Jewish Fathers.  We all cite Pirkei Avot, but have we really studied it? There will be small costs for a textbook.  Classes will be held on November 27, December 4, 11 and January 8, 15, and 22.  

Textbook:

Pirkei Avot by Kravitz & Olitzky

Members and non– members are welcome. There is no tuition charge for any of these courses. Charges for some textbooks may be required and can be purchased through the Temple office.

Coming Fall 2013:

Adult Bar/Bat Mitzvah Class with Rabbi Benjamin Sternman

A series of six class modules will be offered beginning in the fall of 2013. Students who want to progress towards Bar/Bat Mitzvah as an adult will take all the modules while other students may take individual modules as interested.

The six modules are:

• Tanach (The Hebrew Bible)
• Rabbinic Literature (Mishnah, Talmud, Midrash, etc.)
• Jewish History
• Religious Values and Theology
• Liturgy and Prayer
• Bar/Bat Mitzvah Preparation

Location: Adat Chaverim

For more information please contact Rabbi Sternman by calling the office.