LIFELONG LEARNING
Torah Study with Rabbi Kalisch or Rabbi Koppel
Saturdays beginning October 14, 9:15 am
Come for the bagels and coffee … stay for the warm community and the open, intellectually engaging discussion. Who comes to Torah study at Beth David? We are longtime enthusiasts who commit to coming every week, and newbies who show up once or twice a year. We are retirees and working parents; we are fluent in Hebrew, and we don’t know a single Hebrew letter. Each week, we read a section of the weekly Torah portion in English and discuss it from a modern perspective, alongside modern, ancient, or medieval texts Rabbi Kalisch shares to help illuminate the words of Torah in new ways. This fall, select Torah Study sessions will feature the opportunity to be part of a group evaluating a brand new Torah translation as part of the creation of a new forthcoming Reform Movement Torah Commentary. During the summer, Torah study is lay led. Torah Study meets some weeks via Zoom and some weeks in-person – please check the website or check your email for the current schedule. No prior knowledge is assumed or required. Drop in any week for the first time, or contact Rabbi Kalisch at bkalisch@bdavid.org with any questions.
“Can’t Chant? Now you Can!”
Schedule: Monday’s April 1, 8, 15 – 6:15 to 7:30pm
Have you ever wondered how your childhood cantor came up with those melodies that were recorded on cassette tapes? Well, cassette tapes may be obsolete, but the rules of cantillation still hold true. Come to our 3 session crash course on cantillation and emerge a confident Torah chanter! Please note: While there is no prerequisite for any master vocal ability or Hebrew fluency, students must be able to read Hebrew. Contact Cantor Goodlev lgoodlev@bdavid.org to inquire.
Women’s Beit Midrash
Tuesdays, Starting September 19,7:30pm, Zoom until Spring
If you love to learn and enjoy a hearty discussion among your piers, then our Women’s Study Group, Beit Midrash, is for you! Class meets at Beth David on Tuesday evenings, 7:30pm beginning September 19th through May. The topic for this year is Wild Women of Biblical Proportions, taught by Rabbi Lisa Mallik. There’s a fee for enrolling in class but try it out the first week at no cost to you. No need to let us know in advance.
Golda: Legend and Legacy
Rabbi Beth Kalisch
Date: TBD
Golda Meir, Israel’s fourth Prime Minister and one of the first women in the world to serve as a head of state, has long been one of the most fascinating figures in Israeli history. This year, as we mark the 50th anniversary of the Yom Kippur War that was so significant in her time as Prime Minister, Golda is the subject of a film starring Helen Mirren, and several new biographies. Watch the film or read a biography of your choice to prepare for our discussion. A few of the most recent biographies include Golda Meir: Israel’s Matriarch, by Deborah Lipstadt; Lioness: Golda Meir and the Nation of Israel, by Francine Klagsburn; and The Only Woman in the Room by Pnina Lahav. Brown bag lunches welcome. Co-sponsored by Beth David WRJ/Sisterhood.
LIFELONG LEARNING
COMING ATTRACTIONS
SPRING 2024
- Golems and Dybukks and Demons: Oh My!, with Rabbi Elisa Koppel – Dates: TBA
- Mosaic Hamsa Workshop, with Rabbi Gila Ruskin – Dates: TBA
