Adult Education
ADULT EDUCATION
Adult Hebrew Part 2: Rooting In Hebrew
With rabbinical student and CDT teacher Micah Friedman
Sunday afternoons, 1/31, 2/7, 2/14, 2/21, 2/28, 1:30pm-3:00pm.
A five session Hebrew class for anyone who has learned the letters of the Alef Bet, recently or years ago. We will focus on becoming more proficient at reading and pronouncing Hebrew while simultaneously growing our skills at making meaning of Hebrew words and relating personally to the language of the siddur (prayer book). Payment for this course will be on a sliding scale and participants will need to purchase a book.
Recommended tuition: $50. Please pay what you are able. You do not need to explain or request assistance if this is difficult for you. If you are able to pay a bit more, that will help cover the costs of the class for those who need to pay less. Please contact Melissa Colten if you need assistance.
Participants will need to purchase the book Aleph Isn’t Enough.
Register here for the class to receive updates from instructor.
Israel’s Many Cultures: Together Or Apart?? ריבוי תרבויות בישראל: ביחד או לחוד
Wednesday evenings, March 10, 17, & 24, 7:30-9:00pm
We are excited to welcome back Dr. Irit Aharony, who will offer to members of CDT a three-session course on “Israel’s Many Cultures: Together or Apart?” The course will explore the diversity of Israeli cultures, highlighting both commonalities and tensions among its diverse communities. Each session will emphasize a different art form and explore a particular formation of Israeli voices. The classes will be conducted in English, and readings will be available in Hebrew and English. Advance reading will be necessary only for the final session.
March 10: “In many small windows, through side entrances” (Yehuda Amichai): Questions of immigration, otherness and belonging, “here” versus “there” in Israeli art, with an emphasis on Russian and Ethiopian new Israelis ((עולים חדשים.
March 17: ”In Ashkenaz State” (Roy Hasan): Israeli spoken word poetry, the Ars poetica (ערס-פואטיקה) movement, and the Mizrachi voice.
March 24: Israelis Here and There: Identities, differences, and relationships between Israelis at home and abroad—in Haaretz and in the Diaspora, explored through Maya Arad’s widely acclaimed 2018 novella The Hebrew Teacher (המורה לעברית)
Irit Aharony is Senior Preceptor in Hebrew at Harvard University, where she teaches courses in Hebrew language, culture, and literature. She holds a PhD in Hebrew literature from Bar-Ilan University. She has taught classes at CDT in the past, to great acclaim.
See calendar page for zoom registration.
Telling Our Stories: A Spiritual Autobiography Workshop with Rabbi Toba Spitzer
Tuesday evenings, 7:30-9:00pm, in the Zoomiverse, January 12, 19 & 26
Class registration is closed.
CLASS MATERIALS:
Adult Hebrew
Sunday afternoons, December 6, 13, 20, 27, and January 3 and 10, 1:30pm-3:00pm
Do you want to learn the Alef-Bet? CDT teacher and rabbinical student Micah Friedman is offering a six-session Hebrew alphabet and decoding class for adults in December and January. Along the way, Micah will incorporate spiritual approaches to learning the Hebrew letters.
Participants will need to purchase the book Aleph Isn’t Tough.
Register here for the class to receive updates from instructor. Cost: $60.
Jewishness, Whiteness, and Race in America
With Rabbi Toba Spitzer and Dr. Jenny Sartori
Wednesday evenings, October 28, November 11, 18, December 2, 7:30pm-9pm
Register here for the class to receive updates from instructors. Cost: free.
Zoom link: https://zoom.us/j/94213147665?pwd=TDMxRUhCOUt5bFRhQktia1JIQUN2dz09
Meeting ID: 942 1314 7665 Passcode: 106054
Recordings Session 1 Session 2 Session 3 Session 4
Readings: Goldstein Karen Brodkin essay
READINGS/VIDEO FOR DECEMBER 2 CLASS:
1) A 20-minute video of a talk by Rabbi Angela Warnick Buchdahl of Central Synagogue in NYC: “We are Family: Rethinking Race in the Jewish Community”
2) An article by two Reconstructionist rabbis on their encounters with anti-Black racism in the Jewish community: http://evolve.reconstructingjudaism.org/racism-in-the-jewish-community
3) A really helpful “checklist” of the ways, large and small, that white Ashkenaki Jews often experience privilege in the American Jewish community, put together by the Multiracial Jewish Families Network: https://www.jewishmultiracialnetwork.org/privilege-checklist/
READINGS FOR NOVEMBER 18 CLASS:
1) Please read/listen to at least one of these – teachings from Resmaa Menakem, clinical psychologist and author of My Grandmother’s Hands:
- A very short introduction to his ideas (3 to 5 minute read): https://medium.com/@rmenakem/healing-our-thousand-year-old-trauma-d815009ae93
- A slightly longer interview which goes a bit more in-depth, 8-12 minute read (it’s helpful to read the shorter one first): https://medium.com/@kristinmoe3/breaking-the-chain-healing-racial-trauma-in-the-body-af1bffd1d926
- If you prefer to listen rather than read, he is interviewed by Kristen Tippet (the unedited version, a bit longer than an hour): https://onbeing.org/programs/resmaa-menakem-notice-the-rage-notice-the-silence/
2) Please spend a little time with this “map” of internalized antisemitism for white Ashkenazi Jews in America, from the website www.transcendingjewishtrauma.com.
3) A selection from “Understanding Antisemitism” by JFREJ (Jews for Racial & Economic Justice) – take a look at pages 11-17, “What Is Antisemitism?” The earlier section, “Who Are Jews?” is also useful, pages 7-11.
PAST CLASSESPreparing for the High Holydays
with Rabbi Toba Spitzer
Tuesday, September 1, and Wednesday, September 9, 7:30pm-9:00pm
How can we make the Yamim Noraim, the Days of Awe, most meaningful in these challenging times? All are welcome to join Rabbi Toba for an exploration of teachings about teshuvah, "turning/returning" onto the desired path of our lives, as well as key prayers of the High Holydays liturgy, as we prepare for the Jewish new year. It is fine to come to one or both of the sessions. Have something available to do a bit of writing. Zoom registration available HERE.
Documents for class 2: Shema Koleynu Shema Koleynu Questions
Video Recording of Class 1
Video Recording of Class 2
A Conversation about COVID-19: discussion and Q&A with Lisa Samelson, Paul Hattis, and Rob Saper
Thursday, June 11, 2020 • 19 Sivan 5780
5:30 PM - 7:00 PM
Join us for a deeper fact-based understanding of how to live our lives with COVID-19 around us. Come listen as panelists and fellow CDT-members Lisa, Paul, and Rob answer our questions to help us all set out individual and family "policies" to stay safe in these uncertain times.
A link to the recording of the event is on this calendar event page.
Please send all your questions, general and specific, to office@dorsheitzedek.org
Metaphor & Meaning: Part 2!
with Rabbi Toba Spitzer Zoom Wednesday evenings, 7:30-8:45pm, May 6, 13, 20 and 27
Back by popular demand, this continuation of Rabbi Toba's March class continues the exploration of new/old metaphors for how we think about and experience God, incorporating text study and practice. Whether or not you took the first three sessions in March, you are welcome to join as we look at metaphors of Voice, Fire, and more! Please go to THIS LINK to register.
Sun, January 24 2021
11 Shevat 5781
Upcoming Events
-
Sunday ,
JanJanuary 24 , 2021
Sunday, Jan 24th 12:30p to 5:00p
Join this Virtual Day of Learning with Reconstructing Judaism, including a panel discussion with Rabbi Toba. -
Wednesday ,
JanJanuary 27 , 2021Torah Study
Wednesday, Jan 27th 8:00a to 9:00a
Start your Wednesday mornings with Torah Study! Join Director of Congregational Learning Earnest Vener for a weekly hour-long study of the weekly Torah portion on Wednesdays at 8am. You are welcome to drop in or come weekly. All are welcome and no prior knowledge is required. Please email Earnest at e.vener@dorsheitzedek.org with any questions. -
Thursday ,
JanJanuary 28 , 2021Is The Talmud Racist?
Thursday, Jan 28th 1:30p to 2:30p
In this presentation, Herbert D. Katz Center for Advanced Judaic Studies director Professor Steve Weitzman will introduce the series and its goals. Following that, Mira Wasserman will explore concepts of race and racism as they relate to the foundational source of Jewish tradition, the Babylonian Talmud. This is part of a Reconstructing Judaism free online lecture series on Jews, Race, & Religion. -
Thursday ,
JanJanuary 28 , 2021Tu B'Shvat Seder & Celebration
Thursday, Jan 28th 7:30p to 9:00p
The holiday of Tu B'Shvat, the “new year of the trees,” is a time to celebrate the natural world and the diversity and abundance of the earth’s resources. Come celebrate the fruits of our Tikkun Olam labor this year at CDT, including the Voter Mobilization Project, GBIO and more. Bring your own figs, dates, olives, pomegranates, grapes, etc. -
Saturday ,
JanJanuary 30 , 2021
Shabbat, Jan 30th 10:00a to 12:00p
This "Shabbat of Song" we mark the Israelites' crossing of the Reed Sea and celebrating with the Song of the Sea. Our morning service will feature new recordings from CDT Sings, and song and Torah learning with special guest Arielle Korman of Ammud: Jews of Color Torah Academy. -
Sunday ,
JanJanuary 31 , 2021
Sunday, Jan 31st 10:00a to 11:15a
-
Sunday ,
JanJanuary 31 , 2021
Sunday, Jan 31st 12:00p to 12:20p
We need your help for the CDT Purim Shpiel! Sign up to work with CDT Purim Shpiel creator Sheree to create scenes for our first (and hopefully last) Zoom Purim shpiel. The first session, January 21st, will be a 20 minute info session. The following three sessions will be one hour on Sundays after Religious School and during February break: Feb. 7, Feb. 14, and Feb. 21. -
Sunday ,
JanJanuary 31 , 2021Adult Hebrew Part 2: Rooting In Hebrew
Sunday, Jan 31st 1:30p to 3:00p
A five session Hebrew class for anyone who has learned the letters of the Alef Bet, recently or years ago. We will focus on becoming more proficient at reading and pronouncing Hebrew while simultaneously growing our skills at making meaning of Hebrew words and relating personally to the language of the siddur (prayer book). Payment for this course will be on a sliding scale and participants will need to purchase a book. -
Wednesday ,
FebFebruary 3 , 2021Torah Study
Wednesday, Feb 3rd 8:00a to 9:00a
Start your Wednesday mornings with Torah Study! Join Director of Congregational Learning Earnest Vener for a weekly hour-long study of the weekly Torah portion on Wednesdays at 8am. You are welcome to drop in or come weekly. All are welcome and no prior knowledge is required. Please email Earnest at e.vener@dorsheitzedek.org with any questions. -
Wednesday ,
FebFebruary 3 , 2021
Wednesday, Feb 3rd 5:30p to 5:45p
All are welcome to join Rabbi Toba for a moment of calm each week. The content will vary - a brief teaching, a meditative moment, some music, or another contemplative practice. We will start promptly at 5:30pm each Wednesday, but feel free to drop in at any time. Each session will end with an opportunity for those in mourning or observing a yahrzeit to recite Mourners Kaddish. Zoom: https://zoom.us/j/97091443951?pwd=dVk4bFZIVitMcDViYllNQnRIdmhmZz09