In partnership with Congregation Beth Emek

Superman, Batman and the Fantastic Four were all created by young Jewish men. In fact, almost all of the original DC and Marvel superheroes, except Wonder Woman, were created by Jewish writers and were drawn by Jewish artists. We will discuss the many theories of why this may be true. We will consider why, until five or ten years ago, the comic book industry was dominated by Jewish men and women, as writers, artists, pencilers and publishers. We will also look at the Jewish roots for some of these superheroes and supervillains, and the handful of characters who are identified as Jewish today. We may even read a graphic novel!

In partnership with ReBoot

In partnership with the Magnes Collection of Jewish Art and Life

With ketubah artists David Moss, Deborah Ugoretz & Rachel Biale

The art of illuminating ketubot (Jewish marriage contracts) spans Jewish communities from India and Iran, to Europe, North Africa, and America. In the late 1960s several calligraphers and artists revived and re-envisioned this art, key among them David Moss in Berkeley (housed at the Magnes Museum) and Stuart Kelma... Read more

In partnership with the Jewish Community Library

This three-session course will cover the history and lived experiences of Soviet Jews, their fight to leave for Israel and their current life in Russia. Beginning with the history of Jewish communities in Russia and the Soviet Union and widespread antisemitic laws, we will cover how Jews struggled to preserve their culture and to continue to exist as a Jewish community. We will learn about their fight for freedom, the Free Soviet Jewry movement and the great emigration of Jews and the social ... Read more

In partnership with Sinai Memorial Chapel, the Ben Zakkai Institute, and Bay Area synagogues

Jewish ways in death and dying: traditional and contemporary concepts and practices, the approach of death, dying and burial, grief and comforting the bereaved.

Sex and furniture, really? Really! Beds (of course), tables, lamps, and ornaments: rabbinic texts illuminate attitudes towards sexuality in key texts where furniture appears—either as literal objects or as metaphors.

A partnership program of New Lehrhaus

Read and study the Zohar, the masterpiece of Kabbalah. You may enroll in either of two sections—one reading the Zohar in English and the other working with the original Aramaic. Both are live on Zoom.

A week after celebrating Israel's Independence Day, we look at the current situation "through a glass darkly." Award-winning journalist Bradley Burston's new book "The End of Israel" details how, even before the horrific Gaza war that is still unfolding, Israelis had begun to question whether this year's Independence Day would be the nation's last. It also shows how Benjamin Netanyahu's policies enabled the war and documents a fateful and still-destructive choice Netanyahu made "to contort and sacrifice his country for the sake of his own political longevity." Burston concludes: "He chose. Israel lost. End of story."

Part of our “What REALLY Happened on…” series

A partnership program of New Lehrhaus

Read and study the Zohar, the masterpiece of Kabbalah. You may enroll in either of two sections—one reading the Zohar in English and the other working with the original Aramaic. Both are live on Zoom.