In partnership with and at BASE-Bay, Rockridge

Come learn about the spiritual legacy and theology of Hasidism, a movement of mystical renewal founded in the 18th century whose fire continues into the present day. We'll pay special attention to teachings on devotion, prayer, community, ecology, and the possibility of finding the sacred in ordinary moments.

Wednesdays, January 10 and 31 @ 7–8:30, hybrid 

“When two sit and study together, the Shechina dwells among them.” (Pirke Avot) Judaism’s unique mode of study is called “chavruta”—from the Hebrew root, “chaver” meaning friend. Friendship is inherently about learning—from another, about oneself, about the world beyond oneself. We will explore what Jewish sources teach about friendship. This course is best experienced when shared with a friend, so bring a friend to be your study partner!

In partnership with the Jewish Community Library

In partnership with Cong. Etz Chayim, Palo Alto

“When two sit and study together, the Shechina dwells among them.” (Pirke Avot) Judaism’s unique mode of study is called “chavruta”—from the Hebrew root, “chaver” meaning friend. Friendship is inherently about learning—from another, about oneself, about the world beyond oneself. We will explore what Jewish sources teach about friendship. This course is best experienced when shared with a friend, so bring a friend to be your study partner!

For millennia, we humans have wanted to know how it all began, and why. Within the tradition of the Western world, we need to go back to its earliest civilizations to find the foundations of our own notions of creation. First on our list is the Book of Genesis narrative, actually two creation stories blended into one. While that will be the focus of our class, we’ll also delve into the origin stories of ancient Mesopotamia, Egypt and Greece to see not only how they differed from each other, but to what extent they contributed to each other and the Biblical account. Sessions will include richly illustrated historical and archaeological background so that students can fully appreciate the process that created the tales of our beginnings. Texts, notes and additional readings will be provided by the instructor.

The second semester of a three-semester sequence, this course is designed for those who have completed New Lehrhaus Hebrew 1 and have a working Hebrew vocabulary of 75-100 words and are familiar with the grammar of nouns, adjectives, possessive endings and simple participles. It’s also a great choice for students with basic sight-reading skills who need a

In partnership with Congregation Emeth

Session 1: Rabbi Naamah Kelman & Dr. Elan Ezrachi: American Jews and Israelis: Looking Back, Looking Forward

In partnership with Temple Sinai and KlezCalifornia

Watch and discuss scenes from Shtisel while eating classic Ashkenazi foods featured in the show in this fun, interactive program. We will explore traditions and foods and hear commentary from Ron Reissberg—who spent several years in Haredi (ultra-orthodox) yeshivas in Israel and the US—about the community and its practices, and share y... Read more

Explore the book of Genesis: major themes, style, character, and authorship. Topics include: Origins, Ancestors, Jacob's Family, and Joseph and His Brothers. We will also consider Genesis within the broader context of ancient Near Eastern literature. The recommended translation is Robert Alter, Genesis: Translation and Commentary.

In partnership with and at BASE-Bay, Rockridge