Introduction to Talmud with Deena Aranoff
- Pacific Time Hybrid Program
Course Summary for Search and Accessibility
This course, Introduction to Talmud with Deena Aranoff, is an Educational Program offered by New Lehrhaus. It is scheduled for August 26, 2026. The session is held on a Wednesday from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm Pacific Time.
This program is free of charge. The course is offered in person at the East Bay Jewish Community Campus, 5957 Chabot Road, Oakland, CA 94618, and online via Zoom and focuses on introductory Talmud study, Jewish text study for beginners, and communal learning and dialogue around rabbinic literature.
Have you ever wanted to study Talmud but didn't know where to start? This single introductory session is your entry point. You'll spend an hour in lively, guided conversation around a page of Talmud, the foundational text of Jewish law and storytelling, learning how to read, question, and argue with it the way Jewish communities have for nearly two thousand years. No background in Hebrew, Aramaic, or Jewish text is required. All you need is curiosity and a willingness to ask questions.
This session previews Deena Aranoff's monthly Talmud Circle, which begins this fall at New Lehrhaus's new Rockridge campus and runs through the spring, culminating in a celebratory Siyum in June.
Who this is for
- Complete beginners to Talmud study who want a low-stakes way to find out what it's actually like.
- Adults seeking an ongoing community of Jewish text study without needing prior background in Hebrew or Aramaic.
- Anyone curious about Jewish law, storytelling, and the tradition of rabbinic argument and debate.
- Prospective students weighing whether to commit to the full Talmud Circle series beginning in October.
What you'll leave with
- Hands-on experience with how Talmud study actually unfolds in dialogue and community.
- A feel for Deena Aranoff's teaching style and the rhythm of her Talmud Circle.
- An invitation to join the full monthly Talmud Circle series this October.
Wednesday, August 26, 6:30–8:30pm Pacific
Details
- Date:
- Time:
- - Pacific Time
Location
Graduate Theological Union
2400 Ridge Road
Berkeley, CA 94709
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