In partnership with Congregation Beth Am No group was more oppressed during San Francisco’s first century than its large, vibrant Chinese community. Jews, by contrast, were among the city’s most prominent corporate and civic leaders—and part of the dominant white...
What confers sacredness onto space? Distinguished sanctuary designers will discuss how they approach the shaping of spaces meant to focus the mind and transport the soul. Stanley Saitowitz, Susie Coliver and Steve Rajninger, and Craig Hartman will describe the thinking...
In this richly illustrated course, we’ll start by searching out the beginnings of Jewish Spain over 2,000 years ago, including the Roman and later Visigothic centuries. Then we’ll focus on the Muslim invasion and the Golden Age of Islamic Spain...
Join us Fridays at noon for a look at the Torah Portion of the week through the portal of the Zohar. The gate pictured here is the entrance to the garden of Moses de Leon, the compiler of the Zohar....
What confers sacredness onto space? Distinguished sanctuary designers will discuss how they approach the shaping of spaces meant to focus the mind and transport the soul. Stanley Saitowitz, Susie Coliver and Steve Rajninger, and Craig Hartman will describe the thinking...
The Bay Area Community Talmud Circle is a growing, dynamic and welcoming community of adult participants engaged in modern Talmud study and active conversation. While the majority of participants are continuing students, anyone may join! No prior experience with Talmud Study...
In partnership with the Jewish Community Library Amos Oz (1939–2018) was one of Israel’s most prolific and prominent writers, as well as a regular contender for the Nobel Prize for Literature. He was the author of dozens of novels, essay...
This three-semester sequence gives you the essential knowledge and skills to read, understand and appreciate Prayerbook texts and the Hebrew Bible. It starts at the beginning, teaching the alphabet and sight-reading skills, then moves on to build both vocabulary and...
Many scholars regard King Josiah of Judah (ca. 640-609 BCE) as the founder of a strict one-G-d religion for his kingdom which previously worshipped YHWH but also allowed for other deities. His revolution was both consequential and violent, and paved...
The Bay Area Community Talmud Circle is a growing, dynamic and welcoming community of adult participants engaged in modern Talmud study and active conversation. While the majority of participants are continuing students, anyone may join! No prior experience with Talmud...
Since Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia are located on the westernmost part of the Arabic-speaking world, Jews (and non-Jews) from the region are known as Maghrebi, “western.” Interesting, when one considers that Moroccan Jews are generally included under the banner of...
In partnership with KlezCalifornia In this strictly reading and iberzetsn (translating) Yiddish class, students will have an opportunity to read various myselekh (stories), pamelekh (slowly) and mit geduld (with patience), so that even those who have only “cheder” (elementary school)...