Tag: mondays

What does the 20th century Jewish American experience look like when seen from women’s perspectives? We’ll look at women’s writing from the late 19th and early 20th century and then go later into the 20th century. The aim is to introduce readers to a range of writers and perspectives on the modern Jewish American women’s experience, from a first-generation Ashkenazi immigrant to a leader in New York Sephardic society to an ex-Hasid. Authors are likely to include Anzia Yezierska, Annie Nathan Meyer, Emma Wolf, Edna Ferber, and Pearl Abraham. If these are folks you haven’t heard of, that’s precisely the point! 

We will take on works in digestible chunks, looking mostly at short fiction in the fall and possibly taking on a novel or two as the chilly nights come upon us. All are welcome; no background needed. 

The Talmud is one of the most extraordinary works of Jewish tradition, a sprawling, multi-voiced conversation spanning centuries, weaving together law, story, debate, and everyday wisdom. It can seem intimidating from the outside, with its dense language and layered arguments, but at its heart it’s simply a record of rabbis thinking out loud together, working through questions of how to live a meaningful Jewish life.

Join this class to read and discuss selections from the Talmud in a supportive, unhurried setting. We will move at a comfortable pace, taking time to unpack the give-and-take of rabbinic argument, the surprising stories tucked between legal discussions, and the reasoning that connects ancient debates to questions we still wrestle with today. No background in Hebrew or Aramaic is required, texts will be explored in translation, with guidance along the way.

Whether you’re returning to the Talmud after years away or opening it for the very first time, new participants are welcome to join at any time. Come with curiosity, and be ready for a lively conversation.

Classes are held over Zoom only. Participants are encouraged to attend the full series.

Please call Gary (215-290-0405) if you need to pick up new text.

Please complete the short form below to register.

Have you been looking for a way to engage more deeply with the conversation around antisemitism today? Perhaps you’ve read Dara Horn’s work before and are eager to dig further into her latest book.

Join Dr. Michael Schatz for a ten-part discussion series on Dara Horn’s new book: The Final Solution to the Jewish Question: A Love Story for the Living, a thoughtful, discussion-based class designed for Jewish adults and anyone seeking a more in-depth understanding of Horn’s latest work. Over the course of the series, participants will read and explore Horn’s examination of the myths and lies that have fueled antisemitism from ancient times to today, along with her vision for a way forward.

This class focuses on close reading and open discussion of Horn’s book.

Class Schedule

Mondays from 12PM to 1PM

Classes can be attended in-person at Har Zion Temple or over Zoom. Participants are encouraged to attend the full series.

Please complete the short form below to register.

Looking for a more in-depth understanding on Nakh: The Rest of the Bible?

Dr. Ely Levine will be spending a great deal of time on certain parts of the Bible, chiefly the Torah, which anchors so much of our communal reading and study. But the Torah is only the beginning of the story. It’s time to turn our attention to the rest of the Tanakh: the Prophets (Nevi’im) and the Writings (Ketuvim), which carry the narrative forward through centuries of Israelite history, wisdom, poetry, and prophecy.

Join this class to read and discuss these often-overlooked books in a thoughtful, sustained way. We will move at a comfortable pace, allowing time for careful reading, but we won’t shy away from digging deeply into difficult or fascinating passages, wrestling with questions of history, theology, politics, and human nature as they arise in the text. Along the way, we’ll explore how these books shaped, and were shaped by, the world of ancient Israel.

We are currently reading about Solomon and his reign in the books of Kings, a period marked by wisdom and grandeur, but also by the seeds of division that would later split the kingdom. New participants are welcome to join at any time; no prior experience with these texts is required, just curiosity and a willingness to explore.

Classes can be attended in-person at Har Zion Temple or over Zoom. Participants are encouraged to attend the full series.

Please complete the short form below to register.