7:00–8:00 pm (8 Mondays beginning January 27)

How does Jewish law (halacha) relate to such topics as: opening the refrigerator on Shabbat; givinat akun (meals prepared by a non-Jew); the controversial aspect of the Kol Nidre prayer.
We will discuss these and other topics of interest from a halachic perspective.

8:00–9:00 pm (8 Mondays beginning January 27)

Now that you’ve learned all the Hebrew letters, it’s time to get familiar with Hebrew words and begin developing a Hebrew vocabulary. This course offers a fun introduction to the words of familiar prayers and an understanding of the prayers’ history and meaning.

Tuesdays, 6:30–7:30 pm, ongoing

Jewish music offers a rich selection of choral music that can greatly enhance our spiritual experience. After strengthening our group sound through listening and vocal exercises, the choir will begin to tap into some of this music in a manner that is accessible for participants with advanced or no musical background. The choir will also have opportunities to perform this music for the community throughout the year, performance dates TBD. Our congregational choir is open to everyone at all levels of experience. There is no charge for this class.

Tuesdays, 7:30–8:30 pm (4 Tuesdays beginning March 3)

We will discuss how to better engage the seder participants through tales, texts and activities.
By encouraging fresh perspectives and lively dialogue, we hope to make the ritual less rote and help you feel as if you personally had gone out of Egypt. There is no charge for this class.

8 Wednesdays, 7:00–8:30 pm

February 5, 12 & 26  •  March 11,18 & 25  •  April 22 & 29

Cost: $200

This course explores the portrait of biblical characters found in the literature of Second Temple Judaism: the Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha, the Dead Sea Scrolls, and the writings of Philo and Josephus. These later texts craft expanded portraits of biblical characters for a variety of reasons. Sometimes, they create backstories or parallel stories in order to respond to glaring challenges or inconsistencies in the Bible. Other times, these texts provide a richer portrait of an otherwise underdeveloped biblical character. At times, the later texts seek to make the biblical characters and their stories more entertaining and relevant for their readers. Biblical characters who will be discussed include: Adam and Eve, Enoch, Noah, Joseph and Aseneth, Miriam, Isaiah, and Jeremiah. We will also explore how the Bible — as we know it today — came to be and why many of the texts we are reading ultimately were excluded from the canon and how we still know about them today.

Wednesdays, 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm  (4 Wednesdays beginning March 4)

Join in a study of the Passover and Easter holidays from their origins in the Bible to their practice today.  We will examine the relevant texts from both Jewish and Christian perspectives. Classes meet alternately at the Brotherhood Synagogue and Calvary Church, 61 Gramercy Park North.  The first meeting will be at the synagogue.  There is no charge for this class.

Thursdays, 12:00–1:30 pm  (ongoing)

Join in a discussion of the Torah Portion of the Week. Fellowship and cookies provided but BYOL (Bring your own lunch).