Are you satisfied with the breadth and depth of your Jewish knowledge? How about some Jewish learning at Beth Israel to keep warm with as the weather turns cold?

First, our new and ongoing classes:

Mondays at noon, Talmud class with a light lunch at shul. (New!) We will study tractate Megillah of the Talmud, in English, with no previous Talmud study or Hebrew skills needed. The Talmud is the centerpiece of Jewish law and lore, and is the focus of what Jews have studied for close to 2000 years. This tractate is about the laws of reading the scroll of Esther on Purim, but like every tractate in the Talmud, quickly branches out to many other subjects, including how Jewish communities should invest in infrastructure, whether the Torah can be translated into another language, and many others. It's fun, it's interesting, and together with bagels, we will open up this Jewish text in, pardon the expression, bite-sized pieces. Come learn and eat!

Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m., the book of Samuel at our home (call office for details). Here, too, no previous study or skills are needed. We read the text in various English translations, consult the Hebrew and commentaries,and occasionally bring in ancient variants from the Dead Sea scrolls and other sources. Our discussions are lively and have covered everything from the Philistines and the ailments they suffer when they capture the Ark, to kosher wine and Jewish theology. It's fun!

Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m., Torah reading at shul. If you want to learn how to read Torah, this is the class for you. For this one, you do need to know how to read Hebrew. But you will learn how to chant in the correct musical trope, along with some of the rules of how to read Torah.

Saturdays at 12:30, Pirkei Avot. (New!) You know the joy of coming together as a community for kiddush lunch after services (and it's always appropriate to thank the dedicated volunteers who prepare it each week!). But since we do not live by bread alone, we also need to learn. We'll study the philosophical sayings of some of the earliest rabbis, and make our time together more than a meal.

Next, our classes in the planning stages. Please contact Lynn in the office if you'd like to take any of the following classes, and indicate what days and times you prefer.

Hebrew- Nori Kazdoy will be starting a beginner's Hebrew class.

Basic Judaism- This class is both for Jews from birth who want a chance to tackle the basics that they might not have received earlier in life and for Jews by choice who want to learn about the religion they are considering.

Jewish Prayer- This will be a class on the how-tos of davening together with reflections on the meaning of the prayers we say, so that we can become better, more empowered pray-ers.

If we're not learning, we're not growing. Come, join us, and let's grow together.

P.S.-Soon to come: more info on our January Shabbaton and our February trip to Israel.