Adult Education

Sponsored by the Koffler Bornstein Families

Here at Temple Emanu-El, we offer a wide variety of educational opportunities for adult learners of all levels and interests, and we are constantly adding new programs and classes!  This year, we are offering:

• "Merciful Conversations on Race," a 5-part series based on a curriculum developed by the United Church of Christ, adapted for a Jewish context
• A new Thursday Lunch and Learn Series: People of the Books
• Monthly lecture series on Jews Around the World
• Torah for Today, a new Sunday morning series on a variety of topics, taught by a variety of teachers
• "The Tanakh: New Perspectives," a semester-long, introductory, university-level Delve Deeper course
• Tuesday night classes on subjects such as Hebrew, Yiddish, history, Talmud, prayer, Bible, Jewish law, Conservative Judaism, and more
• Weekly Parashat Hashavua discussion on the weekly Torah portion and Hug Ivri discussion in Hebrew on the books of Samuel and Kings 
• Shabbat afternoon Text Studies organized by Minyan Hadash
• "Biblical Prophecy and Messianic Anticipations in Judaism and Christianity," another session of Rabbi Wayne Franklin and Professor Arthur Urbano's popular Jewish-Christian classes
• Special programs, such as a book talk with author Mark Sullivan, the Romney Wegner lecture "Arguing with God: The Theology of Elie Wiesel" with Scholar-in-Residence Dr. Claire Sufrin, and the Woolf and Silk Educational Weekend on the Passage of Time with Scholar-in-Residence Dr. Sarit Kattan Gribetz

We invite you to take a look at our offerings, and to join us for some (or all) of these valuable opportunities. Interested in an educational opportunity that you don't see here? Please be in touch with Rabbi Zerin. We look forward to learning with you soon!

Lectures

Click here to register

Underwater Archaeology off the Coast of Israel
Professor Bridget Buxton
Monday, October 29, 7:30-9:00pm
 

How Sweden is Becoming a World Center for Yiddish Children's Media
Samuel Zerin

Jews of Nigeria
Rabbi Wayne Franklin
Tuesday, January 15, 7:30-9:00pm
 

A Vision of Yemen
Professor Alan Verskin
Sunday, March 3, 11-12:30am

Prophets in the Tropics: Jewish Expression in Brazil
Professor Nelson Vieira
​​​​​​​Monday, April 1, 7:30-9:00pm

Tuesday Evening Classes

All classes meet Tuesday nights from 7:00-8:30, with an optional deli/egg salad dinner available from 6:30-7:00pm.

Courses cost $36 per session ($25 for students and seniors); Dinner costs an additional $40 per session

Click here to register!

Fall Session: November 27-December 18, 2018

• I’ve Always Wanted to Learn to Read Hebrew, But Was Afraid to Ask! Level 1 with Toby Liebowitz (note: this course begins October 9 and runs every Tuesday through December 18)
• History of Jewish Music with Samuel Zerin
• From the Torah to Today: The Evolution of Jewish Law with Rabbi Rachel Zerin

Winter Session: January 22-February 19, 2019

• I’ve Always Wanted to Learn to Read Hebrew, but Was Afraid to Ask! Level 2 with Toby Liebowitz (note: this course continues through the spring session)
• Let’s Learn Yiddish! A Language Class for Beginners of All Ages with Music, Movies, and Stories."with Samuel Zerin (note: this course continues through the spring session)
• Feeling At Home in Shabbat Morning Services with Rabbi Rachel Zerin

Spring Session: March 5-26, 2019

• Modern Conservative Judaism with Rabbi Wayne Franklin
• Girls in Trouble: Stories about Biblical Women through Text, Music, and Art with Rabbi Rachel Zerin
• I Always Wanted to Learn to Read Hebrew and Let’s Learn Yiddish continue from the Winter Session

Delve Deeper: A Program of Intensive Jewish Study is an exciting new adult education initiative that brings dynamic teachers who are experts in their fields to teach in-depth, university-level courses to adult learners in Rhode Island. We strive to bring together a diverse group of learners for semester-long courses that will be interesting and accessible to beginner and advanced students alike. Through background readings, engaging lectures, and invigorating class discussions, students will gain a comprehensive understanding of the course topic, strengthen and deepen their Jewish identity, and cultivate relationships with their community of fellow students.

This fall, Professor Michael Satlow will teach "The Tanakh: New Perspectives". Click on the flyer below to register!

Delve Deeper is a project of temple Emanu-El's Koffler Bornstein Families Institute of Jewish Studies, in partnership with Congregation Agudas Achim, Congregation Beth Sholom, Temple Sinai, and the West Bay Chavurah. We are grateful for the generous support from the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island's Innovation Funding, without which this would not be possible.

Romney-Wegner Lecture