New Adult Education Courses for 2020-2021 Now Available!

Please click here to see our Adult Learning and Spiritual Practice Opportunities Booklet, where you can find descriptions for all of the programs.

Click here for video recordings of Adult Education lectures and classes.

Temple Aliyah’s theme this year, Chazak V’Amatz, reminds us that the Jewish people have throughout our history faced times of difficulty and uncertainty with strength and resolution bolstered by a strong sense of community. Over the last few months, our Temple community has valiantly lived the words of this theme. Led by our dedicated clergy, staff, and volunteers, we have smoothly and successfully transitioned our worship, learning, and socializing from the four walls of our beloved building on Central Avenue to a virtual space where we regularly join together in prayer, learning, and schmoozing.

Our adult education programming has likewise continued without a glitch as it transitioned to a virtual environment. This year, our offerings - in a virtual format until we can safely return to in person learning - build on the rich traditions of past years. Continuing with our temple’s strong commitment to adult education, our forty plus classes and programs seek to satisfy a wide variety of interests, from spiritual practices and seminars to song, prayer and study. While we have brought back popular classes – Meditation, Yoga, Torah on Two Feet and Kiddush Conversations - we are also introducing a plethora of new speakers and topics. Our offerings include talks on Jewish Medical Ethics, Synagogue architecture, Jewish Voices in Muslim Lands and Musical Journeys throughout our history, to name just a few. Taking advantage of the abundance of resources in our own area and the opportunities afforded by a virtual format to hear from those who live in other areas, our speakers hail from parts locally and as far away as Israel.

In a community as engaged as ours, we regularly add classes throughout the year as opportunities arise. This year, we will surely do the same. More than in most years, however, we will be informing you of class ‘locations’ in the weeks before the class through ComingUp, as classes may be virtual, in person, or a combination.  Please make sure to ‘stay tuned’ for all classes and class locations.

Acknowledging the individual people who dedicate their time and expertise to our community is difficult.  A special thanks to our teachers, and to our many committees and subcommittees. A special Todah Rabbah to Rabbi Perkins, Cantor Gloth, Executive Director, Melissa Rudman and her dedicated staff and to the Adult Ed Committee. Each has contributed to everything from programming to the production (and everything in between!) of this catalogue. To my predecessor, Judi Greenberg, thank you for your guidance and inspiration!

Best wishes for a sweet, safe and healthy 5781!                                    

B’ Shalom,              

Sue Kesner, Temple Aliyah Adult Education Committee, Chair