Dear Friends,

It is not only children who are going back to school on Tuesday—Beth Tzedec is unveiling a lineup of new learning opportunities.

One of the six Beth Tzedec Values is learn. We are proud to offer opportunities for learners of all ages to deepen and grow their understanding of Jewish thought and traditions.

Among many learning opportunities this year, I want to take this opportunity to highlight three exciting new initiatives launching soon.

1)  Breakfast Bites

2)  Shabbat Nosh n’ Drash

3)  Adult Bnai Mitzvah Program

Breakfast Bites

This early morning learning opportunity will start on Tuesday, September 2. Every Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday (providing is is not a chag (holiday) or special Torah reading day), members of our Spiritual Leadership Team will teach a quick bite of Torah during breakfast. On Tuesdays, Rabbi Wernick will be teaching about prayer; On Wednesdays, Lorne will teach ‘What Does God Look Like?’; on Fridays, I will be teaching texts from a compendium source of Jewish Wisdom by Chaim Nachman Bialik called Sefer HaAgadah.

Hebrew reading is not necessary. We hope this will enhance the post-minyan breakfast experience.

Shabbat Nosh n’ Drash

For the last couple of years, the Little Minyan community had been studying the weekly Torah parashah, before services. The interest in the initiative outweighed the timing of the class, so, we decided to change the time and encourage everyone who is with us on Shabbat to learn. Beginning on September 6, each Shabbat, about twenty minutes into kiddush, a different Spiritual Leader will make their way into the Hendeles Chapel and teach about that morning’s Torah reading. This is open to everyone. This includes parents with children who are active in the games café, as the two will be offered simultaneously. Again, no experience or fluency in Hebrew is necessary

Adult B’nai Mitzvah Program

We are really delighted to offer a rich two-year learning experience for members in our community who want to deepen their foundational Jewish knowledge and then proudly showcase that learning. Classes will take place biweekly on Sunday mornings (after minyan) from 10:00 until 11:30 a.m.

Goals include

·  Fostering a love of Torah lishma (learning for its own sake).

·  Community building.

·  After two years, delivering a d’var Torah (either just in front of the class, or in a more public setting).

·  After two years, standing in front of the Torah and being called for an Aliyah.

Hebrew learning and Torah reading are optional and will be figured out on a case-by-case basis. 

Below is the syllabus for Year One.