Jewish Book Discussion Group (Beit Midrash)
The Loves of Judith by Meir Shalev
Saturday, October 11, 12:45 pm–2:00 pm
Also published as Four Meals, this novel follows Zayde as he learns, over four meals spanning decades, about his mother Judith’s relationships in a 1930s village in British Mandate Palestine. Discussion led by Deborah Estreicher. Twelve library copies are available to borrow in advance. Please contact Miriam Marr to reserve your copy: adulted@beth-david.org. Please return your copy by October 11.
Navigating the Sea of Sacred Jewish Literature (Zoom)
Tuesday, October 21, 7:30 pm–9:00 pm
with Rabbi Roller
Join us on a journey through the rich and diverse world of Jewish sacred literature. Together, we’ll explore the distinct genres that make up this tradition, uncovering their unique features and historical contexts. Beginning with the foundational texts of the Bible, we’ll trace how rabbinic, medieval, and modern writings reinterpret, expand, and respond to these earlier works. Along the way, we’ll discover the deep intertextuality that weaves through centuries of Jewish thought—revealing an ongoing, dynamic conversation that continues to shape Jewish tradition across time.
The Former Prophets (Beit Midrash)
Saturday, October 25, 12:45 pm–2:00 pm
with Rabbi Roller
Discover some of the most exciting biblical stories you’ve never heard! Explore tales of war, love, betrayal, and revenge that rival anything on a bestseller list. We’ll primarily use Robert Alter’s translation, though other versions of the Hebrew Bible are also welcome. Please bring any Hebrew Bible you may have from home; a limited number of copies will be available for use during class.
Jewish Women Throughout History (Beit Midrash/Zoom)
with Rabbi Kunin
Tuesday, October 28, 7:30 pm–9:00 pm
Jewish history and tradition has been focused primarily on men, leaving out the essential contributions of women over the ages. In this class we discover amazing Jewish women (some well-known and some who have largely been lost) from Hulda the Prophetess to donna Gracia Nasi, to Golda Meir. If you cannot attend in person, register for Zoom [here].
Jewish Communities in India (Beit Midrash)
Wednesday, November 5, 7:30 pm– 9:00 pm
Congregant Donna Frankel will give a lecture with slides on the history and present status of Jewish communities in India. At one time the various Jewish communities didn’t even know about the others. Donna has led many tours to Jewish sites in India.
Teshuvah of the Month (Beit Midrash)
3rd Saturday of the month beginning November 15
12:45 pm–2:00 pm
with Rabbi Kunin
Traditional Judaism (including Conservative Judaism) is a religion of law. We build our lives around halakha (Jewish law). We understand our legal tradition to be based in the past yet growing and developing in every generation. These changes in interpretation are reflected in teshuvot, rabbinic legal decisions, a literature that has been growing over the last thousand or more years. Each month Join Rabbi Kunin as we examine fascinating examples of this important literature, stemming both from ancient and modern Conservative (and occasional Orthodox or Reform) sources.
Torah Study with Rabbi Kunin (Beit Midrash)
Tuesdays, 10:30 am–12:00 pm
Torah Study is canceled during the High Holy Days. Class will resume on October 21.
Occasionally this class is canceled. Please see calendar to confirm class meeting dates here.
The Torah is our timeless treasure, with answers for the pivotal questions of the past, present and future. Sometimes it challenges us, and sometimes it disturbs us. Nonetheless there is always room for learning and debate. Each week we will examine ideas and issues from the weekly parasha and, through discussion and sometimes debate, discover meaningful connections between the wisdom our Torah and our modern lives. Please join this weekly informal Torah study session with Rabbi Kunin on a drop-in basis.
Talmud Study with Rabbi Kunin (Zoom)
Fridays, 10:00 am–11:00 am
Class is canceled during the High Holy Days and will resume on October 10.
Occasionally this class is canceled. Please see calendar to confirm class meeting dates here.
Please join Rabbi David Kunin for weekly Talmud study online. The Talmud is the foundational document of rabbinic Judaism, containing laws and lore which underlie how Jews approach the world. Its dialectic toward truth yields a multiplicity of answers which we will explore in depth. All are welcome. No prior Talmud study experience necessary.