GEMARA SHIUR MIDRASH GROUP ...AND TALMUD FOR ALL! THE SIDDUR AND THE NATURE OF PRAYER TANACH

Don't be shy. Certainly not when it comes to pursuing knowledge. As our sages have taught, "the one who is shy never learns." Now I realize that it may not be shyness that has prevented you from committing to one of our great weekly shiurim in the past. (Though I wouldn't rule it out; there's a whole subconscious dimension to these things.) It could be your long work-day, or your kids' bedtime. In this year's brochure you'll find Wednesday night offerings that span the entire evening, in addition to the old standards that take place during the rest of the week. The education committee, Rav Ari, and I are doing all we can to insure that the opportunity for regular learning will work for you this year. So don't be shy! (OK, maybe you're not shy.)

I could, of course, reiterate how indispensable Torah study is to your own ability to articulate and deepen your personal religious vision, and how essential it is to our ever-evolving communal shul vision, but you know this already. So instead I'll tell you about how, over the last years, the Monday night Gemara shiur, and the Tuesday morning Midrash group, and the Thursday morning Shmuel classes have become close, cohesive, and mutually caring chevras, bound by the intellectual and spiritual exchange of their Torah study. And I invite you to come and make this the year that you envelop yourself in this special world as well. See you in shiur!

-RABBI YOSEF KANEFSKY

BDJ's Classes are free and open to the community

GEMARA SHIUR
Starts Tuesday Nov. 3, continuing weekly Mondays 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Beit Medrash with Rabbi Yosef Kanefsky
This year we will be studying the latter half of the first perek of Kiddushin. This section has little to do with the laws of marriage, instead presenting the most detailed halachik and aggadic discussions of filial responsibility (honoring parents), treatment of the elderly, and women’s relationship to the “timebound mitzvot”. If we’re lucky, we’ll break into the second perek as well, which returns to the laws of marriage, and takes a famous detour into the laws of agency (shlichut). Prior experience with gemara study is highly beneficial. As always, each shiur will begin with guided-havruta study, giving participants the opportunity to build independent learning skills.

NOT YOUR TYPICAL PARSHA CLASS
Mondays 8:15 pm – 9:00 pm  BEGINS OCTOBER 12.
with Rabbi Avi Greene
An interactive parsha class that will review the weekly Torah portion and highlight a rabbinic midrash. We will investigate what message the rabbis were trying to send and how that message relates to our lives today.

MIDRASH GROUP
Tuesdays 7:45 am - 8:45 am following Shacharit, ongoing
Beit Medrash
The Midrash is a fascinating amalgam of Rabbinic wisdom, biblical interpretation and clever word play. Come join this vibrant study group, and get better acquainted with this wonderful text. Hebrew reading skills are very beneficial.

...AND TALMUD FOR ALL!
Wednesdays 7:00 pm - 8:15 pm, starting October 21st
Beit Medrash with Rabbi Ari Leubitz
This class requires no previous experience with Talmud learning. Any and everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend – the only prerequisite is a desire to learn! We will explore this fascinating text that has single-handedly kept Jews intellectually and spiritually engaged for the last 1,500 years. Our aim is to become acquainted with the structure and dialectic Talmudic debate, its unfolding line of logic and Talmudic terminology. We’ll have fun, too!

THE SIDDUR AND THE NATURE OF PRAYER
Wednesdays 8:15 pm – 9:15 pm, starting Oct. 21
Location TBD
Do you look at the English translation during davening in hopes of better understanding, only to find that it doesn’t help anymore? Have you hit a plateau in your davening? Join us as we embark on a close reading of the siddur. Our team of extraordinary teachers will give you a greater understanding of the text itself – including literary, historical, and religious/spiritual facets – and will inspire and elevate your experience of davening! Come for the whole year, or even for just a unit.

  • Unit 1
    10/21, 10/28, 11/4, 11/1
    Tefillot of Shabbat, with Rav Yosef and Shep Rosenman
  • Unit 2
    11/18, 12/2, 12/9, 12/16
    Psukai D’zimra, with Rav Ari and Rav Yosef
  • Unit 3
    1/6, 1/13, 1/20, 2/3
    Sh’ma and its Brachot, with Rav Ari and Howie Wettstein
  • Unit 4
    2/10, 2/17, 2/24, 3/3
    The Amida & Nefilllat Apayim (Tachanun), with Rabbi Dan Greyber and Jordan Lurie
  • Unit 5
    3/10, 3/17
    Ma’ariv with Yechiel Goldberg and Rav Yosef

TANACH
Thursday 11:00 am – 12:00 pm, starting October 15
Beit Medrash with Rabbi Kanefsky
In the new year, we’ll be resuming our study of the Book of Shmuel where we left off in June, as Avshalom’s rebellion against his father David crashes and burns. We’ll begin with the emotional aftermath of the rebellion, and proceed to the final chapters of David’s reign. From there will we cross in the Book of Kings, analyze the dramatic battle for succession to the throne of Israel, and ultimately the triumph, royal career and enigmatic legacy of King Shlomo. All are welcome to this class, as students use texts either in Hebrew or in English.

For more information about our weekly classes, please contact Gail Katz at: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it