Our courses for the year 5770 (2009-2010) are for the sake of enriching our knowledge, creating a “learning community,” and deepening our sense of Jewish identity. Our courses range in style from traditional learning-pair study, to hands-on practice, to seminar discussions, and public lectures. Our instructors include rabbis, scholars, musicians, and congregational members. The ultimate goal of Judaic learning at Beth Elohim is to invite and inspire an active, life-long pursuit of the exploration of Jewish knowledge. Your mind, voice, and involvement will enrich the entire Temple community. Please join us!

Among the Ten Commandments is the instruction to 'Remember the Sabbath day, to hallow it" (Exodus 20).  The Sages teach that together with resting the body and spirit, we can hallow the Sabbath with study.  Along with prayer and community CBE offers a variety of learning opportunities every Shabbat morning. 

At 8:30am, "Maimonides Book of Love: A Treatise on Jewish Prayer and Practice" with Rabbi Andy Bachman.
 
In conjunction with Yachad, additional adult learning opportunities include regular mini-courses with Rabbis Daniel Bronstein and Shira Koch Epstein, in addition to Parshat Ha-Shavuah (weekly Torah portion) with Revson Rabbinic Intern Marc Katz from 11:00am -12:30pm.

See advisories and homepage for updated schedules and mini-course information.  Finally, stay tuned also for special Shabbat speakers throughout the year.
 

Jewish Learning 2010

Ongoing Courses:

"Current Ideas and Thinkers in Jewish Thought and Practice" 
Instructor:  Rabbi Andy Bachman 
Wednesdays:  11/4/09 to 5/5/10 at 7:30 PM 
     Jews have always been a people who have cherished the questions we ask about life even more than the answers.  And since their inception, the Sages and Rabbis of the Jewish tradition have encouraged all students of Torah to explore the meaning of Judaism with questions and responses, over and over again.  In this course we will examine several questions:  What is Torah? What do we mean when we pray and Who exactly are we praying to?  What happens when we die?  And how do I live a life of meaning?  We will examine ancient, medieval, modern and contemporary thinkers as well as traditional and innovative modes of Jewish practice. 
Cost: $200/full course 
Pay in advance by mailing check to CBE's main office (274 Garfield Place Brooklyn, NY 11215), please put title of the course in the memo or pay at the door. 
 
 
"Maimonides Book of Love: A Treatise on Jewish Prayer and Practice" 
Instructor:  Rabbi Andy Bachman 
Saturday mornings: 9/26/09 to 5/1/10 at 8:30 AM 
     The great medieval sage, philosopher and physician, Moses Maimonides (the Rambam) wrote this tract about the laws of prayer and Jewish ritual.  Encoded in its words is a spiritual map for living a meaningful life worthy of our attention and humble consideration.  This marks the second year of our continued study of the Rambam.  Beginners and new students are always welcome. 
Cost: Free of charge

 
"The Mechiltah of Rabbi Ishmael" 
Instructor: Rabbi Dan Bronstein 
Thursdays: 11/12/09 to 5/6/10 at 7:30 PM 
     Midrash, or exposition, has been written for every part of the Bible. 
While "Midrashim" make up a significant portion of the Talmud, others 
exist as free-standing books. The Mechiltah is a free-standing Midrash of 
Sh'mot, the Book of Exodus. The rabbinical authors of the Mechiltah use 
this literary form both to explain and to interpret the Torah. But the 
thoughts and musings of early rabbis preserved in the Mechiltah also offer 
insights into rabbinical theology and Jewish history still influencing 
us today. Continuing from last year, we will explore this text both as an 
interpretation of Torah and as an insight into early rabbinic thought. 
Although knowledge of Hebrew is not required, this course will use 
both Hebrew and English texts. Consecutive attendance is not required; 
feel free to drop in when you can.  
Cost: $200/full course 
Pay in advance by mailing check to CBE's main office (274 Garfield Place Brooklyn, NY 11215), please put title of the course in the memo or pay at the door.

"Basic Judaism: An Intro to Jewish Life, Text, and Ideas" 
Instructor: Marc Katz (Revson Rabbinic Intern) 
Wednesdays: beginning 10/14 and running until spring (approx. 25 sessions) at 7:30 PM 
     This course will provide an opportunity to learn about Jewish 
traditions, holidays, history, and lifecycle events in an interactive 
and engaging way. Through ancient texts and modern media, participants 
will learn to navigate Jewish prayer and will get a comfort with the 
texts, symbols, and ideas that shape Jewish life today. Taught by Marc 
Katz, Revson Rabbinical Intern at Congregation Beth Elohim, this 
course aims to give participants the tools to conduct Jewish ritual at 
home and the faculty to ask the challenging questions about the Jewish 
faith and Israel. We welcome individuals and couples who wish to know 
more about Judaism as well as those considering becoming Jewish. 
For more information contact info@brooklynjews.org. 
To register click here 
Cost: $200/full course 
Pay in advance by mailing check to CBE's main office (274 Garfield Place Brooklyn, NY 11215), please put title of the course in the memo or pay at the door.

"Mussar" 
Instructor: Gary Shaffer 
Mondays 
     Mussar, a traditional Jewish approach to spiritual and practical self-improvement, seeks to bridge the gap that often exists between rational understanding and actions, between knowing right and doing right.  Evolving within the Jewish world over the past 1000 years, the Mussar movement was revitalized in the 19th century by a Lithuanian rabbi, Israel Salanter, who developed a system that employs textual study, prayer, discussion, and focused journal writing as a means of incorporating Torah values into daily life.  The course will initially run four weeks, and will cover four character traits, or middot, addressed by standard Mussar texts.  Starting first with a study of humility, we will then continue with examinations of patience, anger and gratitude, exploring the proper balance of each trait.  As a basic source book, the course will use Alan Morinis's Everyday Holiness, which is a modern guide to Mussar practice.  Other readings from Maimonides, Salanter, and other Jewish writers will also be used during the course.    
Cost: Free of charge