Morning Edition with Philip Eliasoph:
Jewish Art + Culture + Ideas
Thursdays, October 27 – December 15 at 7:30 a.m.

“Identity labels have nothing to do with how one actually experiences life.”

— Philip Roth on American Jewish Identity

For those with ongoing questions about the blurry intersection between American culture and Jewish thinking and those big questions – between Maimonides, Milton Berle’s comedy, anti-semitism in TV’s “Mad Men”, or the latest perplexing exhibit at MoMA – this is an open forum.

Required reading: weekly issue of “The Jewish Forward” – offering rich insights and opinions into how Jews have been shaped by and continue to contribute to contemporary American culture. We meet in the Faculty Dining Commons of the Barone Campus Center, Fairfield University.

Co-sponsored by the Carl and Dorothy Bennett Center for Judaic Studies at Fairfield University.

Understanding Judaism:
A Guide for Enquiring Minds
Sundays at 9:45 a.m.

This series addresses questions and trends in Judaism and is appropriate for all levels of adult learner, Jewish and non-Jewish, whether you are an experienced student, looking for a way in to learn more about Judaism for the first time, or somewhere in-between. Topics are listed by date, and you are welcome to attend the entire series or pick and choose. With Rabbi Rachel Gurevitz.

Rosh Chodesh Group: 5772: Biblical Women
Role Models – for better or for worse.
Thursdays, October 13 (Interfaith Sukkot), November 10,
December 22, January 26, March 8, March 29
(Women’s Seder), April 26, May 17 at 7:30 p.m.

Join Rabbi Rachel Gurevitz for a new series of Rosh Hodesh monthly women’s gatherings that weave the stories and personalities of the Women of the Bible with insights from our own lives and experiences. Rabbi Suri Krieger will be a guest leader for several sessions this year. Rabbi Krieger blends music, art, text study
and discussion that promises to be lively and enriching.

Parent Learning Circle
Sundays at 10:30 a.m. October 23, November 20, December 18,
January 22, February 12, March 4, April 1
The Parent Learning Circle is a new way to accompany your Gan - Kitah Gimel (K-3) children on their journeys into Jewish learning and living. We will follow the curriculum in parallel with your children. If you want to feel better prepared to answer their questions about Judaism, God, birth, death, and much more, want to gain confidence in helping your child celebrate Shabbat and the holidays, want to learn more about a religion you didn’t grow up with, or want to have the positive religious school experience that you didn’t get as a child… then the Parent Learning Circle is for you!

With Rabbi Rachel Gurevitz. Parent Learning Circle The Parent Learning Circle (PLC) provides community, friendship, and is a wonderful way to accompany your
Gan – Kitah Gimel (K–3) child on their journey into Jewish learning and living. We will be following the curriculum in parallel with your children. PLC will help you to feel bett er prepared to answer your children’s questions about Judaism, God, birth, death, and much more.Also gain confi dence in helping your child celebrate Shabbat and the holidays.

New this year! For the first 20 minutes of each meeting we will learn letters of the Hebrew alef-bet together, just like our children do on Sunday mornings. Join us for the whole session, or drop in at 10:50 to participate just in the Jewish living conversations. With Rabbi Rachel Gurevitz.

Torah Study: The Book of Leviticus
Saturdays beginning October 15 at 9:30 a.m.
Fulfill a Rosh Hashanah resolution! Join us as we begin a New Year of Torah Study. Every Saturday morning we learn Torah together – some attend 8:00 a.m. services, others arrive in time for the study group. Some participate every week and others drop in when they can. Some have solid biblical backgrounds and others are novices to the study. Some know Hebrew and most do not. Bottom Line – everyone is welcome! Join us for an enriching, enjoyable and engaging hour of weekly learning of our most sacred text.

If Genesis is childhood and Exodus is coming of age, then Leviticus is the book that appears smack in the middle -- not only of the Torah but metaphorically, in the
middle of our lives. It’s about sacrifi ce, menstruation, food, sex and the petty litt le ways that we can be good and decent people. It’s about bodies running down and bodies gett ing bett er. It’s not poetry, but it is the messy business of life that really is. It will prove fascinating study.

Every Saturday morning we learn Torah together – some attend 8:00 a.m. services while others arrive in time for the study group. Some participate every week and others drop in when they can. Some have solid biblical backgrounds and others are novices to the study. Some know Hebrew and most do not. Bottom line – everyone is welcome!

Hebrew for Beginners

We assure you 20/20 Hebrew vision following a 10 session proven and successful Hebrew course. $100.00 for 10 sessions. Class times and dates to be mutually agreed (minimum of five students needed for class). Contact echetrit@congregationbnaiisrael.org for more details and to register.