Beit Midrash Class
Wednesday, October 28, 2026
7:00PM - 8:15PM
Timing:
6:30-7pm “BYO” Dinner
7-8:15pm Class (timing for most classes, please refer to Adult Ed page)
For more details, please visit https://temple-isaiah.org/education/adult-education/
Session 2 - October 28, November 4, 18 - Israel, Zionism, and Me with Rabbi Nicki Greninger
In this series, we will explore Zionism past, present, and future. What was Zionism in its earliest iterations? How has the term “Zionism” changed over time? What is going on in Israel today? How do we feel about what’s happening in Israel? In these sessions, we will lean into conversations with one another that are meaningful, help us clarify our own thoughts and feelings about Israel at this time, and help us feel less alone as Jews in the world today. Note: This is a return of a previous Beit Midrash course, back by popular demand. You are welcome to sign up for this course whether you attended the previous one or not. All are welcome.
Session 3- December 2, 9, 16 - My Son the Barber-Surgeon: Jews and Medicine with Ken Blady
This informal series traces the long and varied relationship between Jewish thought and the healing arts, from biblical and Talmudic teachings through the holistic philosophy of Maimonides. We’ll explore folk beliefs and mysticism—including demonology in early Ashkenaz and the role of the hakim (Jewish shaman) in Persian and Afghani communities—alongside the more formal medical scholarship that emerged from Italy’s Renaissance-era Jewish medical brotherhood. Along the way, we’ll touch on Eastern European folk-healing traditions and close with a look at notable Jewish figures in modern medicine. No prior background is needed—just curiosity about how faith, culture, and science have intertwined across centuries of Jewish life.
Session 4 - January 6, 13, 20 - Reinterpreting Judaism for Today with Rabbi Nicki Greninger
How can Jewish rituals help us meet the challenges of the world as it is today, and not as it was decades, or hundreds, or thousands of years ago? What do we do with the parts of Judaism that we don’t like? And how is Judaism evolving in our era, through a feminist & egalitarian lens? Join Rabbi Greninger for an opportunity to explore Judaism not as it was, but how it’s becoming new every day.
Session 5 - March 3, 10, 17 - Sacred Openings, Meaningful Closings: Exploring the Prayers & Songs that Frame our Shabbat Worship with Cantor Leigh Korn
You know the melodies. You may even know all the words. But do you know what you’re singing? Our Friday night services are filled with prayers and songs that have become second nature to many of us. In this Beit Midrash class, we’ll slow down and take a closer look at the texts that open and close our worship, exploring their meaning, history, poetry, and spiritual messages. Together we’ll uncover the stories behind these familiar words and discover new layers of meaning in the music that frames our Shabbat experience. No Hebrew knowledge is necessary—just curiosity and a willingness to explore.