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Adult Education

Photo: Adult B’nai Mitzvah Cohort 2022.

Temple Isaiah offers many opportunities for you to explore Jewish ideas, traditions, and texts, and to get to know other members of the community while you learn! Questions about any of these programs? Contact Rabbi Greninger at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Mission Statement and Goals

Temple Isaiah Adult Learning Mission Statement
At Temple Isaiah, we strive to create Jewish learning programs for adults that engage the mind, touch the heart, and move the soul. We do this by exploring the wisdom and mystery of Jewish texts and affirming the richness of Jewish culture. Our mission is to inspire a deeper understanding of Judaism and Jewish identity for all of our members at every stage in their journey of Jewish Learning

Goals:
Through our adult learning programs and initiatives, Temple Isaiah will inspire and support efforts by our members to:
1. Explore their Jewish identity and deepen their spiritual awareness
2. Expand their Jewish knowledge and increase their skills for Jewish living
3. Examine important intellectual, cultural, social and political issues through a Jewish lens
4. Develop and sustain a vibrant learning community
5. Engage in a thoughtful, animated and respectful exchange of ideas
6. Recognize the value of lishma-the joy of Jewish learning for its own sake

Adult B'nai Mitzvah Cohort 2025

Adult B’nai Mitzvah Orientation will take place on Sunday, October 1, 2023 at 9am

Classes for the first year (Exploring Judaism & Beginning Hebrew) begin on Sunday October 8, 2023.

Did you miss the opportunity to become a bar or bat mitzvah when you were 13?

Have you always wanted to study with the clergy in an intimate setting and become a more literate Jew?

Would you like to learn to read and chant from the Torah?

Are you willing to make a commitment of time to explore your own Jewish identity with a small group of like-minded adults?

This might be the perfect time to say “Yes” and begin the process of becoming an Adult Bar/Bat Mitzvah!

Past adult b’nai mitzvah students have found that their participation in this program helped them to feel like “insiders.” They have come to feel more comfortable with the Friday evening and Saturday morning services. They have enjoyed the sense of a renewed Jewish soul. They have enjoyed the opportunity to study with our clergy and other fantastic teachers, and have found a strong bond with a small group of adults in the community.

The course of study typically takes two and a half years, including one year of “Exploring Judaism,” two years of Hebrew study, in-depth Judaic study with the Rabbis, and learning Torah cantillation (chanting) and prayers with the Cantor. You will also have the opportunity for individual mentoring by a member of the Temple Isaiah clergy team.

This fall, a new Adult B’nai Mitzvah class is forming, with participants celebrating their b’nai mitzvah at a service in December 2025.

There is a $360 fee to participate, payable over two years.

Questions about the Adult B’nai Mitzvah Program? Ready to sign up?
We’d love to hear from you!
Contact the clergy assistant Katana Collado at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Beginning Hebrew

Designed for those with little or no previous exposure to Hebrew, this introductory course will focus on developing the foundation for reading comprehension and a basic Hebrew vocabulary. We will learn the basics of prayer-book Hebrew, beginning with the alphabet and moving through the basic grammar and vocabulary of the siddur (prayer book), including the key texts and melodies of some prayers and blessings found in the siddur. Required text: Prayerbook Hebrew the Easy Way. This textbook is not included in the price of the class.

Calendar

Year-long Course (22 sessions)
Sundays, Oct 8, 15, 22, 29, Nov 5, 12, Dec 3, 10, 17, Jan 21, 28, Feb 4, 11, 25, Mar 3, 10, 17, 24, April 14, 21, 28, May 5
10:10-11:10 a.m. in Room 209 of the CCJDS Building
Instructor: Tammy Yahud

Cost

Tuition: $200/members; $400/non-members.

Beit Midrash-New!

New Wednesday Nights Adult Program! Dinner, Learning, and Community!

Timing:
6:30-7pm Dinner
7-8:15pm Classes

Calendar

Session 1 - Oct 4, 11, 18, 25 - God Talk
Session 2 - Nov 8, 15, 29, Dec 6 - Piloting a New Torah Translation for the Reform Movement
Session 3 - Jan 10, 24, 31, Feb 7 - - The Prophets and Why We Should Read Them More Often
Session 4 - Feb 14, 28, Mar 6, 13 - Jewish Values & Liberal Values in Tension
Session 5 - Mar 20 and 27 - Safeguarding The Hope: Israel’s Ethics of Self-Defense and Power

God Talk with Rabbi Greninger
Why is it so hard to talk about God? In this 4-week program, we will explore our thoughts, ideas, and feelings about God, while learning about different views of God from Jewish tradition and Jewish theologians. We will become more comfortable talking about God and sharing our views with one another (including our confusion, doubts, and fears). Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with other members of Isaiah while also deepening your own sense of spirituality!

Piloting a New Torah Translation for the Reform Movement with Rabbi Perlman
When it was first published in 1981, The Torah: A Modern Commentary was a gift to the Jewish community, the first English language modern Torah commentary ever published. It is time for a new generation of scholars to shed light on our Torah text and create the gift for the next generation using new scholarship and approaches to Torah study. This endeavor also includes the first Reform Movement translation in addition to new commentary. Temple Isaiah has been invited to participate in piloting different aspects of the commentary with this first round of piloting for 2023 focused specifically on the translation. Join Rabbi Perlman in discovering and rediscovering Torah as we consider new, unpublished drafts of Torah portion translations (that will be out of sync with the Torah portion of the week). All participants will be asked to provide feedback that will be passed on to the editorial team at CCAR Press. Don’t miss this amazing opportunity to leave your mark on our movement. Rabbi Perlman will provide with you all of the materials you need - no Hebrew knowledge is necessary.

The Prophets and Why We Should Read Them More Often
With Rabbi Graetz
In this 4-week cycle we will learn from the texts of the Hebrew Bible and the context of the Ancient Middle East the origins of the prophets of Israel, how they evolved from ecstatic bands of soothsayers and diviners to the champions of social and economic justice. Who were they, what was their message, and what were their essential values?

Jewish & Liberal Values in Tension with Rabbi Greninger
We are living in a liberal era, swimming in the waters of liberalism. We are shaped by liberal values, such as freedom, individualism, human autonomy, and a commitment to equality. At the same time, we are inheritors of Jewish values that sometimes come into tension with our liberal values. In this 4-week series, we will examine four themes in which these tensions arise: obligation, sacrifice, creed, and holiness. We will unpack each of these themes, exploring what these themes mean for us as liberal Jews in the modern era. [Note that this course comes from Rabbi Greninger’s studies at the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem in July 2023.}

Safeguarding The Hope: Israel’s Ethics of Self-Defense and Power with Rabbi Lawrence, Wednesday evenings, March 20 and 27, 6:30pm dinner, 7-8:15pm in the Oneg Room

Come together to discuss what’s at stake in the crisis in Israel in the wake of October 7 and in the war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. We’ll explore the background of these challenges; Israel’s ethics of how it defends itself and how it uses its power as a state, including the relationship between the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) and the Israeli Supreme Court; and the wisdom that Judaism and Israel’s highest ideals can give us. All are welcome, across all levels of background, as we walk this journey together in community. Join us as we share in understanding and illumination for navigating this time in our people’s history.

Cost and Dinner Information

MEMBERS: Free, suggested donation: $40 per session (or $180 for the year)
NON-MEMBERS: Required fees: $80 per session (or $360 for the year)

Dinner: Beit Midrash always starts with DINNER! The meal will vary each week, and registrants will be notified in advance of what’s on the menu that week (Pizza, Pasta, Mexican, Sushi, Salads, Panda Express, and more). You can sign up for meals for the year at $300. That’s a $100 discount! If you opt out of the year plan, you can do drop-in dinner for $20.

Exploring Judaism

This course is a year-long exploration of the history, beliefs, traditions, and practices of the Jewish people. “Exploring Judaism” will be interesting and meaningful whether you are becoming an adult Bar/Bat Mitzvah, you are just beginning to explore Jewish studies, you are considering choosing Judaism, you are in an interfaith relationship, or you are simply looking for a deeper and more mature understanding of Jewish history and tradition. Students are encouraged to expand their Jewish literacy by taking this course in conjunction with Beginning Hebrew. Books for the course will be announced; please note that books are not included in the price for the course.

Calendar

Year-long Course (22 sessions)
Sundays, Oct 8, 15, 22, 29, Nov 5, 12, Dec 3, 10, 17, Jan 21, 28, Feb 4, 11, 25, Mar 3, 10, 17, 24, April 14, 21, 28, May 5
9:00-10:00 a.m. in Room 206 of the CCJDS Building
Instructor: Rabbi Oren Postrel

Cost

Tuition: $200/members; $400/non-members.

Exploring our Namesake: The Book of Isaiah

Exploring our Namesake: The Book of Isaiah with Rabbi Lawrence
Tuesdays, 11:30am-12:30pm, Oneg Room and Zoom
Starting October 24 through March 31

Join us as we immerse in the depths of our temple’s namesake prophet. We will see how the Book of Isaiah evokes compelling Jewish social ethics and aspirations for a better future that is truly possible, with vivid specificity and poetic passion that spoke to our ancestors’ times and speaks to ours. This year we will explore the later chapters of the book, known as Second Isaiah and Third Isaiah, written during the end of the Jewish people’s exile in Babylon and the beginning of the rebuilding of ancient Israel and Jerusalem. We will see how the Book of Isaiah’s visions of repair, new growth and transformation can speak to us now, just as these visions have inspired countless people and sources throughout the generations – from the Yom Kippur haftarah to Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” to current-day Jewish spiritual songwriter Elana Arian.

Together, we will see anew what the Book of Isaiah’s light can show us, and find where we see ourselves within its words.

This series is free and open to the public. No requirement to have attended a prior session and no preparation necessary. Join when you’re able; each session will examine a new chapter, all will share common themes.

Note: This class will be concluded at the end of March 2024.

RSVP to Katana Collado at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Lunch and Learn Series-New!

Temple Isaiah is pleased to offer a new series of Lunch and Learn programs featuring Temple Isaiah’s clergy discussing a variety of topics. Sessions will take place on the second Wednesday of the month, August 2023 through May 2024 on Zoom.

Up Next!

Wednesday, May 8, Bringing Judaism into Your Home with Rabbi Perlman

Join Rabbi Perlman as we talk about what makes a Jewish home. We will discuss home ritual including how to hang a mezuzah, how we determine where to give tzedakah, if and how to integrate kashrut (or a version of kashrut) into the home, what to keep in our Jewish home library, our Shabbat table, and more.

CLick here to Register >

Cost: Free and open to the public.

For prior Lunch and Learn sessions with our Clergy, please check out our videos below!

Wednesday, August 9: How to Study Torah with Rabbi Lawrence

Wednesday, September 13: Introduction to Jewish Prayer Services with Rabbi Greninger

Wednesday, October 11: Why We Sing What We Sing When We Sing It: Music of the Jewish Calendar with Cantor Korn

Wednesday, November 8: Introduction to Jewish Death and Mourning Practices with Rabbi Perlman

Wednesday, December 13: Chanukah: What are we celebrating? with Rabbi Greninger

Wednesday, January 10: What is Tu B’Shevat? with Rabbi Greninger

Wednesday, February 14: What is Zionism? with Rabbi Lawrence

Wednesday, March 13: The Purim Story: Beyond the Spiel with Rabbi Miller

Wednesday, April 10: What is the Origin of the Passover Seder? with Rabbi Miller

Sunday Clergy Courses

Temple Isaiah clergy offer courses and invite guest scholars and artists throughout the year to engage with our community on a variety of themes.

The Sounds of Eretz Yisrael in America: The Crucial 60’s
with Cantor Korn
Sunday, October 8, 11:15am-12:30pm in the Sanctuary
This class is a continuation of Cantor Korn’s class from last year. (You do not need to have attended the first part). This class will explore how music of Israel grew in the consciousness of American Jews and penetrated American culture generally. We will explore how Israeli music was a primary means through which American Jews were exposed to Israeli culture and Zionism. We will study how Israeli music grew in impact on the synagogue and in Jewish education efforts and how the sound of Israeli music has influenced the composition of Jewish American Composers.

Cost

Members: Free
Non-Members: $18

Tzedek, Tzedek (Tashir v’) Tirdof: Music in Doing Justice
with Cantor Korn
Sundays, October 15 and 22, 11:15am-12:30pm in the Sanctuary
This two-part class explores the use of music in the work of doing justice. It will explore three facets of that work: 1)The Power of Protest - rallying and protesting against in justice in real time; 2) The Power of Ritual - teaching and mobilizing against injustice; and 3) The Power of Performance - advocating and galvanizing against injustice.

Cost

Members: Free, optional donation $18.
Non-Members: $36

Jewish Feminist Ethics
with Rabbi Perlman
Sundays, February 4 and 11, 11:15am-12:30pm
Join Rabbi Perlman for an exploration of the system of Jewish feminist ethics and its impact on text, theology, and practice.

Cost

Members: Free.
Non-Members: $36.

Repairing Hope: Modern Jewish Song Lyrics and Poems
With Rabbi Noach Lawrence
Sundays, March 3, 10 and 17, 11:15am-12:30pm
When our world faces challenging times, how can we find healing, resilience, and joy? Together, we will explore modern Jewish creative voices who have engaged with these questions, and who can shine light on our paths. From the sense of memory and irrepressible buoyancy of Carole King to the candor, empathy and affirmation of the Israeli poet Yehuda Amichai, we will see the variety of ways these artists inherit Jewish texts and traditions, give them modern, personal twists, and speak to our moment. Come join us as we study together and share from our minds and spirits.

Cost

Members: Free.
Non-Members: $36.

Torah Study

Torah Study
Saturdays at 8:45am in the Beit Knesset and on Zoom
We want Torah study to guide our way as individuals and as a community. It is from Torah and all of Jewish sacred literature that we derive the values that shape our lives. Torah Study when we study the weekly Torah portion is offered Shabbat mornings at 8:45am and led by a member of our clergy team. Newcomers are always welcome.

Cost: Free and open to the public.

Zoom meeting information can be found on the Adult Education email sent by Temple Isaiah, or by calling (925) 283-8575 or emailing .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Visiting Scholars

Jennifer Lang on Living in Israel
Monday, October 2, 7pm in the Sukkah

Join us in the sukkah for “From Northern California to Tel Aviv: 18 Things You Might Not Know about Living in Israel” with guest scholar Jennifer Lang. Jennifer grew up at Temple Isaiah, made aliyah to Israel, and became a writer, author, teacher, and yogi. She will speak candidly with us about her experience living in Israel and discuss her new book “Places We Left Behind – A Mini Memoir.”

Cost: Free and open to the public.

RSVP Here >

Supporting Israeli Democracy – Information and Discussion with Local UnXeptable Leader, Itzik Goldberger and Rabbi Perlman
5pm Wed, October 4, in-person in the Social Hall and on Zoom

The state of Israel is facing one of its most challenging periods in its 75 years of independence. Immediately after its recent election, the government introduced a large package of legislation initiatives with the objective of reducing the power of the Supreme Court, the main check and balance on the K’nesset. This move by the government initiated massive protests, bringing hundreds of thousands of Israelis to the streets for over 35 weeks now. The state of Israel is more polarized than ever before, and the suggested legislation has already caused significant damage to the economy, security, and the relationship with the Biden Administration. In this discussion, we will cover recent events in Israel, the reasons for the massive demonstrations, the threats to Israel’s democracy, the implication of the suggested changes including the impact on American Jewry, and what we can do to get involved. Itzik Goldberger, a resident of Lafayette, is a member of unXeptable, an organization of Israeli expats supporting the protests in Israel. Sponsored by our Israel and World Jewry Committee

RSVP here >

I&WJ presents Rabbi Gershom Sizomu of the Abayudaya Jews of Uganda Speaker Talk
Monday, December 4, 7:30 p.m. in the Oneg Room

Explore the growth of Judaism in Sub-Saharan Africa, led by Rabbi Gershom’s warm and charismatic leadership. Discover the vibrant Jewish community, with Jews-by-choice, rabbinical students, and innovative micro-communities. Learn about their interfaith initiatives in healthcare, disaster response, and economics, all against the backdrop of challenging circumstances. Enjoy captivating Abayudaya art and music sprinkled into the presentation. Sponsored by the Israel and World Jewry Committee.

For more information and to donate to the Abayudaya community, please read the full flyer below.

Abayudaya_Donate_FLYER_v2_(1).pdf

RSVP Here >

Library Shabbat with Author Sacha Lamb
Friday, December 15 at 6:30pm in the Sanctuary and on YouTube

Temple Isaiah library is proud to host author Sacha Lamb for our annual Library Shabbat. Their debut novel, When The Angels Left the Old Country, is the story of an angel, a demon, and a girl trying to make their way in early 20th century America. The book features a transatlantic voyage, the fight for workers’ rights, and lots of Jewish folklore. It is also a Sydney Taylor and Stonewall award winner, a Printz Honor book, and a National Jewish Book Award finalist. Sacha is a 2018 Lambda Literary Fellow in Young Adult fiction, and graduate in Library and Information Science and History from Simmons University. You can find Lillian’s review of the book here (https://www.bayviews.org/review/when-the-angels-left-the-old-country-review/) and more information on Sacha’s writing here (https://sachalamb.wordpress.com/). Cost: Free and open to the public.

From Tablet to Scroll to Codex and Back Again: Jewish Books in the Print and Digital Ages
with Rabbi Joseph A. Skloot, Ph.D.
Monday, December 18 at 7pm in the Adult Lounge

Torah from Sinai? Not quite. Explore how the texts we consider sacred and eternal were created by real people, with their own ideas about what those texts should say, in the messy, inky printing houses of Renaissance Italy and Central Europe. Then, reflect on how these books have been transformed again, by software engineers, through digitization.

Rabbi Joseph A. Skloot, Ph.D. is the Rabbi Aaron D. Panken Assistant Professor of Modern Jewish Intellectual History at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR). He is a historian of Jewish culture and religious thought and the author of First Impressions: Sefer Ḥasidim and Early Modern Hebrew Printing (Brandeis University Press, 2023), which received the Jordan Schnitzer First Book Award from the Association for Jewish Studies in 2023. He teaches courses on Jewish history, philosophy and theology, books and reading, and interfaith relations, and is a much sought after lecturer and teacher at universities and synagogues across the US and internationally. He earned his A.B. from Princeton, his rabbinical ordination from HUC-JIR, and his Ph.D. from Columbia.

RSVP Here >

Rabbi Shabbat with Rabbi Mary Zamore
Friday and Saturday, January 12 and 13

Rabbi Mary L. Zamore, the executive director of the Women’s Rabbinic Network (WRN), will be our rabbi in residence for a Shabbat weekend of worship and study. WRN is a partner organization of the Reform Movement which for over 40 years has worked to narrow the wage gap, create safer, respectful Jewish communities, and promote equity, while also supporting and advocating for its members.

Shabbat Evening Service and Talk
Friday, January 12, 7:30 p.m., Sanctuary and YouTube
Rabbi Zamore will join us for Friday evening services immediately following which she will give a talk on “Highlights of 50+ Years of Women in the Rabbinate.” She will explore the history of women in the rabbinate from biblical times to today and discuss how this history has impacted Judaism as the face of Jewish leadership continues to change. Much has been accomplished, but there are still many challenges to full equity for women in the rabbinate.

Torah Study with Rabbi Zamore
Saturday, January 13, 8:45 a.m., Beit Knesset and Zoom
“Past or Present, Ritual or Riches.” Rabbi Zamore will share one of her favorite Talmudic stories: A dramatic narrative of bravery, high stakes, a difficult choice between riches and values, and even a young professional overcoming a toxic workplace culture. Join us to learn a story from Judaism during Roman times and learn great lessons for today.

Shabbat Minyan
Saturday, January 13, 10:30 a.m., Beit Knesset and Zoom
Rabbi Greninger and Rabbi Zamore will co-lead our morning service.

Dr. Masua Sagiv
Tuesday, March 5, 2024 at 7pm in the Sanctuary

Navigating Deep Crisis as a People: Law, Politics and Antisemitism

More than four months after 10/7, uncertainty, loss, and pain continue unabated in Israel and antisemitism is on the rise in North America and around the world. As the war continues and hostages are still held in Gaza, the ICJ is hearing a case against Israel for Genocide and calls for ceasefire are increasing. How has this war reshaped Jewish identity? What are the roles of law and politics in Israel, the US, and internationally? And what are the ways for American Jews and Israelis to move forward, both as separate communities and together as a people?

Dr. Masua Sagiv is the Koret Visiting Assistant Professor of Jewish and Israel Studies at UC Berkeley School of Law and a Scholar in Residence of the Shalom Hartman Institute based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Her research areas are: law and social change, gender, religion and state, Judaism & democracy in Israel, and Jewish peoplehood.

Prior to moving to the Bay Area, Masua was the Academic Director of the Menomadin Center for Jewish and Democratic Law at Bar-Ilan University. She formerly taught at the Schools of Law at Bar-Ilan University and Tel-Aviv University and was awarded the Gorney Prize for Young Scholar in Public Law and the Israeli Hope in Academia prize from former Israeli president Reuven Rivlin. Her book, Radical Conservativism (in Hebrew), on the Halachic Feminist struggle in Israel, will be published by the end of the year by Carmel publishing House.

Co-sponsored by the Israel & World Jewry Committee.

Ruth Reichl
Sunday, March 24, 3:15pm Reception; 4pm Program, Sanctuary

We are excited to welcome Ruth Reichl to Temple Isaiah to deliver this year’s Mimi Epstein Memorial Lecture. Ruth Reichl is one of the most influential voices in the food world, a bestselling author, food critic, and even a judge on Bravo’s “Top Chef Masters.” She was editor-in-chief of “Gourmet” magazine for ten years until its closing. As a culinary trailblazer, Ruth speaks about everything food-related, from her start as chef and later as restaurant critic, to the changing landscape of food writing, the current trends in cuisine, and issues of food policy. Sponsored by the Mimi Epstein Memorial Endowment Fund. Cost: Free and open to the public.

RSVP Here >

Community Partners