Adult Education

Our Continuing Education Committee has created new programs for your life-long Jewish enrichment. If you study Torah in order to learn and do God’s will, you acquire many merits; and not only that, but the whole world is indebted to you. Rabbi Meir. For information or to register for any of these courses, please contact Susan Burkholder, 713-529-5771, ext 212.

Torah Study

Second Tuesday of each month

No previous knowledge of Torah is required for Sisterhood’s lay-led Torah Study Group which meets on the second Tuesday of each month at 11:00 a .m. Read the Torah portion of the week and examine commentaries and relevance of those resources to life. Laugh, share and schmooze.

Wednesdays, 12:30-1:30 p.m.

Something new this year – following the Teaching Company curriculum, this course, Introduction to Judaism, presents the unfolding of the religious aspects of Jewish civilization from the Hebrew Bible to today, while keeping an eye on the historical background against which those changes have occurred. Our rabbis will lead this course which includes a half hour DVD each week, followed by a half hour of discussion. This is the perfect course for those just beginning their adult Jewish learning as well as those who have been engaged in serious study their whole life.

Saturdays. 9:15-10:15 a.m.

Creation – Examine the story of Creation complimented and explained by ten Jewish commentators spanning the 11 th & 12^th centuries in this course led by Rabbi Walter.

Word By Word – Jump on board with this group of learners weaving their way through the entire Torah. Currently in the Book of Numbers, you’ll enjoy talking you way through with this group.

Adult Hebrew

Worship services take on a new meaning and come alive in a beautiful way when you can fully participate by reading the Hebrew. Develop your Hebrew reading skills and enjoy your studies in one of our two dynamic and fun classes. Fee: $150

Beginners – Start with letter recognition, basic vocabulary skills and learn to read the aleph-bet. Class meets on Sunday mornings when religious school is in session from I 0:30-noon beginning in October and will be taught by Debbie Uzick.

Intermediate – Continue to improve your reading proficiency, turn basic vocabulary into simple sentences, and the door is open for you to continue from this class to the next level of preparation for an adult Bar or Bat Mitzvah. This class taught by Rabbi David Lipper, meets Sunday mornings when Religious School is in session from 9-10:30 a.m. beginning in October.

Interfaith Grandparenting

Tuesday, November 17, 7:00 p.m. Led by Rabbi Pamela Silk

Exchanging gifts, participating in ritual activities and celebrating holidays are meant to be joyous but can become complicated if more than one faith tradition is observed in a family’s home. Discover and discuss how to sensitively share the beauty of Jewish LradiLions with your grandchildren who are growing up in an interfaith home.

Crash Course in Jewish History:

Connecting the Jews of Today With Jews of Yesterday

Thursdays, October 22, 29, November 5, 12, & 19, 2009, 7:00 p.m.

Taught by: Rabbi David Lipper

Join us on an exciting journey through 4,000 years of Jewish history. This 5-lecture class is an overview of the great events that have shaped the Jewish people throughout time. Using the National Jewish Outreach Program’s curriculum as a guide, each week will feature a different segment of Jewish history enabling you to find yourself in our story.

The Eye of the Water, the Mouth Of the Well:

How the Torah Can Teach Us to See and Hear In Ourselves the Creative Source of Individual and Cultural Life

Tuesday, January 19, 2010, 7:00 p.m.

Taught by: Charlotte Berkowitz

Biblical and Rabbinic literature abounds in the images of the Torah as life-sustaining water, the source of life. In Rashi’s commentary on Genesis I, he points out that water precedes creation. By reading (okay, summarizing) in light of Rashi’s insight three scenes from the Torah in which water figures prominently ­Genesis 24, Genesis 29: 1-28, and Exodus 14: 22-30, we will see how in a time of social upheaval such as our own, the Torah can become a re-creative source of peaceful new life.

L’dor V’dor: Jewish Roots & Recipes

Thursday, Feburary 25, 2010, 12 p.m.

Led by Karen Edelman

Don’t just pass the plate of food, pass down the history and tradition of family Jewish favorites through recipes and stories. Join us around the table as we share our best dishes, tell the stories of where they came from and exchange recipes. An afternoon featuring delicious food, wonderful stories and a method for how to catalog time honored traditions. A covered dish luncheon, where your creation and its recipe is your entry.

Girls Night Out: Thirty Minute Meals

Thursday, March 4, 2010, 7:00 p.m.

Instructor: Karen Edelman

Calling all young moms, working moms and women who break out in a rash if they spend more than half an hour in the kitchen, this class is for you. Modeled from the popular TV show, this class is offered to help you enjoy creating a delicious and nutritious meal in just 30 minutes.

The Ever-Changing Economy

Tuesday, April 20, 2010, 7:00 p.m.

Panel of Experts

Claire Shumsky, Elaine Priesman

As the ever-changing economy gives us a roller coaster ride that can be difficult to stomach, let our panel of experts help calm things down. Speaking about employment, finances, and the emotional aspects of weathering the storm, this program promises to be full of helpful and practical ideas and suggestions for those at every age and stage.

Basic Judaism 2

Fridays, January 22, February 19, March 26, April 30, 2010, 7: 15 p.m.

Led by our Rabbis

Created for alumni of the Sunday morning Basic Judaism Class, these monthly Shabbat dinner seminars will provide expanded and detailed discussion of topics ranging from holidays, Shabbat, Israel and Jewish History. Participants will gain further insight into living a Jewish life.

Tikkun Leil Shavuot

Tuesday, May 18, 2010, 9:00 p.m. – midnight

Try it, you will like it! Experience the richness of tradition during this annual late night study session that celebrates the ancient Israelite’s receiving the Torah so many years ago. Join our rabbis for this captivating and rich learning opportunity.

Melton Class

Mondays, 9:30-1 1:45 a.m.

Faculty: Rabbi Haas

Discover a world-class curriculum created by scholars and educators at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Gain a profound understanding of what it means to be Jewish as we explore the texts of our tradition and engage in discussions of Jewish thought, ethics & history. Fee: $415. For members of the JCC & Emanu EI. To enroll, contact jfass@jccchouston.org