Adult Education Classes at CBS

Beth Shalom is offering High Holiday preparation classes on the night of Tuesday, Sept. 14. Please click here for more information.

Early Bird Registration - Sign up for Adult Ed classes by Sept. 15 for a 5% discount.

Living Judaism with Mary Potter

This course serves as both an introduction to Judaism for Jews looking to deepen their knowledge, non-Jewish partners of Jews, and as the required course for conversion students. It lays the foundation for participants to build a strong personal Jewish identity.  The main teacher is Mary Potter with some classes also taught by Beth Huppin and Rabbi Borodin.  We will study the essential spiritual, religious, ethical, legal, historical, and cultural elements that inspire a commitment to Jewish life and involvement. Participants will be encouraged to explore various forms of Jewish identity through practice. 
Participants will take one of our Hebrew courses during the first hour of the course as part of this year of study. 

*Tuition includes the cost of one of our Hebrew courses as well as the Living Judaism course.

Pre-requisites: Interview with Rabbi Borodin and completion of the Living Judaism application. 
Time:  Tuesday Nights, 7-9:30pm (includes Hebrew)
Dates:  Class begins Oct. 12 (23 sessions + additional get togethers)
Cost:  Singles - $450/Member*, $550/Non-member*; Partners who are taking this class together, please call the office for special pricing.
Find out more about Living Judaism at our Special Intro Class Tuesday, September 28 at 7:00pm. RSVP for this intro class here.

For more information, contact the rabbi's assistant.

For registration packet, click here. 

For website registration, please click here.  Please note that additional forms are required before registration will be approved.

Selected Psalms: Honest Words of Comfort, Hope, Gratitude and Pain with Beth Huppin

If the Torah contains God’s words to us, then the Psalms contain our words to God. Psalms play a prominent role in Jewish liturgy. They are a source of comfort during difficult times. Come learn about Psalms, and in doing so, learn about prayer, God and why and how Jews have turned to Psalms for generations. No previous knowledge is necessary. Students are asked to bring an openness to asking questions and a willingness to seek answers to the deepest and most difficult questions that we face as humans.
Time: All classes held on Tuesday nights, 8:15—9:15PM
Dates: Full course classes begin Oct. 12 (23 sessions)
Cost: $200/Member, $250/Non-member

Sign up for the whole year or for segments of the class.  To register for year long class, click here.

Take the full series of Selected Psalms and add a year-long Hebrew class at a $100 discount!

Section I
Dates: Oct. 12– Nov. 16 (6 weeks)
Cost: $60/Members; $90/Non-members
Section II
Dates: Nov. 30-Dec. 14(3 weeks)
Cost: $30/Members; $45/Non-members

Dates of winter and spring sections to be announced.

Torah Cantillation with Mark Solomon

In this eight week class we’ll learn how to chant from the Torah.  We’ll go through the trope marks one by one in a logical sequence, learn their melodies, and put the tropes together to make music. Instructor will provide study sheets, trope melodies written out for the musically literate, and a guiding hand. Prerequisites: ability to read Hebrew and sing in tune.

Time: Tuesdays, 8:15-9:15pm.
Dates: Starts October 12 (8 sessions)

Cost: $80/member, $120/non-member

To register, click here.

Hebrew (Alef Bet) Level I with Talya McCurdy

We will spend the first semester learning the Alef Bet using the book, Aleph Isn’t Tough.  Second semester, the class will choose how to continue, either with becoming familiar with some basic vocabulary of the Siddur -the basic prayer book, or starting a more systematic approach to Biblical and Siddur grammar.
Time:  Tuesday nights, 7:00-8:00pm
Dates: Class begins Oct. 12 (23 sessions)
Cost:  $200/Member, $250/Non-member

To register, click here.

Hebrew (Biblical) Level II with Elizabeth Fagin

The focus of this class is on learning the building blocks of basic biblical Hebrew. Students will build vocabulary, study grammar, and improve their reading fluency. The class moves with the pace of students. There is no weekly/monthly/yearly goal. There are weekly homework assignments. (No exams though.)

Text: EKS Hebrew Primer
Academic pre-requisites: Basic Hebrew literacy – ability to decode Hebrew words; discipline to spend one hour per week studying.
Time:  Tuesday nights, 7:00-8:00pm
Dates: Class begins Oct. 12 (23 sessions)
Cost:  $200/Member, $250/Non-member
To register, click here.

Hebrew (Biblical) Level III with Jeremy Alk

This course is offered for students who already have some foundation in basic Hebrew grammar. This will build on Hebrew II (not a pre-requisite) using First Hebrew Primer for Adults starting with Chap. 15. During the year you will review Qal and Pa’al and learn the remaining binyanim along with other basic grammar and vocabulary. Students will be able to translate narrative biblical Hebrew on their own by the end of the class.

Time:  Tuesday nights, 7:00-8:00pm
Dates:  Class begins Oct. 13 (23 sessions)
Cost:  $200/Member, $250/Non-member
To register, click here.

Hebrew (Prayer) Level IV—Unlocking the Siddur with Beth Huppin

For students with basic Hebrew grammar/vocabulary knowledge, this class will focus on understanding Siddur Hebrew. We will look at both literal and theological ways to understand and translate the t’fillot. Basic grammar rules and vocabulary will be reviewed and expanded throughout the year. The use of words in modern Hebrew as well as the echoes from Biblical Hebrew will be explored. Learn Hebrew, discuss theology and understand what you’re saying when davening in Hebrew.

Time:  Tuesday nights, 7:00-8:00pm
Dates: Class begins Oct. 12 (23 sessions)
Cost:  $200/Member, $250/Non-member

To register, click here.

Nuts and Bolts of Biblical Hebrew with Mark Solomon

This class is a next step for students who are able to read  Hebrew but not translate.  The text we will use is First Hebrew Primer for Adults, supplemented by more detailed information provided by the instructor.  The hour and a half sessions will give us a chance to learn the inner logic of Biblical Hebrew and provide lots of translation practice. This class is aimed at students who want to have a firm grasp of  BiblicalHebrew, not “pick up a little Hebrew.”  There will be homework and regular attendance is expected.  In return you will be able to translate Biblical Hebrew narrative on your own at the end of the two year sequence. Really.
Time:  Tuesday nights, 6:30-8:00pm
Dates: Class begins Oct. 12 (23 1.5-hour sessions)
Cost:  $300/Member, $350/Non-member

To register, click here.

Beginning Modern Hebrew with Rachel Schachter

This is the perfect class for those who want to take their basic Hebrew reading and writing skills to the next level. Students will continue study of Hebrew grammar and vocabulary with an emphasis on basic conversation. This is a great opportunity both for travelers and for those who want to build a foundation for a greater understanding of Israeli culture. Text: Hebrew from Scratch.
Time: Wednesdays, 7-8pm
Dates: Class begins Oct. 13 (23 sessions)
Cost:  $200/Member, $250/Non-Member

To register, click here.

The New Conservative Machzor – Ancient Traditions, Modern Times
Lunch and Learn with Rabbi Borodin

Join Rabbi Borodin in exploring the new machzor (high holiday prayerbook)
published this year by the Conservative Movement.  Learn about our biblical ancestors and the rabbis related to prayer and what they hoped would be the outcomes of prayer.  Explore the
challenge of keeping the prayers both true to their origins and meaningful in our contemporary reality.  Consider how traditional liturgy can be a meaningful expression of spirituality, connection to God and community. Bring your own parve/dairy lunch. No nuts please.
Time:  Weekly on Tuesdays, 12-1pm
Dates: Class begins October 12 (no class on 11/16)
Cost: No Charge, but pre-register so we can advise of schedule changes

To register, click here.

Meditation through Breath and Movement: A Shabbat Morning Practice with Sarah Lindsley

In this practice, we will use breath and movement to relax our bodies and to come into a more conscious awareness of the present. By beginning the daytime portion of Shabbat with this practice, we hope to foster a sense of physical, emotional and spiritual well being that we can take with us into the rest of the day and week. We will draw primarily on a yoga-based movement vocabulary.  This practice is designed for people of all body types—not just the already fit and flexible!
For your physical safety and out of respect for the cohesion of the group, we ask that you arrive on time; we will begin promptly at 9 am.
Time:  2nd Saturday of the Month, 9-10am
Dates: Starts September 11
Cost: No charge.  Pre-registration is not required, but it will help us plan.

To register,click here.

The new moon is an important Jewish symbol of the Divine feminine. To greet it at its time is like having an audience with the Shechinah, welcoming the in-dwelling presence back from the realm of death and exile into the realm of light (Sanhedrin 42a.) The new month – Rosh Chodesh – is a time for female spiritual renewal, for re-creating, re-newing, re-vitalizing our lives. At Beth Shalom we meet monthly, on or near the new moon, in the evening. Each month we plan a different program, organized and often led by members. We explore women’s roles in the holidays, Torah study, the place of singing in the service, book review, teshuvah, and we celebrate and create ceremonies to mark important occasions in our lives. Our meetings are open to all adult women of the congregation. Call Shirah Bell 206-525-5715 or email Shirah Bell to be put on the distribution list for upcoming meetings.

Stitch and Schmooze

Join other Knitters and Crocheters on the second Sunday of the month for a fun morning of conversation and relaxation. Any level of knitting, crocheting, or other handwork is invited. Kids are welcome. Contact Carol Benedick for the address of this month’s Stitch and Schmooze. Please let her know if you would like to host the next one.
Date: Sept. 12, 2010
Time: 10:15am-12:15pm.  No Charge 

To RSVP, click here.