Ohev Shalom Beyt Midrash 5768

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Shalom!

 

It is our pleasure to showcase the Adult Education Beyt Midrash course offerings for 5768!  Highlighted below are the wide variety of courses designed to peak your curiosity, enhance your Judaic knowledge, and inspire your love for informal and formal Jewish learning.

 

Our commitment to lifelong Jewish learning is so important to us that every event is offered at no cost to Ohev Shalom members. The programs and opportunities that we offer are made possible by the Torah Endowment Fund. Take advantage of all that Ohev Shalom has to offer by signing up for some of our dynamic programs this year.

 

After reading this brochure, select the courses that interest you, and register online.  Alternatively, you may fill out the registration form, and mail your course selections to:

 

Ohev Shalom of Bucks County

944 Second Street Pike

Richboro, PA 18954

Attn: Hannah Soffer

 

Please feel free to contact our Education Director, Hannah R. Soffer with any questions or suggestions.

 

You may also download a printer-friendly Adult Education booklet.

 

Contemporary Issues with the Rabbi:  A Jewish Perspective

Call Ohev Shalom

These sessions will be held in congregants’ homes.  There is limited space for each of these sessions.  To attend, and for directions, please respond as soon as possible to:   Paula Segal at (215) 322-9819 or psegal@ohev.org.   Biomedical Ethics – Stem Cell Research Sunday, October 28  7:00 PM – 8:30 PM  8(Home of Rochelle and Rich Noch) A presentation and discussion of the controversy over stem cell research and the Jewish view on this most important issue.   The Wall Separating Church and State:  Is It Strong Enough Today? Sunday, November 4  7:00 PM – 8:30 PM  (Home of Sylvia and Martin Gingold)   Anti-Semitism Today:  Remembering Kristallnacht, November 9, 1938 Thursday, November 8  7:30 PM – 9:00 PM  (Home of Robin and Andy Solis) Does the present situation in Iran and among other Muslim extremists make this, as it has been said, “1938 again for Jews and Israel.”  We will review and discuss the present threats that Israel faces as well as recent expressions of Anti-Semitism throughout the world.   The December Dilemma:  How We and Our Children Cope With This Holiday Season ? Thursday, December 13  7:30 PM – 9:00 PM  (Home of Robin and Steven Geller)   A Discussion of Topics on the Front Burner of the Jewish World and Israel as We Begin 2008 Sunday, January 27  7:00 PM – 8:30 PM  4 Derby Place, Newtown ( Home of Phyllis Weisberg)   An Evening in Hebrew:  A Discussion of Israeli and Jewish Affairs in Hebrew Sunday, February 10  7:00 PM – 8:30 PM  9(Home of Liz and David Nover)

 

 

Judaism 101
You are invited to register for, and attend, one, several, or all of the sessions of this Introduction to Judaism Series, which will be led by the Rabbi.  The sessions will all utilize the text Jewish Literacy by, Joseph Telushkin.  The book may be independently purchased or can be ordered from Paula Segal at 215-322-9819 or psegal@ohev.org.  Please order your book promptly so that you will have it prior to the first class.   7:40 PM – 9:15 PM  Rooms 205 – 207 Rothman Family Education Building   THE SPECIAL TIMES OF THE JEWISH YEAR    Tuesdays, October 23 & 30  The Jewish Calendar – Holidays, Holy Days and Celebrations of the Jewish Year.  There really is much more to our Jewish Holidays than just:  “They tried to destroy us, we survived, let’s eat!”  In these two sessions, you will gain an understanding and an appreciation of the rhythm of the Jewish Year and the many significant days and holidays within it.   THE SPECIAL TIMES OF ONE’S JEWISH LIFE    Tuesdays, November 20 & 27 The Life Cycle of the Jew.  From beginning to end, we will gain an appreciation for all of the significant (mostly happy and some sad) moments in the life of a Jew.   JEWISH THOUGHT, ETHICS AND BELIEFS    Thursdays, January 17 & 24 An Introduction to Jewish Thought and an Overview of a Variety of Jewish Beliefs.  These sessions will give you a sense of how to see the world through “Jewish eyes” and how to interact with the world with a “Jewish heart.”
CREATE YOUR OWN SHADOW BOX    Inbar Bibring
Sunday, October 21    12:00 PM – 1:30 PM    Rooms 205 – 207 Rothman Family Education Building   Participants should each bring a shadow box to this craft workshop.  You will create your own beautiful Jewish collage from your family’s memories.  An Israeli artist will guide you through this process using materials such as decorative paper, Jewish charms, embossed images and ribbons.  You are invited to bring a special photograph with you to incorporate into your design.   Inbar Bibring is a noted Israeli artist.
AN INTRODUCTION TO HEBREW READING    Barbara Kind Berman
Sundays, October 21 through December 16, excluding November 25   9 AM – 10:00 AM   Multi Purpose Room   In this eight week course, you will learn to read Hebrew phonetically.  You will be able to follow along in the Siddur (Prayer Book) and feel more at home at services, family seders, and more.  This course also includes an introduction to some basic prayers in the Shabbat service.  At the end of this class, you will be comfortable enough reading Hebrew, and chanting the blessings before and after reading the Torah, to have an Aliyah.   Barbara Kind Berman is a past President of Ohev Shalom and has been a member of the synagogue since 1983.  She has enjoyed teaching Hebrew since her own adult Bat Mitzvah at Ohev Shalom in 1985.  Since that time, she has taught a beginner Hebrew literacy class each year.  Her own motivation for learning Hebrew was to be better able to enjoy and participate in services, as well as to help her own children through Hebrew school.  Over the years, Barbara has worked with dozens of congregants to help them achieve those same goals.
ISRAELI COOKING WORKSHOP    Avi Sekeral
Sunday, November 4    5:00 PM – 7:00 PM    Kilstein Auditorium   Join Avi for an Israeli cooking workshop.  The cooking demonstration will be accompanied by stories and will conclude with a gourmet Israeli dinner.  Please register early for this event as space is limited.  The class will include dinner and recipes will be distributed.   Avi Sekerel is one of the leading chefs in Israel, specializing in Israeli and Italian cuisine.  He is the chef and owner of three restaurants:  Belini in Tel Aviv, and Tapas-Bar and Saquella Café in Florida.
BOOK DISCUSSION: CAN I HAVE A CELL PHONE FOR HANUKKAH?    Sharon Estroff
Sunday, November 11    6:00 PM - 7:15 PM    Room 205 Rothman Family Education Building   THE ESSENTIAL BOOK FOR RAISING MODERN JEWISH KIDS   How do you help your child choose between mandatory baseball practice and Hebrew School?  How can you plan a birthday party (not to mention a Bar or Bat Mitzvah party) for your child without sacrificing your values, sanity, and pocketbook? How can you keep peace on the homework home front? And how do you deal with the December dilemma?  Join the author for a discussion of her new book.   Sharon Estroff is an internationally syndicated parenting columnist and award-winning Jewish educator and mother of four.  She is also the author of Can I Have a Cell Phone for Hanukkah?
ALL THE WORLD’S A STAGE    Diane Steinbrink
Sunday, December 16    9:30 AM – 11:00 AM    Room 208 Rothman Family Education Building   This program and light breakfast is a discussion about contemporary American Jewish playwrights with an emphasis on three important ones:  Arthur Miller, Neil Simon, and Alfred Uhry. It considers how their ethnicity and background affected their works, which have contributed so much to the American Theater.  It features monologues of some of the most poignant characters from their most famous plays:  Death of a Salesman, Broadway Bound, Lost in Yonkers, and Driving Miss Daisy. The program also includes audience discussion.   Diane Steinbrink earned a B.A. in Speech and Drama from Adelphi University.  She served for seventeen years as coordinator of Plays for Living at Family Service of Philadelphia. For five years, she was the producer of the Philadelphia Jewish Family and Children’s Service’s Anne Frank Theater Project.  She has presented her one-person program to many groups in Philadelphia and South Jersey.
MINHAG HA’MAKOM:  HOW WE DO THINGS AT OHEV SHALOM     Cantor Paul Frimark
Thursday, December 20    7:40 PM – 9:15 PM    Main Sanctuary   Join us as we examine the unique customs and traditions of the Ohev Shalom sanctuary and services through the insight of our Cantor.
SHABBAT LUNCH AND LEARN:  JEWISH SUPREME COURT JUSTICES    Sheldon Seligsohn
Saturday, January  5    12:00 PM - 1:30 PM    Kiddush Room   This lecture will discuss the backgrounds and legal philosophies of the seven Jewish Supreme Court Justices as well as their relevance in modern jurisprudence.   Sheldon Seligsohn is a retired corporate attorney who has taught Constitutional Law at various schools and colleges for over thirty years.  He returns to Ohev this year by popular demand!
FILM EXCERPTS AND DISCUSSION:  ISRAEL THROUGH THE EYES OF CONTEMPORARY ISRAELI FILMMAKERS    Udi Ben Saadya
Wednesday, January 30    Minyan 7:15 PM    Program 7:40 PM – 9:15 PM    Main Sanctuary   This program, which will include excerpts from Israeli films, will discuss how the younger generation of Israeli filmmakers views Israel and its past.   Udi Ben Saadya is an Israeli writer and theater director who recently won the Acco Mayor Award for one of his plays. From 1994-1997, he served as the community Shaliach (emissary) to the Jewish Community in Cherry Hill, New Jersey.
SHAKESPEARE AND THE JEWS    Sherry Kohn
Tuesday, February 12    7:40 PM – 9:15 PM    Room 208 Rothman Family Education Building   “I am a Jew.  Hath not a Jew eyes?” The bigger question is:  Did Shakespeare’s eyes ever light upon a Jew?  The place of Jews in Renaissance England and the character of Shylock as viewed through Renaissance eyes will be the topics of this program.   Sherry Kohn taught English Literature in the Philadelphia Public Schools for 36 years. Her last fifteen years were at George Washington High School, Philadelphia High School for Girls, and Central High School, where she taught Advanced Placement English Literature.  She is currently an Adjunct Professor at Temple University’s College of Education.
THE LIFE AND WORKS OF WENDY WASSERSTEIN    Diane Steinbrink
Tuesday, March 11    7:40 PM – 9:15 PM    Room 205 Rothman Family Education Building   The life and works of the late Wendy Wasserstein, one of the most influential of contemporary American playwrights, will be presented with monologues from some of her most famous plays such as The Heidi Chronicles, The Sisters Rosenzweig, and Third, which was her last play.  Her first and only novel, Elements of Style, which was published posthumously, will also be discussed.   Diane Steinbrink earned a B.A. in Speech and Drama from Adelphi University.  She served for seventeen years as coordinator of Plays for Living at Family Service of Philadelphia.  For five years, she was the producer of the Philadelphia Jewish Family and Children’s Service’s Anne Frank Theater Project.
IRAQ — HISTORY, POLITICS, AND WHAT’S NEXT?    Dr. David Rabeeya
Saturday, March 15    Discussion during Shabbat Services   This lecture will deal with the history of Iraq and her influence upon her neighbors. There will be a special emphasis on the religious and ethnic composition of Iraq and her effect on the security of Europe and the United States.  The program will also explore the implications of the current war and what Iraq may do in the future.   Dr. David Rabeeya was born in Baghdad, Iraq in 1938.  He immigrated to Israel with his family during Israel’s formative years.  His father was a member of the Iraqi Parliament and was in charge of the mail and telegraph offices in Baghdad.  Dr. Rabeeya received his B.A. in Literature and History from Hebrew University, his M.A. in Semitic Languages from Tel Aviv University, and his Ph.D.  from Dropsie University, where his dissertation dealt with the Jewish, Muslim, and Christian dialects of Baghdad.  He has been a teacher for the last 46 years and has taught locally at Bryn Mawr College and Akiba Hebrew Academy.  He is the author of thirty books which deal with the life of Jews in Arab and Muslim lands and in Israel, as well as the religious, historical, and cultural connections between Islam and Judaism.
AMERICAN JEWRY AND THE CIVIL WAR    Dr. Robert Levine
Thursday, March 27    7:40 PM – 9:15 PM     Room 208 Rothman Family Education Building   This session will cover personal stories of American Jews and their involvement in and contributions to the Civil War from both the North and the South.   Dr. Robert Levine is Chairman Emeritus of the Division of Periodontics at the Albert Einstein Medical Center.  Since 1994, Dr. Levine has been participating in Civil War reenactments.  He has a special interest in teaching the stories of Jewish heroes of the Civil War and has visited many of the major battle grounds across the country.
MOSES AS A LEADER    Jeff Fuchs
Thursdays, April 3 & April 10    7:40 PM – 9:15 PM    Room 205 Rothman Family Education Building   This two-part course will focus on Moses’ skills as a leader during the formation of the Israelite community.  Participants may attend one or both sessions.   Jeff Fuchs is a popular teacher at the Ohev Shalom Religious School and Hebrew High School.  He has a Yeshiva background and received his B.A., with a minor in Middle Eastern Studies, from Pennsylvania State University.
MAKE YOUR OWN SEDER PLATE    Inbar Bibring
Sunday, April 13    12:00 PM – 1:30 PM    Kiddush Room   Take the opportunity to design and create your own seder plate, just in time for Passover.  All materials will be provided.   Inbar Bibring is a noted Israeli artist.
JAMMIN’ WITH THE CANTOR    Cantor Paul Frimark
Tuesdays, May 6 & May 13    7:40 PM – 9:15 PM    Main Sanctuary   Bring your musical instrument and enjoy two great evenings playing music with Cantor Frimark and fellow congregants.  Attend one or both of these sessions for instrumental musicians only.
PLAY PERFORMANCE AND DISCUSSION WITH THE ACTORS: LIDA STEIN AND THE RIGHTEOUS GENTILE
Wednesday, May 7    Minyan 7:15 PM    Program 7:40 PM – 9:15 PM    Main Sanctuary   Join us for a special performance of the theatrical production, Lida Stein and the Righteous Gentile, followed by a discussion with the actors.  This play follows “ordinary” people from “ordinary” families who have been caught up in the extraordinary political and social upheaval of the Nazi Era. The play probes these issues from the perspective of teenagers, both Jewish and non-Jewish, who are swept up in life-altering decisions about friendship, politics and family loyalty in difficult times.
ISRAEL @ 60    Hannah Soffer
Tuesday, May 20    7:40 PM – 9:15 PM    Room 208 Rothman Family Education Building   What does it mean to be sixty years young?  We will compare and contrast the events of Israel’s being sixty years young in 2008 with the year 1836, when the United States was just sixty years young!   Hannah Soffer is the Education Director of Ohev Shalom.  She has taught Jewish Studies in religious schools, day schools, and camp settings for the past twelve years. She earned a B.A. in Elementary Education and Jewish Studies from the University of Pittsburgh and a M.A. from the Jewish Theological Seminary.
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