Congregation Shearith Israel is a synagogue for life-long learners. We have a wide range of Adult Education opportunities including year long courses, drop-in classes that meet weekly, guest speakers and more. We have an Adult Education Commission whose mission is to maximize the adult learning opportunities in our community. We strive to have multiple points of entry into Jewish learning.

To find out more about our Adult Education programs, or to get involved in our Adult Education Commission, please contact Joyce Wakefield at jwakefield@shearith.org, 214.939.7342.

Ongoing Adult Education Programs

Shabbat Morning Torah Study
Every Saturday morning at 8:30am in the Esther and Jacques Sardas Beit Midrash. Confront the most challenging messages in the weekly Torah reading, engage in passionate dialogue, and leave intellectually stimulated and spiritually inspired! Join dozens of congregants for the weekly Shabbat Morning Torah Study with one of the Rabbis. The coffee is hot, the muffins are sweet, and the door is open just for you.

Congregation Shearith Israel with the Jewish Studies Initiative of North Texas
is proud to offer

Dive into Talmud
with Rav Hanan Schlesinger, Executive Director and Community Rabbinic Scholar
Jewish Studies Initiative of North Texas

Fridays at 7:45 am - CSI-Douglas in the Esther and Jacques Sardas Beit Midrash

Cost Per Semester (includes breakfast)
CSI Members – Complimentary/Non-CSI Members - $150
RSVP to Joyce Wakefield at jwakefield@shearith.org or 214.939.7342.

Gesher B’erev
JCC Adult Jewish Learning at Congregation Shearith Israel
Parshat haShavua – Weekly Torah Portion
Instructor: Rav Hanan Schlesinger

Monday Evenings, 7:00 pm to 8:15 pm

September 27, 2010 – June 6, 2011

This advanced class will analyze highlights from the weekly Torah portion as a framework and jumping off point, delving into the ideas suggested by the biblical texts in a manner passionately sympathetic both to tradition and to modern criticism and doubt.

Tuition for the year is $375 J Member/$475 Non-Member. Please note that payment plans and scholarships may be available and kept strictly confidential.

For more information, contact Rachelle Weiss Crane, Melton Director at 214.239.7128 or rweisscrane@jccdallas.org.

Tuesdays with Tanakh
Tuesdays with Tanakh is an exciting opportunity for in-depth study of biblical books outside of the Torah (the first five books of Moses). Rabbi Gershon leads twice-monthly sessions that explore some of the lesser known, but eminently fascinating books of the Hebrew Bible. While no previous knowledge or Hebrew is required, the discussion is sophisticated and relevant materials from rabbinic commentaries and modern biblical scholarship are considered.

This learning community meets the second and fourth Tuesday of every month,
from 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm in the Sardas Beit Midrash.

Adult B'nei Mitzvah
One of the most inspiring programs offered at Congregation Shearith Israel is our Adult B'nei Mitzvah Program. The Adult B'nei Mitzvah program is a eighteen-month commitment. The course provides a strong foundation in Jewish literacy, as well as gaining the skills to read Torah and Haftarah, and lead sections of the Shabbat morning service. The classes are taught by all of the Rabbis, the Cantor and an outstanding Hebrew faculty. In addition to required readings for class, there is one research project at the end of the first year, and an expectation to attend Shabbat morning services at least once a month throughout the program. At the end of the program, your class will lead a Shabbat morning service, read Torah, Haftarah, and celebrate this achievement with the entire congregation at a moving ceremony.

Embracing Judaism
This class is taught by the Rabbis and the staff of Congregation Shearith Israel at CSI-Douglas. Learn about the Jewish holidays, history, prayer, lifecycle celebrations, and contemporary Jewish practice. Open to members of the congregation and the general community, this class is designed for Jews who want to deepen their Jewish knowledge and for those who are contemplating conversion to Judaism.

We want to try a new schedule so all class participants can fully experience Shabbat.
We will meet either on Monday evenings or on Saturdays over lunch.

Cost: $200/person or $300/couple

Class Schedule
Monday Evenings, October 11 - November 15 - 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Saturdays, December 4, 11 and 18 - Following Shabbat morning services

Monday Evenings in January and February, 2011 - 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Saturdays - March 5, 12, 19, 26, 2011 - Following Shabbat morning services

Hebrew Classes (5 sessions)
Monday Evenings, October 11- November 8, 2010 at CSI-Douglas
We are pleased to offer two Hebrew language classes taught by Tamar Leventhal. Tamar is an extremely skilled and popular instructor who has taught Hebrew to children and adults at Shearith Israel for a over 20 years.

Introductory
7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
$36 Member $72 Non-member

Beginners Conversational Hebrew (NEW!)
8:15 pm - 9:15 pm
$36 Member/$72 Non-member

Each course includes all books and materials. Payment is due prior to the first class. A minimum number of students is required for each class and, in the event of cancellation, registered students will be notified. Visit www.shearith.org for more information about each class, and please remember to register in advance by contacting Joyce Wakefield at jwakefield@shearith.org or 214.939.7342 by Monday, October 4.

American Jewish History (5 sessions)
Monday evenings, October 11 - November 8 at CSI-Douglas
7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Join us for an interactive discussion about American Jewish Leaders. Each week our facilitator, Robert Epstein, will share interesting facts about well-known Jewish leaders in the areas of entertainment, business, government, military and sports. Bob will reveal things you never knew about Steven Spielberg, Bob Dylan, Judah Benjamin, Jacob Schiff, Oscar Straus, Colonel Leon Dyer, Red Auerbach, Hank Greenberg -- and many more! Visit www.shearith.org for more information about each class.
There is no cost, but please remember to register in advance by contacting Joyce Wakefield at jwakefield@shearith.org or 214.939.7342 by Monday, October 4, as space is limited.

Long-time Shearith member Robert Epstein is on the speakers’ bureau of UNT’s Military History Department, and has taught Ancient and Modern Israel Military History at Dallas synagogues for 30 years.