Adult Education 

Winter/Spring 2016 Course Offerings

God, Hubble, and Creation: A Scientist & a Rabbi Discuss What We Know About the Universe

Date:               Tues., March 1 & 8

Time:             7:45 p.m. - 9:15 p.m.

Instructor:      Rabbi Susan Grossman & Dr. Bonnie Meinke

Explore the intersection between  scientific theory and ancient Jewish wisdom in this fascinating conversation between a scientist and a Rabbi about Hubble, faith, mysticism and Creation.

Fee: $10 members; $20 non-members 

The Jewish Roots of Popular Entertainment

Date:               Tues. March 29; April 5 & 12

Time:             7:45 p.m. - 9:15 p.m.                            

Instructor:    Dr. Marc Leavey

Learn how the roots of the entertainment world we now enjoy were seeded by Jewish entertainers in the early 20^th century. This class will look at the first Jewish entertainer known as a Jew, and idolized by the American public, Al Jolson; some of the great Jewish women entertainers, who set the standards for those who followed in drama, comedy, and song; and the many other Jewish entertainers who became icons to the public, while preserving their heritage.  This series will include rare video and audio material.

Coming to these sessions will fulfill Al Jolson’s famous quote, “You ain’t heard nothin’ yet!”

 Fee: $15 members; $25 non-members

  

Honor and Comfort: Understanding Jewish Funeral, Burial & Mourning Practices

Date:               Tues., May 3, 10 & 17

Time:             7:45 p.m. - 9:15 p.m.

Instructor:      David Zinner

Session 1: Comforting Mourners (Nichum Aveilim): Text study and practical tips about shiva, food, services, children, and listening skills.

Session 2: Holy Society: The history of Prague’s Chevra Kadisha in and how we adapt its model to our time.

Session 3: Purification (Taharah): The rituals around caring for the dead.

  Fee: $15 members; $25 non-members  

 

Field Trip to a Funeral Home

Date:             Tues., May 24

Time:             7:00 p.m. departure

Instructor:      David Zinner

This trip is optional and open to all.  Participants can join the group whether or not they have attended the Funeral Practices class.

Learn what happens behind the scenes; get a close look at the facilities, supplies, and process of showing respect by caring for the deceased.

 There is no fee for this field trip, but advance registration is required. 

 

Prayer Hebrew Level I

Date:               Thursdays  beginning January 7

Time:             7:45 p.m. - 9:15 p.m.

Instructor:      Michael Osheroff

This class will focus on Hebrew reading skills and progress through the vocabulary and prayers of the Friday night service. We meet students with their current knowledge and expand on it. 

Text: Shalom Aleichem by Rabbi Noah Golinkin, will be provided at the class.

Fee: $45 members; $55 non-members

 

Conversational Hebrew

Date:               Thursdays for beginning January 7

Time:              7:45 p.m. - 9:15 p.m.

Instructor:      Ora Fisch

This is an intermediate level class, with emphasis on grammar, conversational Hebrew, and vocabulary acquisition led by Master Teacher and native Israeli, Ora Fisch. This class is a continuation of the class held this past spring, but newcomers are welcome.

Fee: $45 members; $55 non-members  

Workshops

Hamentaschen Baking Workshop

Date:               Sunday, February 28

Time:              9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Instructor:      Eve Klein         

Eve Klein will teach how to make hamentaschen dough, create different kinds of filling, and how to fill, shape, and bake hamentaschen. At the end of this hands-on class, you'll go home with a batch of fresh hamentashen to savor.

            This workshop is co-sponsored by Sisterhood. 

  Fee:  $5 Sisterhood members; $8 BSC members; $16 non-members (includes materials)

 

Creating Wire Kippot

Date:               Sun., Feb. 21 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Tues., Feb. 23 7:45 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.

Instructors:    Cantor Yael Fischman

Learn to crochet wire kippot for women and girls. Yael will provide the wire and beads. If you have a broken necklace which you would like to re-purpose, please bring that as well! As the class is well before Mother's Day, it is a perfect time to make a gift for or with your mother or daughter and save as a gift!  Yael's kippot can be seen on www.etsy.com/shop/kippotbydesign. Please bring a wire cutter, if you have one, or a nail clipper and tweezers.

Fee: $18 for members; $28 non-members (includes materials)

 

Torah Trope Workshop

Dates:             Sun., March 13 & 20

Time:              7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Instructor:      Cantor Richard Walters

Learn to read from the Torah.  Participants will be taught Torah trop, be provided an audiofile, and will have follow-ups with the Cantor to check reading.  Participants will have the honor of reading from the Torah during Shabbat Services.  Cantor Walters strongly suggests that parents planning to read Torah at their child's B'nai Mitzvah take this class, but welcomes all.

This workshop is co-sponsored by Sisterhood.

 Fee:  $7.50 Sisterhood members; $10 BSC members; $20 non-members (includes materials)  

 

Special Programs

Can ISIS be Defeated?

Date:               Tues., May 31

Time: 7:45 p.m. - 9:15 p.m.

Instructors:   Colonel Alfred Biegel

Discuss the scope of U.S. interests and actions to counter the rise of the Islamic States’ threat in the volatile Middle East. This lecture will highlight the sectarian conflict contributing to the rise of ISIS in Iraq and Syria, the potential terrorist threat to U.S. and Allies from thousands of foreign Islamic fundamentalist recruits, the scope of U.S. military involvement, and prospects for degrading and destroying ISIS.  

Fee: $5 members; $15 non-members