Ongoing Adult Education Classes:
The Agus Academy
Adult Education at Beth El offers a variety of courses, teachers and topics to choose from. Please select the day and time that best fits your needs:
Monday Morning | Monday Afternoon | Tuesday Evening
Wednesday Morning | Wednesday Evening | Saturday Morning
Monday A.M.
NEW!
Tales of Midrash & Imagination
9:30-10:30 a.m.
Sandy Winters morning series
Rabbi Jacob B. Agus Library
Oct 4, 11, 18, 25; Nov 1, 8, 15, 22; Dec 6, 13; Jan 3, 10,
24, 31; Feb 7, 14, 28; Mar 7, 14, 21, 28; Apr 4, 11
Tales of Midrash and Imagination with Sandy Winters will introduce the genre of midrash, and explore the different roles of functions of this fascinating literature.
Intermediate Siddur Hebrew Reading
10:45-noon
Sandy Winters
Schuster Library
Oct 4, 11, 18, 25; Nov 1, 8, 15, 22; Dec 6, 13; Jan 3, 10,
24, 31; Feb 7, 14, 28; Mar 7, 14, 21, 28; Apr 4, 11
Sandy continues her popular Hebrew reading class starting Oct. 4. Please contact Sandy at Beth El or sandy@bethelbalto. com for more information about the range of the class participants.
NEW!
Stories of Jewish Travelers
10:45-noon
Rabbi David Greenspoon
Rabbi Jacob B. Agus Library
Oct 4, 11, 18, 25; Nov 1, 8, 15, 22; Dec 6, 13; Jan 3, 10,
24, 31; Feb 7, 14, 28; Mar 7, 14, 21, 28; Apr 4, 11
Last year we explored small segments of some of these travelogues as we looked at the Legends and Lore of Jerusalem. In response unanimous request this year we will look at the travelogue of medieval Jewish travelers as they roam the Mediterranean Jewish world and beyond. Our primary source will be The Travelogue of Benjamin of Tudela which students will be asked to purchase.
Monday P.M.
Jewish Short Stories
7:00-7:50 p.m.
Gail Lipsitz
Rabbi Jacob B. Agus Library
Oct 4, Nov. 1, Jan 3, Feb 7, Mar 7, and April 4.
Enjoy reading selected short fiction by contemporary Jewish writers of note, and participate in lively group discussions led by Gail Lipsitz. A copy of each story will be provided one month in advance to allow for leisurely reading.
Tales of Midrash & Imagination
7:00-7:50 p.m.
Sandy Winters evening series
Oct 11, 18, 25; Nov 8, 15, 22, Dec 13; Jan10, 24, 31; Feb
14, 28; Mar 14, 21, 28; Apr 11
Intermediate Siddur Hebrew
6:45-7:50 p.m.
Wendy Farley
Schuster Library
Oct 4, 11, 18, 25; Nov 1, 8, 15, 22; Dec 6, 13; Jan 3, 10,
24, 31; Feb 7, 14; Mar 7, 14, 21, 28, Apr 4, 11
Wendy’s Intermediate Hebrew reading class resumes Oct. 4in its regular venue, the Schuster Library. The class is focused on accuracy and fluency in Siddur reading.
Tuesday
Board of Rabbis Adult Institute of Jewish Studies
October 5,12,19,26
This year Chizuk Amuno hosts the Annual Adult Institute of Jewish Studies sponsored by the Baltimore Board of Rabbis. The Institute offers a unique opportunity to learn from local rabbis and educators representing every Jewish denomination and to learn and socialize with a cross-section of the community. The Institute runs on Tuesday evenings, from 7:30-9:15 p.m. with a short break at 8:15. More information about the Adult Institute will be mailed under separate cover. This year the Institute commences with a joint session featuring a keynote speaker.
Wednesday A.M.
NEW!
Jewish Headline News
8:45-9:15 a.m.
Rabbi David Greenspoon
Schuster Auditorium
The post-minyan breakfast is not only an opportunity to feed the body. The chance to feed the mind is also part of the menu. Various items from a virtual Jewish Headlines News will be the springboard for our morning conversation of Jewish interest around the table.
NEW!
Mine, Yours, Ours? A Jewish/Christian Conversation With Sacred Texts
9:30-11:00 a.m.
Rosann Catalano and Beth El Rabbis
Rabbi Jacob B. Agus Library
Jews and Christians share a significant biblical heritage that is often understood in radically different ways. This series will explore the commonalities, differences, and points of conflict between our two traditions. Our conversation features Rosann Catalano, Ph.D. Roman Catholic Scholar at the Institute for Christian & Jewish Studies, and a rotation of the Beth El rabbis. Classes will be held on Wednesday mornings from 9:30-11:00 a.m. in the Rabbi Jacob Agus Library. Students are welcome to sign up for either or both sessions.
Session I: Oct 13, 20, 27 Nov 3; Nov 10, 17, Dec 1, 8; Jan 5, 12, 19, 26
Session II: Feb 23, Mar 2, 9, 16; Mar 23, 30, April 6, 13; May 4, 11, 18, 25
Registration:
Beth El Members General Community
One session $100 $150
Both sessions $150 $200
Wednesday P.M.
NEW!
More Mystical Tales From The Kabbalah
8:00-9:00 p.m.
Rabbi David Greenspoon
Rabbi Jacob B. Agus Library
October 6, 13, 20, 27
Back by popular request! If you were around the table at the ICJS or the Adult Institute for Rabbi Greenspoon’s initial courses of Mystical Tales From the Zohar, then you know how much fun he has teaching this esoteric material, and helping to make it into a spiritual option for contemporary Jews and Judaism. During the four sessions of this mini-series we will delve into four new stories, picked specifically for this course. Prior study of the Zohar is not a prerequisite; everyone is welcome to join the class. All texts will be provided in English translation, and our first session will devote some time for a general introduction of the Zohar and Jewish mysticism.
NEW!
Navigating Your Jewish Journey
6:30-7:30 p.m.
Beth El Rabbis
Rabbi Jacob B. Agus Library
Nov 3, 10, 17, Dec 1, Jan 5, 12, 19, 26 Mar 2, 9, 16, 23
We live in an age in which more and more Jewish adults seek to fill in the gaps of their Jewish education as they navigate their Jewish journeys through life. Beth El’s clergy understand this desire, and want to empower you as you navigate your own Jewish journey through life. The approach of the class will blend book learning with hands-on skills whenever possible. Our topics will include navigating our way through the Jewish prayer book (siddur), the Jewish holidays and life-cycle, understanding Jewish history through the library of literature each major age has produced, and essential terms and values that inform daily Jewish life.
Hebrew Classes with the Baltimore Hebrew Institute at Towson University
This year Beth El Congregation hosts three levels of Ulpan/Conversational Hebrew and two levels of Biblical Hebrew. The calendar below is for both offerings.
BHI HEBREW CLASSES REGISTRATION INFORMATION
Fall 2010, $125, 10 sessions
Oct 6, 13, 20, 27, Nov 3, 10, 17, Dec 1, 8, 15
Spring 2011, $150, 15 sessions
Feb 2, 9, 16, 23, Mar 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, Apr 6, 13, 27, May 4,
11, 18
For more information or to register for a course, please contact Michelle Taylor, Assistant Director, Baltimore Hebrew Institute mtaylor@towson.edu or 410-704-7118.
Ulpan/Conversational Hebrew
7:00-8:30 p.m.
Ella Davis, Malca Friedman and Yaira Dupon, BHI Faculty
BEGINNER LEVEL – ZEH MAD’HIM!
No previous knowledge of Hebrew is required. Study with experienced professional Israeli Hebrew educators. Learn to read, write and speak using an innovative multimedia approach.
INTERMEDIATE LEVEL – DABER B’SHETEF!
Increase your spoken fluency with an emphasis on vocabulary, grammar, and conversational Hebrew. Appreciate Israeli life and culture with new multimedia materials.
NEW!
ADVANCED LEVEL – AYZEH YAFEH!
Keep your skills sharp! This course will focus on conversational Hebrew and reading comprehension. In addition to new multimedia materials students will be learning from Hebrew language newspapers and literature.
NEW!
Biblical Hebrew
7:00-8:30 p.m.
BHI Faculty
Introduction to Biblical Hebrew I introduces students to the basic skills needed for reading and understanding the Hebrew Bible in a fun, relaxed atmosphere. Focus on grammar and translation will provide the fundamentals necessary to explore the Biblical text, and guide students on an exploration of the linguistic connections, deeper meanings, and subtle humor too often lost in translation. No previous Hebrewexperience necessary.
Advanced Biblical Hebrew will continue to develop the concepts introduced in Intro I and II Students who have biblical Hebrew background should plan to arrive at the first class 15 minutes early for placement testing.
Saturday
Weekly Parashah Study in the Agus Library
9:00-9:45 a.m.
Rabbis Steven Schwartz, Dana Saroken, David Greenspoon,
and Mrs. Sandy Winters lead an informal group study of the
weekly Torah portion. Everyone is welcome to join in this
casual and interactive session. Refreshments are available
before and after class.