Adult Education

Current Adult Education Opportunities

For more opportunities, please view our Program Guide

Torah Study

Wednesdays, weekly | 10:00-11:30 am | Zoom

Join one of the rabbis each week to study and learn insights from the weekly Torah portion. The discussion is lively, educational, and relevant to our everyday lives. To register or for more information please contact: rabbiadmin@bnaijehudah.org or 913-378-1261

Wisdom on Wednesdays

Wednesdays, weekly | 12:15-1:30 pm | Zoom

As we continue our journey through history we’ll study the Book of Judges. If you missed Joshua, we’ll catch you up (think conquests and tribal allocation of land!). In Wisdom on Wednesdays we hope to eventually read through the end of Kings, thought to be the end of the biblical narrative. Join us at noon to schmooze, with class running from 12:15 to 1:30. Contact Julie Kaplan at Jbkaplan2228@gmail.com for more information.

Critical Conversations

1st Tuesday of the month, February-June | 11:30 am-1:00 pm | Zoom (to start)

Members from B’nai Jehudah and Congregation Beth Torah will come together monthly to explore and discuss the following topics:

  • What is Modern Day Idolatry? (Lies About Power)
  • How Do We Reconcile Faith in the Presence of Evil?
  • Why Have Faith and Why Pray?
  • Can Science and God Coexist?
  • Is the Bible Real or Bogus?

Each session will be facilitated by a staff member from B’nai Jehudah or Beth Torah and will be a great opportunity to share ideas, gain new insights, and understand differing perspectives. The first session will be on Zoom with the nature of future sessions determined by the group. This 5-part curriculum is based on the book In Good Faith: Questioning Religion and Atheism by Scott A. Shay, founder and Board President of Chai Mitzvah. Each topic is designed to encourage participants to think critically and share meaningful conversation.

Klein Collection Interest Group Sessions

Wednesdays February 9, March 9, April 13, May 11 | 11:30 am-1:00 pm | B’nai Jehudah

Explore objects around a different theme every month. These sessions will be in-person at B’nai Jehudah. Registration is not required but sign up below to receive reminders!

Moses: The Man, The Leader, The Icon

Thursday, April 7 | 10:00-11:30 am | Zoom

The Hebrew Bible gives us a lot of details about the life and mission of Moses in some ways and virtually no details in others. That’s where the Midrash literature comes in to help. As a dominant figure in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, Moses has been an object of reverence and a source of inspiration for more than 3,000 years—but he is also very human. This talk, led by Rabbi Stephen Karol, will help us to understand Moses on three different levels.

How to Lead a Passover Seder

Sunday, April 10 | 10:30 am | B’nai Jehudah 

Have you ever wanted to lead a Passover Seder but been a little nervous? Join Rabbi Kramer and Abby Magariel for a crash course in how to lead a Seder! We will be teaching tips and tricks on how to lead a Seder along with looking at unique Passover Judaica from the Klein Collection!

Stay tuned for registration information. 

Scouts, Trailblazers, Pathfinders, Explorers: A History of Women Rabbis 

Tuesdays, May 3, 10, 24, 31 | 7:00-8:30pm | B’nai Jehudah 

Join Rabbi Kramer for a 4-session adult education series created by Rabbi Lisa Levenberg for the Women’s Rabbinic Network in Honor of the 50th Anniversary of Women in the Rabbinate. 

2022 marks the 50th anniversary of the ordination of Sally J. Priesand, the first woman publicly ordained as a rabbi. Her groundbreaking ordination, which opened the door for subsequent generations of women, was preceded by the impactful lives of other, lesser known female scholars and community leaders. We will spotlight a few of the significant women from the 1500s to the early modern period who held quasi-rabbinic status in their communities; compare and contrast the ordinations of Rabbis Sally Priesand and Regina Jonas (Who? Come find out!); explore the challenges faced by the first generation of women in the rabbinate; and reflect on how women’s leadership has changed the rabbinate and the Jewish community as a whole. 

Learning about the “Yoms” HaZikaron, HaAtzmaut, and HaShoah 

Thursday, May 5 | 7:00 pm | B’nai Jehudah Celebrate the Israeli Holidays this spring with Rabbi Smiley by learning about all the YOMs (HaZikaron, HaAtzmaut, HaShoah) and enjoying Israeli food!