The Alternative Press

Jewish learning is a life-long adventure full of excitement. At Temple B’nai Abraham, Livingston whether you want to attend a Shabbat morning Torah study (Parashat HaShavuah class), hear a guest speaker, read a book or read the whole Bible, and much more, we have something for you! Temple B’nai Abraham classes are taught by our clergy, educators, wonderful guest teachers and scholars, all who are eager to share their passion for Judaism, and unless indicated are free with just a request to register for class by either signing up online at www.tbanj.org or calling 973-994-2290. We are also delighted to welcome community members to attend our classes, and are proud to offer two Florence Melton Adult Mini-School classes this year. You can join us once or many times—the choice is yours and we encourage you to let the year 5773 be rich with learning. The following is an overview of the classes offered; for more detailed descriptions visit http://www.tbanj.org/adult-learning/overview.

Every Saturday morning, 9:00 AM to 9:45 AM before Shabbat morning services, plan to join Rabbi Kulwin as he leads the group in Parashat HaShavuah, the reading of the weekly portion, and occasional forays into the traditional commentators. The exploration seeks not only to understand the profundities of Torah, but also to understand the world and ourselves a little better. Parallel English/Hebrew texts will be used. We hope you'll stay for services, but even if you can't, stop by for a weekly dose of Torah!

Thirteen years ago, a group of Temple members, led by Rabbi Kulwin, began reading together. Since then, the members of the TBA Book Group have read over 125 books together, and continue to read and discuss (and argue!) together with enthusiasm and enjoyment. All of the regulars consider this one of the most important hours (on Thursday evenings) we spend each month, and we would love to share it with you. The first meeting of the Book Group will take place on Thursday, October 4, at 7:30 PM when  Sarah by Marek Halter will be discussed.

An amazing opportunity to give yourself the gift of learning this year. Florence Melton Adult Mini-School,  Melton Course, a Project of The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, connects you to great Jewish learning. This year Temple B’nai Abraham is pleased to offer two courses with Melton trained teachers, including our own rabbis. Pre-registration and course payment are required before classes begin on October 10.Offered is the Melton School 2nd year course entitled Ethics and Dramas  with instructors Rabbi Clifford Kulwin and Rabbi Moshe Yudin.  It meets on Wednesday nights, 7:00-9:00 PM weekly beginning October 10  The program fee is $650 for JCC and Temple B’nai Abraham members. Also offered is the Melton Year One Course-Foundations for Jewish Living with instructor Rabbi Faith Joy Dantowitz which meets on Wednesdays, 9:30 – 11:00  AM monthly and begins October 10. This program fee is $180 for JCC and Temple B’nai Abraham members. Visit the TBA website at www.tbanj.org/melton-course or please contact Rabbi Dantowitz fdantowitz@tbanj.org  or at 973.994.2290.for details and to register.

It’s Lunch and Learn (L & L) at Temple B’nai Abraham. The first L & L offered is The Five Scrolls led by Rabbi Faith Joy Dantowitz on Thursdays monthly beginning, October 18,  at 11:30 AM. Explore Sex. Depression. Tragedy. Love. Seduction…join us for an exploration of Ecclesiastes, Esther, Song of Songs, Ruth and Lamentations. Attend one or as many sessions as you for stimulating discussions that will touch on the themes listed above! Then it is L & L exploring Healthy Aging on Tuesdays, November 6, 13 & 20, at, 11:30 AM,  led by Karen Frank, RN.  Join TBA Congregational Nurse Karen in a follow-up to last year's Wise Aging, where this time the focus on our physical health and vitality. Open to men and women 40s-90s. Even if you did not attend last year’s sessions, please feel free to join us. Bring your own lunch, we will provide beverages.

             Have you ever read the entire Hebrew Bible (Tanakh)? Participate in A Year of the Bible-A New Experience with instructor: Rabbi Faith Joy Dantowitz.  Read independently and know that others are joining you. Sign up to be a part of this reading group and Rabbi Dantowitz will arrange a few meeting times during the year to reflect on a section of the Bible each time and provide guidelines on when to complete specific numbers of books. The intention of this is to encourage you to get an overall understanding of the contents of our Bible, with the incentive of knowing others are reading along (independently) with you. In the Spring of 2013 we will join together for a celebration of reading the whole Bible! For information, contact Rabbi Dantowitz at fdantowitz@tbanj.org or 973.994.2290, ext 213.

Explore Jewish History with Rabbi Joseph Skloot of Columbia University. This seminar will cover the Persian, Hellenistic and Roman Periods and include texts from the late Biblical books, 2nd Temple Period and Rabbinic Judaism. Each session will include text exploration along with lively conversation. Come and explore our roots! Rabbi Joseph A. Skloot is completing his Ph.D. in Jewish history at Columbia, where he was awarded the US Department of Education's Jacob K. Javits Graduate Fellowship and Columbia's Weinrib Fellowship in Judaic Studies. He is also a graduate fellow at the Center for Jewish Law and Civilization at Cardozo Law School. He has written both about the construction of the Shulhan Arukh (the sixteenth century Jewish legal code) and the history of Jewish dietary law. The three-session seminar meets Tuesdays, October 30, November 13 & 20, 7:30-9:00 PM.