A bird’s eye view of current offerings. Click the course title to read the full description and to register. (All programs are virtual on Zoom unless otherwise noted. In-person programs require proof of Covid vaccination and facemasks.)
One-Session Programs
Profs. Robert Alter and Ron Hendel: What REALLY Happened on Passover?
Monday, March 27 @ 7–8:30pm; FREE
Fred Rosenbaum—A Turn in Israel: Politics and Society in Today’s Jewish State
Tuesday, March 28 @ 7pm; FREE
Dr. Joseph Benatov: How the Bulgarian Jews Survived the Holocaust In partnership with JFCS Holocaust Center and “Under One Tent,” a program of the Contra Costa JCC
Sunday, April 16 @ 3–4:30pm; FREE
Prof. Andrew Porwancher—The Other Time Russia Invaded Its Neighbor: The Russo-Japanese War and the Role of the Jews
Thursday, May 4 @ 4–5:30pm; $12
Joel ben Izzy—Harvesting Our Stories: an Interactive Workshop (In Person Only)
Sunday, May 7 @ 11am–12:30pm; $12
David Stromberg & David Roskies: Isaac Bashevis Singer’s Simple Gimple In partnership with YIVO
Wednesday, May 10 @ 10am; FREE
Joel ben Izzy—Harvesting Our Stories: an Interactive Workshop
Sunday, May 23 @ 7-8:30pm; $12
Ross Benjamin (translator) & Jonathan Brent (YIVO Director)—Franz Kafka: The Diaries (A New Translation) In partnership with YIVO
Tuesday, June 6 @ 10–11am; FREE
Multi-session Programs
Daniel Matt: Exploring the Zohar
Tuesdays, starting January 17 @ 5:00-6:15pm
Stewart Florsheim—Poems on Paintings: A Workshop Using One Art to Explore Another In partnership with Temple Sinai
4 sessions, Tuesdays, 2/28, 3/14, 3/21 & 3/28 @ 6:30-8pm; $12/session
Rabbi Peretz Wolf-Prusan: Mind, Body and Soul: Maimonides’ Eight Chapters
8 sessions, Fridays, 3/17-5/12 (except 4/14) @ 12–1pm; $12/session
Multiple Presenters—Soil to Soul: Agriculture and Jewish Culture series (Hybrid)
6 sessions, Sundays, 4/2, 9, 23, 5/7, 21, 6/4 @ 3–4:30 pm (except 4/9 @ 12:30–2:30pm); up to $12/session (in person or on Zoom)
Josh Horowitz: The Promiscuous World of Jewish Music In partnership with KlezCalifornia
4 sessions, Mondays, March 13, 20, April 3, 10 @ 7–8:30pm
Noam Zion—Sanctified Sex: Sacred Marital Intimacy in the Classical and Contemporary Rabbinic World
3 sessions, Sundays, 4/16, 23, & 30 @ 10–11:15am; $12/session
Shalhevet Robinson—Ruth: A Literary Masterpiece, a Lesson in Kindness In Person and on Zoom
4 sessions, 4/22 @ 10:15am, 5/2 & 5/16 @ 7:15pm and 5/20 @ 10:15am; $24
Prof. Erich Gruen: Smiling through Tears? Jewish Humor in Antiquity In person or on Zoom
4 sessions, Sundays, 4/23, 30, 5/ 7, 21 @ 11am–12:15pm; $12/session
Ken Blady—Among Cossacks and Commissars: A History of Ukrainian Jewry
4 sessions, Mondays, 5/1, 8, 15 & 22 @ 7–8:30pm; $12/session
Rabbi Judy Shanks & Dr. James Gracer—The Bible on the Couch: A Rabbi and Psychiatrist Analyze Sacred Texts (In Person and On Zoom)
2 sessions, Wednesdays, May 10 & 17 @ 7–8:15 pm; FREE
Talmud Circles
Peretz Wolf-Prusan—Lunchtime Talmud Circle
17 one-hour sessions on Wednesdays: 9/14, 9/28, 10/13, 11/9, 11/23, 12/7, 12/21, 1/4, 1/18, 2/1, 2/15, 3/1, 3/29, 4/12, 4/26, 5/10, & 6/7; $216
Peretz Wolf-Prusan—Palo Alto Community Talmud Circle (In person or Zoom)
9 two-hour sessions on Sundays: 10/9, 11/13, 12/4, 1/22, 2/12, 3/12, 4/16, 5/21 & 6/4; $216
Deena Aranoff—Marin Community Talmud Circle (In person or Zoom)
9 two-hour sessions on Sundays: 10/30, 11/13, 12/11, 1/22, 2/12, 3/12, 4/16, 5/21, 6/4; $216
Dorothy Richman—Berkeley Community Talmud Circle (In person or Zoom)
9 two-hour sessions on Sundays: 10/23, 11/6, 12/4, 1/29, 2/12, 3/19, 4/23, 5/7 and 6/4; $216
Peretz Wolf-Prusan—San Francisco Community Talmud Circle (In person or Zoom)
9 two-hour sessions on Sundays: 11/6, 11/20, 12/11, 1/29, 2/26, 3/5, 4/2, 5/7 & 6/4; $216
Languages
Jehon Grist—Beginning Prayerbook/Biblical Hebrew 1B
4 sessions, Sundays, 2/26, 3/5, 3/12 and 3/19 @ 2-3:50pm; $12/session
Jehon Grist—Intermediate Prayerbook/Biblical Hebrew 4
8 sessions, Sundays, 1/22, 1/29, 2/5, 2/12 (on video only), 2/26, 3/5, 3/12 and 3/19 @4-5:20pm; $12/session
Jehon Grist—Reading the Bible: The Four-Horned Altar—Searching for Its Meaning and Origin
8 sessions, Sundays, 1/22, 1/29, 2/5, 2/12 (on video only), 2/26, 3/5, 3/12 and 3/19 @5:30-6:50pm; $12/session
Jehon Grist—Beginning Prayerbook/Biblical Hebrew 2
8 sessions, Sundays, 3/26, 4/2, 4/9, 4/16, 4/23, 4/30, 5/7, and 5/21 @ 2-3:25pm; $12/session
Jehon Grist—Intermediate/Advanced Biblical Hebrew 5
8 sessions, Sundays, 3/26, 4/2, 4/9, 4/16, 4/23, 4/30, 5/7, and 5/21 @ 2-3:25pm; $12/session
Jehon Grist—Reading the Bible (Isaiah 40-41): Defining and Defending Divine Power
8 sessions, Sundays, 3/26, 4/2, 4/9, 4/16, 4/23, 4/30, 5/7, and 5/21 @ 2-3:25pm; $12/session