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So many learning opportunities!

Adult education at Oak Park Temple happens all the time! One-off programs, regular series, and special speakers occur throughout the year. Check out our calendar for more information.

Hebrew at OPT

Adult Beginning Hebrew with Dick Rubin
Thursdays @ 7-8 pm at Oak Park Temple (in-person only)
Beginning October 12
$36 materials fee

Would you like to learn to read Hebrew?  Newcomers to the language can master the letters and sounds of the Hebrew alphabet and soon start reading words and short passages from the prayerbook. Our experienced Hebrew teacher, Dick Rubin, will guide students through the Hebrew primer Aleph Isn’t Tough.

Class will run through the end of 2023 and, if there is interest, can continue into 2024. Note that (Re)Introduction to Judaism will meet Thursdays at 7:00 starting in January. This class will accommodate students who wish to attend both.

 

Hebrew Reading One-Day Review with Rabbi Kirzane
Thursday, Jan. 18 @ 7-9 pm

This class has been designed to meet the needs of those who wish to sharpen their Hebrew reading skills. This class is right for you if you already read Hebrew, albeit slowly, and recognize all or most of the letters. This is an ideal way of reinforcing the sounds of the letters and the vowels.

 

Torah or Haftarah Cantillation with Lauren Levrant
Variable meeting day/time

Learn the signs and sounds of the sacred chanting system with our adult cantillation instructor extraordinaire. At a time and pace convenient for you, Lauren Levrant, will prepare you to read Torah or Haftarah during Shabbat morning! Contact Lauren for more information, including meeting time and location, at slevr@aol.com

 

Modern Hebrew Discussion Group with Eddie Pont
Sundays at 11:30 am; location variable

Practice Hebrew-language conversation with other native and learned speakers.  Contact Eddie Pont for more information, including weekly location, at edpont122@gmail.com.

Weekly Study 

Weekly Classes: Six Days a Week

The Book of Kings
Wednesdays, 11:00 am - 12:00 pm (online only) 
Chronicles is a theologized retelling of the magnificent narrative mainly found in Samuel and Kings. Our study will allow us to (re)familiarize ourselves with great and terrible leaders such as David and Ahab and will focus our attention on the process of inner-biblical commentary and midrash.

STAR (Suburban Thursday Afternoon Retirees)
Thursdays, 1:00-3:00 pm at West Suburban Temple Har Zion
STAR is open to all people in the area interested in learning about many varied topics such as Judaism, politics, health, art, music, senior living, services available in our communities, public safety issues, senior scams, etc.  We welcome a variety of guest speakers and discuss items of interest to the group.  Snacks provided.  For more information, contact Sandra at sandrasokol@sbcglobal.net. 

Torah Study: Weekly Torah Portion with Rabbi Daniel Kirzane
Fridays, 9:00-10:00 am
Grab a coffee and pull up a chair.  This weekly learning group brings traditional topics and texts into conversation with today’s questions and concerns.  Coffee and snacks provided.  Open to learners of all backgrounds; join us once, join us every week!

Talmud Study with Rabbi Max Weiss
Saturdays, 8:30-9:30 am
A guided exploration of one of Judaism’s most important and most misunderstood texts.  We seek to uncover the depths of the Talmud’s wisdom while endeavoring to understand the thinking of the ancient Rabbis.  As always, we will find insightful (and sometimes surprising) connections to today’s world. 

Torah Study: Verse by Verse
Sundays, 9:30-10:30 am

Add your voice to this dynamic group of motivated learners as we continue our journey through the Hebrew Bible.  We take each chapter in turn, careful not to skip a line or verse, to familiarize ourselves with the foundational texts of our tradition.

(Re)Introduction to Judaism

With Rabbi Weiss, Rabbi Kirzane, Cantor Valdman, and Robin Arbetman
Thursdays @ 7-9 pm at Oak Park Temple [in-person or on Zoom]
Starts January 25, 2023 (through May 9, 2024)
[Optional Hebrew Reading One Day Review is Jan. 18 @ 7pm]
Members: $50 materials fee
Non-members: $50 materials fee plus $180 registration fee

Explore a modern take on Jewish life.  Engage with Jewish values, celebrations, and spirituality.  Voice your questions, discover multiple perspectives, and find what could be meaningful to you in liberal Judaism.

This is an engaging course for anyone interested in exploring Jewish life through a Reform lens.  Open to all, this course is perfect for interfaith couples, those raising Jewish children, spiritual seekers, individuals considering conversion, and Jews who want a meaningful adult Jewish learning experience. Topics include holidays, life cycle celebrations, theology and core beliefs, prayer, the Bible and other sacred texts, history, antisemitism and the Holocaust, Zionism and Israel, the American Jewish experience, and the tapestry of the Jewish people today.

Register online here. Students may be interested in the Hebrew Reading One-Day Review, which meets Jan. 18 @ 7-9 pm.

Mon, March 18 2024 8 Adar II 5784