Hebrew has three ways to refer to a synagogue: Beit Tefilah (House of Prayer); Beit Knesset (House of Assembly); and Beit Midrash (House of Study). The TBEMC Lifelong Learning Committee is committed to creating a Beit Midrash for our community by providing congregants opportunities to connect with each other while exploring historical, cultural, and religious aspects of Judaism.
We come together in-person and through Zoom to learn from noted experts in their fields and from each other – in the weekly Thursday morning classes and special events.
Look in the weekly email or our online calendar for the latest.
Some of the Lifelong Learning Committee’s previous events
Robin Williams: Reality, What A Concept!
Entertainment historian John Kenrick returned with a multimedia talk about Robin’s body of work including highlights from his hilarious & heartfelt performances as Mork, Mrs. Doubtfire, and in Good Will Hunting.
Rabbi Neal Scheindlin spoke on “The Jewish Family Ethics Textbook”
A Virtual Tour of Jewish Paris
From the comfort of our homes, we took a guided tour of:
• Le Marais: main Jewish neighborhood in Paris
• Place des Vosges
• Hotel de Sully
• Famous synagogue of Hector Guimard
• Oldest synagogue in Paris
• Musée Carnavalet (exterior)
• SHOAH Holocaust Memorial & Museum
• The History of the Paris Jewish Community
• Stories from Holocaust survivors and their families
“The Art of Jonah’s Flight” by Rabbi Matthew Berkowitz, exploring the first chapter of the Book of Jonah.
“How to Appreciate the High Holy Days: The Important Themes, Prayers and Customs of Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur” a two-part series presented by Rabbi Kerbel
The Jewish Connection to Comedy Film Series with screenings of:
“The Frisco Kid”
“Brighton Beach Memoirs”
“Biloxi Blues”
“Broadway Bound”
“Keeping the Faith”
“Why the Jews”: An Exploration of the Anti-Semitism Throughout History and What to Do About It” a two-part series presented by Rabbi Paul Kerbel
Scholar-in-Residence Program: Professor Jack Wertheimer, Professor of American Jewish History at the Jewish Theological Seminary. Two lectures: “Jews on the Move: How Migrations Have Remade American Jewish Life” and “The Good News about American Judaism.”
A trip to See “Fiddler on the Roof” in Yiddish in NYC with dinner at Ben’s Deli
Zoom Discussion: “Racism, Anti-Semitism, Black Lives Matter and the Jewish Community” led by Melanie Roth Gorelick, Senior Vice-President, Jewish Council for Public Affairs and Jim Johnson, Corporation Counsel, City of New York
Rabbi Dan Ornstein discussed his new book “Cain v Abel: A Jewish Courtroom Drama”
Professor Amy Kalmanofsky, Dean, List College, discussed her book “Dangerous Sisters of the Hebrew Bible.”