Introduction
Kehilla offers adult classes, learning events and other study opportunities, reflecting the interests and goals identified by congregants. If you have an interest in learning in a particular area, or would like to volunteer to help make these opportunities possible, we welcome your email to adulted@kehillasynagogue.org. Please scroll down for current offerings.
Online Hebrew/Biblical Text Resources
Classes
Jewish Learning And Conversion Exploration (J.LACE)
Monthly on Wednesdays, October 20, November 17, and December 15 from 7:30-8:45pm (PT)
If you are not-yet-Jewish and are on the path of conversion or exploring the idea of conversion (no commitment to conversion needed!), we are starting a monthly virtual meet up on the third Wednesday of the month. Learn more
Aleph Bet and Beyond!
Taught by: Rabbi SAM Luckey
Weekly on Mondays, October 25, November 1, November 8, November 15, and November 22 from 7:30-8:45pm
Come learn to decode the alef-bet! In this five week course, we will learn the letters through games, lore, and chevruta (study buddy) practice, using visual and aural mnemonics. Whether this is your first encounter with these 22 holy gateways or eighteenth, we will build a foundation for reading sacred Hebrew texts such as Torah, Talmud, and liturgy. This class will prepare you to join a 700 Benches talmud class or other workshops that involve learning Hebrew or Aramaic texts in their original languages. Learn more
Receiving the Queen: Exploring Kabbalat Shabbat
Taught by: Rabbi SAM Luckey
Weekly on Thursdays, October 28, November 4, and November 11 from 7:15-8:45pm
We will learn more about the development of the Kabbalat Shabbat service and it’s kabbalistic symbolism; dive into some of the textual poetry of the psalms and piyyutim (a piyyut is an extra-liturgical poem, piyyutim is the plural); learn melodies and sing together; and explore what it means spiritually to ‘receive Shabbat.’ Learn more
Offerings from R’ Chaya Gusfield
These classes are being offered privately by R’ Chaya, not through Kehilla. If you are interested in more information about time, dates and fees, please contact her directly at cgusfield@gmail.com.
Groups with Rabbi Gusfield tend to take on a personal and spiritually reflective nature. She is passionate about studying Torah, prayer, and Jewish wisdom as a healing practice and believes we have a lot to learn from each other. For more information about her, see rabbichayagusfield.com.
Prayer as Medicine
4 sessions, Thursdays at 5 p.m. PST (1.5 hours) beginning in November/December. Dates TBD. Classes are limited to 8 people. Currently on Zoom. No Hebrew or Jewish knowledge required.
Description: This class engages with Jewish prayers as medicine for us personally. We learn, we write, and we listen to one another deeply, and gather as community. We ask questions like “How is this prayer medicine for me today?” “Where is medicine in my life?”
Torahscope
8 sessions, Thursdays at 5 p.m. PST (2 hours) beginning in January/February. Dates TBD. Limited to 7 people. Knowledge of Hebrew is not required.
Description: Each person will explore their birth portion as a lens into our sacred Torah text. Your birth portion is the Torah portion that was being read during the week you were born. (Hebrew birth date) We will learn different approaches to studying Torah focusing on uncovering the personal significance of your birth portion. For example, “why was I born during the week of Korach? What can I learn about myself, Torah, and our people?” Each week we will study one or two people’s portions. Whether you are new to Torah study or have experience studying Torah, this class is for you.
Essentials of Judaism – NEXT Series in Feb. 2022
Taught by: Rabbi Dev Noily
Join Rabbi Dev for a deep dive into some of the juiciest parts of Jewish practice and life starting again in February 2022.
Exploring Jewish?
Learning * Reflection * Adult Bar/Bat Mitzvah * Conversion *
If you’ve been thinking about giving your interest in Jewish experience more focused attention, Kehilla would like to encourage, and help support your effort. However you define what “Jewish” (or “Kehillian”) experience means to you, there are opportunities to explore and enrich that part of your life. You may have a desire to study toward a bar/bat mitzvah ceremony, or a conversion, or just to give yourself the gift of deeper personal exploration.
We’re offering a variety of experiences: classes (Hebrew included), groups, partnered study (chevruta), solo study, personal reflection and exploration of mitzvot and the spiritual underpinnings of social action. Some participants will identify a concrete goal; others will just see what develops.
If this intrigues you, please respond (“I’m curious” is a sufficient response, more is welcome) to experience@kehillasynagogue.org . No commitment now—let’s talk!
