B'nai Israel Congregation

Our K-2 classes will be meeting in person, outside, at B'nai Israel. All enrolled K-2 students should complete the registration with screening.

Join the Men’s Club as we present some of the key candidates who are running for political office in the upcoming elections.

Sunday, October 18 (and continuing for 7 more sessions) 11:30 AM–12:15 PM Learn to lead weekday services and/or to chant Torah. These practical skills-focused classes are set up as units; participants may sign up for one unit or for both. Unit 1: Intro to Chanting Torah with Cantor Bolts October 18, 25, and November 8, 15 Unit 2: Intro to Leading Weekday Services with Cantor Josh November 22, and December 6, 13, 20

Sunday, October 18 4:00–6:00 PM A new year, a new start to reading the Torah, and a new you. Lace up your shoes and join us for a mindfulness walk, infused with moments of reflection based on the sacred texts of our tradition. (The event will be cancelled in the event of inclement weather.) Presented by the Mindfulness Taskforce of the Adult Education Committee.

Monday, October 19 (continuing for 5 more sessions) 7:30–8:45 PM “Portnoy” is the Russian word for “tailor,” but the late writer Philip Roth changed its meaning forever when he published the best-selling book Portnoy’s Complaint in 1969. This 6-week class will focus on the life and works of Roth. Our study will highlight the different stages of his life and writings beginning with Goodbye Columbus (1959) and continuing until Nemesis (2010). Themes will include: Jews in America, families, mortality, sex and love, and politics, as well as his views of women, his love of baseball, and his attachment to Newark. We will also discuss some of the reactions to his award-winning work, especially in the Jewish community. The reading of Goodbye Columbus or Portnoy’s Complaint before the first session is recommended but not required.

Recent events have us all thinking and talking about the challenges of systemic racism. What does racial equity mean? How does one begin to grapple with a system we may not see and did not cause, and yet may be responsible for perpetuating? Is it possible for a big-tent community to talk openly and frankly about values without becoming mired in the politics of division that polarize seemingly all aspects of society? Jay Gruber is Chief of Police and Vice-President for Public Safety at Georgetown University, where he is working with officers to better understand race issues, dialogue, and retool community policing principles to ensure safety, security, and comfort for all students. Marla Schulman is Immediate Past President of B’nai Israel and chair of the Faith Community Outreach Committee. She is leading our congregation’s effort to learn more about racial equity and find ways to partner with other faith communities and communities of color in our area. Hal Ossman is Executive Director of B’nai Israel.

Wednesday, October 7 (continuing six more Wednesday mornings, concluding November 18) 9:30–11:00 AM $80 Friends of the Haberman Institute or B’nai Israel Members $95 General Public Travel back to the sources and study selections from the books of Maccabees I & II as we explore the story of the war against the Assyrians and the formation of the last independent Jewish government for 2000 years. As obtaining these texts can be difficult, a reader will be provided for all students. Zoom information will be provided once registration is received. Presented by the Haberman Institute for Jewish Studies.

These monthly sessions will explore Israel’s most daring operations. Each session will delve into the specifics of events such as the raid at Entebbe, the trial of Eichmann, and the work of Eli Cohen. The sessions will be supplemented with adaptations of these operations from movies and shows. Sessions continue on October 21, November 11, December 3, and January 28.

(Thursday, October 15 (continuing for 11 more sessions, skipping November 26, December 24 & 31, concluding on January 21) 9:30–11:00 AM $75 for B’nai Israel members or Friends of Haberman Institute $90 for general public History thinks of the prophets as superheroes: people who can see the future, speak with God, and communicate inspiring messages. But how is the prophetic message received? Nobody wants to hear that society is doomed unless people make changes they are not prepared to make. With all their eccentricities, it is easy to dismiss the prophets. This was as true in ancient times as it is today. Through text study, our diverse group of rabbis explores the role of the prophet in ancient times to understand the implications of the prophetic message for today. Presented by the Haberman Institute for Jewish Studies.

Thursdays, October 8-November 12 8:00 PM This unique case of curated Israeli wines has been assembled by wine educator Steve Kerbel. Each week Steve will hold a 45 minute Zoom wine tasting, when we will choose a white wine and a red wine to enjoy together and taste. We will learn about the wines, winemakers and wineries, about the wine growing regions of Israel and about the growing wine culture of Israel, built on ancient practices of wine making in the Land of Israel. Once the case from Kosherwine.com has been purchased, you will receive the Zoom invitation and tasting and food pairing notes. Click here to purchase.