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Adult Bet Midrash

Shabbat Mornings

Weekly Adult Classes will be offered 9:00 - 10:00am every Shabbat morning throughout the school year.

Rabbi Ariann
1st Shabbat of the Month
2023 2024
Oct  7 Jan 6     
Nov 4 Feb 3
Dec 2 Mar 16
  Apr 6
  May 4

Constructive Conflict
Jewish texts are replete with conflict - some handled constructively, and some handled much less constructively. Through text study, contemporary case studies, and the tools for argument championed by Jewish tradition, we will build learning and skills needed to engage in makhloket l'shem shamayim - arguments for the sake of heaven.


Rabbi Elliott
2nd Shabbat of the Month
2023 2024
Oct  14 Jan 13
Nov 11 Feb 10
Dec 9 Apr 13
  May 11
   

Making Prayer Happen: Learning to Pray all levels!
This class is for anyone who would like to develop a more regular prayer practice and/or
experience prayer more deeply during services. We will uncover the structures of our Jewish
liturgy, explore specific techniques for enlivening prayer and introduce a wide variety of prayer
practices.


Understanding & Dismantling the Machinery of Antisemitism
Saturdays at 9:00am 
Part 1: Definitions - February 10th

Part 2: Antisemitism & Israel - March 30th
Part 3: Antisemitism: Power, Nationalism, Racism and Whitenesss - Date TBA

Understanding how different technologies of antisemitism work, what and who fuels them, who creates and benefits from them, allows us to dismantle them. Over a series of classes and divrey Torah Rabbi Elliott will be exploring definitions and the history of antisemitism. We will also explore how it is functioning and being used on the Left, Right and in between.

In this three-part class we will be studying and comparing different contemporary definitions of antisemitism. If possible, please read these documents in advance: 


Adventures in Prayer (Coming soon. . . Days and Times TBD)
This class is designed for the spiritually adventurous. Together we will explore a wide landscape of prayer and meditation practices. Some of these practices will require taking a deeper dive
into Jewish tradition and prayer, others will stretch the boundaries of current Jewish practice. This is a cohort and participants are asked to commit to eight classes over the course of eight
months. Participant will also be assigned a hevruta – study partners to meet, review and practice with between classes.


Cultivating Anti-Racism:

Shabbat Adult Bet Midrash
Periodic Saturdays at 9:00am

Anti-Racism Deep Dive
Sunday, February 25, 2024 10:00am – 2:30pm

The Cultivating Anti-Racism Committee invites BK members to an important day of deep learning-for-action. We'll practice active, open listening; hear feedback about people's experiences at BK specifically; and use a Jewish lens to reflect on openness, boundaries, inclusion, and belonging. Open to all congregants but especially recommended for leaders. Register here.

Representations of Reparations
Saturday, March 2nd at 9:00am

Join the Cultivating Anti-Racism adult bet midrash class to look at different ways that atrocities of the past have been memorialized. We’ll discuss how these memorials contribute to reparations. This is part of our year-long series, but you don't need to have attended others to participate.

 

Contact  Noémi Giszpenc for more information.


Mourning in and around Jewish Reconstructionist Communities Survey
with C. Lynn Carr

Shiva - January 20, 2024 at 9:00am
To contextualize an ethnographic project in which I focused on Jewish identification and practice (especially where mourning was concerned), in a single community affiliated with Reconstructing Judaism (RJ), I designed the Mourning in and around Jewish Reconstructionist Communities Survey (MJRCS).The survey asked participants who were associated with Jewish Reconstructionist communities about their experiences with Jewish mourning practices. We'll look at the initial quantitative results and explore our own experiences engaging with, and thoughts about the shiva.

The Mourner's Kaddish - February 24, 2024 at 9:00am
To contextualize an ethnographic project in which I focused on Jewish identification and practice (especially where mourning was concerned), in a single community affiliated with Reconstructing Judaism (RJ), I designed the Mourning in and around Jewish Reconstructionist Communities Survey (MJRCS).The survey asked participants who were associated with Jewish Reconstructionist communities about their experiences with Jewish mourning practices. We'll look at the initial quantitative results and explore our own experiences engaging with, and thoughts about the mourner's kaddish.

 


Doing Jewish Workshops
With Rabbi Ariann

Develop the skills to fully participate in Jewish ritual whether at home or in synagogue. Join us for three half-hour Doing Jewish workshops this year at 12:15pm after sercivces. We will cover:

  • Hagbah (Raising the Torah) - December 9, 2023
    This workshops is ONLY for women and non-binary Jews. We will learn how to safely lift the Torah after the Torah reading, including tricks for those of us on the shorter side.
  • Havdalah - January 6, 2024 How to lead the havdalah ritual whether at home or in community
  • Birkat Hamazon - February 24, 2024 How to lead blessings after the meal at home or in community, including variations to shorten these blessings.

Class Series - Registration Required

Intro to Judaism with Rabbi Elliott and Rabbi Ariann

Two Shabbats a month at 9:00am, in person at BK

2023 2024
Oct 21 & 28 Jan 20
Nov 18 Feb 3 & 24
Dec 2 & 16 Mar 9 & 23
  Apr 13 & 27
  May 11

Introduction to Judaism provides an introduction to contemporary Jewish experience through learning, questioning, and celebrating Judaism in the context of everyday life and Jewish history.  The course is appropriate for anyone interested in exploring and sharing Jewish experience, regardless of background.  People encouraged to join the class include those considering or working toward conversion, together with partners if appropriate, parents who want to share their children's growing involvement and knowledge of Judaism, and those who would like to deepen their own understanding of Jewish practice and history.
The class will be taught approximately two Shabbat mornings a month, and will be co-taught by Rabbi Ariann and Rabbi Elliott. Free for members, $250 for nonmembers. Both members and nonmembers please register here to reserve your spot


 

Ongoing Learning Opportunities

Talmud Class 
In person at BK and Zoom every Saturday and Sunday at 9:00am
Zoom only every Tuesday and Thursday at 7:00pm

Dip your feet into the Talmud, the 2000-year-old discussion of Jewish Law that is studied daily in Yeshivos around the world. This year, our group is learning  Berakhot, laws of prayer.

No prior Talmudic experience needed. We can help you jump right into the 2000-year-old conversation. Come to many or as few sessions as you want. All are welcome no matter how often or how frequently they come.

Contact Marty FellnerZach Lipner or Jordan Sklar with questions.


Women's Rosh Hodesh Group

  2023 2024
  Oct 24 Dates
  Nov 21 TBA
  Dec 19  

The Rosh Hodesh group at Bnai Keshet is an open, warm, social and friendly group for all women in the community. The group meets in the evening closest to the new moon to celebrate the coming month, exploring the spirituality of the month by discussing the upcoming holidays and the theme of the month. Together the group chants, sits quietly, sometimes engages in some easy stretching or even dancing and then an exercise centered on the theme of the month, leaving the participants with words, thoughts, and intentions for the month to come.
Contact Mindy Rosenthal for more info.


Lunch and Learn
Third Wednesday of the month at 12:00pm
In person at BK, also via Zoom.
2023 2024
Oct  18 Jan 17
Nov 15 Feb 21
Dec 13 Mar 20
  Apr 17
  May 15

Characters in the Midrashic Imagination
This year, we will explore several "biblical" characters who either appear exclusively in midrash (rabbinic stories) or whose existence is mostly fleshed out in the midrash. Characters we will be studying include: Lilith, Naamah (wife of Noah), Batya (daughter of Pharoah), Serach bat Asher (a granddaughter of Jacob), and more.

Bring your own dairy or vegetarian lunch.

Tue, March 19 2024 9 Adar II 5784