Adult Bet Midrash

Shabbat Mornings with the Rabbis

Classes meet at Bnai Keshet. If you are unable to attend in person but would like to join by Zoom, please notify the office at least 24 hours in advance of the class: bnaikeshet@bnaikeshet.org or 973-746-4889

Advanced Judaism for Beginners with Rabbi Elliott
9:00am - 10:00am on the First Shabbat of the month 
Resolve unanswered questions. Deepen your Jewish path. Study core concepts of Jewish ethical life. Take your Jewish prayer and practice to the next level. All levels are welcome.

2024-25 Sessions: Nov 2, Dec 7, Mar 1, Apr 5, May 3.

Intermediate Prayer with Rabbi Ariann
9:00am - 10:00am on the Second Shabbat of the month
Drop in with Rabbi Ariann for a deep dive of the siddur and morning prayer service. We will talk about the basics, but more important, dig deeply in the sources to understand the development of the siddur through time, the theological and spiritual dimensions of our prayer service as we have inherited it, and the particular Reconstructionist twists we find in our own siddur. Ideal for both beginners and experienced daveners (people who pray).

2024-25 Sessions: Oct 26,  Dec 14, Jan 4, Mar 8, Apr 12, May 10.

Intergenerational Trope Class with Rabbi Ariann

Are you brand new to Torah reading and want to prepare for an upcoming b'nai mitzvah or to join our roster of regular Torah readers? Are you one of our regular readers or wish you could be, and want to brush up on your skills? Rabbi Ariann will leads a trope class, open to adults and teens, and joined by some of our upcoming bnai mitzvah students.

Ongoing Learning Opportunities

Women's Rosh Hodesh Group

Join Rabbi Ariann for an interest meeting to rebuild our Rosh Hodesh Gathering. Our first meeting will be in the Bnai Keshet Sanctuary.

In biblical times, the New Moon was marked by a festival, sacrifices, and blowing of the shofar. Based on a Talmudic midrash, the holiday became particularly special for women. Rosh Hodesh was often celebrated by women as a day off from work. In the 16th century, women of Eastern Europe also wrote special personal prayers for the occasion. In the 1970s, Jewish feminists claimed Rosh Chodesh for spiritual growth through worship and study. 

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 Fellner, Zach Lipner or Jordan Sklar with questions.

Exploring & Studying Antisemitism

BK’s communal need to study antisemitism continues.  Drop in on one of our periodic Saturday Dismantling Antisemitism drop-in sessions.  All meetings are held in-person at BK (Zoom available for those who cannot attend in person.)

Questions? Email our facilitators.

Information about and readings from past courses on this topic can be found here.

Dismantling Antisemitism Drop-in Shabbat Sessions with Rabbi Elliott
Meets periodically, no registration necessary

Cultivating Anti-Racism

Shabbat Adult Bet Midrash - Periodic Saturdays at 9:00am

Awesome Local Organizers Practicing Collective Liberation
Saturday, March 22, 2025 at 9:00am

This is the 4th in the Cultivating Anti-Racism series. We'll be hearing from two BK members, Dr. Jessica Brater and Peter Chen, and guest X Braithwaite from Clean Water Action.

In their work and activism, all three bring a belied in collective liberation, a deep-seated sense that unless all of us are free, none of us is free. We'll hear from them about what that looks like in theater, interfaith organizing, policy analysis for children and families, and environmental justice. What a great way to start thinking about the Pesach holiday of liberation!

Contact  Noémi Giszpenc for more information.