Category: Education

How do you view the map of Israel? January 12th – Divrei Laila – Night Commentaries – #2 !

Saturday evening, January 12, 7:30 pm in the Sanctuary, Temple Emanuel is holding the second in our Social Action Committee’s series of three Divrei Laila (English translation = Night Commentaries), with the goal of inspiring respectful discussion on issues that are important to us.  Our topic on Jan. 12 is “How do you view the map of Israel?”    We’re encouraging everyone to speak — all views are welcome! — for a maximum of 2 or 3 minutes each depending how many of us are there, signing up to speak.  Max Case has agreed to be the moderator, and Jim Graham and Jim Silk will be the first two speakers.   A number of different maps will be projected on a screen.  Our evening will start with Havdalah and end with dessert and discussion.  Come, speak, listen, and learn!  We hope to see you there.

Chanukah Gift Giving Program a Huge Hit!


Over 45 kids and 40 adults came together on Sunday, December 2nd for a day of learning and tzedakah. The morning started with the asepha, a gathering of parents and children filled with songs, stories and learning about Chanukah. The group then split off with the kids going back to school for an hour, and the adults joining the Rabbi for a very interesting discussion about the meaning of Tzedakah. We gathered back together for a snack and to pack over 100 gift baskets filled with books, toys, art supplies, hats, scarves and gloves as well as baby items. These baskets will be distributed by ‘r kids Family Center, Fair Haven Community Health Center and Jewish Family Services. Many people in the congregation contributed items for the baskets, and there was a wonderful feeling of cooperation and giving in the social hall. Hopefully we have touched the lives of a number of people with these baskets. Thanks to all who participated!

All you ever wanted to know about Haftarah – a new educational opportunity at Temple Emanuel

Have you ever found yourself wondering:

What is the difference between Torah & Haftarah?

Why does the Trope sound different for Torah & Haftarah?

Could I ever learn to chant Haftarah?

How is chanting Haftarah easier than chanting Torah?

Can I do what members of the “whale pod” do?

When’s the class & how do I sign up?

Come join Rabbi Farbman & Barbara Berkowitz for a few Thursday evenings per month, starting November 1, to answer all of those questions and more. To sign up, please follow this link!

A Yearlong Exploration of Pirke Avot: Reflections on How We Live Our Lives

Pirke Avot, The Chapters of Our Ancestors, is a section of the Mishnah (the first part of the Talmud) which offers ethical insights from the key teachers and rabbinic authorities between 200 BCE and 100 CE. These powerful aphorisms transcend time in offering to us a moral compass for our present day experiences. Throughout the New Year ahead, six congregations will serve as host sites for three week sessions of each of the six Avot chapters.

The sessions will be facilitated by Rabbi Hesch Sommer, Director of Jewish Family Service’s Wellness and Healing Center. The first session of each three session study module will be co-taught by a different congregation rabbi from the Greater New Haven area. Texts will be provided and no prior knowledge of the Mishnah is necessary in order to participate.

The sessions are open to everyone and participants are welcome to attend all sessions or just a few. These classes are offered without charge in a partnership between JFS, the Greater New Haven Jewish Federation and the sponsoring congregations.

For more information and to register, please contact Rabbi Hesch Sommer (203-389-5599 ext.117; hsommer@jfsnh.org

The schedule of classes includes:

I. Pirke Avot, Chapter One: October 10, 17 and 24 (7:00-8:30pm)

“The world is sustained by three things: by Torah, by worship/work, and by deeds of loving kindness.”

Temple Emanuel, 150 Derby Avenue, Orange

Co-facilitator, first session: Rabbi Dana Bogatz, Congregation Sinai, Milford

II. Chapter Two: December 5, 12 and 19 (7:00-8:30pm)

“Do not separate yourself from your community…”

Congregation Mishkan Israel, 785 Ridge Road, Hamden

Co-facilitator, first session: Rabbi Fred Hyman, The Westville Synagogue, New Haven

Chapter Three: January 9, 18 and 23 (7:00-8:30 pm)

“When two people sit and words of Torah pass between them, the Divine Presence rests between them.”

B’nai Jacob, 75 Rimmon Road, Woodbridge

Co-facilitator, first session: Rabbi Herbert Brockman, Mishkan Israel, Hamden

*Chapter Four: February 6, 13 and 20 (8:00-9:30 pm)*

“Who is wise? The person who learns from all people…”

The Westville Synagogue, 74 West Prospect Street, New Haven

Co-facilitator, first session: Rabbi Joel Levenson, Congregation B’nai Jacob, Woodbridge

Chapter Five: April 10, 17 and 24 (7:00-8:30 pm)

“Every controversy conducted for the sake of Heaven will in the end prove fruitful…”

Beth Israel Synagogue, 22 North Orchard Street, Wallingford

Co-facilitator, first session: Rabbi Michael Farbman, Temple Emanuel, Orange

Chapter Six: May 22, 29 and June 5 (7:00-8:30 pm)

“If we learn from others one chapter, one halacha, one verse, one saying, or even one letter, we are obligated to show honor to them.”

Congregation Sinai, 1000 New Haven Ave., Milford

Co-facilitator, first session: Rabbi Bruce Alpert, Beth Israel Synagogue, Wallingford

*please note the later time for these sessions*

Living Jewishly – Reform Judaism and Halachah.

This year’s lay-led Adult Education class will be based on a module from the URJ’s Adult Jewish Living and Learning Journeys project, Living Ethics: An Investigation of Reform Halachah through Case Studies. 

Traditionally, halachah seeks to provide guidelines for the community and for the individual with regard to virtually every aspect of life, including ritual practice and personal behavior. For Reform Jews whose primary understanding of the movement’s philosophy is informed choice and the autonomy of the individual, the idea of a central body of Jewish law can seem irrelevant.  In this class we will examine and discuss Reform Judaism’s role within the context of the ongoing evolution of Jewish thought and tradition and how we understand that as it pertains to our own lives. This will be a highly participatory class; everyone’s input is valuable.

Class will begin on Saturday, October 6 from 3 – 4:30 PM.  We expect to meet once a month for six sessions through the year- on November 10, December 1, January 5, February 2, and March 2.  The meeting place and discussion leader will change from time to time through the course.  If you would like to be on the mailing list to receive notices about the class, or if you want to volunteer to host or conduct a sessions, please contact the TE office.

Adult Education at TE!

Learning opportunities aren’t just for kids at TE! There is a warm, welcoming learning community for adults too.  Multiple educational opportunities with the Rabbi are available for adults including weekly Torah study on Shabbat mornings, Basic Judaism class on Sundays, and continued Jewish education class on Thursdays.  There are numerous special lectures and learning sessions which occur throughout the year, including an annual interfaith scholar-in-residence program with our neighboring houses of worship. Individual opportunities exist for adult b’nai mitzvah, for learning Hebrew and Torah trope.

“What’s God got to do with it?” – Adult Education Opportunity Feb 4th @ 3pm

So, as Ike and Tina Turner might say “What’s God got to do with it?”

Come decide in this lay led, 5 week class that will meet once a month on Saturday afternoons!

“Praise the God of…..Lessons of Jewish Theology and Finding Your Place in It” is a course centered on 3 ways in which we relate to God: creation, redemption, and revelation. We will look at prayers and try to unravel what God means to each of us. It is possible to live a rich Jewish life, attending synagogue, celebrating holidays, visiting and supporting Israel, studying Torah and repairing the world without being clear about our belief about or in God.

So come learn in a warm and friendly environment; 3pm on February 4th at a private residence in Woodbridge.

Please e-mail education@templeemanuel-gnh.org or call Temple Office by Wednesday February 1st .

"Torahs'R'us: All you ever wanted to know about Torah but were afraid to ask"

A brand-new educational opportunity for adults for 2012

This course will examine the Torah-reading traditions, its history and meaning, the structure of the Torah service and much more. The practical part of each class will be dedicated to learning the ‘trope’ – how to chant the Torah, as well as writing a ‘d’var Torah’ – a commentary on the weekly portion. For those who choose to have an adult bar/bat mitzvah this course will serve as the first and major step in training.

The cost is $36 per person (TE members) and this will include the course book.
Pre-registration is essential!
Please email office@templeemanuel-gnh.org by January 5th to sign up.
The course will take place on Thursdays, 7:30-9pm at Temple Emanuel on the following dates:
12-Jan, 26-Jan, 2-Feb, 9-Feb, 1-Mar, 8-Mar, 22-Mar, 29-Mar, 5-Apr, 12-Apr, 3-May, 10-May, 24-May.