Adult Education Opportunities

Adult Education is a central focus of Congregation Beth El’s programming and we would welcome your participation. If you have any questions regarding Adult Education opportunities at Congregation Beth El, including those described below, please send an e-mail to Congregation Beth El's Vice President of Education Jonathan Levy at: VPEducation@bethelmc.org or contact the Congregation Beth El clergy/staff representatives identified below.
Our award winning Saul Bendit Adult Institute, the Beth El Adult Academy, a number of other weekly and periodic offerings, including Parshat ha Shavuah (weekly Torah portion) and Talmud classes, as well as panel discussions and lectures, are described below. Our classes are taught by clergy and expert lay persons. Classes are free unless otherwise indicated.
Congregation Beth El also encourages members who have ideas for new course offerings to contact our clergy, our staff or the Education VP Jonathan Levy with suggestions so that we may work together to start a new class or to expand the topics covered by our existing programs.

Saul Bendit Insitute
The Saul Bendit Adult Institute is Beth El’s award-winning adult education program, providing concentrated study with a variety of courses. The program was founded in 1977 in memory of Saul Bendit, an active member of both the Beth El and the DC Jewish community. His late wife Tanya and their family, provided a generous gift to establish the Institute. Rabbi Samuel Scolnic, now Rabbi Emeritus, provided a key role in creating this enduring program.
Classes are offered in traditional Bible studies, theology, European or American Jewish history. Courses on a variety of topics related to Israel are frequently offered and Israeli movies are often shown. Classes are also offered in Jewish arts, from traditional study of music to literature. The Institute program includes multi-speaker courses, featuring instructors on specific topics or themes, such as business and legal ethics, Israel and the environment and medical ethics. Our clergy teach every Fall and Spring semester along with other local Rabbis and educators, and experts on specific topics of interest.

The schedule is usually based on six-week sessions:
Wednesday 7:30 pm - 8:20 pm 1st session and 8:40 pm - 9:30 pm 2nd session
Tuesday 10:00-10:50 am 1st session; 11:10 am -12:00 noon 2nd session.

The cost for early registration is $30 per course–members/$35 non-members
for at door registration is $35 –members/$40 non-members.

Beth El Adult Academy on Sunday mornings
These classes are open to all but target parents and others who find themselves picking up and dropping off students at the Religious School. Currently contemplated course offerings include:
•Basic Hebrew – Oriented towards those who have little knowledge of Hebrew.
•Jewish Literacy – The various daily and holiday services.
•Torah – A study of the weekly portion.

Classes are usually offered on Sundays from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon for a six- week session in the Fall and Spring semester. The cost is $36.00 per course.
Contact Louis Nagel at lnagel@bethelmc.org or 301-652-8569 x310
Click here to learn more about Beth El's Religious School


Other regularly scheduled offerings are presented below by day of the week.

Adult B’nai Mitzvah Class
This class is an introduction to the breadth of Jewish learning with the option of becoming a Bar or Bat Mitzvah by leading Shabbat morning services or a portion thereof as a group. The course is ongoing for two years and is led by the clergy. Lectures are presented by the clergy and invited scholars, usually every other Sunday morning from 10:15 am to 11:45 am. Participants will develop a basic ability to read Hebrew and will be given reading in English and other assignments to prepare for class. Topics covered include: Jewish history, holidays, life cycle, theology, medical ethics, kashrut, Shabbat, cantillation, the Torah, the various services as well as other religious topics. The next cycle will begin in September 2008.

The cost is $75 for members and $125 for non-members.
Please contact Rabbi Rudolph at wrudolph@bethelmc.org or 301-652-8569 x318 or Rabbi Harris at gharris@bethelmc.org or 301-652-8569 x305
Click here for more information

Talmud Class: Monday evening from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm in the Zahler Social Hall
Led by Beth El's congregant Elliot Wilner, the class studies Tractate Brachot ("Blessings”) in English translation. This fascinating and inspiring Tractate, the first in the Talmud, deals with prayer and blessings. For those new to Talmud study, Brachot is a great place to jump in and start learning. There is no charge, all are welcome, and knowledge of Hebrew is not required.

Talmud Class: Tuesday morning from 8.30 am to 9.30 am, by Rabbi Scolnic
Members or non-members attending the class generally come to the morning Minyan that starts at 7:30 am, have breakfast following the Minyan, and then go to class. Rabbi Scolnic, Beth El’s Rabbi Emeritus, goes over the text of a portion of the Talmud (currently the tractate Megillah), gives his interpretation of the text and invites people to participate in the discussion. There is no charge and advance permission to attend is not needed. You are encouraged just to show up and join the group.

Parshat ha Shavuah (weekly Torah portion) by Rabbi Rudolph
Class on Wednesday morning from 9 am to 10:30 am
This class is open to enrollment once every 3 years and continues for a 3-year period (corresponding to the triennial reading cycle) until the class graduates. The course is held on a weekly basis starting in September and continuing to the end of June. The class studies the Torah portion which will be read on the following Shabbat by using the Etz Haim Chumash translation and commentaries, to which Rabbi Rudolph adds his own commentaries and insights.

There is no charge but permission is needed to attend since the number of participants is limited. The next cycle will begin in September 2009.
Please contact Rabbi Rudolph wrudolph@bethelmc.org or 301-652-8569 x318 if you wish to put your name on a list for the next class.

Haftarah (weekly portion of the Prophets) by Rabbi Harris
Class on Wednesday morning from 9:30 am to 10:45 am
The haftarah (the weekly reading from the Prophets which is read following the reading of the Torah at the Shabbat morning service) and its connections to the appropriate Torah reading are examined. This class is taught on a 2 year cycle.

There is no charge but permission is needed to attend since the number of participants is limited. The next cycle will begin in September 2008.
Please contact Rabbi Harris at gharris@bethelmc.org or 301-652-8569 x305

Parshat Class by Marilyn Fine
Class on Wednesday morning from 9:30 am to 10:45 am
This class meets from September to June and studies the week’s parsha by focusing on a limited number of verses in Hebrew and English and discussing classical and contemporary insights on the text.

Conversational Hebrew Class by Yocheved Karlin
Class on Wednesday evening from 6:45 pm to 9:30 pm over two semesters -- Fall and Spring
The class holds conversations in Hebrew on various topics of interest and studies current Hebrew articles.
Prerequisite: Relative fluency in Hebrew since the entire class is conducted in Hebrew.

Young Dad's Night Out by Rabbi Harris
Class at Rock Bottom Brewery downtown Bethesda, once a month at 9:00 pm to 11:00 pm
These monthly shiurim (lessons) are designed to have Dad's meet each other and complement what their children are learning in Religious or Jewish Day Schools. Discussion topics change each month and include: challenges from the Torah and the Talmud, understanding the Jewish life cycle, current events, parenting issues, and more.

No cost for the class. Drop in once or each time.
Please contact Rabbi Harris at gharris@bethelmc.org or 301-652-8569 x305

Iyun T'filah (Penetrating Prayer) by Hazzan Lubin
On Shabbat Morning every other week from 8:30 am to 9:15 am in the Library
The class meets before the main service. It is designed to help the worshiper appreciate the order, content, history, theology and poetry of the Sidur (Prayer book). It prepares the student to gain a more meaningful and spiritual experience from the
worship experience.

No cost. For more information, please contact Hazzan Lubin at alubin@bethelmc.org or 301-652-8569 x317.

Pirkei Avot (Come Learn from our Sages)
Every Shabbat from 12:40 pm to 1:40 pm, right after the Kiddush, in the Zahler Social Hall
This informal discussion group studies Pirkei Avot (Ethics of the Fathers) in translation. Pirkei Avot, a very accessible part of the Talmud, is printed in our Siddur (prayer book), and it speaks directly to the ethical questions of our lives.

All are welcome to attend this class, led by congregants; no prior knowledge is needed and each class stands on its own. Feel free to bring coffee, food, and a friend (or two!).

Other periodic offerings: the following courses are offered from time to time. Please consult the contact person below for specific dates and times.

Torah Cantillation Class
This class provides instruction in chanting from the Torah in six one-hour lessons. A CD and a manual authored by Hazzan Lubin are distributed to the attendees at a cost of $15. A basic ability to read Hebrew is essential. Chanting the Torah at a service is a most fulfilling and spiritually rewarding experience. Some years, this class is included in the Saul Bendit Institute program.
Please contact Hazzan Lubin at alubin@bethelmc.org or 301-652-8569, ext. 317.

Community-based Education and Speakers
Community Torah Institute
Each year, typically in February or March, Congregation Beth El hosts a panel of distinguished scholars who lead discussion on a wide variety of topics. Please check our website for further announcements on this event for 2008.

Scholar in Residence
Each year, Congregation Beth El hosts an invited scholar who presents a series of lectures during weekend events. Please check our website for further announcements on this year’s invited scholar.
Click here for more information.

Sunday morning Men’s Club Speaker series
After the Sunday morning Minyan, Mens Club sponsors a breakfast and a program of approximately one-hour.
These programs are generally on Jewish issues, science/medicine, politics/elections or other topics. They are intended for the benefit and participation of the entire congregation with notices to the general community. The programs have included speakers from the Israeli Embassy, Ambassadors, journalists, members of Congress, leading scientists, local officials, Rabbis and congregants who are experts in their fields such as taxes, immigration reform, litigation, women's health, or the liturgy. At times movies that have Jewish content are shown.
Another featured program is the Perspectives in Dialog in which outside high profile speakers address members and non-members on Sunday morning in lieu of the regular speaker program.
In addition, Hearing Men’s Voices is held the first Thursday of each month at the synagogue. Issues of concern to men are addressed (e.g. religious issues, personal histories, ethical wills, observing Jewish laws and traditions).
The Men’s Club participates in the Federation of Jewish Men’s Club programs such as the World Wide Wrap, which teaches congregants how to use Tefillin, and discusses the history and background of putting on Tefillin.
Finally, Men’s Club sponsors a Mincha/Seudah Shlishit/Havdallah on the third Shabbat of each month at which a D'var Torah lesson and discussion is usually held.
Click here for more information about Men's Club

Senior Caucus and Vattikim Programs
The Senior Caucus sponsors cultural programs and lectures which explore Jewish music and art, consumer affairs, ethical wills, journalist reports, senior issues, and subjects of interest at the monthly Round Table with the Rabbi.

Vatikkim meets weekly with lectures by Rabbi Rudolph, Rabbi Harris, Rabbi Scolnic, Hazzan Lubin, or members with special expertise.

For more information, please contact Ricardo Munster at rmunster@bethelmc.org or 301-652-8569 x316
Click here for more information about Senior Programs

Sisterhood Education Program
The Beth El Sisterhood usually sponsors two or three programs each year dedicated to Jewish learning. The morning of January 13, 2008 will highlight a well known speaker whose topic will be the creating of new rituals for the modern Jewish family. On March 2, 2008, the final offering of the season will focus on learning Torah rituals. This may include learning the Torah blessings before and after an aliya, as well as dressing, and maybe lifting, the Torah. The study and learning of the birkat hamazon (grace after meals) blessings may be included as part of the program. No cost.
For more information, click Sisterhood or Zhava

If you have any questions or require more information, regarding Adult Education opportunities at Congregation Beth El, including those described above, please send an e-mail to Congregation Beth El's Vice President of Education Jonathan Levy at: VPEducation@bethelmc.org