Ongoing Offerings
The following offerings are continuing throughout the year, and you are invited to join at any time. You need NOT register for these offerings, just show up:
Torah Study, most every Saturday morning at 9:30. Come and explore the hidden gems in our Torah and learn how to use them to live fuller life. No prior experience required.
Interfaith Panel. On the first Wednesday of each month at noon at the Temple, Father Leo from Holy Rosary Catholic Church, Rev. Jody McDevitt from First Presbyterian Church, Rabbi Ed, and Muslim leader Ruhul Amin, will come together to discuss how each of our faith-traditions understand a particular issue, and address questions from those attending about those issues. This is not only a chance for learning, but also an opportunity to understand one another better. Schedule and topics here.
Adult Education
Spring 2011 Classes
"Rumi the Poet (as a Jewish mystic) and Seeing Jewish prayer gthrough Rumi's Eyes"
Each of five sessions will deeply explore some of the writings of Rumi the Sufi poet and see how it ties in with analogous Jewish mystical concepts, as expressed in Jewish prayer. For the seeker and those interested in the intersection of religious traditions, this is the course for you! Mondays, beginning April 4 through May 9 (passing over Passover on April 18).
WEDNESDAY WINTER SEMINARS
Beth Shalom’s Winter adult education program will feature Wednesday seminars, from 6:00-7:30pm. The topics span the cultural, practical, and theological aspects of Judaism. Each seminar is a stand alone unit, so come to one or as many as you like.
January 19: Jewish Denominations: How Did They Begin, What Are the Differences, & Why Do We Care?
Reform, Renewal, Conservative, Reconstructionist, Modern Orthodox, Ultra-Orthodox . . . What are they all? How did we get so many Jewish denominations and what are the differences historically and today? What do these denominations tell us about the Jewish future? A discussion led by Rabbi Ed.
January 26: American Jewish Demographics: Is American Judaism Dying, Stagnating, or Growing, and Does It Matter: A Discussion
Rabbi Ed will lead this discussion on the latest demographics of American Judaism from the recent Brandeis study of Jewish population in America, and what it means for the Jewish future. You may find the results quite surprising. We will discuss not just the numbers, but how do the numbers impact our connections to the Jewish tradition and what they mean for the next generation.
February 2: Jewish-Christian Relations: How Did We Get to Where we are?
February 9: Jews from Around the World, led by people who have lived there
What is it like being Jewish in Argentina, Iran, Australia, or India? Come learn from people that have lived there. Led by Alan Rassaby, Irene Grimberg, and Michelle Kazeminejad.
February 16: Jewish Comedians in the Movies: from Cantor to Rogen: Jewish Jesters and American Film
Jewish comedians have played a role similar to Renaissance jesters: they criticize the king with impunity (since they were “fools”) and served as a safety valve. Despite a supposedly secularized context, it is still Jewish comic actors playing implicitly Jewish characters who carry on this tradition today by offering societal critiques through humor. Taught by film professor Dr. Dennis Aig.
February 23: End of Life in the Jewish Tradition: Are You Ready?
You may have a will to dispose of your money and real property, but have you made and expressed educated decisions about Jewish end of life choices concerning your physical body, such as Jewish death rituals, burial, and the many other considerations surrounding death so that your wishes are both informed and followed? Come learn about the various Jewish options and the reasons behind them. Led by Rabbi Ed.
March 9 (Noon): Jews from Around the World, Part II: Judaism in Germany 65 Years After the Holocaust.
Led by Donna Swarthout (by skype) [because Donna will lead this from Germany, note the special Noon time].
March 16: The Jewish Prayer Service: What Are We Saying and Why Are We Saying It?
Many are confused by the Jewish prayer service because they have not had an opportunity to learn about what it contains and the purpose of saying what we do. Yet, prayer has been a Jewish staple for thousands of years. Rabbi Ed will lead this session on Jewish prayer, what we are saying, and why we are saying it.
March 23 & March 30: Jewish Cooking, led by Jennifer Bordy
The first week of the class we will learn about traditional Jewish cooking, including making the most basic of all Jewish comfort food, chicken soup. The second week we will discuss Jewish holiday cooking, and create some Pesach goodies.
April 13: A New Kashrut: Making Kosher (Holy/Ethical) Eating Relevant Once Again
At the core of kosher eating is holiness/ethics, but that connection has been lost in the most popular understandings of kosher. The owner of America's largest kosher slaughterhouse is now serving 27 years in federal prison after massive fraud, cruelty to animals and labor violations surfaced. But, a new generation of Jews are reclaiming kosher eating as an ethical practice, with concerns for organically raised food, ethical treatment of animals and workers, and due care for the earth. We continue to follow the basic humane requirements for kosher slaughter, but now address these modern concerns as well. Rabbi Ed will lead this discussion about the new kosher and will share with you how we can actually buy our meat and eat in this holier and healthier way.
April 20: Israel: Can There Be Peace, A discussion led by Rabbi Ed & Alan Rassaby
Peace in Israel is one of the strongest desires of Jewish prayer, but on the ground, it is eluded us for decades. Together, we will explore the challenges and likely outcomes.
April 27: Interfaith Families, How Are We Doing?
A discussion, led by Rabbi Ed.
Weekly Torah Study
Most Saturday Mornings at 9:30 a.m.
Bagels and Noshes Served!
Come join the lively discussion about this week's Torah portion and how it relates to our own lives. Open to all. No experience or background needed.
PAST PROGRAMS
Winter 2011 classes
Kabbalah — The Next Class
Thursday evenings at 6:30-7:45
After two semesters of teaching "Intro to Kabbalah," Rabbi Ed will offer the next class to those who took the first class. For those that missed the first class, a one-session primer that will allow you to take this class. Please enroll by sending an e-mail to Rabbi Ed at bozemanrabbi@gmail.com with Kabbalah in the subject line.
Taste of Judaism: Are You Curious?
Three Monday evenings, February 21,28 & March 7, 6-8 pm
This class, which is designed by the Union of Reform Judaism and has been successfully offered nationally hundreds of times, will offer "a taste of Judaism" to those with little or no background, especially designed for interfaith couples, unaffiliated Jews, non-Jews with Jewish connections, and others wanting to explore Judaism. The three session will explore Jewish Community, Spirituality, and Ethics. Official enrollment has not yet begun, but you may pre-enroll by e-mailing the class coordinator attasteofjudaismbozemangmail.com.
Study of Maimonides' Guide for the Perplexed
Thursdays twice a month at noon -- see calendar for dates
Class is Ongoing, But May be Joined at Any Time
Are you perplexed? If so, you're not alone. For the first time in Bozeman, this is an opportunity to learn together from Rambam's Guide of the Perplexed, one of the most important philosophical texts within all of Judaism, authored in the late 12th century, but amazingly relevant today. This is a brown bag lunch class, meaning you are invited to bring your lunch. The class meets on two Thursdays per month at noon for one hour, depending on the availability of those enrolled. We read about a chapter a session (about 5 pages) and discuss. To enroll, please send an e-mail to Rabbi Ed at bozemanrabbi@gmail.com with "Rambam course" in the subject line, containing your name and phone number.
Introduction to Biblical Hebrew
Wednesday mornings at 9:00 am
Have you ever wanted to learn to read and understand simple Biblical (and prayerbook) Hebrew? You can do it. This class meets once per week. If you are interested, please e-mail Rabbi Ed at bozemanrabbi@gmail.com, place "Hebrew" in the subject line, and include your name and phone number.
Adult Bar/Bat Mitzvah
Times and dates to be announced.
Perhaps you did not have a bat mitzvah because you are a woman who grew up in a time when women did not have this opportunity or you grew up in the Orthodox world where women still are not permitted to read from the Torah, lead a service, or have their voices heard in public? Or perhaps you grew up in an environment where bar/bat mitzvah was not considered important? Or perhaps you are a Jew by Choice ready to take the next step and become bar/bat mitzvah? Or maybe you had a bar/bat mitzvah at a time where it lacked meaning for you and you want to do it again, maybe on the anniversary of the first time? Whatever the reason, now is your chance. We will do some Jewish learning together which will culminate in a bar/bat mitzvah for each of the participants.
Fall 2010 classes
Parting of the Ways: The First Century Split Of Judaism & Christianity
This class was taught be Rabbi Ed and offered through Wonderlust. The early first century was a time of religious upheaval in which we find many varieties of Jewish communities. One such movement was Jesus' movement; another was Rabbinic Judaism. Both religions were birthed out of this turmoil. The two religions struggled with one another. Eventually, the ways parted and the result was modern Judaism and Christianity. We'll use an historical/sociological approach to explore these religions and their parting.
Introduction to Kabbalah & Jewish Mysticism
This class consists of six successive 1-1/2 hour sessions. Many of us grew up thinking of Judaism in all sorts of ways, but few of us understood at its core, Judaism contains a deeply spiritual path that is found in the Jewish mystical tradition, called kabbalah. Kabbalah contains many overlaps with Buddhism and native American traditions, but is more extensive in some ways. In this class, we will learn both through the head and the heart, examining some texts, but also doing some kabbalistic practices. The goal is to begin thinking about G!d and our relationship with the Oneness in the universe in a whole new way.
Here are comments from a couple of last year's participants:
I was kind of intimidated to go to class at first because I thought I would have to know a lot about Judaism. But the way Rabbi Ed teaches and engages everyone is so warm and accessible. It's more like an interesting discussion about complex ideas in a way that is relevant to everyone. I learned so much and left every class with a deeper connection to my self, my heritage, my community and the universe. It's very grounding. We are blessed to have these opportunities here in Bozeman. — Surale
I might need to take the class again. .. After taking the class, I became more keenly aware of a larger Mystery and I felt gratefully tiny. — Ellen
I learned that the paths of the Tree inform the whole of the Jewish calender, that all of our holidays are reflected in the qualities of the Tree. Rabbi Ed rekindled my excitement for our faith. — Shelly
Kabbalah or Jewish spiritual mysticism is no longer a hidden mystery. That which is within us, the yearning to know our G!D and come into a deeper relationship is real. Through Rabbi Ed's class, I have taken a few baby steps with the hopes to run and leap spiritually — Barb
Spring 2010 classes
Jewish Eldering
Co-Taught by Dr. Kathryn Borgenicht & Rabbi Ed
This six session weekly offering is designed for the elders among us (and those who will soon be elders) who are willing to explore issues of aging and eldering in their lives. While in much of modern culture, aging is a negative to be avoided, in the Jewish and some other traditions, the elder is revered for his/her wisdom.We will discuss the medical, ethical, and spiritual issues that one faces in the November and December years of our lives. How do we harvest all that we have experienced and learned during a life time and pass it on to those we love? How do we make the most of those years? What work is there to do that must be addressed in the time remaining? As Jews and some other traditions have done for millenia, we will each learn to write, and actually write, our own ethical will, a document designed to pass on our cherished values, hopes, and aspirations to those we love.
Dr. Borgenicht is a member of our congregation and also a geritrician and head of Palliative Care at Bozeman-Deaconess Hospital.
Meeting times TBA based upon interest.
Introduction to Kabbalah
taught by Rabbi Ed
This six week class will give you an introduction to, and an overview of, kabbalah, the world of Jewish mysticism. The Orthodox tradition says that only happily married men (women prohibited!) of age 40 or older and with at least two children may study the real kabbalah, but in the progressive world, we make the real thing accessible to all. Of course, this will only be an introduction, but come learn the hidden part of Judaism. Meeting times TBA based upon interest.
About Rabbi Ed & His Teaching
Rabbi Ed's academic background includes a B.S. from State University of New York at Stony Brook (1975), a J.D. from Florida State University College of Law (1978), a M.A. in Religion of Western Antiquity from Florida State University (2005), A.B.D. (all but dissertation for a Ph.D) from Florida State University, and Rabbinic ordination from the ALEPH Rabbinic Program, following 8 years of study. All classes are geared towards a discussion style rather than lectures.