Our Affiliation

We are affiliated with the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, the association of Conservative congregations in North America.

Adult Education

Education

Congregation Beth-El Presents Continuing Education with Rabbi Stephen Listfield

The Life and Legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.

Monday evening, January 14, 2013 the eve of the birthday of Rev. King, Rabbi Listfield will speak about that unique moral leader of20th century America. After spending four years as rabbi in Montgomery, AL, and having been an honorary member of Dr. King’s church — the Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church — our rabbi will speak about some lesser-known aspects of King’s life.

Rabbi Listfield was invited to speak when the church parsonage was dedicated as a national monument. His remarks were written up on the front page of the Montgomery newspaper the next day. Our rabbi will reminisce on what he said at the house where the Kings had lived when Martin led the Montgomery bus boycott. And he will tell us about the bombing of that house in 1956 by racists.
See http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/travel/civilrights/al8.htm

The talk will be at 8:15pm after 8pm minyan. All are welcome — in fact, all are encouraged to come and bring your friends.

Jewish Ethical Literature of the Modern Era

Adult learning continues with Rabbi Listfield discussing the profundities of Jewish ethics, Monday evenings, January 21 and 28, and February 4. The sessions begin at 8:15pm after the 8pm minyan, concluding by 9:15.

We will learn about the “Way of the Righteous” by the Italian rabbi-mystic Moshe Chaim Luzzatto; the Musar (personal ethics) movement initiated by Rabbi Israel Salanter in Lithuania, and the mitzvah of ahavat ha-beriyot (loving all of God’s creatures) as exemplified in the lives of the chasidic masters the Baal Shem Tov and Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev in the Ukraine.

Everyone is welcome!
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Also being offered:

Intermediate Hebrew, Jewish Mysticism, and Beginning Hebrew Reading

In addition to the popular classes that Rabbi Listfield will be teaching, we are offering Intermediate Hebrew taught by Avrum Bloomstone, Mysticism taught by Steve Nachbar and beginning Hebrew reading taught by Lorraine Nachbar.

Avrum’s class is for people who already read Hebrew but are eager to achieve the next level. Avrum’s intention is to help you brush up on your reading sufficiently, such that, if you wish — you certainly won’t be required!! — you will be prepared to lead a worship service in synagogue. If there is interest in basic Hebrew reading, we will offer that as well.

Steve taught a very well received class on Jewish mysticism some years ago. There have been requests for an encore, and our co-president is happy to offer it.

Lorraine Nachbar is offering “Beginning Hebrew Reading” on Thursday evenings at 6:30 p.m. [NOTE: This is not conversational Hebrew.]

Call or email the office if you’d like to join either of both of those offerings.

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