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Lectures & Courses
At Central Synagogue
Adult Engagement Programming
Click here to view a complete list of Spring 2020 Adult Engagement Events and Courses.
Interested in presenting at Central Synagogue? Please contact Lauren Dickel, Adult Engagement Program Manager, at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
Bible and Bagels
Wednesdays: September 11, 2019-June 17, 2020, 8:15-9:15 am | Virtual
Led by Central’s Rabbinic Intern Sarah Berman
Join us as we continue our journey through the Torah, reading a chapter a week. We will pick up where we left off with the Book of Kings, but participation is encouraged at any time.
Contact adultengagement@censyn.org if interested in joining this class.
Weekly Torah Study with Central Clergy
Wednesdays: September 4, 2019-June 17, 2020, 12:00-1:15 pm | Virtual
Led by Central’s Rabbi Hilly Haber
This class explores the weekly Torah portion from ancient and modern perspectives.
Contact adultengagement@censyn.org if interested in joining this class.
Join anytime! No registration required.
Samuel I and II
Wednesdays: September 4, 2019-June 17, 2020, 1:30-2:30 pm | Virtual
Led by Cantor Suzanne Skloot
Explore the text of Samuel I and II. Together we will look at and compare the translations of the Jewish Publication Society and the more recent
translation by UC Berkeley professor Robert Alter, and learn why Alter believes that the character of David is the finest portrayal of a human life from antiquity. Our discussions will work to understand the agendas of the original authors and their subsequent editors.
Contact adultengagement@censyn.org if interested in joining this class.
Join anytime! No regiration required.
Alper Talmud Study
Fridays: September 13, 2019-June 19, 2020, 8:15-9:15 am | Virtual
Led by Jewish Educator Dr. Rachel Rosenthal
Explore one of the most radical rabbinic texts in all of Judaism, the Talmud. This year, we will be examining what it means to be a responsible person in a larger society.
Contact adultengagement@censyn.org if interested in joining this class.
Join anytime! No registration required.
Counting the Omer
Tuesdays, April 7 - May 26, 2020, 10:30 am - 12:00 pm | Virtual
Taught by Award-Winning Poet Jessica Greenbaum
Come learn and find community during the Omer —a traditional time of self-reflection between the holidays of Passover and Shavuot. Led by award-winning poet and beloved Central teacher Jessica Greenbaum, this class will look at the traditional practice of reflecting on divine and personal attributes such as loving kindness, humility, and goodness, and will explore those attributes through contemporary texts and poetry.
Members: $150; Non-Members: $175
Register »
SAVE THE DATE: Art Opening: “Beyond the Shadows” with Judy Glickman Lauder
Monday, April 20, 2020 | Lindenbaum Pavilion
Join Judy Glickman Lauder at an opening reception for her exhibition of photographs from her book “Beyond the Shadows: The Holocaust and the Danish Exception.” In this exhibition, Lauder captures the devastation of Nazi death camps in a series of dark and haunting photos, and then, in contrast, presents uplifting portraits of Danish citizens who risked everything to save Jewish lives. The photo exhibition will remain in the Pavilion through the end of May. The reception will begin immediately after our annual interfaith Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day) service, which begins at 6:00 pm in the sanctuary.
Open to all; Cost: Free
Registration information coming soon.
“The College Behind Bars” Film Screening and Discussion with the Bard Prison Initiative
Tuesday, April 28, 2020 | Beir Chapel
Join Rabbis Nicole Auerbach and Hilly Haber to learn more about the Bard Prison Initiative (BPI), a groundbreaking program that gives men and women in New York State Prisons an opportunity to earn a college degree. Together with graduates of the BPI program, we will watch parts of the documentary “The College Behind Bars”, which highlights the radical transformation of criminal punishment into access and opportunity for higher learning. After the film, Max Kenner, BPI’s Founder/Executive Director, and graduates of the program will lead a discussion and Q&A.
Open to all; Cost: Free
Register »
Learning with Central’s Rabbi Emeritus Peter Rubinstein
Wednesdays, February 19, March 18, April 29, 2020, 5:30 - 6:45 pm | Lindenbaum Pavilion
Taught by Central’s Rabbi Emeritus Rabbi Peter Rubinstein
Join Rabbi Emeritus Peter Rubinstein and fellow members for engaging and challenging sessions on a variety of topics related to Jewish learning.
February 19 - The Inquisition and the Jews
CANCELED: March 18 - An Early History of Jews and Finance
April 29 - Financial Inequality
Members: Free; Non-Members: $15
Register for April session »
The Great Jack Benny
Monday, May 11, 2020 | Lindenbaum Pavilion
Led by Cesare Civetta
Cesare Civetta returns to explore the fascinating life of the inimitable Jack Benny. One of the most beloved comedians of the 20th century, he is less well known for his significant philanthropic contributions to the arts, and his work raising millions of dollars for concert halls and symphony orchestras. The presentation includes rare photos, interviews, and excerpts from radio and TV.
Members: $15; Non-members: $18
Register »
Lunch and Learn: Our Songs are Here to Stay
Monday, June 22, 2020, 12:30 pm | Lindenbaum Pavilion
Led by Award-winning Executive Producer and Director Victor Neufeld
Amazing but true; some of the most significant music to impact American culture and history was written by Jewish immigrants from eastern Europe at the turn of the century. Neufeld and a live jazz band will delight us with classic songs and the engaging backstories of legendary musicians such as the Gershwins, Harold Areln, Irving Berlin, and others.
Members: $18; Non-Members: $20
Register »
Join us as we continue our journey through the Torah, reading a chapter a week. We will pick up where we left off with the Book of Kings, but participation is encouraged at any time.
Amazing but true; some of the most significant music to impact American culture and history was written by Jewish immigrants from eastern Europe at the turn of the century. Neufeld and a live jazz band will delight us with classic songs and the engaging backstories of legendary musicians such as the Gershwins, Harold Areln, Irving Berlin, and others.
Ongoing Classes
No registration required and free of charge. Classes take place in our Community House.
- Bible and Bagels
Wednesdays: September 11, 2019-June 17, 2020, 8:15-9:15 am
- Weekly Torah Study with Central Clergy
Wednesdays: September 4, 2019-June 17, 2020, 12:00-1:15 pm
- Samuel I and II
Wednesdays: September 4, 2019-June 17, 2020, 1:30-2:30 pm
- Alper Talmud Study
Fridays: September 13, 2019-June 19, 2020, 8:15-9:15 am
Melton at Central
To learn more about our Melton curriculum, click here
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