Adult education flourishing at Long Grove's Temple Chai
Adult education opportunities flourish at Temple Chai, a Reform Jewish Congregation in Long Grove.
"Temple Chai is committed to adult learning and community building within our congregation," said Rabbi Ilana Baden. "From Friday, Nov. 8, through Sunday, Nov. 10, we are presenting our annual Levenson Scholar-in-Residence program. This year, our visiting scholar is Rabbi Amy Scheinerman."
"Rabbi Scheinerman's inspiring lessons are all about helping us to live a more meaningful and intentional life by using Judaism's ancient texts as a guide," said Laura Perpinyal, the synagogue's director of Congregational Learning.
Rabbi Scheinerman was a National Jewish Book Award finalist in 2018 for her two-volume book, "The Talmud Of Relationships." As the synagogue's visiting scholar, she will facilitate three study sessions.
Rabbi Scheinerman's first session is titled "Getting Relationships Right: Ancient Advice For Modern Living." She will explore how the Talmud's insights and wisdom can help us to improve our relationships with our family, our friends, community, God and ourselves.
In the second session, "The Rabbis' Radical Views Of God: Not What You Might Think" will show that our sages did not regard God as a wise, patient and perfect role model for humanity as they wrestled with the same issues that concern us, including difficult moral choices, our relationships and our emotions.
Scheinerman will explain why the rabbis' views of God continue to be important.
In the third session, "Siblings: Competitors? Companions? Confidants?," Scheinerman will discuss how the Torah and its ancient and modern commentaries can help us navigate the often complex and sometimes tense relationships with our siblings.
Temple Chai also is offering two courses from the Melton School of Adult Jewish Learning, a project of The Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
"The Melton courses focus on the core values of Judaism, including those found in ancient texts and taught by our sages that still speak to us today," said Rabbi Baden.
The first class, "Foundations of Jewish Family Living," has five, one-hour weekly sessions and will be taught by Rabbi Baden via Zoom beginning Nov. 6. It will provide parents and grandparents with the knowledge, language and confidence to teach Jewish values to children while at home.
Rabbi Baden will also present the second Melton class, "Jewish Answers to Life's Most Challenging Questions," with four weekly sessions in the spring of 2020. This class will consider the timeless questions that confront us when a loss is devastating, when suffering seems overwhelming, or when we face life's hardships and disappointments.
Temple Chai continues to offer a variety of adult learning programs throughout the year.
"Our goal at Temple Chai is to present adult study sessions that will enrich the daily lives of our congregants," said Perpinyal." We continually evaluate our learning programs so that we can respond to what our congregants want."
Temple Chai features monthly, 1½ hour discussions on timely topics led by clergy or guest speakers on the third Thursday of each month. On Nov. 21, Rabbi Baden will facilitate a discussion on "The Principles and Politics of Peoplehood."
She will explore the concept of Jewish Peoplehood and its importance.
On Dec. 19, Phil Chaikin will present "The Drug Discovery and Development Process" and explain the steps involved in the preclinical and clinical development of drugs and the FDA's approval procedure.
The synagogue continues its one-hour Saturday adult study sessions led by Rabbi Baden, where the Torah and other biblical books are discussed in an informal setting accompanied by coffee and bagels.
Adult Hebrew classes, including classes for beginners, are also part of the synagogue's ongoing commitment to adult learning.
For information about the synagogue's adult learning programs in 2019 and 2020, visit Temple Chai at www.TempleChai.org.