Explore and engage with Jewish wisdom
Adult Learning
“Get yourself a teacher and find yourself a friend.“ ~ Pirkei Avot 1:6
The wisdom of Judaism has so much to offer in supporting our daily lives. Through adult learning at TBE, we hope you will deepen your connection to Judaism and transform the way you walk through the world.
More Adult Learning Programs
eLeMeNTs: Be Part of Something Bigger!
On Monday evenings, connect to community and to ancient and modern Jewish wisdom through eLeMeNTs (Lishma: Monday Night Torah), TBE’s newest innovation in adult learning. Whether you’ve been studying for years or are stepping in for the first time, find your inspiration to be a part of something bigger.
This year, courses are organized in two curricular tracks: “Wrestling with Big Questions” and “Exploring Jewish Identity.” You can take courses all within one track to explore related concepts from multiple angles, or jump from one track to another based on what courses intrigue you.
Wrestling with Big Questions
Apply Jewish wisdom to how we deal with conflicting values.
Upcoming classes:
Exploring Jewish Identity
Connect with Jewish Peoplehood across ages and cultures through text, language, and art.
Upcoming classes:
eLeMeNTs Schedule
7:00 pm: Gather, schmooze & nosh
7:15 pm: Singing, d’var torah
7:25 pm: Mourner’s Kaddish
7:30 pm: Learning options
Reach Out
Lynn Burke Harrell
781.997.4211
Beit Midrash
For three thousand years, the Jewish people has been engaged in a continuous discussion, using time-perfected tools to dig deep into discovering answers to the world’s biggest questions. Break new ground with us as we build a brand-new kind of Beit Midrash (house of study) that equips you with our tradition’s timeless tools to explore ancient and modern texts and what they can teach us about the urgent issues of today, in a fun and friendly setting open and accessible to total beginners and experienced students alike. Join the conversation on the first Monday of each month in eLeMeNTs.
Dates: Nov 4, Dec 2, Jan 6, Feb 3, Mar 3, Apr 7, May 5, Jun 2
Build Your Own Beit Midrash
Experience relationship-building learning on your own schedule. Choose what you’d like to study from a selection of top-notch self-guided courses. We’ll help match you with a chevruta (study partner), kick off our learning together, and then support you along the way as you learn when and where you’d like: over Zoom, at a coffee shop, after kids’ bedtimes; whatever you and your chevruta decide.
This semester (November 2024–February 2025), courses include Whole and Broken Tablets: Aging in Rabbinic Literature, Out of the Ruins: Jewish Wisdom on Resilience, and The Triumph of Life.
Click here to learn more and register for semester 1 by November 11
Small Groups Initiative
Small groups are a chance to connect with other members over shared interests, identities, or life-stages in these lay-led groups. Groups meet according to your own schedules and build the experience that you want to have together.
The Well
Gather for learning and programming that centers around spiritual practice, mindfulness, and connection as a part of The Well at TBE. The Well integrates Jewish spiritual practices alongside modern mindfulness tools and techniques to provide a source of well-being through learning, practice, prayer, and support.
Yoga
Begin the fall season with strength and balance through the practice of yoga.
Mindful Moments
Take a few minutes out of your week to build a mindfulness practice for your spiritual and mental well-being.
Questions about The Well?
Lynn Burke Harrell
781.997.4211
Mikveh as a Spiritual Practice in Preparation for the High Holy Days
This special multi-part workshop, a unique collaboration between Mayyim Hayyim and The Well at Temple Beth Elohim, will help participants explore the ancient ritual of mikveh and its potential for personal transformation and meaning in their own lives.
Tikkun Middot | The Practice of Living an Ethical Life
Tikkun middot practice is for anyone who wants to more often be their “best self” in the actions of daily life.
More Adult Learning Series
Create your own path through Jewish learning in classes that connect to Israel, engage with Jewish culture, wrestle with text, uncover new meaning in prayer, and so much more.
Beginner Modern Hebrew
A basic introduction to the Hebrew language. Learn to identify and sound each letter of the alphabet, pronounce different vowels and decode words, and more!
Conversational Hebrew
Want to expand your Hebrew knowledge? Join us and have fun learning practical and useful Hebrew phrases, how to greet people and ask simple questions.
Reach Out
Lynn Burke Harrell
781.997.4211
Pre-Shabbat Study Series
Sign off from the week a little earlier and begin to prepare for Shabbat with these pre-service study sessions.
Me’ah Select
The current Me’ah Select course, in partnership with Hebrew College, will study the Jewish ethics of war and the pursuit of peace from biblical times to the present in Jewish law and thought.
Weekly Text Study
Anchor yourself through the wisdom of tradition and the rhythm of the weekly cycle of reading and study.
Daf Yomi
Join us on Fridays for a practice of reading and discussing a page of Talmud a day, led by Rabbi Carol Mitchell. A complete cycle takes seven years!
Upcoming classes:
Minyan & Torah Study
Join us for minyan on Saturday mornings, followed by Torah study when we will explore the weekly Torah portion together with a member of our clergy.
Upcoming classes:
Questions about weekly text study?
Lynn Burke Harrell
781.997.4211
Lifelong Learning at TBE
Learn from fellow congregants, with classes that fit your schedule.
TBElle
A unique program led by fellow congregants who are excited to share their knowledge and interests in a relaxed, fun learning experience.
Music Club
Music lovers unite to learn more about music we know, discover new music, and enjoy a community of friends with musical interests.
Monday Musical Moments
Each Monday we send a short piece of music from various genres with a bit of history behind it to brighten your week. Click here to view a sample. Contact Don Drourr or Lynn Burke to be added to the list.
Questions about Lifelong Learning Classes?
Lynn Burke Harrell
781.997.4211
Lunch & Learn
Bring your lunch and join us for an online version of Lunch & Learn, a lay-led series of lectures on wide-ranging themes. Speakers include TBE clergy, staff, faculty, and congregants.
Book Club
Our book club is a warm and dynamic group of people who meet once a month to share and discuss good reads.
Library
The Temple Beth Elohim library housed in the beit Midrash offers members access to a wide variety of multimedia Jewish library materials and a comfortable, relaxing environment. Come explore uniquely Jewish content that is not easily available elsewhere and a rich array of noted Jewish writers, subject matter, history, and reference materials.
We have books for children, teens, and adults to enjoy at TBE or to borrow and read at home.