SundayOpen Conversational HebrewPalaces in Time: Fall Holidays

Tuesday Café Ivrit: Intermediate Conversational HebrewJewish Time Capsule: How Did Jews in the Ancient Diaspora Live?Justice, Justice, We Shall Pursue: Empowered Women in the BibleTalmud: Tractate BerachotThe Ethical Life: Jewish Values in an Age of ChoiceWeekly Wisdom

WednesdayPainful Hope: What Happens When Israeli Settlers and Local Palestinians Meet?Wine and WisdomWriter's Beit Midrash

ThursdayConversational Hebrew Mysteries of the BibleSicha Ivrit: Advanced Conversational HebrewStudy in the Loop / Study in the Suburbs

ShabbatSisterhood Torah Fund Book Club

Adult Education On DemandAn “Unorthodox” ClassIt’s a Family Thing: Women in the Bible Short Stories from The New Diaspora: The Changing Landscape of American Jewish FictionTough Questions Jews Ask

Ongoing ClassesAdult B’nai Mitzvah Class A Rockin’ Rosh Chodesh

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SISTERHOOD TORAH FUND

BOOK CLUB READS

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High Holiday Boot Camp Forgiving the Unforgiveable Saturday, September 14, 12:15pm post-kiddushRabbi Michael SchwabWhat do you do when someone does something emotionally hurtful that can’t be fixed? How do you forgive other people for things they did to someone else?

The Mahzor and the Book of Life Sunday, September 15, 10:00amLecture (via webcast from Israel) by Rabbi Dr. Mimi Feigelson from the Schechter InstitutesOur High Holiday liturgy is replete with examples of a final reckoning and the idea of our own mortality. Rabbi Mimi Feigelson will present sources and questions intended to expose us to new ways of thinking about one of the most vitally important transitions in our lives – the end of life – and lead us to strengthen our commitment to living.

Wine and Wisdom: Rosh HaShanah SederWednesday, September 18, 8:00pm in private home **space is limited to first 20 participants Hazzan Ben TisserExplore the tradition of a Rosh HaShanah Seder with great wine and appetizers and text study.

Happy Yom Kippur?Tuesday, September 24, 8:00pmRabbi Alex FreedmanYom Kippur is often assumed to be a burden, but the Rabbis of the Talmud envisioned it as a gift. What might be joyous about Yom Kippur? How can we each get closer to achieving that state of mind?

RSVP to Marcie Eskin at meskin@nssbethel.org or 847-926-7903 for each of these classes

Learn to Read HebrewAre you ready to improve your skills in Hebrew - either conversational, reading, or prayer? Educational Staff at NSS Beth El will help to evaluate your level of Hebrew and find appropriate tutoring. Contact Ali Drumm at adrumm@nssbethel.org or call 847-432-8126.

Café Ivrit: Intermediate Conversational HebrewSilvi Freedson Tuesdays, 6:15–7:30pm; begins September 3This Intermediate level course will help you improve your conversational and reading skills. New students are always welcome!Trimester Fee: Fall and Winter

Sicha Ivrit: Advanced Conversational HebrewSilvi FreedsonThursdays, 6:15–7:30pm; begins September 5Join this Advanced level course to study Israeli literature and culture in Hebrew! New students are always welcome. Trimester Fee: Fall and Winter

Conversational Hebrew (Sisterhood Torah Fund Class)Dr. Alicia GejmanThursdays, 10:00–11:00am; begins September 12Designed for adults who have basic fluency in reading and writing Hebrew.

Open Conversational HebrewSundays (ongoing), 10:00–11:00am Practice Hebrew conversation and reading informally with other participants. Free. For information, contact Judy Farby at judyfarby@yahoo.com or 847-372-1700.

HEBREW LANGUAGE

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Talmud: Tractate BerachotRabbi Michael SchwabTuesdays, 8:30–9:30am; begins September 3Rabbi Schwab takes students on a journey through the mainstay of the Jewish oral tradition, its rich history, structure, and famous personalities. Trimester Fee: Fall and Winter

Weekly Wisdom(Sisterhood Torah Fund Class)Rabbi Michael SchwabTuesdays, 10:00–11:00am; begins September 3Explore the depth of meaning in passages of the Torah via beautiful interpretations and engaging stories created by the rabbis, speaking to the core values of Judaism.

The Ethical Life: Jewish Values in an Age of Choice(Sisterhood Torah Fund Class)Rabbi Alex FreedmanTuesdays, 11:00 am–Noon; begins September 3 From political and financial scandals to rapid progress in biomedical science and technology, the complex issues of modern society are, at their core, issues of ethical and moral concern. Rabbi Freedman will facilitate communal conversations in this JTS Turnkey curriculum which includes videos featuring JTS faculty and other expert scholars and practitioners in the field.

Justice, Justice, We Shall Pursue: Empowered Women in the Bible Ali DrummTuesdays, 8:00 -9:15pm; December 3, 10, 17Explore the fascinating stories of Biblical women as they buck the system and demand justice in their own way. Using Alicia Jo Rabin’s Girls in Trouble curriculum as a guide, face charges of adultery with the sotah, learn of the terrible fate of Jephthah’s daughter, navigate Persian politics with Vashti and Esther, and demand your inheritance with the daughters of Tzelofchad. Trimester Fee: Fall

Study in the Loop / Study in the SuburbsRabbi Michael Schwab Thursdays, Noon–1:30pmLoop Location: Harris & Harris, 111 W. Jackson Blvd, Suite 400, Chicago, Illinois 60604September 12, November 14 and December 19Suburbs Location: BJE (the Board of Jewish Education), 3320 Dundee Rd, NorthbrookJanuary 23, February 20, and March 19Each of the three study sessions is centered on the ethical issues of our lives. Relying on source material from biblical and rabbinic texts, there will be discussion of the principles and interpretation of Jewish law over the centuries and how to apply these responsa to contemporary dilemmas. Fee: $15 per session to cover lunch. To register, contact Ana Igornov at 847-926-7900 or aigornov@nssbethel.org. Mysteries of the BibleAaron KleinThursdays, 11:00am–Noon; begins September 12Join us as we unpack some of the more eclectic sections of the Bible while uncovering the interplay between cosmology and creation, the 613 mitzvot, Jewish heroes, and how the Torah applies to the modern world.Trimester Fee: Fall

Adult B’nai Mitzvah ClassHazzan Tisser, Rabbi Freedman, and Hazzan BarnettBegins November 2019, culminating on First Day of ShavuotJoin a cohort of adult learners who are preparing for their b’nai mitzvah. We welcome all with interest – those who have become B’nai Mitzvah and wish to engage in deeper learning, as well as those who have never had the experience. Contact Hazzan Tisser at btisser@nssbethel.org to learn more.

CLASSIC JEWISH TEXT

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JEWISH LIFE AND CULTURE

Wine and WisdomHazzan Ben Tisser Wednesdays (3 sessions), 8:00 pm; November 13, January 22, and April 29Poetry, Midrash, Commentary and Talmud…and wine! Join us for these salon-style gatherings where we share a love of fine kosher wine and learning. Come to any one or all of these sessions. $25 per session or $60 for all three; includes wine, snacks, and great learning. Register to receive updates on location.

Painful Hope: What Happens When Israeli Settlers and Local Palestinians Meet?Shadi Abu Awwad and Rabbi Hanan SchlesingerWednesday, October 30, 7:45pmRoots/Shorashim/Judur is a unique collaboration of local Palestinians and Israelis building a grassroots initiative for understanding, nonviolence and transformation. Roots activists, one Palestinian and one Israeli, do not come with blueprinted peace plans in hand, but with the deep conviction that human understanding and trust are the prerequisites for lasting justice, freedom, and peace in that little sliver of land they both call home.Free but RSVP to Marcie Eskin at meskin@nssbethel.org or call 847-926-7903

Jewish Time Capsule: How Did Jews in the Ancient Diaspora Live?Dr. Ana IgornovTuesdays (4 sessions), 8:00pm; November 5–26How did the ancient Jews live? How would we know? Embark on a virtual tour that reconstructs the life of Jewish communities through discussion of epigraphic evidence and archeological material from the Hellenistic and Roman periods. Trimester Fee: Fall

A Rockin' Rosh Chodesh(Sisterhood Torah Fund Class)Dr. Fran Alpert and Dr. Betsy Dolgin KatzFirst three sessions are: Friday, September 20 at 10:00am; Thursday, October 31 at 8:00pm; and Monday, November 18 at 10:00am. Class will meet monthly. Explore life-enriching literature, meet fascinating women from our past, and examine traditions that emerge from our calendar.

Palaces in Time: Fall Holidays(The Rhythms of Jewish Living – from the Florence Melton Core Curriculum)Ali DrummSundays (8 sessions) at NSS Beth El, 10:30 –11:30am; beginning October 6Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel called Shabbat a “palace in time.” All of our Jewish holidays honor time and serve as a reminder to deeper meaning, belief and ideas. We will delve into the practice and relevance of Jewish holidays in our time, following the calendar of observances during the year. Tuition including course sourcebook: $75 per 8-session mini course for NSSBE members. Couples who sign up together will receive an additional $20 subsidy for the second partner's registration. Free babysitting available upon request. To register for this Melton class at NSS Beth El, contact Rolly Cohen at 847-291-7788 x1304 or rolly@bjechicago.org.

Sisterhood Torah Fund Book Club(Sisterhood Torah Fund Class)Saturday, September 7 at 12:15 pmRemaining dates: November 2, January 11, February 23 (Sunday), March 7, April 25, and June 6Kick off the new year with a discussion of the award-winning novel The Last Watchman of Old Cairo by Michael David Lukas, facilitated by Rachel Kamin after Shabbat Kiddush. See the Book Club link on the CLC web page for titles and descriptions. New participants are always welcome!

Writer’s Beit MidrashWednesdays, 9:30 am, begins September 4Subsequent dates: September 18, October 16 (in the Sukkah), October 30, and November 13The NSS Beth El Writer’s Beit Midrash generally meets every other Wednesday in the Maxwell Abbell Library. All fiction, non-fiction, poetry, memoir, and essay writers (published or not yet published) are welcome for discussions, exercises, camaraderie, and critique. Contact Rachel Kamin at rkamin@nssbethel.org or 847-926-7902 for more information and to be added to the mailing list. Open to the community; free of charge.

When are these classes?! You choose! Get a minimum of 5 fellow students together and pick the time and place. The teachers will travel or you can meet in the synagogue. This can be your personal havurah or book club or just a group of friends who want to get together and learn!

ADULT EDUCATION ON DEMAND

Short Stories from The New Diaspora: The Changing Landscape of American Jewish FictionRachel KaminRachel will help to explore a selection of short stories by a fresh crop of Jewish writers who are sharing about the Jewish experience in America.

It’s a Family Thing: Women in the Bible Ali DrummEncounter the complex relationships of Biblical women, finding the places where their experiences mirror our own. Suffer with both Sarah and Hagar and their near-loss of children and appreciate the intensity of the sisterhood between Rachel and Leah with Alicia Jo Rabin’s award-winning Girls in Trouble curriculum.

Tough Questions Jews AskRabbi Alex FreedmanHave you ever wondered the following: Why does G-d let awful things happen? Why does Judaism have so many rules? Why marry someone Jewish?Utilizing as a guide the book Tough Questions Jews Ask by RabbiEdward Feinstein, participants are encouraged to ask their toughest questions, share their experiences, and voice their honest opinions.

Contact Marcie Eskin at meskin@nssbethel.org to begin to set up your learning sessions.

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An “Unorthodox” ClassRachel KaminEach session we’ll listen to and discuss segments of Tablet Magazine’s podcast Unorthodox, the world’s leading Jewish podcast. Fermenting food at Copenhagen’s Michelin-starred restaurant Noma, Jews in prison, etrog farmers in California, the best and worst apologies for Yom Kippur, a Franciscan nun’s first Shabbat dinner, ancient Israeli wine, and more have all been covered on this smart, fresh, fun take on Jewish news and culture.

Gertrude Lederman Family Continuing Education Program classes at North Suburban Synagogue Beth El offer a wonderful chance to deepen your understanding of Jewish thought, culture, and identity. Please contact Ali Drumm, Director of Informal Education, with any questions at adrumm@nssbethel.org or 847-432-8126.

North Suburban Synagogue Beth El's Continuing Education program is made possible through the generous gift of the estate of Gertrude Lederman. The value she placed on Jewish education became the cornerstone of her legacy of lifelong learning in our congregation.

Check out all our classes and events by going to the Continuing Education page of the Beth El website (www.nssbethel.org/learn/lederman-continuing-education), and register online by clicking on the Registration link on the page. You may also register by contacting Marcie Eskin, Informal Education Coordinator, at meskin@nssbethel.org or 847-926-7903.

Classes are offered in three trimesters – Fall, Winter, and Spring. The following fee structure represents regular Continuing Education trimester classes, but not special workshops and programming.

•Trimester Fee: $90 per trimester, offered at a discounted $60 to NSS Beth El members. •Pay for one trimester class and additional classes during the same trimester are included at no extra cost.•For Sisterhood Torah Fund classes, there is a required minimum annual donation of $54, made payable to Sisterhood Torah Fund. For registration and further information, contact Mary Ellen Bowers, Torah Fund Vice-President at eyerishmar@comcast.net.

REGISTRATION, TUITION & PAYMENT INFORMATION

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SCHOLARS AND SPECIAL PROGRAMS

Rabbi Dr. Mimi Feigelson (via webcast from Israel)

The Schechter Institutes

SundaySeptember 15, 2019

Shadi Abu Awwad and Rabbi Hanan SchlesingerRoots/Shorashim/Judur – The Palestinian Israeli Initiative for

Understanding, Nonviolence and Reconciliation

WednesdayOctober 30, 2019

Rabbi Na'ama Levitz ApplbaumThe United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism Scholar

ShabbatNovember 8-9, 2019

Rabbi Shai HeldIrving and Janet Robbin Scholar-in-Residence

Friday–SundayDecember 6-8, 2019

GERTRUDE LEDERMAN