Join the entire Jewish community for our annual Feast of Jewish Learning. This year’s theme is “Wander/Lust,” with dozens of classes and workshops on Jewish thought, text, philosophy, spirituality, culture, life and love… Taught by rabbis, scholars, artists, and educators from all walks of Jewish life, including Beth Am's clergy and educators. Bring your friends and family: this night of learning and community is open to all adults bar mitzvah age and older - and everything is FREE! For more information, contact Eileen Soffer.

Click HERE for more information and to download the flyer.

Presented by the Bureau of Jewish Education in partnership with the Oshman Family JCC.

ADULT B'NAI MITZVAH with Cantor Emerita Kay Greenwald

This year's class will begin on September 30, 2009

Wednesdays, 7:15-8:30 pm, beginning September 30, 2009

On September 30, 2009, the ongoing cohort of Adult B ’nai Mitzvah class will begin and will meet every Wednesday from 7:15-8:30. Cantor Kay Greenwald, Emerita, is teaching this class. This year's class is only open to students who participated last year. Please contact Linda King with questions at 650/493-4661 or lking@betham.org . A new cohort of Adult B'nai Mitzvah will begin in September of 2010.

As part of the requirement for Adult B’nai Mitvah, you must sign up for the Prayerbook/Biblical Hebrew class on Wednesday evenings, 5:45-7:00 p.m. beginning September 23. Orna Morad is the instructor. Contact Lehrhaus Judaica or call 510/845-6420.

Judaism and Buddhism: Deepening our Spirituality Through Dialogue
A Four Part Speaker Series: January 16, February 20, March 27 & April 17, 2010
Admission is free and the community is invited.

Twenty years ago a group of distinguished Rabbis traveled to Dharamsala, India to meet with H. H. the Dalai Lama at his monastery in exile. The visit is the subject of the acclaimed book The Jew in the Lotus by Rodger Kamenetz.* What began with discussion about survival in the Diaspora blossomed into dialogues that uncovered profound parallels between Jewish and Tibetan Buddhist spiritual practices. Today, Jewish/Tibetan dialogues have expanded worldwide.

Continuing in this tradition and in conjunction with this year’s education theme of “Creating a Personal Theology,” Beth Am presents a four-part series of dialogues and experiential teachings from experts representing Jewish and Buddhist Spirituality.

SESSION ONE: Film: Jews and Buddhism – Sat., Jan. 16, 2010, 4 – 6 p.m., Beit Kehillah
We’ll kick off the series with the award-winning film “Jews and Buddhism.” Following the film, Tenzin Tethong and Rabbi Janet Marder will expand upon the historical, political and spiritual parallels discussed in the film. Tenzin Tethong is President of The Dalai Lama Foundation, and Distinguished Fellow, Tibetan Studies Initiative, Stanford University. He is a former Representative of the Dalai Lama in New York and Washington, D.C. and the Kalon Tripa, Chair of the Cabinet of the Dalai Lama in India.

SESSION TWO: Jewish & Tibetan Buddhist Spirituality – Sat., Feb. 20, 4 – 6 p.m., Sanctuary
Stanford University Buddhist Studies faculty member, Dr. Robert Clark, will join Rabbi Sheldon Marder in a focused dialogue comparing Jewish and Buddhist spiritual practices. Dr. Clark is a Jew who spent 8 years studying in a Tibetan monastery and has served as a Lama translator as well as translator for over 60 Tibetan texts. Rabbi Sheldon Marder is Director of Jewish Life at the Jewish Home in San Francisco, where he focuses on bringing spiritual meaning to the lives of residents. Rabbi Shelly Marder on Jewish Spirituality - - Click HERE for Session Two Handout.

SESSION THREE: Jewish? Buddhist? How Buddhist Philosophies Have Enhanced My Life – Sat., Mar. 27, 4 – 6 p.m., Sanctuary
For this session, we welcome back Dr. Robert Clark along with Dr. Marc Lieberman. Dr. Lieberman inspired and coordinated the first dialogues between the group of Rabbis and H. H. the Dalai Lama in Dharamsala, India as documented in the bestselling book The Jew in the Lotus by Rodger Kamenetz.* Dr. Lieberman, a San Francisco eye surgeon, heads the Tibet Vision Project that provides eye surgeries to Tibetans.

SESSION FOUR: Jewish and Buddhist Meditation: A Beginner’s Guide – Sat., April 17, 4 – 6 p.m., Sanctuary
We’ll have a chance to experience both Jewish and Tibetan Buddhist meditation. We are honored to have Khen Rinpoche Geshe Lobzang Tsetan, Abbott of the Tashi Lhunpo Monastery in Exile, a Tibetan Buddhist Monk with the highest degree obtainable in Tibetan Buddhist philosophy. The Jewish spiritual teaching and meditation will be co-led by two Jewish meditation teachers, Jeffrey Kessler and Laura Goldman, from Congregation Chochmat HaLev in Berkeley. Following the meditations, we’ll discuss our experiences with our esteemed teachers.

*Highly recommended (but not mandatory) reading, available at Kepler’s Bookstore in the Book Club section under Beth Am. Mention “Book Club” and “Beth Am” for either a discount or donation. Or, purchase via the“Kepler’s” icon on the Beth Am homepage (www.betham.org) in the book club section.

ASILOMAR RETREAT -
Date:  July 30 - August 1, 2010
Time: All Day
Place: Asilomar Conference Center, Pacific Grove, California

Congregation Beth Am invites you to spend a relaxing, inspiring and educational weekend on the Monterey Peninsula.

Study under the pines. Dress casually. Enjoy a Shabbat stroll on the beach. The Asilomar retreat is not to be missed! It’s a great opportunity to get to know fellow congregants and members of the professional team in a casual atmosphere.

The Asilomar Retreat is designed for adult congregants, B’nai Mitzvah and older.

Questions? Contact Linda King in the Beth Am office at (650) 493-4661 or lking@betham.org

SCHOLAR-IN-RESIDENCE WEEKEND - Fall 2010 date to be announced at a later date.

Join us for a weekend of learning . A full schedule will be available prior to the weekend. 

The weekend is sponsored by the Saxe Family Scholar in Residence Fund.

ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE WEEKEND - TBD

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