Adult Education
Adult Education
This Year, Celebrate Chanukah in Uganda
Join Rabbi Nambi on a memorable trip to experience the beauty of her home country and celebrate Shabbat and Chanukah with the Abayudaya Jews of Uganda. The "Celebrate Chanukah in Uganda" trip offers an incredible journey through central, northern, and eastern Uganda. Participants will experience the country's unique and diverse landscapes, from exploring the rainforest and wildlife to the source of the River Nile and the mountains of Sipi Falls.
Adult Learning Opportunities
At all ages and stages, shared Jewish learning offers us intellectual challenge, moral guidance, spiritual enrichment, and the opportunity to form deep and sustaining friendships. Beth Am’s learning opportunities are designed to build relationships, helping us connect more deeply with our history, with the traditions of the Jewish people and with one another. Learning at Beth Am is structured as a journey that is both accessible and challenging, inviting those at every level to progress and grow in their Jewish knowledge and practice. Our learning is a Jewish spiritual path, leading us to explore sacred questions of meaning and purpose, our place in the world, our relationship to a Power beyond ourselves.
There are numerous learning opportunities at Beth Am, from drop-in classes to more formal courses. Many of our offerings are free and open to the general public; others have a fee or are meant specifically for Beth Am members. If you are interested in attending a course but need help with the fee, please don’t hesitate to contact clergy@betham.org — we will work something out. And if you have a great idea for a new class or speaker, let her know that too. We are always working to expand and improve our adult learning opportunities.
Please scroll down to view our ONGOING CLASSES. Please stay tuned for future MULTI/SINGLE-SESSION CLASSES, and check the calendar for dates and links to class pages.
Please consider making a donation to support Beth Am's adult education programming. Learn more.
ONGOING CLASSES:
Please check the calendar for dates and links to class pages.
Click on the plus symbol to reveal a description for each class.
We focus on a thoughtful reading of the weekly Torah portion, exploring the historical, ethical and spiritual questions raised by the text. Every session offers learning, lively interchange and ample opportunity for questions and discussion. People of all levels and backgrounds are welcome, and Hebrew knowledge is not required. Learn more about Torah Study.
Slow Torah is a lay-led class that continues the Beth Am tradition of studying the Torah verse by verse. The class rotates discussion leaders (on a volunteer basis) each week, and participants are encouraged to share sources or insights related to the verse(s) we're studying. All are welcome, whether you’re new to Torah study or a longstanding member of the Shabbat morning Torah Study class. Just bring your curiosity, yourself and your love of learning and studying Torah, real slow.
Led by Beth Am clergy, in this weekly class we study selections from the Talmud and other rabbinic sources. Our focus is on understanding what the texts meant to our ancestors and what they might mean to us today. No prior Talmud experience is necessary and the class is designed to allow participants to drop in and study whenever they can.
The Philosophy Minyan is a monthly lunchtime series on Zoom. All are welcome to join in an interactive and thought-provoking exploration of topics at the intersection of philosophy, Jewish thought and contemporary issues. No advance reading is required and participants will receive online access to all the class materials following each session.
This lay-led group is an outgrowth of the longest running, continuous study group at Beth Am. We choose a book, read it aloud and discuss it. For the Zoom access link, please contact Joan.
Support Adult Education
Please consider making a gift to one of these funds in honor or memory of a loved one:
The Lori Levinson Luft Adult Education Fund supports lifelong learning programs, provides scholarships for congregants in need of assistance and helps Beth Am to develop and launch new programs.
The Rabbi Akselrad Lectureship Fund supports lecturers and programs that focus on social justice, ethics and/or human relations.
The Saxe Family Scholar-in-Residence Endowment Fund supports an annual scholar-in-residence program at Congregation Beth Am.
The Susan Gaskill Adult Jewish Learning Fund provides scholarship assistance as needed to any adult member of Congregation Beth Am for the purpose of participating in Jewish study opportunities outside of congregational programs. The fund also supports professional development for Beth Am teachers.
Fri, June 20 2025
24 Sivan 5785
Adult Education Schedule

Congregant-Facilitated Learning: Beth Am Reading Group
Friday, Jun 20th 1:00p to 2:00pJoin us for explorations of various contemporary Jewish writings.

Torah Study
Shabbat, Jun 21st 9:00a to 10:00aOn Shabbat morning, join a member of the Beth Am clergy for a session of Torah study. Stay for the Good Book Cafe!

Good Book Cafe
Shabbat, Jun 21st 10:00a to 10:20aJoin other Torah Study participants for some discussion and schmoozing.

Slow Torah: Lay-Led Torah Study Class
Sunday, Jun 22nd 9:00a to 10:00aSlow Torah is a lay-led class that continues the Beth Am tradition of studying the Torah verse by verse.

Talmud Study Led by Rabbi Heath Watenmaker
Thursday, Jun 26th 12:00p to 1:00pThis month, Torah Study will be led by Rabbi Heath Watenmaker. In this weekly class we study selections from the Talmud and other rabbinic sources.

Congregant-Facilitated Learning: Beth Am Reading Group
Friday, Jun 27th 1:00p to 2:00pJoin us for explorations of various contemporary Jewish writings.

Torah Study
Shabbat, Jun 28th 9:00a to 10:00aOn Shabbat morning, join a member of the Beth Am clergy for a session of Torah study. Stay for the Good Book Cafe!

Good Book Cafe
Shabbat, Jun 28th 10:00a to 10:20aJoin other Torah Study participants for some discussion and schmoozing.

Chai Cycle Bike Ride
Sunday, Jun 29th 8:45a to 12:00pCalling all Beth Am cyclists! Join for a 25-mile ride to Portola Valley/Woodside, returning along Arastradero. @1200 feet of climbing. Rest stop/learning at the Portola Valley library.

Slow Torah: Lay-Led Torah Study Class
Sunday, Jun 29th 9:00a to 10:00aSlow Torah is a lay-led class that continues the Beth Am tradition of studying the Torah verse by verse.
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Congregation Beth Am | 26790 Arastradero Road | Los Altos Hills, CA 94022 | (650) 493-4661
We strive to live as a holy community whose study and practice of Judaism inspires and challenges us to "do justice, to love kindness and to walk humbly with our God" (Micah 6:8).
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