1 Afternoon of Learning. 2 Sessions. 9 Discussions

As is our custom on Yom Kippur afternoon, Beth Am members will be offering learning sessions on a variety of Jewish topics. Enrich your Yom Kippur observance by learning something new!

Below is the menu of study session options for both Session I and Session II. To register to receive a complete menu of options that includes Zoom access information, please register using the form at the bottom of the page.

SESSION I: 1:00-2:00 PM

Jewish Wisdom for Coping With Uncertainty, led by Greg Marcus
During this time of plagues, we are challenged by isolation, economic distress, and the deaths of friends, family members and strangers. Come to this highly interactive session to discover Mussar and other Jewish Wisdom practices to help you cope.

A Mixed Marriage in Bloomsbury: A Jewish Perspective on Virginia and Leonard Woolf, led by Shelley Hebert
In 1912, when Virginia Stephen decided to marry Leonard Woolf, she described him in letters to friends as “a penniless Jew,” adding that she was “more happy than anyone ever said was possible.” Theirs was a mixed marriage amidst the renowned artistic and intellectual community known as The Bloomsbury Group. Virginia was a daughter of the eminent British author, critic and historian Sir Leslie Stephen and later became one of the greatest writers of the 20th century. Over nearly three decades of marriage, she was a prolific correspondent with friends and family, in which she described Jewish relatives, Jews she encountered and Jews she observed. Leonard wrote extensively about his Jewish upbringing and adult perspective in his own autobiography. In this session, we will look at what Virginia Woolf and Leonard Woolf wrote about Jews and Judaism in their own words, and consider attitudes of their era in light of contemporary issues related to class, religion and culture.

Fulfilling Our Sacred Obligation to Accompany Each Other in Death and Dying, led by members of Beth Am Chevra Kadisha
In this session, members of Beth Am’s new Chevra Kadisha (burial society) will share information about the core roles and responsibilities of our Jewish burial society, including ritual washing of the deceased’s body (taharah), guarding of the soul from deal to burial (shmirah), and caring for mourners. We will also identify ways the Chevra Kadisha is performing its role in the wake of COVID-19. Information about ways to join the Chevra Kadisha and to explore availing services of the Chevra Kadisha will also be discussed.

Jewish Values in Action - the 2020 Election, led by Nancy Cavillones
This non-partisan session will start with a study of Jewish values to inform your vote. Then we will take action to get Vote Ready — check your voter registration, track your ballot, find out your voting options, and learn about your ballot issues and candidates. Once you have your vote plan, you can help others be Vote Ready in states with a history of voter suppression. Learn to phone bank and text bank with the Religious Action Center and Reclaim Our Vote. Phone banks provide a lifeline of accurate, up-to-date information to the voter. There is no more effective method to Get Out The Vote than talking to voters. This session uses technology - your smart phone or computer.

Parenting and Grand-Parenting with Compassion During Unexpected Times, led by Shari Grande
Please join us for a discussion about parenting children of all ages and abilities while acknowledging and accepting our own limitations as parents and grandparents.  This discussion is led by Shari Grande, LCSW, Psychotherapist in private practice.  Shari holds many titles, most notably daughter (to Steve and Ina Bauman), wife (to the most patient partner on earth), sister (Ethan Bauman) and parent to two amazing teachers, her sons Elijah (HAPPY 18th BIRTHDAY today), Nathan (15) and one unruly Golden named Lucy.

SESSION II: 2:15 - 3:15 PM

Meditation and Reflection Through Mid-Century Abstract Art, led by Alexandra Lyon
Yom Kippur offers a time for meditation and reflection, themes which can also be found in the most minimalist abstract artworks of the mid-20th century. We'll explore Jewish mid-century artists such as Mark Rothko and Lee Krasner, learning how to deeply look at their works of art as a means to better understand and engage with ourselves and the visual world around us.

Reckoning with Racial Equity and Justice: An Appropriate Yom Kippur Practice, by Donnovan Somera Yisrael & Isaiah Yisrael
We will draw parallels between the paths of grief and personal growth, which are typical on Yom Kippur, and the path of reconciling our values with the state of racial diversity, equity and inclusion in our country. Members of our newly formed Racial Equity and Justice Committee will speak about their personal experiences, as well as why they value this work.

Anti-Zionism: The New Antisemitism on College Campuses, and What We Can Do to Combat it, led by Jeff Carmel, Joanne Donsky and Dr.  Helene Lipton
In recent years, anti-Semites and those who would eradicate the State of Israel have embraced “anti-Zionism” as a social acceptable form of antisemitism. On campuses across the United States, there is increasingly a hostile environment for our students identifying as Jews. In this forum, we will discuss the problem and what we can do to effectively counter it. Please bring questions and ideas.

Family Time: Make A Jewish Holiday Game: A Special Session for Adults with Children in the Zoom Room, led by Carol Kantor Douglas
This session is a fun craft and game activity for families with children in third grade and higher. Together, we will create a Jewish holiday game that combines a spinner game, bingo, and a quiz game. In this session, families will craft their own Jewish holiday game - great fun for parents and children in third grade and higher. The game combines spinner, bingo, and quiz games, which participants can play in several ways. All of which we will explore together!