Torah Study
Torah Study
About
Resources
Recent Recordings
Archive
Every Shabbat morning from 9:00 to 10:00 AM (in the Beit Kehillah, on Zoom and live stream; check the calendar for class dates and links to class registration pages) a large and enthusiastic group comes together for Torah Study. Members of the Beth Am clergy teach this class, which focuses on a thoughtful reading of the parashah of the week, exploring the historical, ethical and spiritual questions raised by the text.
We explore Torah on three levels:
- What meaning did it hold in its original ancient Near East setting?
- How have our sages and commentators understood the text over the centuries?
- What personal and communal meaning does it hold for us today?
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. No prior study of the Torah or Hebrew knowledge is needed. It is not necessary to read ahead or prepare. Although this is an ongoing class, drop-in attendance is welcomed. Be sure to stay after to continue the conversation through the Good Book Cafe breakout room discussions.
- World Union for Progressive Judiasm - Weekly Torah Commentary
- JTS Online includes many different links to Torah Commentary, Holiday information, Programs and Podcasts - go explore and learn.
- Tablet Magazine Online includes news and information from all types of Jewish perspectives.
Interesting Podcasts - Unorthodox: Many good interviews in Unorthodox - most recent an interview with Isaac Mizrahi and there was an excellent different perspective on Purim by Rabbi Ari Lamm.
- JudaismUnbound
Want to listen to a recent Torah Study session recording? Browse through recent Torah Study recordings. To download any of the audio files, right click on the player and select "Save (or download) audio as..."
(For older audio files, please visit our Torah Study audio archive, with sessions dating back to 2008.)
Recent Recordings:
Torah Study Audio Archive
Want to find an older recording? Please check the Torah Study audio archive, with sessions dating back to 2008.
April 27 , 2024 | Chol HaMo-eid Pesach Exodus 33.12-34.26
Rabbi Heath Watenmaker
April 20, 2024 | M’tzora, Leviticus 14:1–15:33
Lead by Rabbi Jonathan Prosnit
April 13, 2024 | Tazria, Leviticus 12:1−13:59
Lead by Rabbi Jonathan Prosnit
April 6, 2024 | Sh’mini, Leviticus 9:1–11:47
Lead by Greg Marcus
March 30, 2024| Tzav, Leviticus 6-1−8-3
Lead by Rabbi Heath Watenmaker
March 23, 2024| Vayikra,Leviticus 1.1−5.26
Lead by Rabbi Heath Watenmaker
Fri, May 3 2024
25 Nisan 5784
Schedule
Congregant-Facilitated Learning: Beth Am Reading Group
Friday, May 3rd 1:00p to 2:00pJoin us for explorations of various contemporary Jewish writings.
Torah Study
Shabbat, May 4th 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, May 4th 10:00a to 10:20aJoin other Torah Study participants for some discussion and schmoozing.
Slow Torah: Lay-Led Torah Study Class
Sunday, May 5th 9:00a to 10:00aSlow Torah is a lay-led class that continues the Beth Am tradition of studying the Torah verse by verse.
Beth Am Welcomes URJ President Rabbi Rick Jacobs
Sunday, May 5th 12:00p to 1:00pWe are fortunate to have Rabbi Rick Jacobs visit Beth Am during his West Coast tour. He'll share more about the direction, challenges and hopes of the movement globally and locally, with time for stories and questions from our community.
Congregant-Facilitated Learning: Beth Am Reading Group
Friday, May 10th 1:00p to 2:00pJoin us for explorations of various contemporary Jewish writings.
Torah Study
Shabbat, May 11th 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, May 11th 10:00a to 10:20aJoin other Torah Study participants for some discussion and schmoozing.
Modern Jewish Literature Class
Sunday, May 12th 3:30p to 5:00pBack by popular demand, Stanford PhD student Ariel Horowitz will teach on a selection of novels and short stories by Israeli and American Jewish writers.
Congregant-Facilitated Learning: Beth Am Reading Group
Friday, May 17th 1:00p to 2:00pJoin us for explorations of various contemporary Jewish writings.