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
 
Fri, October 31 2025
                       9 Cheshvan 5786
Schedule
 
                        
                                  Congregant-Facilitated Learning: Beth Am Reading Group
Friday, Oct 31st 1:00p to 2:00pJoin us for explorations of various contemporary Jewish writings.
 
                        
                                  Good Book Cafe
Shabbat, Nov 1st 10:00a to 10:20aJoin other Torah Study participants for some discussion and schmoozing.
 
                        
                                  Slow Torah: Lay-Led Torah Study Class
Sunday, Nov 2nd 9:00a to 10:00aSlow Torah is a lay-led class that continues the Beth Am tradition of studying the Torah verse by verse.
 
                        
                                  Tricks of the Trope, Taught by Cantor Jaime Shpall
Tuesday, Nov 4th 7:00p to 8:00pThe melodies we use for chanting our sacred texts is known as Trope or Cantillation. Trope are the little markings found above and below the biblical Hebrew text that readers use to chant the text properly. You can also learn to chant Torah like a pro!
 
                        
                                  Talmud Study Led by Beth Am Clergy
Thursday, Nov 6th 12:00p to 1:00pTalmud Study is led by a member of the Beth Am Clergy. In this weekly class, we study selections from the Talmud and other rabbinic sources.
 
                        
                                  Klezmer Class, Taught by Musician Naomi Zamir
Thursday, Nov 6th 7:00p to 8:00pNaomi Zamir, a member of Beth Am and an accordion player, is offering a class to introduce sets of Klezmer tunes she learned at KlezKanada over the past 15 years.
 
                        
                                  Congregant-Facilitated Learning: Beth Am Reading Group
Friday, Nov 7th 1:00p to 2:00pJoin us for explorations of various contemporary Jewish writings.
 
                        
                                  Good Book Cafe
Shabbat, Nov 8th 10:00a to 10:20aJoin other Torah Study participants for some discussion and schmoozing.
 
                        
                                  Slow Torah: Lay-Led Torah Study Class
Sunday, Nov 9th 9:00a to 10:00aSlow Torah is a lay-led class that continues the Beth Am tradition of studying the Torah verse by verse.
 
                        
                                  Tricks of the Trope, Taught by Cantor Jaime Shpall
Tuesday, Nov 11th 7:00p to 8:00pThe melodies we use for chanting our sacred texts is known as Trope or Cantillation. Trope are the little markings found above and below the biblical Hebrew text that readers use to chant the text properly. You can also learn to chant Torah like a pro!
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).
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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