Finding Our Jewish Values in the Torah
2025-02-15 09:15 - 10:15, 2025-02-22 09:15 - 10:15 (America/New_York)
Each week we will focus on a single Jewish moral or ethical value found in that week’s parshah (Torah portion). These will include, but not be limited to: Justice, Compassion, Environmental Ethics, and Business Ethics. A variety of rabbinic sources will enrich our exploration as we seek to apply each week’s value to our lives today.
Join us in person at TBS or drop in online at t-b-s.me/findingvalues.

No K-12 Learning Programs - February Break
2025-02-16, 2025-02-17, 2025-02-18, 2025-02-19, 2025-02-20, 2025-02-21, 2025-02-23

The Great War: How World War I Shaped the Modern World
2025-02-16 13:00 - 14:00, 2025-02-23 13:00 - 14:00 (US/Eastern) | Online
Join us for an exclusive four-part series with Professor Stephen M. Berk as we delve into the transformative impact of World War I—The Great War. This seminal event of the 20th century reshaped nations, ideologies, and societies, influencing everything from the rise of Lenin, Mussolini, and Hitler to the global movements for decolonization, women’s rights, and American isolationism. Each session will focus on a pivotal aspect of the war: on February 2, we explore The Kaiser, Pervasive Fear, and National Interest, leading to the Battle of the Marne; on February 9, Verdun and the Somme, battles that epitomize the horror of war; on February 16, Lenin Comes to Power and the Yanks Are Coming, revealing the revolutionary changes and American involvement; and on February 23, Germany Rolls the Dice, examining the diplomacy of war and peace. A distinguished historian and TBS’s 2017 Scholar-in-Residence, Professor Berk brings unparalleled insight and expertise to this exploration of history that continues to shape our world. Presented by the Orange County Community Scholar’s Program and sponsored by TBS Adult Learning.
Register: t-b-s.me/thegreatwar
Stephen M. Berk, who served as CSP’s 10th Annual One Month Scholar in Residence in February 2011, is Professor of History at Union College in Schenectady, New York, former Chair of the Department of History, Director of the Program in Russian and Eastern European Studies and Faculty Advisor to the Jewish Student Organization. He is the author of Year of Crisis, Year of Hope: Russian Jewry and the Pogroms of 1881-1882 (Greenwood Press, 1985). He is currently writing a book titled: Our People Are Your People: American Jewry and the Struggle for Civil Rights 1954-1965. The book provides an interesting discussion of an extremely important chapter in the history of the civil rights movement and attempts to dispel the myths and misunderstandings surrounding the Black-Jewish relationship. A recipient of the Citizens Laureate Award of the University of Albany Foundation, Professor Berk has been a consultant to the Wiesenthal Holocaust Center in Los Angeles, has written articles on Russian and Jewish history, anti-Semitism, and the Middle East and has lectured on throughout the United States and Canada including such distinguished colleges and universities as Princeton, Vanderbilt, The University of Texas at Austin and Williams College.

Temple Office Closed - Presidents' Day
2025-02-17

Children's Center No School - Presidents' Day
2025-02-17

Lay-Led Morning Minyan
2025-02-17 07:00 - 07:30, 2025-02-20 07:00 - 07:30 (America/New_York)
Members of our community gather virtually for a warm and inclusive lay-led service. These services take place even if there are fewer than ten participants, last about 20-30 minutes, and are a meaningful way to start your day.
Please join us in person; we are no longer meeting virtually.

Children's Center No School for School Year Students (Regular Day for Year Round Students) - February Break
2025-02-18, 2025-02-19, 2025-02-20, 2025-02-21

Lay-Led Evening Minyan (online)
2025-02-18 18:45 - 19:15, 2025-02-19 18:45 - 19:15 (America/New_York)
Members of our community gather virtually for a warm and inclusive lay-led service. These services take place even if there are fewer than ten participants, last about 20-30 minutes, and are a meaningful way to end your day. Join us on Zoom here.

God, Torah, Israel: An Exploration of Judaism's Foundational Principles
2025-02-18 19:15 - 20:15 (US/Eastern) | Online
Jewish tradition teaches that the three major pillars of Judaism are God, Torah, and Israel. While Jews understand and connect to each of these principles differently, they nonetheless encompass that totality of Judaism as a tradition of religion/spirituality, sacred text, and community/peoplehood. Join us as we consider the various meanings of each and how we might relate to them today.
Register: https://t-b-s.me/principles

ConNEXTions+ Book Club
2025-02-19 10:00 - 12:00 (US/Eastern) | Chesed Room
The Marriage of Opposites by Alice Hoffman

Sisterhood Canasta
2025-02-20 19:00 - 21:00 (America/New_York)
Come play canasta with TBS Sisterhood on the third Thursday of every month from 7-9 PM. Canasta is a game played with four people, so we need groups of four to be able to make a table. If you sign up and cannot come, please remove yourself from the signup. Canasta is free for TBS members. Non members are welcome to join Sisterhood to play (first game on us). Register at t-b-s.me/canasta.

Pre-Shabbat Yoga
2025-02-21 09:00 - 10:00 (America/New_York)
Step into fall with strength, balance and alignment through the practice of yoga. Join experienced yoga teacher Stephanie Javaheri for a weekly mindful yoga ‘work in’ to cultivate awareness physically and mentally. Feel better in your body and your mind. Slow physical movement, breathwork and meditation blend together in this 1-hour class.
Drop in at TBS for the in-person class, or click here to join in via Zoom; no registration is necessary.

Erev Shabbat Service
2025-02-21 18:15 - 19:45 (America/New_York)
If you are a TBS member who would like to join us virtually, please check your Shabbat Shalom email for the link.

Community Dinner
2025-02-21 19:30 - 20:30 (US/Eastern) | Carmen Hall

Lay-Led Shabbat Morning Service
2025-02-22 08:30 - 09:00 (America/New_York)
Join in virtually, or join us in person in the Beit Midrash! Please refer to your Shabbat Shalom email for the Zoom information.

Torah Study
2025-02-22 09:15 - 10:15 (America/New_York)
No previous experience with Torah study is required…just an open mind and a desire to learn more!

Israeli Art as a Window to Israeli History and Memory
2025-02-23 09:30 - 11:30 (US/Eastern) | Carmen Hall
With Israeli artist and educator Shirel Horovitz
The TBS Adult Learning committee is pleased to invite Shirel Horovitz, creative director for CSP, and an award winning artist with exhibits in museums and galleries in Israel and the US.
In this program at TBS, Shirel will present Israeli art from the early 20th century to today touching on key art works and themes to explore the way they highlight and challenge the Israeli narrative. It’s a fascinating way to take a fresh look at the Israeli narrative as well as a unique introduction to behind the scenes of the Israeli art world. Shirel will emphasize shifting narratives, its relation to the international art world and will lay the groundwork to understanding the diversity of the contemporary local scene.
A bagel breakfast will be served. $10 for non-members.
Register: t-b-s.me/israeliart
Contact: adultlearning@tbsneedham.org
Artist and educator artist Shirel Horovitz, creates performances and installations exploring cities, communities and the relations between people and space. She earned her BFA from Bezalel Academy in Jerusalem, and her MA from the interdisciplinary art program in Tel Aviv University. Her works were exhibited in museums and galleries in Israel and the US. She is recipient of the Rabinovich prize 2018 and the Weismann art grant for 2023. A new series of her drawings are part of a new exhibition at ANU museum and she is currently working on new sculptures in her studio in Tel Aviv towards a solo show opening in The Herzliya Artists Residence Gallery.
Alongside her art practice, Shirel is the creative director of CSP. Horovitz lectures, leads art tours, teaches art and is an art consultant to a variety of private groups and institutions, among them Bezalel Academy of Art and Design, Alma Hebrew college, Classrooms Without Borders, Azrieli LTD, Minshar College of Art and more.
Drawing from multiple fields of knowledge, Shirel weaves into each experience aspects of social issues, politics, economy, religion and more to create a vivid and nuanced image of Israeli reality. Her knowledge, passion and love of all that is art and Israeli history are nothing less than contagious.
