In a short, compelling book entitled Jews and Words, Amos Oz and his daughter Fania Oz-Salzberger, wrote that the Jewish people are not related by bloodlines, but rather by text-lines. Over seven sessions, we will study some of the texts that connect the people of Israel to the land of Israel and the State of Israel. I hope that everyone who chooses to participate in this course of study will grow their personal relationships with the other people in the cohort and with Israel. Our goal will be to deepen and thicken our relationships to Israel, and to increase Ahavat Yisrael – “love of Israel,” – including both the people and the place. Please join us for any, and hopefully, every session! Register: t-b-s.me/relations

During our series, our topic titles will include:

• Israel in Perspective: Zionism as a Response to Modernity
• Israel in Perspective: The Zionist Idea
• One State, Many Midwives
• A State of Ideals is not the Same as an Ideal State
• Be Careful What You Pray For
• Not All Wars Are the Same
• The Story of Hatikvah

All sessions will be recorded. Rabbi Elyse Pincus Abrahams will be joining Rabbi Katzew throughout the series to bring additional wisdom and insight.

Our Teacher: Rabbi Jan Katzew

Rabbi Katzew, PhD is Associate Professor Emeritus of Jewish Thought and Education and Senior Educator of the EMA Program at HUC-JIR. After serving for six years as rabbi/educator at The Community Synagogue in Port Washington, NY, Jan became a Jerusalem Fellow and earned a doctorate at the Hebrew University in Jewish Thought and Education. For fifteen years Jan led a team of educators at the Union for Reform Judaism that was responsible for designing, developing, and implementing curricular resources for early childhood centers, congregational schools, day schools and adult learning communities throughout the world. Since its inception in 2008, Jan has been a senior consultant to the iCenter for Israel Education, mentoring students from multiple graduate schools and seminaries to become Israel educators, a task made even more important after October 7, 2023. Jan is the author of popular and scholarly articles in multiple fields that include Interfaith dialogue, Mussar, Medieval Hebrew Poetry, Israel Education, Moral Development, and educational philosophy and practice.

Please join us as members of our Temple Beth Shalom community meet via Zoom with members of Congregation Mevasseret Zion – a progressive/Reform congregation just outside of Jerusalem. This is a meaningful series of online conversations about the current crisis. Questions? Email Rabbi Jay.

Please join us as members of our Temple Beth Shalom community meet via Zoom with members of Congregation Mevasseret Zion – a progressive/Reform congregation just outside of Jerusalem. This is a meaningful series of online conversations about the current crisis. Questions? Email Rabbi Jay.

Please join us as members of our Temple Beth Shalom community meet via Zoom with members of Congregation Mevasseret Zion – a progressive/Reform congregation just outside of Jerusalem. This is a meaningful series of online conversations about the current crisis. Questions? Email Rabbi Jay.

Please join us as members of our Temple Beth Shalom community meet via Zoom with members of Congregation Mevasseret Zion – a progressive/Reform congregation just outside of Jerusalem. This is a meaningful series of online conversations about the current crisis. Questions? Email Rabbi Jay.

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.

Register: t-b-s.me/generationaldivide

The crisis in Israel has caused divides within and beyond the Jewish community. We have heard so many stories of families at odds with each other over Israel, family members who are unable or unwilling to communicate with each other. This course is specifically for parents who are wrestling with their college-age children’s views on Israel. We are hoping to bring parents together to learn and think together about Israel and about family. The course will be a mix of various types of learning. We will be looking at different perspectives on Israel, including that part of the Jewish community which questions Israel, not with the eye to tear down but to try to critically understand this worldview. While primarily designed for parents, other adults with college-age or older high school students in their lives (e.g., grandparents and other caregivers) are also welcome to participate.

Co-Sponsored by Hebrew College and Temple Beth Shalom, Needham

Cost: Free to Temple Beth Shalom Members

Location: In-person at Temple Beth Shalom

For more information, view the flyer or contact adultlearning@hebrewcollege.edu

Register: t-b-s.me/generationaldivide

The crisis in Israel has caused divides within and beyond the Jewish community. We have heard so many stories of families at odds with each other over Israel, family members who are unable or unwilling to communicate with each other. This course is specifically for parents who are wrestling with their college-age children’s views on Israel. We are hoping to bring parents together to learn and think together about Israel and about family. The course will be a mix of various types of learning. We will be looking at different perspectives on Israel, including that part of the Jewish community which questions Israel, not with the eye to tear down but to try to critically understand this worldview. While primarily designed for parents, other adults with college-age or older high school students in their lives (e.g., grandparents and other caregivers) are also welcome to participate.

Co-Sponsored by Hebrew College and Temple Beth Shalom, Needham

Cost: Free to Temple Beth Shalom Members

Location: In-person at Temple Beth Shalom

For more information, view the flyer or contact adultlearning@hebrewcollege.edu