Letter From Rabbi Ronne Friedman

In 1920, the great 20th century Jewish philosopher and thinker, Franz Rosenzweig, celebrated the opening of the Judisches Lehrhaus, a center for adult learning, in Frankfurt am Main with these words:

“A new learning is about to be born—rather it has been born….May the hours that you spend here become hours of remembrance…an inner remembering, a turning from the externals to that which is within, a turning that, believe me, will and must become for you a returning home. Turn into yourself, return to your innermost self and your innermost life.”

We want to issue a similar invitation to adult learners at Temple Israel. Our over-arching theme this year is A Jewish Perspective on Current Issues. This lovely brochure will highlight a myriad of formal and informal courses with nationally renowned scholars, motivated and motivating educators and the creative clergy of the Congregation. Whatever your interest, we hope that the multiple “gates of learning,” that you will discover in the following pages will invite you to enter and continue your exploration of both our tradition and your own inner life. Our adult learning table is spread with enticing offerings which include: Hebrew language; critical study of Biblical text; Jewish meditation; science and religion; Jewish justice; and Talmud.

We are deeply grateful to the Adult Learning Council, whose contributions have formed and informed the selection of Adult Learning opportunities that we offer this year. Their wisdom brings blessing to our entire community. We are also indebted to our former Director of Congregational Learning, Lesley Litman, who shaped and guided the choices of program and recruited extraordinary scholars, teachers and guides who will inspire our adult Jewish journeys.

As we enter the New Year, 5768, we encourage you to treat yourself to the delight and fulfillment that adult Jewish learning will provide. Every course and lecture is designed to enable both a vertical connection to our three-thousand year history of learning and a horizontal social connection to our wonderful Temple community. Esther Kosofsky, our Adult Learning Coordinator and Lois Packard, our Registrar, would be delighted to answer any questions about our program. We look forward to sharing these exciting opportunities with you.

L’shalom,
Rabbi Ronne Friedman