Temple Israel’s Lifelong Learning Institute (TILLI) provides opportunities for Temple Israel members and others to engage in peer-led, intellectually stimulating study groups covering a broad range of topics, to develop social relationships and a community, and to enjoy cultural events together.
Registration for Fall Semester Study Groups is now open!
See the Fall 2025 brochure for full details
Join us for the TILLI Summer 2025 session!
Participate in TILLI offerings this summer. Choose from a full slate of monthly shows, concerts, walking tours, museum visits, and more.
View all 2025 Summer Program offerings in the flyer
Browse all upcoming events in the calendar below
All are welcome!
Email tilli@tisrael.org with questions or for help registering.
Upcoming Events
Dreams Upon the River at Studio Without Walls
Date
July 10, 2025
Time
11:00 AM - 1:30 PM EDT
Join TILLI to walk on the Riverway to view the annual Studio Without Walls. We will meet on the Riverway near the Longwood T stop on Chapel Street....
TILLI Excursion to Tanglewood: Yo-Yo Ma, Pépin, Saint-Saëns, and Mendelssohn
Date
August 10, 2025
Time
10:00 AM - 9:30 PM EDT
Saturday, August 10 | Departure at 10:00 a.m. from Temple Israel The Temple Israel Lifelong Learning Institute (TILLI) invites you to a special ...
Jewish Historical Walking Tour of the North End
Date
September 18, 2025
Time
11:00 AM - 12:30 PM EDT
It's easy to look at today's North End in Boston, with its many Italian restaurants, and assume there was never a Jewish presence. In fact, during A...
Spring and Fall Study Groups
- Meets on Thursdays for six weeks
- Morning study groups: 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
- Afternoon study groups: 2:00 – 3:30 p.m.
- All sessions are onsite, with some options to participate online
We offer interesting and intellectually challenging study groups on a wide variety of topics, from science, theater, history, politics, literature, to the Israeli/Palestinian conflict are covered.
These study groups offer an opportunity to get to know and learn from some of the very talented members of our congregation.
You can take a morning class, an afternoon class, or both!
Lunch and Learn
- Meets Thursdays, 1:00 – 1:45 p.m. during the Spring and Fall semesters
- Onsite and Online
During the Spring and Fall programs, we gather to enjoy lunch together, and listen to an interesting speaker at “Lunch and Learn,” the highlight of our TILLI Thursdays, providing opportunities for friendship and community.
Recordings of Spring 2025 Lunch and Learn lectures
April 3, 2025
Nicole Monahan: “Oh, the Places I’ve Been with my Violin.”
April 17, 2025
Kathy Tallman: “Coolidge Corner Theatre — 92 Years Young.”
April 24, 2025
Jeff Fuhrer: “The Myth That Made Us: Understanding How We Broke Our Economy, and How We Can Fix It.”
May 1, 2025
Claudia Greene: “Elevating Immigrant Voices.”
Recordings of Fall 2024 Lunch and Learn lectures
October 31, 2024
TILLI Fall 2024 Lunch and Learn Lecture Series: Emily Franklin. “The Lioness of Boston: Historic Fiction Based on the Life of Isabella Stewart Gardner”
November 7, 2024
Roger Gottleib: “Judaism and the Environment: What we Know and What we Don’t.”
November 14, 2024
Ken Liss: “Caught in the Web of Words: Exploring Words & Phrases and How We Use Them.”
November 21, 2024
Eric Peterson, “Boston’s Hidden Gem: the Metropolitan Waterworks Museum”
December 5, 2024
Margie Yamamoto, “Justice Denied: a Personal Perspective on Japanese American Incarceration.”
Summer and Winter at TILLI
Join us for a mixture of outside events (in the summer), in person and online museum visits, and mini-themed Thursday sessions. Recent Thursday themes include Artificial Intelligence and Jazz and Blues music.
Make Thursdays your TILLI Day!
Please join us at any level of participation:
- Study Group Leader (coaching available)
- Committee member
- Lunch and Learn speaker
- and always as a valued participant!
Get Involved
Because TILLI is a peer-led learning program, participation is key. We are always looking for new study topics to explore. Let us know if you are interested in teaching a Spring 2026 study group or contact tilli@tisrael.org to learn more about how to get involved.
Testimonials
TILLI 2024-2025 Core Leadership Team:
TILLI Co-Chairs:
Priscilla Golding and Barbara Smith Koff
Adult Education Committee Liaison:
Saralynn Busch
Archivist and Caring Community:
Abby Greenberg
Budget:
Ted Greenwood
Curriculum:
Natalie Schatz (Chair)
Judy Berkowitz, Serena Fujita, Judy Herman, Barbara Koff, Helen Kolsky, Peggy Morrison, Ted Greenwood
Events:
Debra Mandel and Yetta Katz (Co-Chairs)
Amy Michaels, Glenda Fishman, Jackie Anapolle
Lunch and Learn:
Bob McCorkle
Membership and Hospitality:
Mark Kaplan and Beth Sands
Nominating Committee:
Judy Berkowitz and Larry Koff
Photographer:
Debra Mandel
Special Events:
Serena Fujita
Winter and Summer Program Committee:
Priscilla Golding (Acting Co-Chair) and Deb Seidel (Co-Chair)
Carol Agate, Lenore Miller, Ruth Klepper
