Adult Education - Winter 2009 (5769)

The First Narayever's Adult Education Committee organizes programs on issues of interest and relevance to our congregation throughout the year. As we see it, offering opportunities to learn in many ways is one of the key benefits our synagogue provides.

This year we've chosen the theme Using Our Noodles: The Role of Food in Jewish Tradition as the focus of many of our programs. You'll notice it as you review the list of some of what we have planned for the year ahead. Please join us!

Special Events

Thursday February 19th, 7:30 p.m. Nora Gold reads Exile

Dr. Nora Gold will read several sections of her novel, Exile, that relate to food and eating, including kashrut. She will also speak about her novel, which deals with the issue of the anti-Israelism in Canadian universities, and facilitate a discussion on this topic. All are welcome.

Sunday, April 19th, 2 -4 pm Back to the Garden: Planning your Organic Vegetable Patch

Why is gardening a Jewish thing to do? When Adam was placed in the Garden of Eden he was commanded: "’ovdah u’l’shomra," — to serve and protect it. Only then was he given permission to eat of its fruits. When we grow our own produce we are choosing to participate in a food system that enhances our health and our community, and makes us the stewards of our natural world that we were meant to be. Daniel Hoffmann of the Cutting Veg Organic Farm will lead a workshop to inspire you with the confidence to plan your organic veggie garden for 2009. He’ll explore organic gardening basics, answer your questions and provide you with some great gardening tips – you’ll even have the chance to get your hands dirty! Numbers are limited, so please pre-register by contacting the shul office at admin@narayever.ca or 416-927-0546. There is a $10 fee for supplies, payable at the door.

Monthly Seminar Series

Our popular seminar series is held once a month. Open to all, these sessions are led by a facilitator and usually involve some advance reading. The topics can range from examination of Biblical texts to discussion of Jewish social and historical issues.

For more information on monthly seminars, please write to narayever.seminars@gmail.com.

Pesach events

Back by popular demand!
Israeli Film - Lei'la Seda (Passover Fever) Sunday March 22, 2 p.m.

Part of our Using Our Noodles theme!
Sweet are the Uses of Adversity: The Taste of Charoseth Sunday March 29, 2 p.m.

Wednesdays @ the Narayever

Eating Jewishly - Eating Ethically: Exploring Judaism and Food in the 21st Century

Wednesdays, April 22 - May 27, 2009; 7:30 - 9:30 p.m.

What should we eat and how should we eat it? Can diverse Jewish teachings on these questions inform our lives? Rabbi Aaron Levy will lead a six-part, text-based study series examining many aspects of the Jewish relationship to food: spiritual, ethical, health, ecological, animal, and communal. Be part of a learning community in which we broaden and deepen our minds on that most fundamental of daily pursuits - eating. All texts will be supplied in English and original language (Hebrew/Aramaic), but knowledge of Hebrew is not necessary.

Pre-registration is required and will begin in January 2009.

Maximum class size: 20

Readings: All texts supplied in English and original language (Hebrew/Aramaic)

Series cost: $60 Narayever members; $75 non-members

Shabbat @ the Narayever

Shabbat Post Kiddush Programs

All our Shabbat programs follow Kiddush lunch and have a drop-in format - come any Shabbat you can. Programs run from about 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. All are welcome!

On most Shabbatot, Rabbi Ed Elkin will focus his teaching on the Book of Joshua. We will explore what happens after the children of Israel cross the Jordan River and enter the Land under the leadership of Joshua.

Adashot

Do you like learning Torah through many Adashot (lenses)? David Zvi Epstein will be leading two discussions on well-known Torah stories using Adashot, a unique approach to Jewish text study that he and his partner Yael Richardson are developing. Adashot incorporates traditional and non-traditional sources and commentaries in a way that encourages creative learning - both for those who are new to the texts and for those who are already well versed in them. The combination of Jewish, philosophical, psychological and literary sources allows users to create new narratives about the texts, making the stories more complex and beautiful than you ever thought possible.

We will have two sessions

Tuesday, January 13; 7:30 - 9:00 p.m. Tower of Babel

Tuesday, January 20; 7:30 - 9:00 p.m. The Death of Moshe

To find out more about the Adashot project, and to see a sample of one of the intriguing Adashot texts, visit www.adashot.com. (Knowledge of Hebrew is not required.) Come to learn and contribute to the learning.

Saturday Nights @ the Narayever

Lights, Camera, Reaction!

Back by popular demand!

Join us for a Havdallah service followed by an Israeli film, a spirited discussion facilitated by Michal Er-el - and of course food! Havdallah will start at 7:45 on both nights.

Israeli teenagers are featured in these two excellent films:

January 17 Saint Clara (1996)

February 21 Shlomi's Stars (a.k.a. Bonjour Monsieur Shlomi) (2003)

Unless otherwise stated, all our programs take place at the shul.

If you have suggestions for further programming, or would like to become a working member of the committee, please contact us at education@narayever.ca

See also the Fall 2008 Adult Education schedule (for example, for previous seminars)