Jewish Studies & Hebrew Classes
Below you will find our Sunday morning course offerings for the 2012-2013 academic year.
Hebrew Courses
Beginning Hebrew
Intermediate Prayerbook Hebrew
Judaic Studies Courses
Exploring Judaism
Introduction to Talmud
Right from Wrong, Good from Bad, How do Jews Know What to Do? with Rabbi Judy Shanks
Jewish Survival with Rabbi Roberto D. Graetz
Hebrew Courses
Beginning Hebrew
Designed for those with little or no previous exposure to Hebrew, this introductory course will focus on developing the foundation for reading comprehension and a basic Hebrew vocabulary. We will learn the basics of prayer-book Hebrew, beginning with the alphabet and moving through the basic grammar and vocabulary of the siddur (prayerbook), including the key texts and melodies of some prayers and blessings found in the siddur. Required text: Prayerbook Hebrew the Easy Way (available for purchase the first session). This textbook is not included in the price of the class.
Year-long Course (23 sessions): Sundays, Sept 30 through April 28
(No class: 11/25, 12/23, 12/30, 1/20, 2/17, 2/24, 3/31, 4/7)
9-10am in the CCJDS Building
Instructor: Rachel Valfer
Tuition: $100/members; $250/non-members
Rachel Valfer began learning Hebrew and Tanach at age 5. She lived in Israel for 6 years, where she studied Hebrew and Ladino literature at the graduate level at the Hebrew University. Rachel is a professional musician in classical and folk music of the Middle East.
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Intermediate Prayerbook Hebrew
A continuation of our introductory Hebrew course, designed for those who can sight-read Hebrew texts with vowels and understand noun-adjective relationships. This course will continue developing the building blocks of Hebrew grammar and vocabulary of the Siddur (prayerbook). We will continue translating passages from the Siddur.
Prerequisite: Temple Isaiah’s Beginning Hebrew or the equivalent. Required text: Prayerbook Hebrew the Easy Way (available for purchase the first session). This textbook is not included in the price of the class.
Year-long Course (23 sessions): Sundays, Sept 30 through April 28
(No class: 11/25, 12/23, 12/30, 1/20, 2/17, 2/24, 3/31, 4/7)
10:10-11:10am in the CCJDS Building
Instructor: Rachel Valfer (see bio above)
Tuition: $100/members; $250/non-members
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Judaic Studies Courses
Exploring Judaism
This course is a year-long exploration of the history, beliefs, traditions, and practices of the Jewish people. “Exploring Judaism” will be interesting and meaningful whether you are becoming an adult Bar/Bat Mitzvah, you are just beginning to explore Jewish studies, you are considering choosing Judaism, you are in an interfaith relationship, or you are simply looking for a deeper and more mature understanding of Jewish history and tradition. Students are encouraged to expand their Jewish literacy by taking this course in conjunction with Beginning Hebrew.
Year-long Course (23 sessions): Sundays, Sept 30 through April 28
(No class: 11/25, 12/23, 12/30, 1/20, 2/17, 2/24, 3/31, 4/7)
10:10-11:10am in the CCJDS Building
Instructor: Rabbi Ruth Adar
Tuition: $100/members; $250/non-members for the year
If you would like to sign up for 1 or more blocks of Exploring Judaism (instead of registering for the whole year), we welcome you to do so. Tuition is $30 per block for members; $65 per block for non-members.
- Jewish Calendar & Holidays: Sept. 30, Oct. 7, 14, 21, 28, Nov. 4
- Jewish Lifecycle & Home: Nov. 11, 18, Dec. 2, 9, 16
- Jewish Text & History: Jan. 6, 13, 27, Feb. 3, 10, Mar. 3
- Jewish Thought, Prayer, & Music: Mar. 10, 17, 24, Apr. 14, 21, 28
Introduction to Talmud
Have you ever wondered what the Talmud is? Have you ever wanted to study Talmud but were too afraid to try? Now is your chance to study Talmud in a stress-free, exciting new introductory class! These 6-week classes are a great opportunity to dip your toes into the sea of Talmud!
Fall Session: Humanitarian elements in Talmudic Law and Literature
There are many stories and laws in the Torah that are problematic to us in modern society, and as we will see in the class, they were equally so to the ancient Rabbis. In this class we will explore how the Rabbis radically reformulated some of the issues they found in biblical literature, including the application of the death penalty, the rebellious son who is stoned, and more.
6 Sessions (Sunday mornings): Oct. 28, Nov. 4, 11, 18, Dec. 2, 9
10:10-11:10 a.m. in the CCJDS Building
Instructor: Ron Reissberg
Tuition: $36 Members; $72 non-members
Winter Session: Traditional Identities and the Challenge of Change
In this class, we will spend three sessions focusing on “change and continuity in halacha,” specifically addressing the topics of kosher milk, kosher wine, and idolatry. In the next three sessions, we will explore Jewish identity and Jewish / Christian polemics found in the Talmud. Overall our goal is to uncover specific methods the Rabbis used to maintain tradition in a constantly changing world and to examine the effects of the rise of Christianity on Rabbinic Judaism.
6 Sessions (Sunday mornings): Jan 6, 13, 27, Feb 3, 10, Mar 3
10:10-11:10 a.m. in the CCJDS Building
Instructor: Ron Reissberg
Tuition: $36 Members; $72 non-members
Spring Session: Topics and Methods
In this class, we will spend three sessions focusing on “sanctity of life,” specifically addressing the topics of martyrdom, abortion, self-defense and defense of others. In the next three sessions, we will explore Rabbinic legalism and methods of interpretation, specifically The Twelve Methods of Interpretation of the Torah, Talmudic Logic and The Limits of Logic.
6 Sessions (Sunday mornings): Mar. 10, 17, 24. Apr. 14, 21, 28.
10:10-11:10 a.m. in the CCJDS Building
Instructor: Ron Reissberg
Tuition: $36 Members; $72 non-members
Click here for a Talmud class description.pdf
Ron Reissberg was born and raised in San Francisco. He then spent 8 years in intensive full time study at Yeshiva Shor Yoshuv in New York, and he returned to San Francisco in 1980 to complete a Masters in Modern European History from San Francisco State University. He received a Ph.D in History from UC Davis in 2002 and joined the faculty of the University of Judaism (now known as the American Jewish University) in Los Angeles, serving as Assistant Professor of Rabbinic Literature in UJ’s rabbinic program. Ron has taught classes at San Francisco State University, the University of San Francisco, and for various adult education programs around the Bay Area and Los Angeles. He is married with two teenaged sons, and his wife owns and operates a kosher catering business called Koshercraft.
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Right from Wrong, Good from Bad, How do Jews Know What to Do? with Rabbi Judy Shanks
We will explore the Jewish ethical tradition from Biblical times up to and including how Jewish ethics can inform this year’s hot election issues. We will learn together how our Jewish tradition helps us make difficult decisions in both the personal and public arenas of our lives.
3 Sessions: November 4, 11, 18
11:15am - 12:15pm in the Oneg Room
Instructor: Rabbi Judy Shanks
Tuition: Free of charge
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Study with Rabbi Roberto D. Graetz
Jewish Survival: When we look at three thousand years of Jewish history we often wonder: How is it that we are still around? We will look at some of the aspects that made for Jewish Survival, from history and story, realpolitik and mystical musings and dare to be prophets and look into the future. A little text will ground us and our imagination will propel us to what we hope will be inspiring discussions.
3 Sessions: Mar 3, 10, 17
11:15am - 12:15pm in the Oneg Room
Instructor: Rabbi Roberto D. Graetz
Tuition: Free of charge
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