December 09-January - Washtenaw Jewish News

continued from previous pageAdult Hebrew Classes at Beth IsraelBeth Israel Congregation is offering 12-week Adult Hebrew classes this winter beginningthe week of January 4, with variouslevels of difficulty. New students are askedto meet with the instructor to determinethe best class for their backgrounds. Thereare five levels of conversational Hebrew andthree levels of biblical Hebrew. There is onebeginning Hebrew reading class in the afternoon.Contact Mary at Beth Israel to receivethe full brochure mary@bethisrael-aa.org,or call 665-9897. Anyone in the communityis welcome to join these classes. There is atuition fee.The classes are taught by two veteran Hebrewinstructors, Malli Holoshitz and PauliWeizman. Holoshitz is a native Israeli whohas taught Hebrew for many years; she isnoted for her lively and animated teachingstyle. She earned a Ph.D. in education fromthe University of Michigan, and teaches atthe Frankel Jewish Academy of Metro Detroit.Holoshitz also teaches at the School ofEducation at Eastern Michigan University,as well as at the University of Michigan.Weizman has been teaching Hebrew atthe University of Michigan since 1987, andis the recipient of an “Excellence in Education”award by the Department of NearEastern Studies. She is a native Israeli andhas earned two masters degrees — one inTeaching English as a Second Language andthe other in social work; she also has a bachelor’sdegree in Hebrew linguistics.World Wide WrapOn, Sunday, February 7, at 9:30 a.m.,Beth Israel Men’s Club will sponsor locallythe “World Wide Wrap.” This program is aproject of the Federation of Jewish Men’sClubs and encourages Jews around theworld to put on tefillin and pray together.Beth Israel will provide extra sets of tefillinand experienced tefillin teachers will beavailable to assist anyone (man or woman)who would like to participate in this importantmitzvah.Beth Israel is known for its post servicePolar Bear Tefillin Photo that captures allthe tefillin-clad participants in the out-ofdoors,regardless of the weather.Following the Shaharit service, participantswill be served a brunch of bagels, lox,and coffee. Beth Israel’s sixth grade Bar/BatMitzvah program and the seventh graderswill join in the morning.The Federation of Jewish Men’s Clubs isan organization of approximately 270 Conservative/MasortiJewish men’s groups consistingof 25,000 individuals across NorthAmerica and the world. The FJMC involvesJewish men in Jewish life by building andstrengthening Men’s Clubs in the Conservative/MasortiMovement.General community is alwayswelcome to eventsAll of Beth Israel’s events, plus all educationalofferings are open to the generalcommunity, often at no cost. For furtherinformation, call 665-9897 or visit www.bethisrael-aa.org.Washtenaw Jewish News A December 2009/January 2010Temple Beth Emeth ProgramsRabbi Lisa Delson, special to the WJNMovie TuesdaysDecember 8 and January 12 at 1 p.m.Movie Tuesday is a free way to explore Judaismand Jewish culture through film anddiscussion for those with flexible schedules.In December, participants will watch TremblingBefore God, a documentary that includesinterviews and follows several gay and lesbianOrthodox Jews, and also interviews severalrabbis and psychologists regarding their viewson homosexuality in Orthodox Judaism. InJanuary, participants will watch The LemonTree, an Israeli drama depicting the lives ofPalestinians and Israelis and their struggleto come to grips with family history, politicalstrife, the beauty of the land, and love. Allmovies are free and open to the public. Childcare is available with advanced notice.Tot Chanukah-Tot Shabbat—stories,music, crafts and latkesFriday, December 18, at 5:30 p.m.The Tot Shabbat Service for the last nightof Chanukah will include lighting the menorahand special stories for Chanukah. After the service,all are invited to stay for the Tot Chanukahcelebration with crafts, songs, and the normaltot Shabbat dinner ($5) that will include latkes.Reservations are encouraged to help withplanning quantities, but are not necessary. Toreserve, call the TBE office, at 665-4744.Shabbat Chanukah serviceFriday, December 18, at 7:30 p.m.Celebrate Shabbat at TBE on this last night ofChanukah, and join in the tradition of lightingdozens of menorahs at the end of the service.Renaissance Group activitiesTemple Beth Emeth’s Renaissance Group,for members ages 55 and up, meets monthlyfor social gatherings. On Saturday, December12, at 7 p.m., the annual Chanukah Party potluckdinner and "white elephant" gift exchangewill take place at the Chapel Hill Clubhouse.On January 9, the group will attend the opera,Der Rosenkavalier, in the series “LIVE at theMET” on the big screen at Quality 16 Theater.Tickets are $17.50 for seniors over age 62 and$22 for others. Contact Judith Rose or theTBE office, 665-4744, for details.Music Man at the Michigan Theater,December 25Continuing an annual tradition, TBE willbring the musical, Music Man, to the MichiganTheater the morning of December 25. Thisis more than just a morning at the movies.Doors open at 10 a.m. and bagels are availablefor breakfast. The movie begins at 10:30 a.m.,and pauses for a lunch intermission when kosherhot dogs (and veggie dogs) are availablefor purchase. Door prizes, a sing-a-long, anda morning of community camaraderie are instore for everyone in attendance. Tickets are$7 per person, and are available in advanceboth in the TBE office and on line at www.templebethemeth.org.Bible, Morality, and the 21 st Centurywith Dr. Cobi SacerdotiMondays, January 11, 25, and February 8,from 7:30–9 p.m.TBE will host a three-part course onBible, Morality, and the 21 st Century. Thiscourse is an intellectual look and an emotionaljourney into the moral wisdom of theBible where arrogance, pride, jealousy, love,and devotion impact human life. This classwill discuss the way Jewish ancestors’ moralfaults and strengths can shape present dayJews and be a lesson in the 21 st century. Dr.Sacerdoti will discuss three Bible stories; theTower of Babel (how arrogance diminisheswisdom), The Twelve Spies (seek the truth,do not hide behind a lie), and Absolam’s Rebellion(nobody can acquire honor by doingwhat is wrong).Dr. Sacerdoti, an Israeli-born scholar,taught Hebrew language and literature at theUniversity of Michigan and was the departmenthead of Hebrew at the Frankel Academyof Metropolitan Detroit. She has publishedmany books and articles on a wide range ofJewish topics as well as Israeli life.Lunch and Learn with Rabbi Robert LevyFridays, January 8 through February 26,at noon“Issues of Israel over Time and Space.”Each week Rabbi Levy will lead a discussionon Israel as a hope, dream, fantasy, power,home, and destination through the lens of Israelas an eternal idea and also a modern nationstate. Feel free to stop by for one or all ofthe sessions with a lunch.Spirituality Book ClubJoin Cantor Annie Rose as she leads a journeythrough nine books over nine months on the firstTuesday of each month, from 7:30–9 p.m.The class is designed with everyone inmind: firm believers, non-believers, gentleskeptics, or interested seekers. December’sbook is A New Earth, by Eackhart Tolle. Accordingto Tolle, humans are on the verge ofcreating a new world by a personal transformationthat shifts one’s attention away fromone’s ever-expanding ego. Naturally, the authorunderstands his material so thoroughlythat he is able to convey it in an enjoyablemanner, but Tolle’s gentle tone and dialectbegs his audience’s attention simply throughits straightforward approach.January’s selection is Kitchen Table Wisdomby Rachel Remen. Remen has a uniqueperspective on healing rooted in her backgroundas a physician, a professor of medicine,a therapist, and a long-term survivorof chronic illness. In a deeply moving anddown-to earth collection of true stories,this prominent physician shows life in all itspower and mystery, and reminds the readerthat the things one cannot measure may bethe things that ultimately sustain and enrichone’s life.The book club is free to join, with the exceptionof the cost of the books. Books areavailable on amazon.com or through otherbooksellers. Sign up for the book club byemailing Cantor Annie Rose at cantorannie@gmail.com.Mourning and MitzvahThis course, offered Thursdays in Januaryat 7:30 p.m., provides an opportunity to gaina deeper understanding of Jewish mourningcustoms and practice through reading, discussionand writing. It is designed for thosewho have experienced loss as well as thoseseeking knowledge and insight into this importantaspect of Jewish life. The course isfree, but there is a charge for the textbook.Ann Arbor Reconstructionist Havurah’s Simchat TorahBrayan Zivan studies the Torah, part of the Ann ArborReconstructionist Havurah’s Simchat Torah celebration,which took place at its annual retreat. Havurah memberDebbie Field looks on, as she helps hold up the scroll.11