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Finding The Right Adult Jewish Learning
Program For You

Please use the following questions to help you identify an adult Jewish learning program that best meets your current needs. If you need assistance, please contact Rivkah Lambert Adler, Director of Adult Education at the Center for Jewish Education or call 410 735-5010.

YOURSELF AS A LEARNER

  • What, if any, Jewish education have you already had?
  • How would you define your current level of knowledge?
  • Have you ever studied Jewish topics as an adult?
  • Would you define your previous study as mostly intermittent or mostly consistent?
  • Adults share some common concerns about themselves as Jewish learners. Among the most common concerns are: not knowing any Hebrew, assuming that everyone in a learning setting will know more, being embarrassed about how little one knows or does. What concerns do you have about yourself as an adult Jewish learner?

TIME COMMITMENT

  • For how many sessions are you able to commit? (i.e. one, two-six, a semester, a year, 2 years, ongoing)
  • Would you prefer a class that meets weekly? Monthly? Less frequently?
  • Would you prefer to attend single session programs?
  • Would you prefer day or evening classes?
  • Are you able to make a 2-year commitment?
  • Would you prefer to study on your own with the help of the Internet, computer software or audiotapes?

FELLOW STUDENTS

  • Would you prefer to study with people a lot like you (i.e. age, gender, religious affiliation, level of knowledge, etc.) or would you prefer to study with a diverse class?
  • Would you prefer to study in a large group, a small group or one-on-one?

SPONSORING ORGANIZATION

COSTS

  • Are you looking for a program that is totally cost free?
  • Are you willing to invest some money in your Jewish learning?
  • How much are you able to spend on program costs?

TOPICS AND APPROACHES

  • Do you already have a specific topic in mind?
  • What type of approach do you prefer (e.g. an academic approach, a pluralistic/non-denominational approach, an approach designed to increase your Jewish observance, etc.)?
  • Do you want to primarily listen to lectures or do you want an interactive learning environment?

CONTENT AREAS

Jewish study is incredibly rich in content. What follows is not a comprehensive list of Jewish topics. Rather, it is an attempt to help you focus on the aspects of Judaism about which you are interested in learning more.

Arts and Literature – drop down to Arts and Literature questions
Bible
Hebrew
Holocaust
Israel
Jewish History, Culture and Current Events
Jewish Thought
Jewish Women
Lifecycle and Holidays
Mysticism and Spirituality
One-on-One and Small Group Learning
Prayer and Synagogue Skills
Talmud and Rabbinic Literature
Yiddish

Arts and Literature
Do you want to learn about Jewish cultural arts such as music, art and theatre?
Do you want to learn about Hebrew literature?
Do you want to learn Yiddish literature in translation?
Click here for local Arts and Literature classes

Bible
Are you looking for a parsha (weekly Torah portion) class?
Do you want a broad overview or would you prefer to study Biblical topics (e.g., specific books of the Bible, specific characters or stories) in depth?
Do you want to study Biblical text only or text with rabbinic commentary?
Click here for local Bible classes

Hebrew
Do you want to learn to read (decode) Hebrew?
Do you want to learn to speak Modern Hebrew (Ulpan)?
Do you want to learn Biblical Hebrew for studying Jewish texts?
Do you want to learn prayer book Hebrew?
Do you want to learn about Hebrew literature?
Click here for local Hebrew classes

Holocaust
Do you want to learn about the Holocaust?
Click here for local classes about the Holocaust

Israel
Do you want to learn about Biblical Israel?
Do you want to learn about modern Israel?
Do you want to learn Israeli geography?
Do you want to learn about politics in the Middle East?
Do you want to learn about advocating for Israel?
Click here for local classes about Israel

Jewish History, Culture and Current Events
Do you want to appreciate the broad sweep of Jewish history?
Do you want to study Jewish history of a certain period (e.g. Biblical, Rabbinic, Medieval, Modern, etc.)?
Click here for local classes about Jewish history, Culture or Current Events

Jewish Thought
Do you want to learn Jewish approaches to contemporary issues?
Do you want to learn Jewish approaches to classic philosophical issues?
Click here for local classes about Jewish thought

Jewish Women
Do you want to learn about women in the Bible?
Do you want to learn about Jewish women and history?
Do you want to learn about the evolving roles of Jewish women today? If so, in a particular denomination or comparatively?
Click here for local classes about Jewish women

Lifecycle Events and Jewish Holidays
Do you want to learn about Jewish approaches to welcoming a new baby?
Do you want to learn about options for and significance of Bar or Bat Mitzvah?
Do you want to learn about Jewish weddings and Jewish approaches to marriage?
Do you want to learn about Jewish approaches to death and dying?
Do you want to learn about a specific Jewish holiday?
Do you want to learn about the observances of Jewish holidays? If so, in a particular denomination or comparatively?
Do you want to learn about the spiritual aspects of the holidays?
Click here for local classes about Lifecycle Events and Jewish Holidays

Mysticism and Spirituality
Do you want to learn about spirituality in Jewish tradition?
Do you want to learn about feeling closer to G-d?
Do you want to learn about kabbalah?
Click here for local classes about Mysticism and Spirituality

Practical Judaism
Do you want to learn how to do a Jewish ritual (e.g. begin observing Shabbat, begin to keep kosher, immerse in a mikvah, recite the Kaddish prayer for a deceased relative, build a sukkah, blow shofar, etc.)?
Click here for small group and one-on-one learning

Prayer and Synagogue Skills
Do you want to learn to read prayer book Hebrew?
Do you want to learn the mechanics of prayer (e.g. the order of the prayer service, when to stand, etc.)?
Do you want to learn the history and meaning of specific Jewish prayers?
Do you want to learn how to cultivate a meaningful prayer life?
Do you want to learn to leyn (chant from the Torah)?
Click here for local classes about Prayer and Synagogue Skills

Talmud and Rabbinic Literature
Do you want to learn what Halacha (Jewish law) has to say about ritual observances and/or contemporary issues (e.g. medical and business ethics, etc)?
Do you want to learn Mishna and/or Talmud?
Click here for local classes about Talmud and Rabbinic Literature

Yiddish
Do you want to learn to speak Yiddish?
Do you want to learn about Yiddish culture?
Do you want to learn Yiddish literature in translation?
Click here for local Yiddish classes

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