Unfortunately, Temple Emanuel has closed its doors as of June, 2023. We are keeping this page around for historical purposes.
Temple Emanuel believes that Jewish education doesn’t end after Hebrew school; it can and should continue all our lives. Each year, adult education classes are offered to enhance our lives, stimulate our minds, and expand our spiritual horizons.
For the first half of 2022, adult education offerings will be intermittent and informal, and will include family education within the structure of the religious school; Learner’s Minyan on February 4, 2022; and Tea ‘n’ Torah (various dates – watch your Weekly Happenings email for updates!)
Learner’s Minyan
This interactive service is offered several times each year and provides integrated teaching within the context of a Shabbat service. Rabbi Sparr will typically teach about selected liturgical, musical, or ritual elements of our worship practice, and invites questions throughout the service.
Tea ‘n’ Torah
Informal gathering for members and guests to explore a topical reading or sacred text and enjoy warm camaraderie and beverages (self-provided, as this program is presently entirely remote).
Past offerings have included:
Pirkei Avot:
A deep dive into selections from the wisdom of our sages. Pirkei Avot is the only book of the 63 tractates of mishna that is not concerned with laws, but are simply ethical teachings from the rabbis whose legal opinions comprise much of the rest of the Mishnah. It is so central a text that many siddurim (prayer books) include it.
Introduction to Judaism 20 weeks
Co-taught by clergy from the four Merrimack Valley URJ congregations, this course offers a broad overview of Judaism, including history, holidays, traditional and contemporary practices, and more. A wonderful class for those interested in exploring Judaism for conversion, those in interfaith relationships, or those who want to deepen and renew their understanding and practice.
Mussar: Taste of Mussar 4 weeks
Mussar: Seeking Everyday Holiness 20 weeks
Mussar is a treasury of teachings and contemplative practices that have evolved over the past thousand years within the Jewish world. Mussar offers immensely valuable guidance for the journey of our lives. It is a spiritual practice aimed at elevating one’s character, or what Mussar calls soul-traits (middot). Practices include studying Mussar texts, exercises to apply at home, engaging in group discussions, and keeping a daily journal on the middot (soul-traits) that practitioners work on as they grow toward becoming wiser, kinder, more skillful human beings.
Hebrew Reading for Beginners 16 weeks
An engaging and accessible class for those who’ve never learned to read Hebrew, as well as those who feel their reading is a little rusty. This is also an appropriate course for anyone considering conversion or adult bar/bat mitzvah.