Community Education & Cultural Arts

The Community Education Committee provides a range of exciting Jewish educational experiences for teens, adults, and the general community. Check out our Calendar (below) for a current schedule of classes.

General Information:

• Registration: please check individual class listings for details.
• Make checks payable to Temple Beth Israel.
• Programs scheduled on Shabbat: Fees and donations for programs scheduled on Shabbat must be paid in advance or after the programs. We will not be collecting money on Shabbat.
• No refunds will be given to participants who drop classes after the registration deadline. If classes or events are cancelled due to lack of enrollment or other unforeseen circumstances, full refunds will be given to pre-paid registrants.

Classes are open to all learners, and we welcome students from within TBI and from the larger community as well. All classes meet at Temple Beth Israel, 1175 E. 29th Ave., Eugene unless otherwise noted. Childcare is not available at this time. For more information, call the TBI office at (541) 485-7218.

If you are interested in joining the Community Education Committee, or have ideas for teaching or a class offering, please contact Nina Korican.

Archives: Scroll down for a list of resources from past classes and events

Winter 2012

January

Foundations of Judaism: Jewish Prayer & Spirituality
with Joan Bayliss
Sundays, January 8, 22, February 5, 12, 26, March 4, 11, 18
9:15-10:45 am
REGISTRATION CLOSED


Seeking the Beloved: Ehad, Yahid, u’Meyuhad: Kabbalah and Sufism in History and Literature
with Dr. Rick Colby & Dr. Jonathan Seidel
Mondays, January 9, 23, 30, February 6, 13, 27, March 5, 12
7:00-8:45pm
REGISTRATION CLOSED


Engaging Israel Course
with Rabbi Yitzhak Husbands-Hankin
Sundays, January 22, February 5, 12, 19, 26, March 18, April 1, 8, 15
2-4 pm
REGISTRATION CLOSED


Judaism from a Reconstructionist Perspective
with Rabbi Boris Dolin
Wednesdays, January 25, February 1, 15, 22, 7:00 pm
REGISTRATION CLOSED

February

1st Annual Rabbi Louis Neimand Lecture
Professor Elizabeth Reis
Genital Integrity, Anti-Circumcision Activism, and What this Means for Jews Today

Wednesday, February 8, 7:00 pm. FREE; donations to TBI’s Community Education Fund gratefully accepted.

In her book, Bodies in Doubt: An American History of Intersex (Johns Hopkins University Press, 2009), Professor Elizabeth Reis explores the history and ethics of “corrective” genital surgery for infants born with genital ambiguity. This research led her to contemplate the ethics of infant surgeries more broadly, including neonatal male circumcision. As a Jew, Reis is committed to upholding Jewish community and tradition, yet at the same time she is dedicated to preserving children’s genital integrity. In this presentation, she will discuss recent efforts in San Francisco and elsewhere to ban circumcision, as well as confront the anti-Semitism that sometimes surfaces in these conversations.

Elizabeth Reis teaches Women’s and Gender Studies at the University of Oregon. She is the author of Damned Women: Sinners and Witches in Puritan New England (1997) and Bodies in Doubt: An American History of Intersex (2009). She is also the editor of Dear Lizzie: Memoir of a Jewish Immigrant Woman, her grandmother’s story about immigrating in 1920 from Brest-Litovsk to America.

Planning for a Good Jewish Ending: What You Need to Know Ritually and Legally with Howard Feinman and Members of TBI’s Chevra Kadisha
Wednesday, February 29, 7:00 pm FREE

TBI’s Chevra Kadisha (Holy Society, providing support for Jewish burial and mourning) has invited Howard Feinman, TBI member and estate attorney, to help lead a conversation on end of life planning for yourself or family members. The unfortunate reality of death is that surviving family members need to make many decisions at a time when they may be too overwhelmed to deal with details. Differences of opinion about how religious to make a funeral can create deep and lasting wounds as family members argue about what “X” would want. It helps to plan ahead.

We will provide a brief overview of traditional Jewish burial and mourning rites and the services provided by local funeral homes and cemeteries. We will then introduce a variety of documents that clearly state who is legally authorized to make decisions in case of incapacity or death. This is crucial for people whose primary relationships are not legally recognized. Topics to be discussed included: ethical wills, medical directives, advance directives, power of attorney, guardianship and conservatorship, planned giving.

TBI Member Howard Feinman has considerable experience in the practice of business law and is also listed in The Best Lawyers in America in Trusts and Estates. He provides assistance to clients in all aspects of estate planning including preparation of wills, trusts, probate, and trust administration. Howard is a past president of the Eugene Estate Planning Council. Howard will be joined by members of TBI’s Chevra Kadisha.

March

Wrestling with Desire: A Mindful Approach
with Barry Nobel
Saturday, March 3, 3:00 pm.
Contributions to TBI’s Community Education Program encouraged Registration appreciated by March 1 REGISTER ONLINE

In our culture that masterfully promotes the selfish pursuit of pleasure, comfort, and security, God’s warning to Cain comes into sharp focus: “If thou doest not well, sin coucheth at the door; and unto thee is its desire.” But the Eternal One then adds, “Thou mayest rule over it” (Gen. 4:7). Join us formindfulness practice and conversation on how greater mindfulness can help us wrestle successfully with the yetzer hara (the evil impulse). Beginners and experienced mindfulness practitioners are welcome.

Barry Nobel, J.D., Ph.D. is a practitioner and teacher of Mindfulness-based Conflict Engagement. He has taught religious ethics, among other courses, at Linfield College, the University of Puget Sound, and the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Exploring Jewish Influences in Psychoanalytic Thinking
with Robin Grace, LCSW
Sunday, March 11, 7:00 pm
TBI Member $7; Guest $10 at the door. No one turned away for lack of funds.

Since the 1950’s we have become familiar with psychotherapy in film, literature and our own personal experience. In this presentation we will explore the roots of this methodology and interest, with an eye upon Judaic influences. Sigmund Freud recognized as the “Father of psychoanalysis”, lived in Vienna during a time of anti-Semitism and the Nazi rise to power. He and other Jewish leaders in psychology who emigrated (i.e. Freud, Fromm, Bettelheim, Ornstein) had profound impacts upon the field of psychology.

This presentation will focus upon:
• What is psychoanalytic thinking and process?
• Are there parallels in Judaic ideas, rituals and psychoanalytic process?
• The evolution of classical psychoanalysis to contemporary relational
   approaches in psychotherapy.

Robin Grace, LCSW is a psychotherapist in private practice since 1987. She is licensed in Oregon, New York and Alaska and has a practice in Eugene. Robin grew up in Brooklyn, New York and attended graduate school and psychoanalytic training in New York City. From 2003-2011, she and her family lived in Haines, on the southeast coast of Alaska where Robin researched and developed approaches for working therapeutically within a “frontier minded” community. Robin has a strong interest in psycho-education for the community. She enjoys extending information about theoretical and clinical perspectives in psychoanalysis because she believes it empowers individuals and families.

Holy Hikes – Spencer's Butte
Saturday, March 17, 2-4:30 PM  FREE
(Meet at TBI at 1:45 pm if you would like to carpool)

Preregistration requested; Drop-ins welcome Register by March 15

Welcome the spring with a hike up to the summit of Spencer Butte! Discover the connections between Judaism and the natural world, and examine your own personal connections with the concept of revelation, tradition and Torah from high above Eugene. The hike is open to all, but may be difficult for young children. Snacks and drinks are suggested.

Adding the Sh’ma to Your Meditation Practice
with Shmuel Cohen
Wednesday, March 21, 7:00 pm
$10; Registration/payment deadline: March 18  REGISTER ONLINE

In this one evening workshop, we will uncover some of the deep and hidden kabbalistic and chassidic meanings of this simple phrase as we meditate on these words and learn how best to use the sh’ma as a meditation.

After becoming bar-mitzvah Shmuel Cohen walked away from Judaism, and after a career as a software engineer, he moved to San Francisco to become a musician and a poet. In the mid-1990s he moved to Eugene and studied with Rabbi Hanan Sills. For the last 10 years, he has been living in Jerusalem studying in yeshiva with various teachers. He recently returned to Eugene with the hope of sharing some of the joys and gems found in our ancient tradition.

Ongoing

Lunch & Learn
Torah Study at Cozmic Pizza
with Rabbi Boris Dolin
Wednesdays, Noon-1:00 pm
FREE / Drop-ins Welcome

Join us as we learn about the weekly Torah portion, explore traditional and contemporary viewpoints, and discuss its relevance to current events and our lives. This informal study session is open to all levels. Brown bag or purchase lunch at Cozmic Pizza, 199 W. 8th Ave., Eugene.



Torah Study
Saturday mornings, 9-10 am (8:30-9:30 am when a b’nai mitzvah celebrated at Shabbat morning services – check TBI calendar)  FREE

All are welcome to join a lively exploration of the weekly Torah portion. Torah study is sometimes rabbi-facilitated and sometimes lay-led. All levels of experience welcome. Text study is done in English, with occasional close examination of the Hebrew text in an inclusive manner.

Jewish Literature Book Group
2nd Wednesday of each month, 7:00 PM  FREE

The Jewish Literature Book Group comes together monthly to discuss classic and contemporary books by Jewish writers from the U.S. and across the world. We focus on fiction and memoirs of literary merit. Discussion is guided by questions prepared by the facilitator to open up the political, cultural, and literary dimensions of the book. For more information, contact Martha Ravits through the Temple office, 541.485.7218

Upcoming titles include:

February 8: The Confessions of Noa Weber
By Gail Hareven

March 14: The Girl from Foreign
By Sadia Shepard

Jewish Movement Meditation with Evlyn Gould
Thursdays, January 5-March 29, 9:00 am
Donations to TBI Community Education Fund gratefully accepted.

Jewish Movement Meditation awakens the body’s own capacity for self-transformation. With music, sound, and breath, we use techniques of Jewish meditation to invoke the internal genius of the body’s living waters—the mayyim chayyim—and their power of self-renewal. Join us as we dive into the sacred waters of life to restore health, build core strength, and listen in together to the wisdom of the body. We will work on the floor individually, but together, in comfortable clothing without zippers or buttons. No special experience, strength level, or movement training is necessary. But it is important to form the safe space of a working group or community. This is an ongoing practice group. Newcomers are invited to join at the start of each 4 week period.

Evlyn Gould holds a M.A. and a Ph.D. in French Literature and a CAS Distinguished Professorship at the University of Oregon as well as B.A. degrees in French and Dance. She has trained for 30 years in classical dance and has worked for five years in Continuum Movement.

Kol Zimra Chant Circle with Lisa Kaye
Thursdays, February 23, & March 22, 7:00 pm
Open to everyone; drop-ins welcome. Donations to TBI Community Education Fund gratefully accepted.

If you are looking for a new way to enter into a deep and prayerful relationship with sacred texts so that the kavanah comes alive, chanting may be for you. Sink deep into the tones of the chant in order to open a new understanding of Torah’s message and a powerful shift within our souls. “I do not teach ‘chant’. I use chant to teach Torah.” Rabbi Shefa Gold

Lisa Kaye was raised in Reform Judaism where she was active organizing programs and bringing innovative services and seders to several synagogues and chavurot groups through the years. Four years ago she discovered Renewal Judaism and began the path of Rabbi Shefa Gold’s Kol Zimra chant leadership training.

Coming this Spring

Foundations of Judaism: Journey Through the Torah
with Rabbi Boris Dolin
Dates TBA

Beginning Talmud with Shmuel Cohen
4 week session starts April 9

The Haunted Smile: Jews & American Comedy
with Rabbi Maurice Harris
Sunday, April 22, 6:30 pm

Shabbaton with Rabbi Sheila Peltz Weinberg
May 4-6

“Spiritual practices train our minds, shape our consciousness and mold our character. We undertake spiritual practice in order to change in some way, even if it is only a change of perspective.”

This is a rare opportunity to study and learn with Rabbi Weinberg, a pioneer of Jewish meditation and spirituality and founder of the Jewish Institute for Jewish Spirituality.

Archives

1st Annual Marcus Simmons Lecture
"A Russian Zion, or a Jewish Nightmare? Jewish Life in Tsarist Kiev"
by Professor Natan Meir, Sunday, October 30, 2011
Download the PowerPoint presentation

Judaic Studies Events at the
University of Oregon

The Harold Schnitzer Family Program in Judaic Studies offers public lectures, brown bag seminars, and other events of campus-wide and community interest. Take a look!