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“Who is wise? The person who learns from everyone.” (Psalm 119:99)

Adult Education at Temple Sholom

Our congregation values Torah and comprehensive Jewish learning, and we offer a robust catalog of adult education opportunities throughout the week in the spirit of lifelong learning. Taught by our clergy and community members, available topics include Hebrew, Talmud, modern and ancient Jewish history, Jewish text, short stories, spirituality and more. Register for Adult Education Classes on our calendar pages!

Quick Links

5782 Adult Education Full Curriculum
5782 Adult Education Guest Scholar Series
Register for Intro to Judaism Classes - starting Fall 2022
Register for Taste of Judaism Classes - starting Fall 2022
Register for URJ Online Introduction to Hebrew
Wednesday Morning Study Group Topics 2022-23
To be added to our Adult Ed email list click here

Upcoming Adult Education Events

WednesdayWed, 12 OctOctober, 2022

Wednesday Morning Study Group with Rabbi Gellman

Wednesday, Oct 12th 10:00a to 11:30aExploring Reform Judaism with Rabbi Gellman

WednesdayWed, 12 OctOctober, 2022

Adult Education Guest Scholar: Organizing 101 – How Do the Powerless Get Power? with Tom Tresser in conversation with Rabbi Scott Gellman

Wednesday, Oct 12th 7:00p to 8:30pDid you know that President Obama started out as a community organizer on Chicago’s South Side? What is community organizing? What makes for an effective community organizer? How is organizing different from other forms of social service or change work? Long time civic educator and public defender Tom Tresser will address these questions in a dialog with Rabbi Scott Gellman.

WednesdayWed, 19 OctOctober, 2022

Wednesday Morning Study Group with Rabbi Gellman

Wednesday, Oct 19th 10:00a to 11:30aExploring Reform Judaism with Rabbi Gellman

WednesdayWed, 19 OctOctober, 2022

Guest Scholar - Coming of Age in America with Elly Fishman

Wednesday, Oct 19th 7:30p to 8:30pElly Fishman discusses her acclaimed book, Refugee High: Coming of Age in America, which chronicles a year in the life of a Chicago high school that has one of the highest proportions of refugee students of any school in the nation. Winner of the Studs and Ida Terkel Prize, "Refugee High" raises vital questions about the priorities and values of a public school system and offers a captivating, eye-opening window into the lives of Chicago's newest residents.

SundaySun, 23 OctOctober, 2022

Introduction to Biblical Hebrew

Sunday, Oct 23rd 10:30a to 11:30aLearn to read Hebrew and the basics of the Hebrew language. The class will focus on the rudiments of grammar, supplementing our studies with texts from the Torah and the Siddur. The class is recommended for the beginner, as well as for those who have some knowledge of Hebrew grammar. The class textbook is The First Hebrew Primer (Simon, Resnikoff and Motzkin, eds.).

SundaySun, 23 OctOctober, 2022

Guest Scholar - Live at Mister Kelly's with David Marienthal

Sunday, Oct 23rd 10:45a to 11:45aDavid Marienthal will talk about his father and uncle the late George and Oscar Marienthal, and their powerhouse establishment, Mr. Kelly’s, an integral part of Chicago’s entertainment industry in the mid-20th century. From 1953 to 1975, Mr. Kelly’s was the place to be: The Rush Street nightclub launched the careers of many Hollywood luminaries, including. Barbra Streisand, Bette Midler, Mort Sahl, Lenny Bruce, and Freddie Prinze.

SundaySun, 23 OctOctober, 2022

The Jewish Bible : A Material History

Sunday, Oct 23rd 10:45a to 11:45aRoberta Schwartz will discuss The Jewish Bible : A Material History by David Stern. (University Of Washington Press, 2017.) Prof. Stern concentrates on the Bible as found in design and material, from 1st-2nd centuries BCE into modern times.

SundaySun, 23 OctOctober, 2022

Pressing Questions of Modern Jewish Life

Sunday, Oct 23rd 2:00p to 3:00pWe will be reading and discussing Can Robots Be Jewish, edited by Amy E. Schwartz. (Moment Books). We will discuss questions of twenty-first century dilemmas addressed by different Jewish perspectives on the topics of science, sex, modern life, values, politics, and the universe.

TuesdayTue, 25 OctOctober, 2022

Daf Shevui: A Weekly Study of a Page of Talmud with Rabbi Conover

Tuesday, Oct 25th 8:30a to 9:30aJoin Rabbi Conover to study a page of Talmud each week in Tractate Brachot from the Babylonian Talmud. Over this year-long course, we will explore the stories and meaning within the pages and sharpen our Talmud skills. No experience necessary. Feel free to join anytime!

TuesdayTue, 25 OctOctober, 2022

The Midterm Elections and Reproductive Justice – the Importance and Impact Panel Discussion

Tuesday, Oct 25th 6:00p to 8:00pA panel of experts, facilitated by Rabbi Singer, will share different perspectives on how critical the Nov. 8 elections are for reproductive justice and especially the precarious status for Illinois to remain a “safe state”. Visit the event page for information on the evening, and the panel of experts who will be joining us.

WednesdayWed, 26 OctOctober, 2022

Wednesday Morning Study Group Hartman Hot Topics with Rabbi Conover

Wednesday, Oct 26th 10:00a to 11:30aJoin Rabbi Conover for lively discussions this fall on some of the stickiest ethical dilemmas of our time. We'll delve into a curriculum exclusively designed by thought leaders at the institute. This class will engender conversations so topical and compelling; you'll find yourself talking about them long after the class is over.

WednesdayWed, 26 OctOctober, 2022

Israel 101

Wednesday, Oct 26th 7:30p to 8:00pTogether we will study the history and geography of Israel and how this effects the life and politics of the state today.

SundaySun, 30 OctOctober, 2022

Hartman Hot Topics with Rabbi Conover

Sunday, Oct 30th 9:30a to 10:30aJoin Rabbi Conover for lively discussions this fall on some of the stickiest ethical dilemmas of our time. We'll delve into a curriculum exclusively designed by thought leaders at the institute. This class will engender conversations so topical and compelling; you'll find yourself talking about them long after the class is over.

SundaySun, 30 OctOctober, 2022

Introduction to Biblical Hebrew

Sunday, Oct 30th 10:30a to 11:30aLearn to read Hebrew and the basics of the Hebrew language. The class will focus on the rudiments of grammar, supplementing our studies with texts from the Torah and the Siddur. The class is recommended for the beginner, as well as for those who have some knowledge of Hebrew grammar. The class textbook is The First Hebrew Primer (Simon, Resnikoff and Motzkin, eds.).

SundaySun, 30 OctOctober, 2022

The Jewish Bible : A Material History

Sunday, Oct 30th 10:45a to 11:45aRoberta Schwartz will discuss The Jewish Bible : A Material History by David Stern. (University Of Washington Press, 2017.) Prof. Stern concentrates on the Bible as found in design and material, from 1st-2nd centuries BCE into modern times.

In addition to a variety of Sunday class options featuring our clergy and guest speaker series, we also offer:

Monday evening Introduction to Judaism and A Taste of Judaism classes
Monday evening bi-monthly film screenings & discussion
Tuesday morning weekly Talmud study with our rabbis
Wednesday morning weekly discussion group with our clergy/education team
Wednesday evening parallel classes for parents during Midweek Hebrew
Friday evening Shabbat guest speakers
Shabbat morning Torah study minyan with clergy

This year’s class topics include the following series:

Hartman Hot Topics with Rabbi Conover - Fall & Spring Sundays, 9:30-10:30 AM
Prayer & Liturgy 101 with Cantor Ben-David - Winter Sundays, 11 AM - 12 PM
Eating Jewishly with Rabbi Gellman - Winter Wednesdays, 7:30-8:30 PM
Israel 101 with Rabbi Singer - Seasonal Wednesdays, 7:30-8:30 PM
Short Stories with Cliff Scott-Rudnick - Sundays, 2-3 PM
Shakespeare Discussion with Mitchell Brown - Wednesdays, 6:30-8 PM
Intro to Biblical Hebrew with Mitchell Brown - Sundays, 10:30-11:30 AM

Questions? Contact Lori@sholomchicago.org or 773-435-1531.

Wed, September 28 2022 3 Tishrei 5783