All CBI Adult Education programs require registration. Some programs are virtual only. Check Chai Lights, our bi-monthly Bulletin and Adult Education emails for registration information and links. To receive Adult Education emails, please contact Rabbi Rosenbaum at hrosenbaum@cbict.org. Most programs are free of charge. You are encouraged to make a donation to Congregation Beth Israel’s adult education fund to make continued offerings possible and we thank you for your consideration. CLICK HERE to support our program.
UPCOMING PROGRAMS:
Thursday, November 14 at 8:30pm
Virtual Only, CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
Yuval Evri, Assistant Professor of Near Eastern and Judaic Studies, Brandeis University
“Between Arabic and Hebrew: Mizrahi Culture in Israel”
This lecture explores the rich and multifaceted culture of Mizrahi Jews in Israel, who hail from Middle Eastern and North African countries. It delves into the historical migration of Mizrahi communities, their integration into Israeli society, and the unique cultural synthesis that emerged from their dual heritage. We will examine the linguistic interplay between Arabic and Hebrew in the formation of Mizrahi literature and the significant and often underappreciated contributions of Mizrahi Jews to Israeli music, cinema, and art. The lecture also addresses the social and political challenges Mizrahi Jews face, including identity, representation, and inequality issues. Through this exploration, we aim to highlight the dynamic and evolving nature of Mizrahi culture within the broader context of Israeli culture.
Thursday, November 21 at 8:30pm
Virtual Only, CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
“Hail Caesar! How Sid’s Legion Conquered American Comedy” with John Kenrick
Sid Caesar’s Your Show of Shows gave birth to the careers of writers and performers who reshaped comedy on stage and screen. John Kenrick gives talks on theatre and film history, has appeared in numerous documentaries, and is the author of Musicals101.com, The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Amateur Theatricals, and the textbook Musical Theatre: A History. He has taught at New York University’s Steinhardt School, The New School University, Marymount College Manhattan and The Philadelphia University of the Arts.
Sunday, November 24 at 10am
Emanuel Synagogue, CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
Joan Leegant, Author of Displaced Persons
Set half in Israel and half in the United States, the stories in this prize-winning collection explore the experience of exile, belonging, and what it means to call a place home. A visiting professor from Boston forms an unlikely bond with an Israeli born in Iraq. Two teenage tourists are startled out of their naiveté in a restaurant in Jerusalem’s Old City. A gifted yeshiva student spiraling into mental illness takes refuge in the poetry of Walt Whitman. An aged widower returns after sixty years to the Bronx neighborhood of his youth to make amends with a first love he abandoned to go to prison. Shimmering with insight and compassion, Displaced Persons is a profound, exquisite collection that illuminates pivotal moments of transition, longing, and hope. Formerly a lawyer, from 2007 to 2013 Joan was the visiting writer at Bar-Ilan University outside Tel Aviv where she also gave talks on American literature and culture under the auspices of the U.S. Embassy and was a volunteer ESL teacher for African refugees and asylum seekers. She has taught at Harvard, Oklahoma State, and Cornish College in Seattle where she was the writer-in-residence at Hugo House. She is a graduate of Harvard and Boston University Law School and for many years played keyboard in a klezmer band. She lives outside Boston.
Sunday, December 8 at 6pm
Virtual Only, CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
“Jewish Yemen” with Joey Leskin
Discover the fascinating culture of the Jews of Yemen, as we take a tour through their long and intriguing history. We will be exploring what was, what is and what may come next, while analyzing the nuances of the rich culture, specific customs and unique traditions. Joey is a Jew of Yemeni descent from London, England. Since gaining his Masters Degree in International Relations, he has travelled to over 50 countries, working with Jewish communities worldwide. He spent time in Turkey as Senior Fieldworker for the JDC and currently works as a Leadership Development Consultant for Jewish organizations and communities around the world, while sitting on the Board for Reform Judaism in the UK.
S.A.G.E. Programs
Second and fourth Tuesdays of the month at 11:00am *In person at CBI unless otherwise specified*
These programs are for everyone, regardless of age! Visit our calendar for information on upcoming speakers or subscribe to our weekly e-newsletter Chai Lights. Most programs are followed by a light buffet lunch at $12 per person. For more information, contact Barb Lavine (wslavine@comcast.net) or Kay Weiss (steven.k.weiss@gmail.com).
