Spring Educational Programming 2025

Studying our traditions and deepening our personal knowledge of Jewish source texts is one of the greatest Mitzvot as we learn in the Mishnah – Talmud Torah K'neged Kulam/The Study of Torah is Equal to All of the Mitzvot. How much greater is the value when we can learn together with our Har Zion community of friends.

Below is a comprehensive look at our weekly offerings. We try to engage our learners daily in study and are always happy to hear if you have an idea for another class. Be sure to check back weekly to see if there are any one-off and special classes in any particular week. And, as always, we are happy to see you whenever you're able to join us.

Keep an eye out for our Shabbat emails for up-to-date information.

LEARNING OPPORTUNITY

PJFM and Weitzman NMAJH Film Screening

Wednesday, June 4, 7 PM

The Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia’s Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) is proud to co-sponsor a film screening of "OCTOBER 8" with Philadelphia Jewish Film + Media and the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History. The film offers a look at the rise of antisemitism on college campuses, on social media, and in the streets of America, beginning the day after the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas on Israel.

Click here for more info

MONDAY

12 PM – Movements in American Judaism with Dr. Michael Schatz

(Class runs thru June 23 - No class on May 26 and June 2)

This class is In-person and Zoom

This class continues with deeper dives into the historical development of American Judaism and its denominations.For the first several weeks, we will be discussing various sections of Jew vs. Jew by Samuel Freedman, and participants are encouraged to acquire a copy. We will begin with Chapter 1.

Anyone is welcome to attend regularly or drop in as they wish.

Click here to join via Zoom

Meeting ID: 307 735 8924

Passcode: 613

1 PM – NaKh: The Rest of the Bible with Dr. Ely Levine

(Class runs thru June 23 - No class on May 26 and June 2)

This class is In-person and Zoom

We spend a lot of time on certain parts of the Bible – chiefly, the Torah. It is time to read through the Prophets and the Writings more carefully. Join this class to read and discuss the rest of the Bible. We will move at a comfortable pace, but include some deep exploration of texts. New participants are welcome at any time! We are reading now about Solomon and his reign in the books of Kings.

Click here to join via Zoom

Meeting ID: 865 668 4896

Passcode: 18

Dial-in: 1-929-205-6099

8:30 PM – Talmud Study with Rabbi Gary Charlestein

This class is Zoom only

Click here for those who don’t have their own books: https://talmud.page/

Call Gary (215-290-0405) if you need to pick up the text.

Click here to join via Zoom

Meeting ID: 965 3493 8417

Passcode: 1111

Dial-in: 1-929-436-2866

TUESDAY

4-5:30 PM – Sisterhood Rosh Hodesh

In-person and Zoom – check your emails for updates

May 27

at the home of Debbie Golden

The topic is: Great Jewish Books. Come prepared to tell the group about why a particular book is great or important to you and why it is a Jewish book.

Plan to read an excerpt from a book or play that you have chosen to present.

It is not necessary that the book be the work of a Jewish author.

When you RSVP, Debbie will send you her address.

Warm, interactive, and challenging discussions related to the holidays and themes of each month are led by group members.

For more information, please contact Debbie Golden, goldendagg@gmail.com or

Janice Katz, rhk101@hotmail.com.

Click here to join via Zoom

Meeting ID: 924 6612 7296

Passcode: 18

Dial-in: 1-646-876-9923

WEDNESDAY

8:15 AM – TISCH with Rabbi Shawn

This class is in-person and Zoom

Join Rabbi Shawn for inspirational learning. In this class we will engage in weekly Halakha (legal text) study from the Rambam's Mishneh Torah.

Click here to join via Zoom

Meeting ID: 852 2116 6353

Password: 5785

1-929-205-6099

THURSDAY

10:30 AM – Commentaries on Exodus with Rabbi Ira Flax

(Class runs thru June 26)

This class is in-person and Zoom

Join us for an in-depth study of the Book of Exodus. Starting with the commentary of the Hertz and Etz Chaim Chumash we then delve into the insights found in the Talmud, Midrash, and the major commentators spanning the length of Jewish history. It's Torah as you have never studied it!

Click here to join via Zoom

Meeting ID: 823 3847 4750

Passcode: 5785

Dial-in: 1-929-205-6099

Please bring along a dairy lunch and stay and shmooze until

Dr. Levine's class starts.

12 PM – Jewish Books in Christian Bibles with Dr. Ely Levine

(Class runs thru June 26)

This class is in-person and Zoom

Ancient Jewish literature was quite varied. What Jews decided to preserve was just a small portion; Christians preserved many, many Jewish texts. Come read through some of these Jewish texts, including the Gospels, Jubilees, and Maccabees. See what other ideas Jews had that may not have been preserved in mainstream Judaism, other ideas that seemed to find a roundabout way into normative Judaism, and still other Jewish ideas that ended up being used against Jews.

Click here to join via Zoom

Meeting ID: 865 668 4896

Passcode: 18

Dial-in: 1-929-205-6099

FRIDAY

8:15 AM – Legally Speaking with Rabbi Shawn

This class is in-person and Zoom

This class will read, analyze and discuss contemporary issues and how they are handled in Teshuvot/Legal Responsa of the Conservative movement.

No prior legal knowledge necessary.

Click here to join via Zoom

Meeting ID: 852 5218 5606

Passcode: 5785

Dial-in: 1-929-205-6099

SATURDAY

Following Morning Services – Milton Pomerantz Interactive Torah Study

This class is in-person (Bailis Room) and Zoom

This participant-led and organized study group wrestles with the meaning

of the weekly portion. For more info or to teach a session,

please contact David Tabby, dtabby@gmail.com.

Click here to join via Zoom

Meeting ID: 559 871 8497

Passcode: 18

Dial-in: 1-929-205-6099

No class on May 26 and 31

Shabbat Talmud Class with Rabbi Gary Charlestein

Saturday afternoon, one hour before Minha

This class is in-person in the Rudofker Library

This class is in addition to his Monday evening class.

Questions or comments about the lifelong learning classes?

Please reach out to Rabbi Shawn (rabbishawn@harziontemple.org).

Har Zion Celebrates 100!