Many Jewish sacred texts are millennia old, yet the Jewish People have continued to evolve. Similarly, each of us change in the course of our own lives. Adult studies gives a passageway into Jewish tradition and culture within the context of the classroom and through shared experiences.
Continue to explore your Jewish journey forth with the offerings that follow. All of our adult education opportunities will fully engage both remote and in-person participants. Listed below are learning opportunities for our RSNS community.
Please check the calendar for actual dates.
With Cantor Eric and Rabbi Lee
Tuesdays 12:00 to 1:00 p.m.
Teaching on alternative weeks, Eric and Lee will present topics of political, cultural and religious concern to group participants.
Monthly on Wednesdays, 7:30 – 9:00 p.m.
All people who identity as women are welcome to join the group as we study and learn with each other. We examine traditional religious rituals and life cycle events and reflect on how they continue to meet the needs of women today. Current issues of importance to us are also discussed. Women of all ages are welcome. Come to one months meeting or every month. This is an open and welcoming group.
Weekly (May & June on Wednesdays, 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
“Adult Adopt-a-Survivor” was established by Irving Roth z”l, when he was the Director of the Holocaust Resource Center at Temple Judea of Manhasset. Mr. Roth organized a network of Holocaust survivors and 2nd generation survivors to serve as “adoptees.” We now have survivors who want to tell their stories in person, during the day, and to adults. Rabbi Jodie and Dinah Kramer, an RSNS congregant, will be working with our survivors and those who adopt survivors through this program.
We will explore your expectations, Holocaust history, and practice question-asking skills. We then will create groups that will have a dialogue between survivor and adopter. Through a series of meetings held at RSNS you will become a “surrogate survivor,” committed to learning and re-telling your survivors’ stories to the next generation. Meetings will be held from 11:30am-1:30pm for seven Wednesdays between May and June. Meetings are in person at RSNS. We will ask that participants donate money to provide food for each session.
If you have any questions, please email, or call Rabbi Jodie () or 516-627-6274.
Weekly on Fridays, 12:00 – 1:00pm
Experience Shabbat through movement; connecting body, mind and soul. Good for all levels. Adults and post b’nei mitzvah teens, as well as non-members are welcome. Bring your own mat and yoga props (we have a few if you forget yours). Wear comfortable workout attire. (In-person and remote)
Saturdays, 9:00 – 10:15 a.m.
Study the Parshat HaShavua (Torah portion of the week). No prior knowledge or previous study is needed.
Enjoy a meal together, then engage in an interactive discussion with Cantor Eric on a variety of interesting topics! The theme this year is Jewish Geniuses. $18pp for dinner at 5:30pm in person, then learn with Cantor Eric from 6-7 p.m.
Monthly on Thursdays 7:30 to 9:00 p.m.
Members only
This group provides a vehicle for the men of our congregation to socialize and to talk about topics of mutual concern and interest. Seymour Weinstein serves as group leader with Rabbi Lee as the professional liaison. Men of all ages are welcome.
Monthly on Thursday 12:00 to 1:00 p.m.
Members only
This group provides an opportunity for education and for the sharing of ideas and resources related to aging. We guided by Eileen Rosendahl, a member of the congregation who is a social worker with a clinical practice directed to seniors, it is co-ordinated by Carol Blumenthal with Rabbi Lee as the professional liaison.
Bi-monthly on Thursdays 7:30 to 9:00 p.m.
Our never-ending study of the Hebrew Bible continues. Our goal is to try to understand who the writers of this sacred text were, what they had in mind in their writing, and why they wanted to preserve their thinking for future generations. All are welcome to dip their cup into the sea of Bible study.
A History Of Jewish Power And Powerlessness In America with Rabbi Lee
Bi-monthly on Saturdays 12:00 to 1:30 p.m.
Have Jews been powerful or powerless in the history of America? Like all questions so posed, the answer is a definite ‘yes’ and ‘no.’ Using a documentary approach, participants examine primary source material to answer the question. This semester we will begin with the Civil War period and continue through the period recently covered by Ken Burns’ PBS series on America and the Holocaust. Past participants and new participants are invited.
Led by Rabbi Lee
3 consecutive Mondays 7:30 to 8:45 p.m. in 2024
Virtual only
Michael Strassfelt revolutionized Jewish practice by writing The Jewish Catalog 50 years ago. That volume, which was followed by two more, taught us how to be Jewish; his new book addresses the question, Why be Jewish. Participants will discuss the book for the first two sessions. We will be joined by Michael for the final session.
Led by Harriet Feiner and Rabbi Lee in conjunction with the Mordecai Kaplan Center
4 sessions on alternative Mondays 7:30 to 8:45 p.m. in 2024
Virtual only limited to the first 20 people
Our congregation’s Rabbi Emeritus, Ira Eisenstein, ‘translated’ the writings of our Movement’s founders for teenagers and adults. We will focus on two books by Eisenstein, which presents the principles of Reconstructionist Judaism for the common Jew. This group will be open to all members of Reconstructionist congregations.
