Adult Education

CAA’s Adult Education program has something for everyone! We view Jewish learning as a lifelong endeavor, encompassing religious texts, prayer, cultural aspects, and language. Most adult education programs are free to CAA members. Check the calendar for upcoming programs. Some ongoing adult education offerings include:

Weekly Torah Study: Each Saturday at 9:30am we gather with Rabbi Dan to take a close look at that week’s parasha (Torah reading). Brief framing comments introduce the parasha, and then we take turns reading the text (in Hebrew, English, or both) and examining both classic and modern commentary. No previous text study experience or Hebrew reading ability is required and drop ins are welcome.

Weekly Talmud Study: Most Thursday evenings at 5:30pm, our member Daniel Gil leads a study of the first tractate of the Talmud, Tractate Brachot. Using this classic text as a jumping off point, participants peak into the world of the ancient rabbis and find meaning in the text for today.

Movie Nights: Every now and then, we’ll gather to watch a film together — often with a Jewish theme, but not always — and sometimes follow it up with a guided discussion.

The CAA Book Club: Every two months we gather on a Sunday morning to discuss a book of Jewish interest. The club reads from a variety of genres, including memoir, literary novel, and historical fiction. Books are available for purchase online or at a local bookstore. Our conversations are always lively and stimulating, and a light breakfast and coffee is available beforehand.

Holiday Learning: Programming around Jewish holidays includes various kinds of learning, from text study to history to more cultural offerings. Previous classes have included Passover cooking and wine tasting as well as historical and textual bases for different holidays. Check the calendar for current offerings.

Hebrew Language: CAA offers Hebrew reading classes for members who want to learn how to better read and understand Jewish prayer. Classes are available for those who cannot read at all and those who want to improve their fluency, understanding, and Hebrew grammar.

Tikkun Leyl Shavuot: Every year CAA participates in the tradition of studying all night on Erev Shavuot. We begin with a pot

luck dinner and a cheesecake contest and then have learning opportunities every hour until dawn, when we great the new day with morning services. CAA members and guests teach a variety of classes and give presentations on topics of interest to all. Previous classes have included: a panel on conversion experiences, the history of Jews and baseball, Abulafia meditation techniques, and the false messiah Shabbatai Zvi. Check the calendar for this year’s program.

Nathan E. Cohen Lecture Series: Created in memory of the father of CAA member Dr. Arthur Cohen, this series offers presentations on a variety of topics of interest to the Greater Keene Community as a thank you gift for providing Keene’s Jewish community with a warm and secure home for over a century.