Kelly Feinstein-Johnson, Ph.D.

This is a course that is half history course, half book club.  The class will read selections from four memoirs, written by women at important points in European history.  These works get at both the larger historical trends and the very unique ways in which women experienced them.  This approach helps us give voice to the stories of women, experiences that are often lost in larger narratives of both Jewish and general European history.

We will meet five times total: the first class will provide some background on each author and her historical period, and the subsequent meetings will discussthe memoirs of Glukel of Hameln (meeting 2), Rahel Varnhagen (meeting 3), Fanny Lewald (meeting 4), and Etty Hilsum (meeting 5).

Registration Fees: $45 for members; $60 for non-members
Thursdays from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm.
April 4, 11, 18, 25, May 2. 

Read more: History Through Memoir: European Jewish Women's History

Ken Miller, J. Edward Wright, Ph.D., David Graizbord, Ph.D., Guy Gelbart, Roni Keidar

The Weintraub Israel Center and Temple Emanu-El are presenting an exciting, thought-provoking and informative education series, bringing different aspects of the Jewish connection to the land and country of Israel.  Join the discussion -- learn and talk Israel!

Registration Fee: $45 for members and non-members
Mondays from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm.
February 4: Israel's Cultures, Past and Present; Ken Miller, University of Arizona, Staff Archaeologist and Numismatic Specialist
February 11: Ancient Israel and the Israeliti Period; J. Edward Wright, Ph.D., Department Head, Judaic Studies, The Arizona Center for Judaic Studies - A walk through the archaeological references to ancient Israel and the birth of the Jewish/Hebrew people.
February 18: Zionism -- Is It a Bad Word?; David Graizbord, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Judaic Studies, The Arizona Center for Judaic Studies - The who, what, when, where and why of Zionism and how it relates to the Jewish people.
February 25: The Prayer of the Secular; Guy Gelbart, Weintraub Israel Center Director and Community Shaliach.  Before coming to Tucson, Guy spent his career as a project manager in the high-tech industry in Israel. - Jewish identity, Israel and modern trends. 
March 4: Building Alternative Bridges for Peace Under Fire; Roni Keidar, an Israeli from Nativ Haasara, in our Partnership region.  While living under constant rocket fire from Gaza, she helps Palestinians from Gaza get emergency health care in Israel. 

Read more: Israel: Past and Present

Rabbi Jason Holtz

The Prophets is the second of three sections of the Hebrew Bible.  Beginning with Joshua, The Prophets details the Israelites crossing the Jordan River and entering into the Promised Land.  From there, we learn about Biblical Israel, its people, its judges, its kings, and its prophets.  This will be an ongoing class that aims to read The Prophets in its entirety.  Please bring a copy of the Hebrew Bible with you to each session.

Registration Fees: $45 for members; $60 for non-members
Mondays from 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm.
     Session I: January 28; February 4, 11, 18, 25; March 4, 11
     Session II: March 18; April 8, 15, 22, 29; May 6, 13

Read more: The Prophets

Wendy Weise Cohon, Ph.D., and Rabbi Samuel M. Cohon

We will explore the myth of the Garden of Eden as it is told, interpreted, and reimagined by classic Jewish scholars and important artists, writers, and filmmakers from the 2nd through the 21st centuries.  We'll ask questions such as what cultural work the myth performs and how it shapes our understanding of gender and sexuality to this day.  How does who tells the story influence our perspective?  How is the hero/heroine and who the true villain?  And, finally, was the "fall" so bad after all?

Texts will be drawn from the earliest rabbinic Midrashim, the Zohar, John Milton, Aemilia Lanyer, Michael Chabon, Lucille Clifton, Ursula La Guinn, Susan Donnely, the films "Pleasantville" and "Avater", and many more.

Registration Fees: $45 for members; $60 for non-members
Sundays from 10:00 am to 11:20 am.
April 14, 21, 28. 

Read more: Serpents in the Garden: Gender, Sex, and Knowledge in Paradise

Rabbi Samuel M. Cohon

The Zohar is the great medieval compendium of mysticism, myth, and esoteric teaching.  One of the most important bodies of religious texts of all times and places, it is also a lush literary celebration of love, expressed in sensuous religious language.  The Zohar's secret universe serves as the basis of Kabbalistic faith and is, at heart, a work of sacred fantasy.  

This remarkable work is explored using the new translation by Danny Matt, which enables even novice students of the Kabbalah to approach and understand the pivotal text.  In a guided exploration of this seminal work of mysticism, Rabbi Cohon helps open the "locked garden" of the Zohar in an interactive discussion class using both intellectual and meditation techniques.

Introductory Class: Welcome to the Zohar - Thursdays from 11:45 am to 1:00 pm.
                                    August 16, 23.
                                    Registration Fees: $25 for members; $35 for non-members.

Regular Course: The Zohar, Soul-Text of Kabbalah - Thursdays from 11:45 am to 1:00 pm.
                              Session I: August 30; September 6, 13, 20, 27; October 4
                              Session II: October 18, 25; November 1, 8, 15, 29
                              Session III: December 6, 13, 20; January 10, 24, 31
                              Session IV: February 7, 14, 28; March 7, 14, 21, 28
                              Session V: April 11, 18, 25; May 2, 9, 16
                              Registration Fees Per Session: $45 for members; $60 for non-members 

Read more: The Zohar: Soul-Text of Kabbalah

Rabbi Samuel M. Cohon, Rabbi Jason Holtz, and You!

This is a wonderful opportunity to probe the text of the weekly Torah portion in depth, as well as to discuss and argue with your fellow students at an extended, interactive Torah study and potluck lunch.  Join us for the best casual lunch and finest Jewish conversation in Tucson!

Free and open to all.  No registration is necessary.  Bring a dairy/vegetarian dish to share.
Saturdays at 12:00 noon.
August 18; September 15; October 20; November 17; December 22; February 9; March 2; April 27; May 25. 

Margaret Kendle

Students will learn to read, write, and understand biblical Hebrew in a friendly, student-paced environment.  Whether one's goal is more meaningful engagement of our liturgy or a deeper interpretation of biblical texts, this is a fun way to enhance one's personal experience.  Beyond the broad vocabulary base that is acquired, much of the Torah's not-so-subtle meaning can be appreciated as its brilliant literary devices become evident.  We will utilize the Tanach, The First Hebrew Primer by EKS Publishing Co., Mishkan T'filah by CCAR Press, and interactive activities to expedite student learning.
Prerequisites: Please contact the instructor for placement.   

Registration Fees Per Session: $45 for members; $60 for non-members
Beginning: Thursdays from 7:45 pm to 9:00 pm.
Intermediate: Thursdays from 6:30 pm to 7:45 pm.
          Session I: August 30; September 6, 13, 20, 27; October 4
          Session II: October 18, 25; November 1, 8, 15, 29
          Session III: December 6, 13, 20; January 10, 24, 31
          Session IV: February 7, 14, 28; March 7, 14, 21, 28
          Session V: April 11, 18, 25; May 2, 9, 16 

Read more: Biblical Hebrew

Rabbi Jason Holtz

Through mitzvot, sacred Jewish obligations, we can change our lives, improve our community, heal the world, elevate the ordinary into the extraordinary, and transform special occasions into holy occasions.  This is a class on both what it means to be a Jew and how to be a Jew.  We will learn about mitzvot, like honoring one's parents, good stewardship of the world, and giving tzedakah, financial support for good causes.  We will learn about the Sabbath and ways to make it a "palace in time" as Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel referred to it.  We will also learn about the holidays and ways to make them meaningful and spiritual, from the High Holy Days to Hanukkah to Passover and more.  

Registration Fees: $45 for members; $60 for non-members
Sundays from 9:30 am to 11:00 am.
September 9, 23; October 28; December 2; January 13, 20; February 10; March 17; April 7. 

Read more: Jewish Living

Rabbi Samuel M. Cohon

Join us for reading, discussion, insight, stimulating argument and good coffee at this monthly book group exploring the latest in Jewish literature.  A vibrant exploration of the best of contemporary fiction and non-fiction.  The books for the 5773 series are: 

     October 3: The Dovekeepers, by Alice Hoffman
     November 14: Mitzvah Man, by John J. Clayton
     December 5: The Arrogant Years, by Lucette Lagnado
     January 9: No One is Here Except All of Us, by Ramona Ausubel
     February 6: The Fallen Angel, by Daniel Silva
     March 6: The Prague Cemetery, by Umberto Eco
     April 10: My Russian Grandmother and Her American Vacuum Cleaner: A Family Memoir, by Meir Shalev
     May 1: Sacred Trash: The Lost and Found World of the Cairo Geniza, by Adina Hoffman and Peter Cole
     June 5: The Emperor of Lies, by Steven Sem-Sandberg 

Registration Fees: For the entire 2012-13 series, $45 for members; $60 for non-members.  Registration in the Sefer Book Club is valid for the entire year.
Wednesdays from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm.

Read more: The Wednesday Sefer Book Club: A Monthly Coffehouse of Contemporary Jewish Literature

Dr. Eliot Barron

The Talmud is a treasure trove of Jewish lore, legend, and wisdom.  Study excerpts are from the excellent Hebrew-English Talmud of Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz.  No prior Talmud or Hebrew knowledge is necessary. 

Registration Fee: One time $18 charge for materials.  If interested, contact Eliot Barron at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
Wednesdays from 10:00 am to 11:30 am.
Beginning October 17th. 

Cantorial Soloist Marjorie Hochberg

Learn reading and comprehension skills for Jewish participation, prayer, and vocabulary.  This class is a natural follow-up for anyone who has taken Hebrew Marathon or has a basic knowledge of the Hebrew alphabet, vowels, and pronunciation.

Registration Fee: $45 for members; $60 for non-members per semester
Sundays from 10:15 to 11:15 am.
January 20, 27; February 3, 10; March 3, 10, 17, 24.  

Read more: Beginning Prayerbook Hebrew

Rabbi Jason Holtz

The Torah scroll does not mention anything about Shabbat candles, a bar mitzvah, Passover seders, synagogues, or rabbis.  So where do they come from?  For almost two thousand years, Jews have believed that there is another Torah in addition to the Five Books of Moses.  The other Torah was passed down orally for generations and then eventually bits and pieces were slowly written down into various collections such as Talmud and Midrash.  Join us to learn more about this other Torah.  

Registration Fees: $45 for members; $60 for non-members
Mondays from 10:00 to 11:00 am.
February 4, 11, 18, 25. 

NOTE: This class will be meeting at the Jewish Federation Northwest, 190 W. Magee.

Read more: Rabbinic Literature: The Other Torah - Northwest Edition!

Rabbi Jason Holtz

This year-long class presents a thematic introduction to Jewish ideas, texts, theology, history, and culture taught in an interactive and participatory discussion style.  Learn all the basics, exploring the most important texts of Jewish tradition: Torah, Prophets, Writings, Mishnah, Gemara, Midrash, Codes, Philosophy, and Liturgy.  This class is a prerequisite for the Adult B'nai Mitzvah program, Adult Confirmation, and for all conversion students.  Course fees include textbook.

Registration Fees: $95 for members; $135 for non-members
Thursdays from 7:00 pm to 8:15 pm.
October 25; November 1, 8, 15, 29; December 6, 13; January 10, 17, 24, 31; February 7, 14, 28; March 7, 14, 21, 28; April 4, 11, 18, 25; May 2.

Read more: Basic Judaism

Rabbi Samuel M. Cohon

More advanced than Basic Judaism, this is a year-long study of the ideas, practices, and connections that make Judaism a vital and evolving religion today.  As a comprehensive exploration of the reality of today's Judaism, Intermediate Judaism focuses on the great ideas and trends of modern and contemporary Judaism: the origins and development of Reform, Conservative, and Modern Orthodox Judaism, Reconstructionist ideas, and other movements within modern Judaism.  This course will focus on themes of current importance and debate.

Registration Fees: $95 for members; $135 for non-members
Thursdays from 7:00 pm to 8:15 pm.
November 15, 29; December 6, 13; January 24, 31; February 7, 14, 28; March 7, 14, 21, 28; April 11, 18, 25; May 2, 9, 16.

Read more: Intermediate Judaism

Rabbi Samuel M. Cohon and Staff

A two-year program that prepares participants for a group Adult Bar/Bat Mitzvah service, this is a wonderful opportunity to deepen Jewish knowledge and commitment.  The required courses in the first year include completion of a Hebrew Marathon and a follow-up Beginning Hebrew class, as well as completion of the Basic Judaism course.  The second year course is direct participation for a group Bar/Bat Mitzvah service.