Enjoy light Mediterranean food and a superb movie on Monday evening, December 24th at Temple Emanu-El.  Join with family and friends to watch Yent'l, the Academy Award and Golden Globe winning film, starring Barbara Streisand, Mandy Patinkin and Amy Irving.

The evening begins at 6:00 pm in the Sy Juster Auditorium at Temple Emanu-El.

Fee: $12 per person - includes light supper.

Call the Temple office to RSVP 327-4501 or sign-up below.

A great way to spend "erev"(the evening before) December 25th!

Introduced by Professor Barbara Atwood, and moderated by Rabbi Samuel M. Cohon

Wednesday, October 17th, 2012, at 7:00 pm
		Federal-State Power Under the Constitution and SB-1070 Toni M. Massaro, Regents Professor; Constitutional Law and Dean Emerita, University of Arizona Law School

Judicial Independence and the Importance of the President's Judicial Appointment Power Judge Stanley G. Feldman, Retired Chief Justice of the Arizona Supreme Court

Health Care Reform: The Supreme Court's Limited Consideration and Beyond Roy G. Spece, Professor of Law, University of Arizona School of Law

Free and open to all!  Sponsored by the Adult Education Academy

Temple Emanu-El's Taste of Judaism program offers free introductory classes that explore Judaism, Jews and Israel through learning, discussion, stories, jokes, and, of course, sampling of traditional Jewish foods. The class is in three 2-hour sessions and is open to the entire community.

Taste of Judaism classes are an open, interactive explortion of history and practice of Judaism in 3 sessions that discuss Jewish Spirituality, Values and Community, led by Rabbis Samuel M. Cohon and Jason Holtz. This is an exciting learning opportunity for all who want to deepen their knowledge and understanding of Jewish culture, history, rituals and practice; who want to learn more about the Reform Jewish perspective; or are simply curious about Judaism. The classes are free, but pre-registration is required. Please call Mila Vasser at 327-4501 ext. 16 for more information and to register.

This class is provided by the Ruth F. and Samuel H. Cohen Outreach Program of Temple Emanu-El.

Rabbi Samuel M. Cohon and Rabbi Jason Holtz

This three-part class will help those who have a modest knowledge of Jewish life to better understand Judaism as practiced in America.  This is a broad-based presentation of three major themes in American Judaism, a fun, upbeat but intelligent approach to getting a better handle on just what today's version of our ancient religion is all about.  

Taught in the same energetic, interactive style as the hugely popular Taste of Judaism series, the classes include "Jews in America -- Movements (Reform, Conservative, Orthodox & More)", "Assimilation & Creativity: From Davening to Rock? A Jewish Way to Pray", and "American-Israeli Relations".  Includes delicious "tastes" of traditional Jewish foods.  

This class is provided by the Ruth F. and Samuel H. Cohen Outreach Program of Temple Emanu-El.

Registration Fees: $25 for members and non-members (includes snacks and two CDs of Jewish music)
Thursdays from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm.
September 13, 20, 27. 

Rabbi Samuel M. Cohon and Rabbi Jason Holtz

For everyone who has ever struggled through a long Days of Awe service and wondered why he or she was there, this is a two-part exploration of the great themes of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur prayer, including an introduction to the music.  Make Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur matter this time around!  Two sessions with honey cake, tea, and coffee at the break.  Fun, informative, entertaining, and different.  

Registration Fees: $25 for members; $35 for non-members
Sundays from 9:30 am to 11:00 am.
August 26; September 16. 

Professor R. Brooks Jeffery, Dr. Amy Newhall, Dr. Eileen Warshaw

The contemporary architect Richard Meier says, "When I think of a place of worship, I think of a place where one can sit and be reminded of all the things that are important outside of our individual lives."  Most of our religious experiences have been in places designed as sacred space.  "The Architecture of Sacred Space" will be an introduction to the major influences on the design of religious environments.  The course will begin with an overview and panel discussion by community experts.  This will be followed by visits to five different places of worship.  These visits will allow us to compare the diverse ways in which religious buildings reflect the different concepts of "Sacred Space".  

The panel will be a conversation about: What makes a place sacred?  What are commonalities and differences among sacred spaces?  This discussion will be led by Professor R. Brooks Jeffery, Director of the Drachman Institute, who will also describe features of religious architecture.  The panel will also include Dr. Amy Newhall, specialist in Islamic art ad Architecture, and Dr. Eileen Warshaw, Executive Director of the Jewish History Museum.  This will be followed by our first site visit -- the Sanctuary at Temple Emanu-El, with the tour to be led by artist Andy Iventosch.

Registration Fee: $45 
Tuesday, Ocober 16, 7:00 pm, at Temple Emanu-El, Introductory Panel & Site Visit
Site Visits: All additional visits are on Sunday at 2:00 pm.
    Sunday, October 21: St. Augustine Cathedral
    Sunday,  October 28: Jewish History Museum
    Sunday, November 4: Islamic Center of Tucson
    Sunday, November 11: St. Michaels and All Angels
    Sunday, November 18: Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church 

Margaret Kendle

Fun, interactive, and sometimes loud, Modern Hebrew is the more overtly expressive side of our sacred language.  Our course will develop your skills utilizing the Brandeis ethic of enabling students to fully function within a language.  Thus, students will be speaking and listening -- sometimes at the same time -- reading, writing, and occasionally, singing.  Such an approach not only maximizes one's learning experience, but also helps to expedite the language acquisition process.  
Prerequisites: Please contact the instructor for placement.   
Textbook Requirement: Brandeis Modern Hebrew by Brandeis University Press. 

Registration Fees Per Session: $45 for members; $60 for non-members
Beginning: Wednesdays from 6:30 pm to 7:45 pm.
          Session I: August 29; September 5, 12, 19; October 3
          Session II: October 17, 24, 31; November 7, 14, 28

Cantorial Soloist Marjorie Hochberg

Learn to read Hebrew in two fun sessions -- just seven hours -- guaranteed!  This year, read along with the prayers at services, and make Hebrew a language you know.

Registration Fee: $45 for members; $60 for non-members
Sunday, January 13, 1:00 - 5:00 pm and Monday, January 14, 6:00 - 9:00 pm.

Read more: Hebrew Marathon

Rabbi Samuel M. Cohon, Dr. Scott Lucas, Dr. Anne Betteridge, and Dr. Wendy Weise Cohon

How do you find God?  Many individuals and communities have sought new connections to the Divine through mystical contemplation and meditation.  Explore the often parallel and sometimes contrasting approaches Islam and Judaism have taken to mysticism, and get a taste of the unusual, and even heretical, paths that these two monotheistic faiths are taking now.

Registration Fee: $45 
Thursdays from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm.
October 18: Ezekiel in the Orchard and Muhammad in the Mountain; Rabbi Samuel M. Cohon and Dr. Scott Lucas
October 25: 'Friends of God' in Islam and Judaism; Rabbi Samuel M. Cohon and Dr. Scott Lucas
November 1: Soul Sisters - Woman and Mysticism; Dr. Anne Betteridge and Dr. Wendy Weise Cohon
November 8: Modern Times - Controversies and Confusion; Rabbi Samuel M. Cohon and Dr. Scott Lucas 

Louise Greenfield and Bonnie Golden

Mussar is an ancient Jewish practice that focuses on balancing our inner "soul traits".  Guided practice can help us to focus on such soul traits as compassion, gratitude, and humility and to bring them into balance in our own lives.  Through our practice we seek to form a closer relationship to God.  

In this two-session introductory class we will explore the practice of Mussar through text, meditation, and group discussion.  We will also learn how to work with a spiritual partner.  One outcome of this class is the option of forming an ongoing Mussar group to help support your spiritual practice.  

Bonnie and Louise have practiced Mussar as spiritual partners for the last two years and have initiated the practice with the Temple Emanu-El Spirituality group. 

Registration Fee: Materials cost only $18
Sundays from 11:00 am to 12:30 pm.
September 9, 23. 

Rabbi Baruch Cohon

"I don't want to achieve immortality through my work.  I want to achieve immortality by not dying."  -- Woody Allen

As recently announced, UC Riverside will receive a $5 million grant from the John Templeton Foundation of Pennsylvania, to research immortality.  The study will explore views on immortality in the field of science, philosophy, theology, and social sciences.  

So what does Judaism say about immortality?  We are sometimes called Am Olam, the Eternal People.  We certainly began dealing with this subject long ago.  Does the human soul exist before birth?  Does it continue to exist after death?  Session 1 will explore scriptural sources on the subject.  Session 2 will explore some Talmud, Midrash, philosophy, and folklore.  We promise no final answers, just some interesting insights.  

Registration Fees: $20 for members; $30 for non-members
Wednesday, September 12 and Monday, September 24, from 7:00 to 9:30 pm. 

Rabbi Richard Safran

No book of the Tanach has touched the hearts of Jews and Christians as has the Book of Psalms.  Join us for a luncheon study class as we look at an old text and explore some modern ones that inspire us and fill our lives with hope, courage, and faith.  Bring your own lunch; we supply the coffee.

Registration Fees: $45 for members; $60 for non-members
Tuesdays from 11:45 am to 1:00 pm.
October 30; November 6, 13, 20, 27. 

Rabbi Sandy Seltzer

Over the centuries, Judaism survived the appearance of any number of false messiahs, most notably Shabbetai Tzvi and Jacob Frank, albeit not without serious consequences.  We will examine the historic settings in which they emerged, the claims that were made, their impact on the Jewish people in the past, and their implications for our own day.

Registration Fees: $45 for members; $60 for non-members
Tuesdays from 10:00 to 11:30 am.
October 16, 23, 30; November 6. 

Chava Gal-Or, Youth Education Director

The Voluntary Simplicity movement advocates cutting back on personal consumption in order to achieve a better balance of time, money, and material possessions.  Our lives are full in every way.  We have too much to do, too many things to manage.  In this workshop, Chava Gal-Or will explore how many of our Jewish values and teachings can be utilized as we look for ways to honor ourselves and our time.  This two-session class will take place as we prepare for the busy winter chaos.  

Registration Fee: $20 for members; $30 for non-members.
Wednesdays from 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm.
November 28; December 5. 

Rabbi Samuel M. Cohon

This is a continuing class from Fall and Spring 2011/2012.Temple Emanu-El's Adult Confirmation program provides the adult Jewish learner with the opportunity for directed education at the most advancedlevel.  A two-year program with significant prerequisites and substantive ongoing requirements, it offers an exciting and challenging approach to creating heightened Jewish knowledge, awareness, comprehension, and creativity.  Classes emphasize an interactive seminar format with required outside reading and writing.  The framework for course study is "Moments of Revolution in Judaism".  Each block is organized around one such central moment in Jewish history, with all of its implications for the development of Judaism and with a full exploration of its relevance today.  In the course of the two years of study, each Adult Confirmand will create his or her own Jewish theology, exploring and explicating her or his own beliefs about God, Torah, and Israel.  

Adult Confirmation concludes with a confirmation ceremony and a service led by the confirmation students in the fall of 2012.  The Adult Confirmation program is only available to members of Temple Emanu-El.  

This class will again be open to new student enrollments in the 5774 year.
The following dates are for those already enrolled and completing their two-year confirmation class.
Thursdays from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm: June 21; July 19; October 11.
Wednesdays from 12:00 noon to 2:00 pm: August 22, 29; September 5.
Wednesdays from 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm: October 17, 31.
Shabbat Service and Confirmation Ceremony on Saturday, November 3 at 10:00 am.