Topics will change several times each year. Descriptions of each Mini-Course are listed in subsequent pages.

Dates: Most Monday evenings beginning November 10, 2008  

Time:  8:00 PM (starts after Maariv)

Teacher:  Varies

Location:  Shul

The Talmud and other rabbinic texts include stories about the lives of great scholars, including Rabbi Akiva, Rabbi Eliezer, Rabbi Yehoshua, Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai, Rabbi Meir, and Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai. In each class session, we will read at least one of these texts in Hebrew and Aramaic with English translation. We will draw attention to the literary and theological aspects of these stories, as well as to their halachic and cultural contexts. In addition to providing insights into the ways in which the Rabbis grappled with fundamental tensions in their culture, these texts also provide valuable moral and theological lessons that we can apply to our own lives.

Dates: 1st Wednesday of each month , beginning January, 2009 --  January 7, February 4, March 4, April 1, May 6, June 3.

Time:  10:30 AM to 12 Noon

Teacher: Rabbi Lisa Malik

Location: Saxby's Coffee & Cafe, 346 Lancaster Avenue, Haverford

During each session, we will make challah together at Rabbi Malik’s house, under the guidance of different bakers from our congregation.  While the challah dough is rising, the rabbi will teach us and lead us in a discussion about a different “middah” (Jewish virtue). Some of the “middot” we will study are: Shalom Bayit (Peace in the Home), Sever Panim Yafot (Having a Pleasant Demeanor), Shmiat HaOzen (Listening Attentively), Anavah (Humility), Shmirat HaGuf (Caring For Our Bodies), Shmirat HaLashon (Being Careful About Our Speech), Ometz Lev (Courage), and Derech Eretz (Common Decency). If you are interested in sharing your challah recipe and being the featured baker at one of these monthly sessions, please contact Rabbi Malik. 

Dates: Thursday, December 4, 2008; Wednesday, January 28, 2009; Wednesday, February  25, 2009; Wednesday, March  25, 2009; Wednesday, April 29, 2009; Thursday, May 14, 2009

Time: 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM

Teachers: Rabbi Malik & congregants

Location: The home of Rabbi Malik & Rebbitzman Adi Wyner.

Each week we will study one or more rabbinic interpretations from the Midrash about the weekly Torah portion (“Parashat HaShavua”).

Dates: Every Friday morning beginning November 14, 2008.

Time:  7:45 AM to 8:30 AM (starts after Shacharit)

Teacher: Rabbi Lisa Malik

Location:  Shul

Study the Parshat HaShevuah, the weekly Torah portion, with Professor Naomi Koltun-Fromm & Michael Stein

Dates: 1st, 3rd and 4th Shabbat mornings of the month, beginning Saturday, November 1, 2008.

Time:  10:00 AM-11:15 AM

Teachers: Professor Naomi Koltun-Fromm & Michael Stein

Location:  Shul

If you have ever felt lost during synagogue prayer services and you want to learn the "what's, how's and why's" of various parts of the Shabbat morning service, come to our monthly Learners' Minyan.  In addition to learning the prayers themselves, you will also learn the choreography of the service.  In no time, you'll learn when and why to stand, sit, put your feet together, put your hands over your eves and bend your knees while davening.

Date:  Second Shabbat of every month

Time:  10:00 AM

Teacher:  Rebbitzman Adi Wyner

Location: Shul