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Program Menu
About ALEINU
Winner of the URJ Congregation of Learners Award, CBI's Adult Learners Network programming is thriving. ALEINU courses, programs and special events include general and specific Jewish education, book discussions, Bible courses, notable speakers, and much more.
All are InvitedWe welcome people who are not Jewish to attend our classes and programs. In addition to the extensive selection of classes, we offer programs especially designed for interfaith couples and families. Most of our classes do not require CBI membership.
Enrollment and Cancellation Policies
Some classes and programs have limited enrollments. Register early to avoid disappointment. If enrollment is too low, an event or class may be canceled. To be notified of schedule changes or cancellations, you must be preregistered. Check Tidings, CBI's monthly newsletter, our weekly email newsletter, and here for updated information on ALEINU classes and programs.
Financial Assistance
We offer reduced fees or scholarships to assist in attending ALEINU classes.
For more information contact Program Director Bonnie Graff at 858-535-1111, ext. 3800.
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Sunday mornings, 9:00 to 11:30 a.m.
Spring semester: January 22 - March 25
(Jan. 22, 29, Feb. 12, 26, March 4, 11, 18, 25)
In this unique and popular class, Dr. Al Ray will combine Hebrew language instruction with Jewish lore in an informal “ask-your-teacher” ambiance. This semester will cover the basics of prayer book Hebrew.
Spring Semester Fee: $30 members, $45 nonmembers Register and pay online by Monday, January 16.
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In this unique and popular class, Dr. Al Ray will combine Hebrew language instruction with Jewish lore in an informal “ask-your-teacher” ambiance. The first semester will teach the Hebrew alphabet and the second semester will cover the basics of prayer book Hebrew. Both semesters are filled with midrash and Jewish lore and legend.
Spring Semester Fee: $30 members, $45 nonmembers Register and pay online by Monday, January 16 |
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Wednesday, February 22, 7:00 p.m.
Before becoming a Torah scribe, Julie Seltzer worked as a teacher at a Jewish day school and as a baker at the Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center in Connecticut. Each week she bakes a challah in a different shape, inspired by the Torah portion of the week. In this hands-on workshop, we, too, will make our own expressive food art based on the week’s Torah portion (or another portion of our choosing). Taking an aspect of the text or one of the Torah portion’s themes, we will shape challah dough to create edible art that each participant will be able to take home.
Fee (for materials): Beth Israel Members $5; Nonmembers $10; Because we will be working with bread dough for the take home challah, only those who are registered and prepaid by Wednesday, February 15 can be accommodated. RSVP and pay online. For information contact Program Director Bonnie Graff, 858 535-1111, ext. 3800.
Sponsored by Women of Beth Israel (WBI) with Adult Learners Network (ALEINU)
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Thursday, February 9, 6:30 p.m.
This workshop, led by Rabbi/Cantor Arlene Bernstein, will share the blessings, rituals, food, music and creative ideas for a joyous Shabbat in your home.
No fee, but please RSVP online at least one week in advance. For more information, contact Program Director Bonnie Graff, or 858 535-1111, ext. 3800.
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Wednesday, February 29, 7:00 p.m.
What’s in a name? For Jews, quite a lot. Jewish names are used in prayer, for religious rituals, when one is called to the Torah for an aliyah, and outside the synagogue as well, on a ketubah (marriage contract) or get (divorce decree). If you or your children never received a Jewish name, this is your opportunity to choose one for yourself, with the help of our rabbis. A special naming ceremony will occur Friday, May 4, at Shabbat services.
Jewish names can connect you to a beloved family member, ancestor, or Biblical character. They can come from nature or emphasize a quality you have or would like to cultivate. At this workshop we’ll answer questions and provide resources to enable you to choose the Jewish name by which you’ll be called from now on.
No fee but please RSVP online by Friday, February 24. For more information contact Program Director Bonnie Graff, 858 535-1111, ext. 3800.
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Thursday March 8, 6:30 p.m.
Experience the rituals, traditions, foods and music of Passover in this hands-on workshop taught by Director of Education Emerita Helene Schlafman. Learn how to lead a seder and take home a booklet complete with recipes and songs to use at home.
No fee, but please RSVP no later than Friday, March 2 online at www.cbisd.org/rsvp. For more information contact Program Director Bonnie Graff, 858-535-1111 ext. 3800.
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With Rabbi Michael Berk and Julie Seltzer
Wednesday, March 14. 6:30pm
A midrash teaches that God looked into the Torah and created the world. What is the meaning of this legend, that Torah existed before creation itself? Can we understand Torah as a blueprint for the underlying structure of our world?
The primordial Torah – the one that Moses copied from -- was one long stream of letters with no spaces between words, according to the sage Nachmanides. The implication is that there are infinite ways to break it into words, with infinite potential understandings. In this scintillating session, Torah scribe Julie Seltzer and Rabbi Michael Berk will explore ideas about the nature of Torah and revelation.
No fee, but please RSVP at least one week in advance.
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ALEINU Ongoing Events
Shabbat Morning Torah Study
Saturdays, 8:30 - 9:45 a.m.
Start your Shabbat morning with a lively Torah discussion led by one of our rabbis. Bagels and coffee served. No fee. No RSVP needed.
Beth Israel Book Club
3rd Thursday, every month, 7:00 p.m.
(October date changed to October 27, no meeting in December)
This stimulating evening book club welcomes new members.
September 15: The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
October 27: A Privilege to Die: Inside Hezbollah’s Legions and Their Endless War Against Israel by Thanassis Cambanis, presented by John Urey
November 17: The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, by Rebecca Skloot; presented by Arnie Gass
No meeting in December
January 12: Towers of Gold: How One Jewish Immigrant Named Isaias Hellman Created California, by Frances Dinkelspiel; presented by Leslie Mark
February 16: Start Up Nation: The Story of Israel’s Economic Miracle, by Dan Senor & Saul Singer; presented by Nancy Abelon
March 15: Blood Money: A Novel of Espionage, by David Ignatius; presented by Stan Bliss
April 19: Mr. Monday and Other Tales of Jewish Amsterdam, by Meyer Sluyser; presented by Jeff Loeb
May 24: City of Thieves, by David Benioff; presented by Toby Shafer
June 21: Sacred Treasure---The Cairo Genizah: The Amazing Discoveries of Forgotten Jewish History in an Egyptian Synagogue Attic, by Rabbi Mark Glickman; presented by Ina Rosenthal
No RSVP needed. For information, contact Louise Winheld at Louise.Winheld@att.net or Nancy Abelon at nancyabelon@gmail.com.
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