Adult Education
Temple Or Rishon's Adult Education Program offers classes that are intellectually and spiritually satisfying - and fun. They appeal to the different backgrounds and interests of congregation members and are open to all members of the community. Whether you have been immersed in Jewish learning for years, or are just beginning, you are sure to find something that will satisfy your interests and curiosity and support your spiritual and religious life.Scroll down to see the Adult Education offerings for 2023/2024. Please contact Mary Frank, Educator, at mary.frank@orrishon.org or 916 988-4100, for questions and further information.
TORAH STUDY
Torah Study meets every Saturday morning at 9am. Led by Rabbi Rabishaw, Torah Study is a great place to come if you are looking for deeper study, connection, and meaning. On Saturday mornings where there is a Morning Shabbat Service, Torah study will be held in-person at Temple Or Rishon. All other Saturday mornings, Torah study meets on Zoom. Click here to view this week's schedule.
Please note: Adult Education programs are offered at no cost. If you wish to donate to help sustain our programming, click here. Choose General Fund as your donation type.
Adult Education Offerings - 2024/2025
Elul Programs
Wednesday, September 4, 2024 at 6:30pm
Shofar Workshop
Instructors: Mike and Marlene Smith and Rabbi Alan Rabishaw
Location: Temple Or Rishon
Description: Learn how to blow the shofar and why we blow it! Mike and Marlene will help you perfect the Tekiah, Shevarim, and Teruah sounds, and maybe even share some hints on how to become a master of the Tekiah Gedolah! Bring a shofar if you have one. We will also have several temple shofars to share.
Shofar Workshop
Instructors: Mike and Marlene Smith and Rabbi Alan Rabishaw
Location: Temple Or Rishon
Description: Learn how to blow the shofar and why we blow it! Mike and Marlene will help you perfect the Tekiah, Shevarim, and Teruah sounds, and maybe even share some hints on how to become a master of the Tekiah Gedolah! Bring a shofar if you have one. We will also have several temple shofars to share.
Tuesday, September 10, 2024 at 7:00pm
HHD Torah Portions: Rosh Hashanah - A Close Reading of the Akeidah
Instructor: Rabbi Alan Rabishaw
Location: Temple Or Rishon
Description: Was Abraham really ready to sacrifice his beloved Isaac? What kind of God would demand that of him? Join us as we wrestle with one of the most well known and complex stories in all of Torah, the near sacrifice of Isaac in what is known as the “Binding of Isaac” story.
Tuesday, September 17, 2024 at 7:00pm
HHD Torah Portions: Yom Kippur - Nitzvavim
Instructor: Rabbi Alan Rabishaw
Location: Temple Or Rishon
Description: Join us as we explore Parashat Nitzvavim, the classic Yom Kippur morning Torah portion. We will find inspiration and purpose as we read Moses’ reminder that all of us are part of God’s covenant, and that each of us is called to “choose life,” walk in God’s ways, do God’s commandments and open our hearts to God and to each other.
Click here to register
Tuesday, September 24, 2024 at 7:00pm
Musical and Visual Interpretations of the Akeidah
Instructor: Cantor Ben Harris
Location: Temple Or Rishon
Description: We will explore the story of the Akeidah, the binding and subsequent non-sacrificing of Isaac, and its musical and visual interpretations throughout time. We will start by looking at the High Holy Day cantillation system and how we chant this particular parshah, and then dive into musical interpretations by Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, Benjamin Britten, and others.
Musical and Visual Interpretations of the Akeidah
Instructor: Cantor Ben Harris
Location: Temple Or Rishon
Description: We will explore the story of the Akeidah, the binding and subsequent non-sacrificing of Isaac, and its musical and visual interpretations throughout time. We will start by looking at the High Holy Day cantillation system and how we chant this particular parshah, and then dive into musical interpretations by Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, Benjamin Britten, and others.
Monthly Adult Education
Tuesdays @ 7:00pm - November 5, 12, 19
A Siddur Bootcamp
Instructor: Sara Shakked
Location: Temple Or Rishon
Description: FOLLOW ALONG WITH ME - No grammar, no phonetics, just words! Can you follow along in the prayerbook, but have no idea what you are saying? The goal of this meetup is to get you from “Yeah, I know that song,” to “Oh! That’s what we’re saying!” You don’t have to read Hebrew phonetically to join and we will transliterate, but this class is ideal as a next step to beginner adult Hebrew or the adult Bnai Mitzvah program. Using the most common words, and fun memory devices, we’ll get you to be able to decipher the prayers in just 3 weeks!
A Siddur Bootcamp
Instructor: Sara Shakked
Location: Temple Or Rishon
Description: FOLLOW ALONG WITH ME - No grammar, no phonetics, just words! Can you follow along in the prayerbook, but have no idea what you are saying? The goal of this meetup is to get you from “Yeah, I know that song,” to “Oh! That’s what we’re saying!” You don’t have to read Hebrew phonetically to join and we will transliterate, but this class is ideal as a next step to beginner adult Hebrew or the adult Bnai Mitzvah program. Using the most common words, and fun memory devices, we’ll get you to be able to decipher the prayers in just 3 weeks!
Tuesdays @ 7:00pm - December 3, 10
Balancing Two Religious Faiths in Your Immediate or Extended Family? Wrestling with Reality, Especially with Hanukah and Christmas in the Air
Instructor: Rabbi Alan Rabishaw
Location: Temple Or Rishon
Description: Join us for an exploration, conversation and sharing of best practices as we confront the feelings, challenges, joys and memories that we face in the month of December.
Balancing Two Religious Faiths in Your Immediate or Extended Family? Wrestling with Reality, Especially with Hanukah and Christmas in the Air
Instructor: Rabbi Alan Rabishaw
Location: Temple Or Rishon
Description: Join us for an exploration, conversation and sharing of best practices as we confront the feelings, challenges, joys and memories that we face in the month of December.
Tuesdays @ 7:00pm - January 7, 14, 21
An Exploration of the Jewish Lifecycle, Part 1
Instructor: Marty Mechanick
Location: Temple Or Rishon
Description: Marty with lead an inciteful, interesting and light hearted exploration of the life cycles ritual and observances that carry us through our lifetime:
1. Shabbat and Holiday rituals–The importance and history of these, along with the ritual temple and home observances such as blessing children, Sukkah and Hanukiah.
2. Marriage and Home Rituals that include preparation for a wedding, Ketubah and continuing with home rituals Seder and Mezzuzah and Kashrut.
3. B’nai Mitzvah and it significance for Religious school children, and even adults and the unique Adult Bar/Bat Mitzvah experience.
An Exploration of the Jewish Lifecycle, Part 1
Instructor: Marty Mechanick
Location: Temple Or Rishon
Description: Marty with lead an inciteful, interesting and light hearted exploration of the life cycles ritual and observances that carry us through our lifetime:
1. Shabbat and Holiday rituals–The importance and history of these, along with the ritual temple and home observances such as blessing children, Sukkah and Hanukiah.
2. Marriage and Home Rituals that include preparation for a wedding, Ketubah and continuing with home rituals Seder and Mezzuzah and Kashrut.
3. B’nai Mitzvah and it significance for Religious school children, and even adults and the unique Adult Bar/Bat Mitzvah experience.
Tuesdays @ 7:00pm - February 4, 11, 18
The Life of Queen Esther
Instructor: Rabbi Alan Rabishaw
Location: Temple Or Rishon
Description: This class will explore Biblical text, Midrash and modern commentaries thst will help us shed light on the life of an orphan turned Queen who saves the Jewish people.
Tuesdays @ 7:00pm - March 4, 11, 18
An Exploration of the Jewish Lifecycle, Part 2
Instructor: Marty Mechanick
Location: Temple Or Rishon
Description: Marty will continue his inciteful, interesting and light hearted exploration of the life cycles ritual and observances that carry us through our lifetime with a focus on:
1. Conversion and Divorce -including the importance of Torah Study, Bet Din and rituals (Mikveh and Circumcision) & conversion ceremony
2. Death and Mourning - including an explanation of the traditions around Shomrim, Taharah, Shiva and Burial/Yahrzeit
3. Rituals Surrounding Birth, B’rit, Pidyon Haben, Baby Naming
Tuesdays @ 7:00pm - April 1, 8, 22
Traditions and Practices of Yom HaShoah, Yom HaZikaron (Israel’s Memorial Day) and Yom Haatzmaut (Israel’s Independence Day)
Instructor: Rabbi Alan Rabishaw
Location: Temple Or Rishon
Description: Join Rabbi Rabishaw for the background and back stories of these relatively new Holidays/Commemorations on the Jewish calendar.
Tuesdays @ 7:00pm - May 6, 13, 20
150: The Psalms and You
Instructor: Cantor Ben Harris
Location: Temple Or Rishon
Description: There are 150 of them but what do they even have to do with me? Let’s explore the Psalms and create our own Hallel - our own collection of psalms that speak to us. Over these three weeks, we will look at the psalms in groupings such as thanksgiving, praise, wisdom, majesty, and hymn, and take the moments that speak to us and carry them forward.
Mon, September 16 2024 13 Elul 5784
