Every time we study a text, hear a lecture, watch a movie, discuss or share an idea, listen to a sermon, react to a lesson, or especially ask a question we are engaged in the business of learning: la-asok b’divrei Torah. This institution and our Lifelong Learning program exist to provide as many opportunities as possible for people to engage in that business.

Just as the liturgy shows us loving is a two-way street (God loves us, and we have to love God back), so too is learning in community a two-way street. We can provide as many opportunities as possible, but you have to take us up on the offer. So please, put aside whatever may be obstructing your path to learning and sign up. Whether it is a busy schedule, a feeling of inferiority, a sense of confusion about where to start, or a concern about being lonely or left out, we can do our best address any of these things. But you have to take the first step.

If you do not know where to begin, contact ShowClick Here to View Contact Information, ShowClick Here to View Contact Information, ShowClick Here to View Contact Information, or any member of the staff, and tell us and we will help you find your way to a life enriched by the power of Torah. Join us and enjoy the fruits of learning.

Registration is required for all classes unless otherwise noted

Catalog of Courses

American Judaism, Spirituality, and Democracy

Rabbi Michael Holzman

Tuesdays, November 8*, 29, December 13, January 17*, 31, February 28, March 7, 28, April 18, May 2*, 6:30-8:00pm

On Zoom, except classes with a * which indicates in person

A huge majority of Americans are concerned about the future of our democracy, and at NVHC, we have discovered through the Rebuilding Democracy Project (RDP) that spirituality and religious ideas can restore hope, build resilience, and transform the way we approach deliberation and politics. These ten sessions will explore the principles of spirituality that undergird norms of healthy citizenship and how religious behavior transforms those rituals into practice. (Note: in the near future, NVHC may undertake an expansion of the RDP to neighboring houses of worship; this course will prepare laypeople to mentor peers in this work).

   i.      November 29, 2022:  Understanding the mechanics of religion—theologies, practices, structures

  ii.      December 13, 2022, January 17, 2023:  Liturgy and Ritual as essential American container creators

  iii.      January 31, February 28, 2023:  Text Study, Revelation, Narrative and the American quest for Meaning.

  iv.      March 7, 28, 2023 : Institutionalism, Constitutionalism, Covenant, Membership and Belonging as the structure of American republican democracy.

 v.      April 18, 2023 Healing, Hope and Chaplaincy and the confrontation with American reality.

 vi.      May 2, 2023: The unique American interfaith landscape—the interaction of faith, power and race—and our opportunity.

 vii.      Potential Additional Session:  peer mentoring, facilitating

David King of Israel: An Exploration of the life and legacy of King David

Rabbi Ashley Barrett

Thursday, October 20, 27, November 3, 10, 17, 6:30pm

Zoom

Together we will explore the rise and fall of the greatest king of Israel, King David. Through a close reading of the Biblical account of David’s life (found mostly in I & II Samuel), we will evaluate why David has such an incredible legacy. The course will also take a deep dive into key characters in David’s story such as Jonathan. Michal, Batsheva, and others. Finally, the series will discuss the role of the monarchy and its legacy in Jewish memory.

Foundations of a Thoughtful Judaism: A Hartman Curriculum

Rabbi Michael Holzman

Tuesday, October 11, November 15, December 20, February 7, March 21, April 25, May 16, June 13, 6:30-8:00pm

On Zoom

The Shalom Hartman Institute of North America contains some of the brightest and most insightful thinkers in the modern Jewish world. This class will explore part one of four in a new Hartman curriculum designed “to explore and make accessible the most compelling and deepest questions in Jewish thought, to demonstrate the principles and debates that underlie our Jewish heritage, and to reject the assumption that every learner is on track toward practicing Judaism in a specified way.” This year, we will investigate our system of mitzvot, their goals and meaning in a modern age, and the way they lead to holiness.

Great Texts of America

Rabbi Michael Holzman

Saturday, October 8, November 12, December 10, January 14, February 25, March 25, April 29, May 20, June 17, 9:00am

REGISTRATION FOR GREAT TEXTS OF AMERICA IS NOT REQUIRED

Great Texts of America inserts into our Shabbat morning once/month a foundational text addressing the American experience. We are living in a time when public figures are debating core ideas about America and our identity as Americans, and some controversies focus on the ability of schools to teach certain subjects or of libraries to hold certain books. Relying upon the sacred setting we create every week with Torah study and prayer, we look at our American narratives through a spiritual lens.  Our Shabbat morning environment and habits allow us to go deeper, to avoid the political noise, and to better understand this country we love.

Great Texts of Reform Judaism

Rabbi Ashley Barrett

Wednesday, January 11, February 8, March 8, April 12, May 10, and June 14, 11:30am-12:30pm

On Zoom

A spin-off of NVHC’s Shabbat morning series “Great Texts of America.” As a learning community, we will read and discuss some of the greatest sermons ever preached by leaders of our movement and the Platforms which helped guide American Reform Judaism. In each session, we will discuss a different text and together reflect on principles that have come to represent Reform Judaism and assess how those have changed over time.

Israel Study Group

Rabbi Michael Holzman

Sunday, October 9, November 13*, December 11 (Noon-1:30pm) , January 8, February 12, March 12, April 23, May 7*, 10:45am-12:00pm

On Zoom, except classes with a * which indicates in person

We are bringing back this wide-ranging, informal, open-format conversation about the land and state of Israel. This year we will spend time looking at how Israeli democracy is similar to and differs from American democracy. Part of the year will focus on the specific experiences of Arab citizens of Israel. What does it mean to be in a minority group within the Jewish state? The class will also provide background preparation and follow up for those joining our synagogue trip in January/February 2023.

Short Story Discussion Group

First Monday of each month, 7:30pm

On Zoom

Join us for a second year of monthly lay-led discussions of Jewish short stories. Four NVHC members have selected the stories and will take turns leading the discussions. Each session will stand on its own – you can attend whenever you have the time and interest. We’ll meet on the first Monday of the month on Zoom at 7:30pm for 45 minutes to an hour. Participants will receive the story and meeting links in advance. To sign up for this year’s discussion group, email shortstories@nvhcreston.org. Even if you participated last year, we’d like you to sign up again so that we can gauge interest in the program and ensure that we have the correct email address for you.

Two voices of Liberal Judaism in the 20th Century: Rabbi Leo Baeck and Martin Buber

Andrew Stein

Sunday, January 8, 15, 22, 29, February 5, 12, 19, 26, March 5, 12, 19, 26, April 2, 16, 23, 30, May 7 & 21, 9:15-10:15am

On Zoom

Martin Buber (1878-1965) was one of the most unconventional and impactful Liberal Jewish thinkers in Western Europe and he continued to have an influence during the last three decades of his life in Israel, and still today in the United States. His studies of the Hebrew Bible, Jewish education, the teachings of the Hasidic Masters and mysticism, and especially his philosophy of dialogue and ideal human relations, remain in print to this day. His contemporary and friend, Rabbi Leo Baeck (1873-1956), was also known for his writings and teachings on the Bible, Jewish ethics, and the differences between Judaism and Christianity, but had another dimension to him that Buber lacked. He remained behind in Berlin as a leader of the Jewish community until his deportation to the Theresienstadt concentration camp in 1943. He survived the war and became a key leader of the World Union for Progressive Judaism in the UK and US, as well as a rabbi-teacher in Cincinnati and London. This course will cover key aspects of the lives and writings of both figures and discuss how they speak to us today.

The Life and Work of Rabbi Stephen S. Wise and Abba Hillel Silver

Andrew Stein

Summer 2023

More information will be available closer to the time.

Living the Jewish Calendar

One Small Light

Rabbi Ashley Barrett

December 18-22, 6:00pm

On Zoom

Join Rabbi Barrett each night of Hanukkah (Dec 18-22 – Candles 1-5) on Zoom to light the Hanukkah candles together. We will frame each night’s lighting with a brief 10-minute reflection on a story or poem about light from Jewish tradition.

A Path To Sinai: Counting the Omer as a Mussar Practice

Cantor Susan Caro

Thursdays, March 3*, April 13, 20, 27 & May 4, 11, 18*, 6:30-7:30pm

On Zoom, except classes with a * which indicates in person

Judaism has built-in times that are made for inner reflection and growth of spirit – and really, we can never have too much reflection and inspiration in our lives! In five weekly sessions during the period of the Omer (from Pesach to Shavuot), we will take a spiritual journey using the tools of Mussar (the contemplative Jewish practice and learning that focuses on how we use Jewish values in refining our character traits) to explore the expressions and patterns of our own character, sharing insights that might help us live a life more ‘in tune.’

Yom HaShoah Through Rituals & When Words Alone Fail: Music and the Shoah

Rabbi Ashley Barrett & Cantor Susan Caro

Tuesday,s March 28 & April 4, 11, 18, 11:00am

On Zoom

The State of Israel has marked a day for remembering the Holocaust since the early days of the Jewish state. In 1951, the Knesset officially instituted one day (27th of Nissan) that would serve as the date for mourning the victims of the Shoah. Join Rabbi Barrett and Cantor Caro to explore the Holocaust through its memorialization. We will spend two sessions understanding how people have marked this day through created rituals. We will look at rituals both religious and secular and reflect on how they help us understand the past. In the second session, we will explore some of the musical activities that took place during the Shoah, and the ways that Jews have collectively remembered the Shoah through music.

Adult Hebrew

Beginning Modern Hebrew II

Neta Litvin
Textbook: Hebrew: A language Course, Level 1
Mondays, 12 weeks beginning February 6, 7:00-8:00pm
$136/members, $160/non-members. Minimum registration: 4 students
On Zoom

This is a continuation of last semester’s Beginning Modern Hebrew Class; new students are welcome!
Class participants will have the opportunity to hone their Hebrew reading skills using a modern Hebrew textbook, learning Hebrew from simple stories. We will read from varied selections that range from contemporary stories to Hasidic tales, midrashim, and biblical narratives. Lessons will train students to read confidently both with and without vowels. We will explore grammatical concepts through comparison to English structure.

This class is for anyone who would like further practice in their Hebrew reading skills and who would like to expand their Hebrew vocabulary and understanding of Hebrew grammar. We teach Hebrew with an Israeli taste, making learning an enjoyable and successful experience for all!

Click here to register!

Intermediate Modern Hebrew II

Neta Litvin
Textbook: Hebrew: A language Course, Level 1, Hebrew: A Language Course, Level 2
Tuesdays, 12 weeks beginning February 14, 7:00-8:00pm
$136/members, $160/non-members. Minimum registration: 4 students
On Zoom
Prerequisites: Beginning Hebrew 1 or equivalent. Knowledge of the Aleph-Bet and beginning proficiency with reading Hebrew.

This is a continuation of last semester’s Intermediate Beginning Modern Hebrew Class; new students are welcome!

Class participants will have the opportunity to hone their Hebrew reading skills using a modern Hebrew textbook, learning Hebrew from simple stories. We will read from varied selections that range from contemporary stories to Hasidic tales, midrashim, and biblical narratives. Lessons will train students to read confidently both with and without vowels. We will explore grammatical concepts through comparison to English structure.

This class is for anyone who would like further practice in their Hebrew reading skills and who would like to expand their Hebrew vocabulary and understanding of Hebrew grammar. We teach Hebrew with an Israeli taste, making learning an enjoyable and successful experience for all!

Click here to register!

Registration

Registration is required for all classes and some classes must meet a minimum number of registrants to run. Click the button below to register! If you have any difficulties with the registration process, please contact Emily Hummel at emily@nvhcreston.org.

Lifelong Learning at NVHC is supported by donations to the Seldon and Ruth Kruger Fund for Adult Learning and registration fees. Your continued donations to the Seldon and Ruth Kruger Fund for Adult Learning are appreciated.

Click here to register!

Participation Open to ALL

All of our Lifelong Learning programs are open to anyone who is interested. We strive to offer a variety of learning experiences which will meet the needs and interests of our members. All programs are free for students registered in our Tamid program.