- 516-487-0900
We are excited to introduce the new Miriam & Moses Center for Pluralistic Adult Jewish Learning at Temple Beth-El. Named for the two biblical heroes who led our ancestors toward the Promised Land, the center’s mission is to bring modern, intellectually stimulating, gender-egalitarian adult Jewish education to our congregants and the wider community. As we write the next chapter of TBE’s great story, the Miriam & Moses Center will help position our congregation as a leader in shaping the future of pluralistic Judaism on the western North Shore.
All courses are also listed on our calendar.
Shabbat Morning Torah Study: Parashat Hashavuah
Saturdays, 9:15-10:15 a.m.
Instructors: TBE Clergy
Founded more than 30 years ago by Rabbi Davidson, our weekly Shabbat morning study of parashat hashavuah (the weekly Torah portion) is one of the jewels in the Temple-Beth El crown. The classical commentators, Jewish history, modern thought, current events, and our own personal experiences intersect each week as our clergy lead us in thought-provoking, in-depth conversation about Judaism’s most sacred book. No prior knowledge or background is necessary, as each person brings a unique and valuable perspective to the table that enriches the learning for everyone.
This class is open to all congregants and prospective congregants. No preparation is necessary, and no knowledge of Hebrew is required.
The History of Antisemitism
Tuesdays, September 2–December 16, 7–8:30 p.m. (13 sessions)
Instructor: Rabbi Brian Stoller
Fee: $50 (members); $100 (not-yet members)
Rabbi Stoller will lead us in exploring “the world’s oldest hatred” from antiquity to the present day. Over the course of the semester, we will examine primary sources from ancient Rome, early Christianity, Islamic literature, Chaucer, the Enlightenment, Wagner, Nazism, post-Holocaust philosophy, and present-day anti-Zionism. Participants will be invited to read additional material outside of class to deepen understanding and enhance in-class discussions. The course will feature guest presentations by JTS Professor Benjamin Gampel on antisemitism in medieval Spain, and ADL analyst Tzivia Appleman on the antisemitic lineage of anti-Zionism.
Click here to register.
The Thought and Works of Maimonides
Tuesdays, January 6–May 19, 7–8:30 p.m. (13 sessions)
Instructor: Rabbi Brian Stoller
Fee: $50 (members); $100 (not-yet members)
Rabbi Moses ben Maimon (1138–1204), also known as Maimonides or Rambam, is widely recognized as one of the most prolific and important Jewish scholars of all time. In this semester-long course, we will study Maimonides’ key ideas and major works, including the 13 Principles of Faith, his comprehensive law code Mishneh Torah, the philosophical masterwork Guide of the Perplexed, and his letters on apostasy and conversion. Participants will be invited to read additional material outside of class to deepen understanding and enhance in-class discussions.
Click here to register.
Shabbat Morning Torah Study
Saturdays, 9:15–10:15 a.m.
Instructors: Rabbi Brian Stoller and Rabbi Megan Brumer
The classical commentators, Jewish history, modern thought, current events, and our own personal experiences intersect each week as our clergy lead us in thought-provoking, in-depth conversation about Judaism’s most sacred book.
NEW! North Shore Towers: Coffee & Conversation with Rabbi Stoller
Thursdays (monthly), 1–2 p.m.
Sept. 11, Oct. 9, Nov. 13, Dec. 11, Jan. 8, Feb. 12, Mar. 12, Apr. 16, May 14
Join Rabbi Stoller once a month at North Shore Towers for coffee, snacks, and conversation about current events in Israel and the U.S. and other Jewish issues of the day. All North Shore Towers residents are welcome.
Registration links are below:
September 11
October 9
November 13
December 11
January 8
February 12
March 12
April 16
May 14
Holy Spirits: Men’s Dinner & Discussion Group
Thursdays, 7-9 p.m.
July 17, Oct. 23, Jan. 8, Mar. 19, May 14
Rabbi Stoller will lead conversations on topics of interest to men of all ages.
Dinner and spirits sponsored by Brotherhood.
Registration links are below:
October 23
January 8
March 19
May 14
Community Tikkun Leil Shavuot
Thursday, May 21, 7 p.m.
North Country Reform Temple, Glen Cove
Our consortium of local Reform synagogues will gather on Erev Shavuot for an evening of Torah study, taught by an array of rabbis and cantors.
Rabbi Ellie Shemtov
Founder, Beit Yoseph Recovery Community
Sponsored by Rabbi Laurie Gold & Nancy Killian
A Shicker Is a Goy: Addiction in the Jewish Community
Friday, September 12, 7 p.m.
Through her own life story, Rabbi Shemtov will discuss substance-use disorder and its impact on the Jewish community, as well as what Torah and our sages have had to say about alcohol.
Themes of Recovery and the 12 Steps of Jewish Liturgy
Saturday, September 13, 7 p.m.
From Psalms to the Amidah, the Shema, and beyond, Jewish prayer contains three core elements—praise, petition, and thanks. Rabbi Shemtov will explore how these three core elements correspond to the basic underpinnings of the 12 Steps.
Click here to register.
Marc Palmieri—Pikuach Nefesh Shabbat
Author of She Danced with Lightning: My Daughter’s Struggle with Epilepsy and Her Boundless Will to Live
Sponsored by Sharon & Michael Freeman
On Daughters, Storms, and Second Chances
Friday, October 24, 7 p.m.
Marc Palmieri will discuss what his child taught him during her decade-long battle with severe epilepsy.
Dr. Elsie Stern
Professor of Bible, Reconstructionist Rabbinical College
Sponsored by Cindy & Adam Bender
Rabbi Jacob Philip Rudin and His Legacy in Reform Judaism Today
Friday, November 7, 7 p.m.
Much has changed in American liberal Judaism since Rabbi Rudin’s time at Beth-El. However, the pillars of his rabbinate—social justice, interfaith work, and his belief in the power of language—continue to shape contemporary liberal Judaism. Dr. Stern, who is Rabbi Rudin’s granddaughter, will reflect on his legacy and how it animates American Judaism today.
Torah Study: Parashat Vayera Through the Lens of the New CCAR Torah Commentary
Saturday, November 8, 9:15–10:15 a.m.
Dr. Stern will lead us in exploring this week’s parashah through the lens of the new CCAR Torah Commentary. Come and experience the commentary’s content and approach and share your feedback.
Lunch & Learn: What Will Be in the New CCAR Torah Commentary?
Saturday, November 8, 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m.
Dr. Stern will talk about why the Reform rabbis’ association decided to produce a new Torah translation and commentary and will share the features that make it distinctive.
Click here to register.
Rabbi Micah Streiffer
Founder, Laasok, Online Beit Midrash
Torah Study: Did We All Really Stand at Sinai?
Saturday, February 7, 9:15–10:15 a.m.
Rabbi Streiffer will lead us in exploring ancient and modern Midrash about which voices are and are not included at Sinai, and we will ask what it means to build a Judaism that speaks for us all.
Rabbi Dr. Gary Zola
Executive Director Emeritus, American Jewish Archives
Sponsored by Susan & David Weiss-Horowitz
The Past Is Prologue: Temple Beth-El and the American Jewish Experience
Friday, March 13, 7 p.m.
As we write the next chapter of Temple Beth-El’s great story, our challenge is to innovate while also honoring our venerable past. Dr. Zola, a historian of American Reform Judaism, will reflect on how TBE’s unique history, character, and reputation for leadership are keys to a vibrant and exciting future.
Torah Study: The Jews Who Came to New Amsterdam
Saturday, March 14, 9:15–10:15 a.m.
We will explore the amazing saga of how the very first Jewish settlers in North America established new patterns of Jewish life that have characterized the American Jewish experience ever since.
Lunch & Learn: He Was One of Us—American Jewry’s Relationship with Abraham Lincoln
Saturday, March 14, 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m.
As Passover approaches, we will learn about the remarkable history linking American Jewry with America’s Great Emancipator. Dr. Zola, author of the acclaimed book We Called Him Rabbi Abraham, will explain why many of Lincoln’s personal and professional qualities have led American Jews to embrace the 16th president as a man who possessed a Jewish soul.
Click here to register.
Rabbi Mary Zamore
Executive Director, Women’s Rabbinic Network
Sponsored by Nina Koppelman
The Ongoing Revolution of Women in the Rabbinate
Friday, May 1, 7 p.m.
Gender egalitarianism is a core value of Reform Judaism, which became the first movement to ordain women as rabbis. Rabbi Zamore will explore the unique contributions of the pioneering women who changed the Reform community for the better and the challenges women rabbis continue to face in achieving full professional equality with their male colleagues.
Dr. Gwynn Kessler—Pride Shabbat
Associate Professor of Religion, Swarthmore College
Sponsored by Lea & Sandy Caplan
Grasshoppers and Angels—The Past and Future of LGBTQ Jews
Friday, June 12, 7 p.m.
Dr. Kessler, our scholar-in-residence for Pride Shabbat, will survey the past 50 years of LGBTQ engagement with Jewish text and rituals, and look toward the future of our ongoing contributions and challenges.
Torah Study: Reading Midrash As/Like an LGBTQ Person
Saturday, June 13, 9:15–10:15 a.m.
The ancient rabbis depict the first human (Adam) and the first ancestors of Israel (Abraham and Sarah) as gender nonconforming. Joseph wears high heels and eye makeup, Mordechai breastfeeds Esther, Dinah is conceived as male but born female, and Moses is portrayed as both God’s wife and as God’s husband. Dr. Kessler will lead us in exploring Midrashic traditions about biblical figures that provide connections between classical rabbinic sources and LGBTQ identities.
Lunch & Learn: Beyond Male and Female—Rabbinic Constructions of Gender
Saturday, June 13, 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m.
Although the Tanakh depicts sex/gender as binary, confined to the categories man/male and woman/female, early rabbinic sources already found these categories too limited to express the variety of gendered embodiments. We will explore rabbinic traditions about the nonbinary categories of “tumtum” and “androginos” and learn how they developed over time.
Click here to register.
Beginning Adult Conversational Hebrew
Tuesdays, September 9–November 25, 6–6:50 p.m. (6 sessions)
Instructors: Joanne Davis and Danna Sobiecki
Fee: $25 (members only)
Join this fun, no-pressure class designed for absolute beginners with no tests and no homework—just good vibes and great conversation. Learn phrases, practice speaking in a relaxed setting, and gain confidence with the basics.
Click here to register.
Field Trip: Bari Weiss at the Tilles Center
Thursday, November 20, 7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $34.50
The Israel Committee is leading a field trip to the Tilles Center for an evening with Bari Weiss, founder and editor of The Free Press, host of the Honestly podcast, and author of How to Fight Antisemitism.
Sponsored by the Israel Committee
Click here to register.
Let’s Talk about Israel
In the post-October 7 world, American Jewish life is more intimately bound up with Israel and Zionism than ever. In this speaker series, we will hear a variety of perspectives on current events in Israel and explore our personal beliefs about Israeli politics, Jewish peoplehood, and the role of the State of Israel in the world today.
Yaakov Katz
Author of While Israel Slept: How Hamas Surprised the Most Powerful Military in the Middle East
Wednesday, October 22, 7–9 p.m.
Sponsored by the Gold Coast Arts Center
Click here to register.
Rabbi David Ingber
Founding Rabbi, Romemu Congregation
Sunday, January 11, 10–11 a.m.
Sponsored by Nina Koppelman
Click here to register.
Rachel Korazim
Israeli Poet and Author
Sunday, February 8, 10–11 a.m.
Sponsored by Dorothy & Ed Greenbaum
Rabbis Meir & Tara Feldman
Rabbis Emeriti, Temple Beth-El
Sunday, March 8, 10–11 a.m.
Sponsored by Debbie & Stuart Lempert
Click here to register.
Rabbi Evan Schultz
Author of Morning, Noon, and Night: Poetry in the Language of Jewish Time
Sunday, April 19, 10–11 a.m.
Sponsored by Nina Koppelman
Click here to register.
Rabbis Meir & Tara Feldman
Rabbis Emeriti, Temple Beth-El
Sunday, May 31, 10-11 a.m.
Sponsored by Debbie & Stuart Lempert
Click here to register.
Accountable Aging
Speaker: Sara Meyers, Certified Elder Law Attorney
Wednesday, November 5, 10–11 a.m.
Learn how to get your legal affairs in order, create a solid estate plan, and protect your assets from the high costs of long-term care.
Click here to register.
Senior Scams and Prevention
Speaker: Erica Zimmerman, Nassau Country Senior Assistant District Attorney, Major Financial Frauds Bureau
Wednesday, April 29, 10–11 a.m.
Stay one step ahead of scammers by gaining crucial insights on how to spot, avoid, and defend against the growing threat of elder fraud.
Click here to register.
Home Base—Practical Strategies to Age Safely in Your Home
Speakers: Joanna Stolove, Geriatric Social Worker, and Chari Biton, Director of Services for Aging, Town of North Hempstead
Wednesday, May 27, 10–11 a.m.
Our experts will help you turn your home into a haven as they share how to stay safe and supported with vital community resources, smart home modifications, and transportation options through Project Independence.
Click here to register.
Hidden Treasures: A Tour of Temple Beth-El’s Arts and Judaica Collection
Wednesday, September 17, 11 a.m.–1 p.m.
Guide: Regina Gil, Gold Coast Arts Center
Sponsored by the Susan Stumer Cultural Arts Fund
Click here to register.
NYC Field Trip: A Tour of The Jewish Theological Seminary Rare Book Collection
Thursday, October 16, 10–11:30 a.m.
Instructor: Dr. David Kraemer, JTS Library Director
Sponsored by Nina Koppelman
Dr. David Kraemer will give participants a glimpse into some of the great moments of our past via a “tour” of The Jewish Theological Seminary Library, which contains one of the most outstanding collections of rare Judaica in the world. The works testify to the tenacity and vibrancy of Judaism in its many homes through the centuries.
Click here to register.
How to Chant Torah 1.0: Learning Trope
Sundays, October 26–December 14, 12–1 p.m. (4 sessions)
Instructor: Rabbi Megan Brumer
Join Rabbi Megan to learn the melodies and patterns of Torah chanting. Whether you’re new to trope or looking to strengthen your skills, this class is for you—and no Hebrew knowledge is needed.
Click here to register.
Lolita at Leonard’s of Great Neck and Other Stories from the Before Times: A Dialogue with Author Shira Dicker
Sunday, December 7, 10–11 a.m.
Moderator: Len Schiff
Tickets: $18 (includes the book)
Sponsored by Nina Koppelman
Queens native Shira Dicker will take us on an intimate, uniquely Jewish journey from 1974 through the first decade of the new millennium as her characters wrestle with identity, independence, ambition, sexuality, faith, and love.
Click here to register.
Rabbinic Literature 101 (A Laasok Online Beit Midrash Series)
Thursdays, January 8–February 26, 3–4:15 p.m.
Instructor: Rabbi Brian Stoller
Register at laasok.org
In this seven-session course, we will survey the classics of rabbinic literature from late antiquity through the Middle Ages. Participants will gain basic familiarity with key rabbinic sources—such as Midrash, Talmud, biblical commentary, law codes, and philosophy—including a general understanding of what they are, the historical contexts in which they were produced, their basic literary features, and how to find and navigate them on Sefaria.
“And You Shall Be a Blessing”: The Music and Legacy of Debbie Friedman
Wednesdays, January 21–February 4, 6–7 p.m. (3 sessions)
Instructor: Cantorial Soloist Stephanie Horowitz-Mulry
Beginning in the 1970s, Debbie Friedman ushered in a new wave of contemporary Jewish worship music. Through learning her history and singing her music, we will explore how she brought healing, feminism, and folk music into the synagogue, making our worship more personal, participatory, and powerful.
Click here to register.
How to Chant Torah 2.0: Putting It to Text
Sundays, March 8–29, 12–1 p.m. (3 sessions)
Instructor: Rabbi Megan Brumer
Take your chanting to the next level in Trope 2.0, as you apply what you’ve learned by working directly with Torah text, building confidence, and fluency.
Click here to register.
Hasidic Society: Anthropology of an Under-Studied NYC Subculture
Thursday, March 26, 7-8 p.m.
Speaker: Frieda Vizel, Jewish YouTuber and Tour Guide
Frieda Vizel, the host of a lively YouTube channel focusing on Hasidic culture and one of Brooklyn’s best-known Jewish tour guides, will share her story of living in the Satmar community until age 25—and provide insights into the mysterious and fascinating world of New York’s Hasidic Jews.
Click here to register.
516-487-0900
5 Old Mill Road, Great Neck, NY 11023
Monday-Thursday, 9:00am - 5:00pm
Friday, 9:00am - 4:00 pm
