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The Schwarz-Kurz-Zeller Adult Education Institute Archives

 

 

Did you miss a program? No worries.
We have them recorded for you.
Anything underlined is a link to a video. Enjoy!

Jewish Lifecycle Series - Jewish Approach to End of Life

Listen to Rabbi Cantor's discussion about Jewish Approach to End of Life (February 28, 2024)

Click HERE for recording.

Jews & Politics in Europe, US, and Israel - Harriet Freidenreich

Classes will no longer be recorded.

Click HERE for recordings.

Medicare 101 with Eric Fishbein

Jewish Political Traditions

For more than two millennia, both within and outside the Promised Land, the Jewish people were a self-governing civilization. Join Rabbi Cantor for a survey of the evolution of the Jewish Political Tradition from the Wilderness to Emancipation, as kings, priests, prophets, rabbis, and sages vie for authority over the Jewish community.

•         Covenant: God’s Law and The People’s  Consent
•         Revelation: Torah and Reason
•         Kings
•         Priests
•         Prophets
•         Rabbis and Sages
•         Controversy and Dissent
•         The Good Men of the Town
•         The Gentile State

Click HERE for Jewish Political Traditions classes.

Classes meet Wednesdays at 10:00am; click HERE for calendar dates or visit www.bethelyardley.org.

Beth El Field Trip: Walking Tour of Princeton’s Campus Sculpture Collection

  Beth El sculpture fans in front of Louise Nevelson’s “Atmosphere and Environment X”.

Walking Tour of Princeton's Campus Sculpture Collection

 

Beth El’s art mavens gathered in Princeton on July 30 for a tour of the sculpture on the University’s Main Campus.  Even the weather cooperated for a delightful summer day trip.  

Princeton’s outdoor art collection is extensive.  On this particular Sunday, Princeton Art Museum’s docent, Jeanne Mazzetti, led a public tour of works by Henry Moore, Louise Nevelson, Jacques Lipchitz, George Segal, and Scott Burton.    The Beth El group then privately toured additional works by Pablo Picasso, Ai Weiwei, and Maya Lin.  We finished up with a light dinner at the Dinkey Bar and Kitchen, before heading home.

Lunch & Legal

Lunch & Legal
Discussion Leader: Alex Geiger
Review and discuss the latest decisions from the US Supreme Court, with a Jewish slant.

Click here for recording.

Spring 2023

Yizhar Hess Watch Party & Discussion, March 15, 2023

Jewish Experience in America

Jewish Experience in America
Instructor: Harriet Freidenreich
Wednesdays, 10:00am - 11:00am

This course will provide an overview of American Jewish history in the late 19th and 20th centuries.  Topics to be discussed include: Eastern European immigration; Jews and the Labor Movement; World War I and antisemitism; Jewish women, suffrage and birth control; Jewish religious denominationalism; American Jews, the Holocaust and the State of Israel; suburbanization; Jewish activism and feminism; Jewish identity and intermarriage.

Click here for recordings.

Walking with...God Series

One of the core principles of Jewish faith is that God is...

· essentially ineffable,

· unknowable,

· indescribable,

which has not prevented Jews from trying these past three millennia. Join Rabbi Cantor for a survey of Jewish understandings of the Divine from the Biblical, Talmudic, Midrashic, Halakhic, Philosophical, Kabbalistic, Hassidic, and Modern points of view.

 Click here for Rabbi Cantor's classes and Walking With Series American Jewish University.

Rethinking Jewish Women's History

Rethinking Jewish Women's History 
Part 1: Ancient Near East to Mid-19th Century
Wednesdays, 10:00am
Instructor: Harriet Freidenreich

A new look at Jewish Women's History in historical perspective from Biblical times to the modern era, focusing on the impact of social, economic, cultural, and religious changes on Jewish women's lives in different regions over the years.

Click here for recordings.

Rabbinic Stories 

Rabbinic Stories
Wednesdays: Weekly, 11:00am
Instructor: Rabbi David Cantor

The Human experience can best be understood through a narrative lens. The stories we tell - about our past, our present, our future - help to define who we are, both individually and collectively. The Rabbis of the Talmud were master storytellers, and the stories they told helped shape our understanding of what it means to be Jewish. Join Rabbi David Cantor for a weekly telling of some of his favorite rabbinic tales.

Click here for recordings.

Dying with Dignity: A Jewish View on Hospice Care

What is the Jewish View of end-of-life care? How can the hospice approach meet the medical, social, and spiritual needs of Jewish families facing chronic and advanced illness?

Rabbi David Cantor
  Congregation Beth El

Rabbi Dr. Renae Lee Toben
  Hospice Chaplain, Humanitas Health Services

Allen Naygauzen, MD, MS
  Medical Director & Co-Founder, Humanitas Health   
  Services

Click here for recording.

2021-2022

Tzitzit Tying

Tzitzit Tying with Abigail Greenberg

Instructions on how to tie tzitzit based on Abigail Greenberg's tallis workshops for her Girl Scout Silver Award. These were run for Sisterhood and the Fierverker Jewish Learning Community (FJLC).

Click here for recording.

Guest Author - Jo Ivester

Guest Author, Jo Ivester is an author and speaker, focusing on LGBTQ & civil rights advocacy. Her books include the award-winning memoir The Outskirts of Hope (2015) and the upcoming family memoir Once A Girl, Always a Boy (2020). She addresses a wide range of audiences, from small book clubs to entire schools, using her personal stories as a means to make people more comfortable with those who are different from them with regard to race, religion, sexual orientation, and gender identification.

Click here for recording.

Exploring Jewish Views of the Afterlife: Contemporary Implications

On Tuesday, March 29, Congregations Beth El & Brothers of Israel presented guest speaker, Reb Simcha Raphael, Ph.D. 

Does Judaism believe in the afterlife? Unequivocally, the answer is yes! Unfortunately, in contemporary Jewish life we have lost touch with traditional Jewish wisdom on the afterlife. In this program, we shall explore Judaism’s teachings on life after death particularly in Kabbalah – Jewish mysticism.

Click here for recording. Access Passcode: 7TZi&YSd

Crowdsourcing Pesach - presented by Adult Education and Sisterhood

On Sunday, March 27, The Adult Education Committee and The Sisterhood teamed up to present a virtual, informative, and participatory program about Pesach. Click here for recording. Charcuterie board inspired by Susie Fishbein's recipe book, Passover by Design.

 

On the "menu"... click here for recording 

Insider Passover Shopping Information - click on links for grocery information:


Seder Traditions

What special foods do people make for their seder?

Passover Charcuterie:
Thank you to Phyllis Schachter for the beautiful charcuterie.

Passover Fun Facts: 
Click here for recording to find out the answers.

The Spiritual Dimensions of Wellness & Brain Health

Ruth Schapira
In recent times, brain research has discovered that there's a
connection between the health of your brain and your
engagement with spiritual activities and thoughts.

 

Click here for recording.

Click here for more information about Ruth Schapira.

Jews & Food

Rabbi Morris Allen
Rabbi Morris Allen joined Rabbi Weiss'  February 23, 2022 class to discuss the history of Kashrut in America, and bringing current Kashrut certification rules into alignment with ethical concerns.

Click here for recording.

Escape from Shanghai

Jean Hoffman Lewanda
Witness to history, from Vienna to Shanghai a memoir of escape, survival and resilience. Use link below to view our guest speaker as she describes her father, Paul Hoffman's escape from Nazi invasion,

Click here for recording.

Hebrew Calligraphy Artist

Rachel Jackson
Artist Rachael Jackson lead us in this hands-on workshop. We learned how to use Hebrew calligraphy tools, and put them to use in the workshop  to create a Hebrew calligraphy piece to hang in your home.

Click here for recording.

Author Visit

Esther Amini
"Concealed: Memoir of a Jewish-Iranian Daughter Caught Between the Chador and America."
September 30, 2021

Click here for recording.

Scholar-in-Residence

Tzafrir Barzilay
"Plague, Libel & Suspicion"

May 23, 2021
12 Sivan 5781

Sadly, we are once again living through a plague year.  Previous plagues have brought devastation, but it is the aftermath of plagues that may be even more dangerous. Historically, plagues have unleashed social unrest, wars, famines – and, of course, waves of violent antisemitism.

Join us to listen to the lessons of history, from a scholar whose research is focused on plagues and their aftermath. Tzafrir Barzilay is a Kreitman Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Ben Gurion University of the Negev. His forthcoming book, “Poisoned Wells: Accusation, Persecution and Minorities in Medieval Europe 1321-1422” is about to be
published by University of Pennsylvania Press.

Recording no longer available

Wandering Jews Series

The Wandering Jews series connects us to the contemporary Jewish experience around the world. We are opening conversations with far-flung Jewish congregations, to learn about one another in the context of common issues we all face
as Jews.

Uganda, Africa

May 1, 2022
30 Nisan 5782

Join us as we travel far across the globe to Uganda, Africa and learn about contemporary Jewish issues and compare notes on "doing Jewish" in Uganda.

Click here for recording.

https://gofund.me/c87825df

The Great Synagogue of
Stockholm, Sweden

May 9, 2021
27  Iyar 5781

Join us for a transatlantic conversation with Rabbi Ute Steyer about being Jewish publicly.

Click here to watch program.

Emanuel Synagogue
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

April 18, 2021
6 Iyar 5781

A conversation with Rabbi Abby Jacobson from the Emanuel Synagogue in Oklahoma City. "Game of Thrones: Democracy, Messiah, and The State of Israel."

Emanuel Synagogue, the Conservative synagogue for the Oklahoma City area, is home to some 200 member families and individuals. Our congregation is close-knit and friendly, like a big family. Most of us have known each other for years (often for generations), but we're thrilled when newcomers ask to join us, and we do everything we can to make them feel welcome and integrate them into our community.

Click here to watch program.


Exterior View (2012), 15” x 11” Watercolor, Jay A. Waronker

Congregation Tikvat Yisrael
Abuja, Nigeria

April 25, 2021
13 Iyar 5781

"Being Jewish in Public" What is Jewish life like Abuja, Nigeria? What are the unique challenges of being openly Jewish in that part of the world? How do those challenges compare with our own public displays of Judaism in Yardley, PA?

Click here to watch program.

Yom Ha'aztmaut Celebration

Ariel Wyner & Kol Kahol, Jewish American Bluegrass Band

April 15, 2021
13 Iyar 5781

At the crossroads of American Roots and Jewish customs, Kol Kaḥol's music has a joyous, modern spin that is deeply seated in tradition.

Click here for program.

https://www.kolkahol.com/ 

Yom HaShoah Holocaust Remembrance Day

April 7, 2021
25 Nisan 5781

Yom HaShoah Holocaust Remembrance Day was commemorated with guest speakers which included Congregation Beth El member and author of "Dearest Ones," Stephen Weiner. Stephen and his father embarked on a journey to discover his mother's experiences as she lived as a Hidden Child.

Click on here for program.

Share Your Passion Workshop 

Share Your Passion Workshop Series brings exciting virtual workshops to Congregation Beth El through our members sharing their own hobbies, talents and interests. Do you have a hidden talent, hobby, skill or professional expertise that you would be willing to *virtually showcase? Nutritionists, gardeners, chefs, seamstresses/tailors, bakers, artists, musicians, actors, yoga, Zumba, sports enthusiasts, wine enthusiasts, finance, event planning, dental health and more! Please contact the office today! Call 215-493-1707 or email Helene Geiger, Adulted@bethelyardley.org.

 

Share Your Passion Workshop Video Links

​1. Penny Bardfeld,   Portion Distortion

2. Rich Gorelick and Rusty Gorelick, An American Guide to Soccer

3. Jack Wellerstein,  Starting  a  Backyard Garden

4. Jill Cohen , Understanding the U.S. Supreme Court recent ruling prohibiting employment of discrimination on the basis of Sexual Orientation or Gender identity

5. Henry Cohen, The Environment: Taking Responsibility

6. Ashara Shapiro, Jewelry Making

7. Larry Kanner, Election Judge, Mitch Marder, Election Judge, Ben Wachspress, “Reclaim the Vote” Project: VOTE FAQ

8. Phil Freidenreich and Liz Ravitch - Genealogy 

9. Marc Ostro, COVID -19 Vaccine Developments

10. Dr. Melissa Hubsher, Moving Forward from the Winter of Our Disconnect: Building Resilience & Finding Hope

11. Cantor Flo Friedman, The Hidden Gems of Patient and Staff Care: Chaplains Video not available. Click here for audio file.

12. Loren Hurwitz, Retirement Fun

13. Ruth Laks & Congregation Beth El Members, Day Tripping in 48 hours or less - (click here for Day Tripping links from other member's trips)

14. Perry Stein & Ethan Oring, Race Car Driving

Special Events & Programs 

 

Rachael Cerrotti - "We Share the Same Sky"

Rachael Cerrotti is an award-winning documentary photographer, writer, educator and producer. 
Click here for program.

 

Beth Elevate Your Elul - High Holidays 2020/5781 

Seth Fishman: 30 Meaningful Minutes
Click here for program. 

Cheesecake Chats Tikkun Leyl Shavuot - May 2020/Sivan 5781

We hope you were able to join us during the week leading up to Shavuot for these great learning opportunities.
If you missed any of the talks or just want to see them again, please click on the video links below.

Cheesecake Chat Video Links

1. Seth Fishman - “Revelation and a Torah for Our Times

2. Lou Balcher -  "Hero in Heaven: Michael Levin"

3. Ruth Schapira -  "What in the text of Megillat Ruth gives us a clue to the romantic relationship between Boaz and Ruth?"

4. Karen Lewin -  "Jewish American Idol"

Wellness Day May 2020/Sivan 5781

Congregation Beth El and The Bucks County Kehillah came together for a day of Virtual restoration, discovery and growth. Thank you to our presenters: Ruth Schapira, Rabbi Jeff Schnitzer, Joan Rubin-Kritz, Caryn Boiselle, Rabbi Diana Miller, Galit Green, Laurie Pepe and Rabbi Weiss, for closing remarks

Wellness Day Video Links

1. Caryn Boiselle, LMFT : Maintaining Connection: Staying Connected with Your Teen While Giving them the Freedom to Learn to Fly

2. Galit Green: Turn your Pain Into Purpose

3. Rabbi Diana Miller: Torah Yoga

4. Laurie Pepe, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI); Education Director of Bucks County Chapter: Ending the Silence, Mental Health Matters

Tue, March 19 2024 9 Adar II 5784