BEIT: Adult Jewish Learning
Beth El Is Together, Beth El Is Torah
All are welcome to join us for our BEIT (Beth El is Thursday) on Thursday evenings, monthly . Our BEIT program offers a wide variety of class topics and seminars, ensuring there's something for everyone. Each month, we feature speakers and special guests who bring unique perspectives and insights to our sessions, creating dynamic and engaging learning experiences.
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Join us in creating an inclusive learning community. Seek to grow and understand more about Judaism and being Jewish. From whatever your starting point toward whatever your goal.
As we study themes rooted in Torah and Jewish tradition, connecting in person and online, we’ll seek relevance and meaning in Judaism for our lives and world today. We’ll take up specific subjects reflecting a theme on two Thursday evenings and one Sunday morning each month.
Those who want, can go in-depth. Those who prefer, can take on a bit less and still learn a great deal. Though connected by a theme, each session is unique allowing participants to attend when able. Those who want to attend in person are welcome on campus. Those who prefer to connect from home are welcome on Zoom.
We’ll talk about what we believe, and don’t. What we practice, and don’t. What we know, and don’t. What we desire, and don’t.
VTS parents, after bringing your children to school, stick around for the monthly Sunday session and grow in your own understandings and feelings about Judaism.
CBE members and friends, take this opportunity to enhance your personal perspectives on aspects of Jewish living, tradition, and ideas.

February Schedule

​Thursday, February 20th | 7:00 PM
Religious Authority in Torah
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Thursday, February 27th | 7:00 PM
Moral Authority in the Hebrew Prophets
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Sunday, March 2nd | 10:00 AM
Social Authority in the Book of Esther as we approach Purim​
Theme: Jewish Sacred Sources Judaism finds its roots in a variety of biblical, rabbinic, medieval and contemporary sources. The Bible, Talmud, Midrashic literature, legal, liturgical, philosophical, and poetic texts inspire and inform who we are and what we do as Jews from ancient days to today. This month, we’ll explore the Hebrew Bible as the first sacred source of the Jewish people.
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This February we’ll explore Torah and the Bible. Our goal is to become more familiar how these sacred texts continue to inspire us today. We’ll discuss how Biblical tradition is relevant and real for us today. And we’ll learn more about Purim, too! Please join with Rabbi Shulman in person or on Zoom to participate in these three BEIT sessions this month.
January Schedule
Theme: Life Milestones & Observances
Jewish ritual and values embrace us at our lives’ liminal moments, moments of transition that mark both an ending and a beginning. At each stage, we seek to infuse these precious moments with personal meaning and Jewish significance.
This January we’ll discuss how we age, sage, heal, cope, and find life meaning through the values and perspectives of our Jewish heritage and tradition. Please join with Rabbi Shulman in person or on Zoom to participate in these three BEIT sessions this month.
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Sunday, January 26th | 10:00 AM
Grief & Bereavement: How Jewish religious values and ritual practices support us and our loved ones when we encounter death.
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Thursday, January 30th | 7:00 PM
Aging: How Judaism understands growing older and living wiser.
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Thursday, February 6th | 7:00 PM
Healing: Gleaning spiritual strength when we are physically weak.​
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December Schedule
Theme: To Be Apart or A Part
As Jews, we are, we want to be, we need to be both a part of the larger society in which we live, and set apart from it in the distinctive, particularism of Jewish identity and experience.
This month, we’ll explore this push-pull of being Jewish by exploring our relationship to Israel as Diaspora Jews. We’ll also look into the history and lore of Hanukkah for insights about what it means to be Jewish in a non-Jewish world.
Thursday, December 5 | 7:00 PM
Diaspora Zionism in History
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Sunday, December 8 | 7:00 PM
Hanukkah, History, Holiday, and Hope
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Thursday, December 12 | 7:00 PM
Diaspora Zionism Today
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Saturday, December 21 |12:30 PM
Shabbat Torah Study Lunch​
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Shabbat Luncheon & Book Talk
Here There Is No Why with Rabbi Philip Graubart
Sunday, December 8 | 7:00 PM
​Join us for a luncheon and book talk with Rabbi Philip Graubart, who will share insights from his new book, Here There Is No Why. Following Shabbat services, we gather in the Jacobs Family Commnity Hall to enjoy a Shabbat meal together, and learn about this thrilling mystery.
The Current Jewish Moment in Context (and on Campus) with Rabbi David Wolpe
Sunday, December 15 | 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
​Join us for a Sunday Brunch & Discussion with Rabbi David Wolpe, as he addresses challenges facing the Jewish community today and how our history of resilience can help us move forward.
Rabbi David Wolpe is the Max Webb Emeritus Rabbi of Sinai Temple. He serves as the ADL’s inaugural rabbinic fellow and a scholar in residence at the Maimonides Fund. Rabbi Wolpe has taught at Harvard, the Jewish Theological Seminary, the American Jewish University, Hunter College, and UCLA. Rabbi Wolpe has published widely, including in The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, Time, Newsweek and The Atlantic. He has been featured on The Today Show, Face the Nation, ABC This Morning, and CBS This Morning as well as series on PBS, A&E, History Channel, and Discovery Channel.
November Schedule
Theme: Concepts & Convictions
Judaism exists in its ideas and its ideals. Today, we seek to be Jews who find meaning and identity in the explanation and application of Judaism’s ideas for our lives. In these sessions we will discover insights from some of Judaism’s prominent Jewish teachers, past and present. We’ll seek definitions for a compelling and relevant Jewish purpose in the 21st century. We’ll also ask and discuss our honest questions and those of our children.
Thursday, 7:00 p.m.
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November 7th – Jewish Theology Then
November 14th – Jewish Theology Now
Seeking the Hiding God
Dr. Arnold Eisen
Scholar-in-Residence Weekend
Dr. Arnold Eisen, former Chancellor of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America, returns to Congregation Beth El to premiere his newly published book, Seeking the Hiding God, an honest, insightful, and moving personal theological essay.
Dr. Eisen acknowledges that there is little we can know about God’s nature; his focus is on the search for the “hiding God,” the meaning of fleeting encounters with the Creator, and the acts of justice and compassion that human beings are called to perform as partners of God.
The book invites readers to join the author in asking, perhaps for the first time, what they actually believe about ultimate matters of faith and doubt—and rewards fellow searchers for ultimate meaning with reassurance that the search itself can be a source of personal fulfillment, vibrant community, and great joy.
Friday November 15th, 8:00 p.m. following a Community Shabbat Dinner
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Saturday November 16th, 12:30 p.m. following a Community Shabbat Lunch
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Sunday November 17th, 10:00 a.m. following a Sunday Brunch
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Fall Shabbaton
November 15, 16, & 17
Community is created when we all join in celebration of our common bond. When we meet one another in moments of learning, celebration, and kindness we discover that we are each precious parts of a dynamic and whole congregation.
Friday November 16
6:15 p.m. Simhah Shabbat in the Sanctuary!
Our outdoor summer Plaza Prayer moves inside for the fall and becomes “Simhah Shabbat.” We’ll enjoy a spirited service accompanied on guitar by Craig Parks who joins David Lipsitz and our rabbis for an upbeat Kabbalat Shabbat service. During our service, we’ll celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, and happy occasions!
7:00 p.m. Shabbat Dinner
Following Simhah Shabbat we’ll enjoy a Shabbat Dinner buffet and each other’s company. Adults and children, families and friends are all welcome.
7:45 p.m. Seeking the Hiding God with Dr. Arnold Eisen
Following dinner, those wishing to learn our Scholar-in-Residence, Dr. Arnold Eisen, will gather for the first of three weekend sessions.
Sunday November 17, 10:00 a.m.
Sunday Brunch & Guest Speaker
Seeking the Hiding God with Dr. Arnold Eisen
Our third session with Scholar-in-Residence,
Dr. Arnold Eisen.
Saturday November 17
9:30 a.m. Shabbat Morning Service
We join for prayer, song and reflection, Torah study and reading. Afterwards, the conclusion of our Shabbat Morning Service will feature an interpretive prayer experience
11:15 a.m. Hineni! Personal Prayer and Insight
As we conclude our Shabbat service, Rabbi Shulman will guide us through interpretive moments of traditional and modern prayer helping us to reclaim personal expression in our prayer. You are welcome to attend just for this part of the morning or come earlier to share in our full Shabbat service and/or Torah reading.
11:45 a.m. Kiddush and Shabbat Lunch
Following our service, we’ll enjoy Shabbat lunch before our second session with Dr. Arnold Eisen.
12:30 p.m. Seeking the Hiding God with Dr. Arnold Eisen
Following lunch we continue to learn with our Scholar-in-Residence, Dr. Arnold Eisen.