Adult Education
Learning is a lifelong endeavor. We learn something new every day and each year through our lives. The same holds true for Jewish education.
Learning does not stop in childhood. As we grow, our understanding of our world grows, and we are able to find deeper, continually relevant meaning our Jewish tradition, philosophy and practice.
Our adult education program at Old York Road Temple-Beth Am offers a wide variety of opportunities to continue learning. Throughout the year we have classes that that include Torah discussions, advanced rabbinic studies, Hebrew language, Judaism through art, work with contemporary scholars, Jewish life in literature, introductory Judaic learning and more. All of our adult education classes are open to all congregants.
Lincow Institute for Adult Jewish Studies
This special program was endowed in 1998 by Barbara and Dr. Arnold Lincow to place an emphasis on Jewish learning in the Beth Am community. The Institute provides stimulating lectures and discussions for adults. Led by our Rabbis, Cantor and noted community educators, classes are offered throughout the calendar year. Through exploration and discussion of many topics, adults have an opportunity to continue learning, engage in stimulating conversation, be part of a learning community and enjoy the company of fellow Beth Amniks. No prior Jewish education is required. This program is open to the community at no charge to the participants and begins in October.
The Annual Harry z”l and Evelyn Silver Scholar-In-Residence
Endowed by long-time congregants, Harry z”l and Evelyn Silver, this annual program brings master teachers — nationally-known experts in their fields — to Old York Road Temple-Beth Am. Over more than three decades, we have learned from the most brilliant rabbis, cantors and Jewish educators, danced and sang with creative musicians and have been inspired by social activists. We invite community members of all ages to learn together with us, as we know that learning is a life-long pursuit.
- 1982 Rabbi David Saperstein
- 1983 Rabbi Jerome R. Malino
- 1984 Dr. Marc Lee Raphael
- 1985 Rabbi Marvin Tokayer
- 1986 Rabbi Harold S. Kushner
- 1987 Dr. Stephen J. Whitfield
- 1988 Dennis Prager
- 1989 Rabbi Ezra Spicehandler
- 1990 Albert Vorspan
- 1991 Dr. Samuel H. Adler
- 1992 Professors Norman And Yedida Stillman
- 1993 Rabbi David Wolpe
- 1994 Rabbi Dr. Norman J. Cohen
- 1995 Rabbi Dr. Lawrence A. Hoffman
- 1996 Dr. Ron Wolfson
- 1997 Rabbi Daniel Freelander and Cantor Jeff Klepper
- 1998 Ms. Laurie Gross and Rabbi Arthur Gross Schaefer
- 1999 Doug Cotler
- 2000 Dr. Amy Jill Levine
- 2001 Professor David Ellenson
- 2002 Rabbi Lawrence Kushner
- 2003 Danny Maseng
- 2004 Peninnah Schram
- 2005 Dr. Arnold Eisen
- 2006 Debbie Friedman
- 2007 Rabbi Jan Katzew
- 2008 Rick Recht
- 2009 Rabbi David Saperstein
- 2010 Rabbi Dr. Lawrence A. Hoffman
- 2011 Craig Taubman
- 2012 Sh’ma in Action: District Attorney Risa Vetri Furman, Rabbi Dayle Friedman, Dr. Dan Gottlieb
- 2013 Rabbi Noam Katz
- 2014 Rabbi Dana Evan Kaplan
- 2015 Nigel Savage & Rick Recht
- 2017 Rabbi Joseph Telushkin
- 2018 Mordechia Rosenstein
- 2021 Scholar Series: Mark Oppenheimer , Noah Aronson
Torah Study
Each and every Saturday morning in the Temple Beth Torah Chapel our lay-led Torah Study Group (TSG) meets from 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. to discuss “Parshat HaShavuah” the Torah portion of the week. No prior knowledge is necessary to join us; only a sincere desire to want to be motivated and inspired by our ancient biblical text.
Following the conclusion of “TSG”, a warm, informal, participatory, lay-led Shabbat morning minyan service takes place which includes meaningful prayer, informative commentaries and beautiful melodies. Please join us.