:: Back to Basics - Teaching Adults Basic Judaism

Our Mishnah teaches us that Rabbi Hillel said:
Do not be sure of yourself until the day you die.
Do not judge your friends until you are in their place.
And do not say, “When I have time I will study” -
You may never have the time.

Back to Basics is back by popular demand. Especially designed for adults, Back to Basics covers fundamentals of Judaism for adults who missed the opportunity to learn as children, or who need a “refresher.” Together with Gerdy Trachtman, students will explore the principal ideas of Judaism, through the lens of Jewish texts, life cycle events, holidays, prayers and Jewish history.

Each class will begin with Hebrew reading instruction. By the end of the course, students will be able to read all the prayers in our liturgy in Hebrew.  Our course will culminate in an Adult B’nai Mitzvah with Rabbis Lustig and Hessel and Cantor Manevich for those students who are interested or who never had the opportunity to read from the Torah before. Past participants have described the experience of Back to Basics as “transformative,” “empowering,” and “spiritual.”

Back to Basics is a two-year course. For those interested in registering as new students, the first-year course will be offered every fall pending sufficient enrollment. The course of study will build on the interests and abilities of each participant to provide a meaningful experience.