Education

Liberal Judaism’s Education Hub Adult Education Classes
Wednesdays, from January 2019 (click here for dates)
7-9pm (with Ma’ariv at 6:30pm)
The Montagu Centre, London
£5 each week
Liberal Judaism’s Education Hub provides opportunities to learn and think about Judaism, faith and philosophy for people from all religions and backgrounds. Classes cover a range of topics throughout the year.
Click here for details and to book

The Learning Circle – Exploring Judaism
Tuesdays, 8 January – 2 April 2019 | 30 April – 9 July 2019
8-9pm
Liberal Jewish Synagogue, London
Free for LJS members, friends and registered proselytes, £10 per week for non members
Teacher: Student Rabbi Igor Zinkov
Designed to offer knowledge about aspects of Judaism to encourage practical experiences of Liberal Judaism and space for personal reflection within the group. It is for anyone who would like to know more about Judaism or to brush up on their Jewish knowledge.
Resources can be found online here.
Click here for details
 
The Learning Circle – Classical Hebrew Classes
Tuesdays, 8 January – 2 April 2019 (except 19 February) | 30 April – 23 July 2019 (except 28 May)
7-8pm
Liberal Jewish Synagogue, London
Free for LJS members and registered proselytes, £10 per week for non members
Teachers: Susannah Alexander, Sally Gold and Rabbi Alexandra Wright
A new beginners’ reading course, as well as for those who would like to improve their Hebrew reading and learn to navigate their way around the Siddur.
Click here for details
 
The Learning Circle – Hebrew Classes & Torah Study
Saturdays, 12 January – 30 March 2019 (16 & 23 February) | 27 April – 6 July (except 25 May, 1 June & 8 June)
9:45-10:45am
Liberal Jewish Synagogue, London
Free
Teachers: Naomi Brightwell, David Strang, Nitza Spiro, Michael Romain
These shabbat morning classes include Hebrew classes for those at all levels and Torah study and Jewish thought.
Click here for details
 
The Learning Circle – Tuesday Texts
Tuesdays, 8 January – 2 April 2019 | 30 April – 23 July 2019
11:15-12:30am
Liberal Jewish Synagogue, London
Free for LJS members and friends, £10 per week for non members
Teachers: LJS Rabbis, Rabbi Dr Michael Hilton, Dr Dov Softi & Susannah Alexander
Study biblical texts and commentaries and enjoy sessions on Jewish art and music. Previous classes have examined the influence of Jewish texts on Leonard Cohen and Bob Dylan, Maimonides and Jewish Rationalism, and an introduction to Kabbalah.
Click here for details
 
Sunday Lecture & Lunch Series – Preview of Sir Anthony Seldon’s new book
Sunday 27 January
11:30am-3pm
Brighton & Hove Progressive Synagogue
£22.50 including lecture & two-course lunch. £100 for whole series of five lectures.
Lecturer: Sir Anthony Seldon
Contact the synagogue to book by email or at 01273 737 223.
 
Lyons Learning Project – Israeli Literature as a Window to Israeli Society Course
Wednesdays 6, 13 & 27 February | 6 & 13 March (Followed by 5 sessions on the West London Synagogue Israel Tour: 27 March – 3rd April)
7-8:30pm
London
£200
Course Tutor: Rabbi Neil Janes
A literary journey that offers a fresh and fascinating examination of Israeli society since the birth of the State in 1948. An encounter with Israeli society through the pens of Israel’s leading writers, where students will discover an Israeli society that is original, contemporary, honest, and proud. Profound insights into the Israeli national psyche as reflections of the mythic Israel are matched by poetry and prose that is challenging and self-critical.
Click here for details and to apply
 
Sunday Lecture & Lunch Series – The Remarkable Isaac Rosenberg: WW1 Poet & Painter
Sunday 24 February
11:30am-3pm
Brighton & Hove Progressive Synagogue
£22.50 including lecture & two-course lunch. £100 for whole series of five lectures.
Lecturer: Dr Aviv Dautch
Contact the synagogue to book by email or at 01273 737 223.
 
The Learning Circle – Deep Calls to Deep: Transforming Conversations Between Jews & Christians
Tuesdays, 5 March – 2 April 2019 | 30 April – 21 May
7-9pm
Liberal Jewish Synagogue, London
Free for LJS members and friends, £10 per week for non members
In partnership with the London Society of Jews and Christians & the Council of Christians and Jews
A timely course for anyone who would like to explore what it means for Jews and Christians to live side-by-side, facing a post-modern, secular world but emerging from different asymmetrical past histories.
Click here for details
 
Hebrew Crash Course
8 – 10 March
Northwood & Pinner Liberal Synagogue, London
£75 for members | £125 for non-members
Learn to read or improve your fluency and understanding of Hebrew at a supportive and stimulating weekend.
Click here for details and to book
 
Sunday Lecture & Lunch Series – Herod’s Temple: The Most Remarkable Building of the Roman Empire
Sunday 31 March
11:30am-3pm
Brighton & Hove Progressive Synagogue
£22.50 including lecture & two-course lunch. £100 for whole series of five lectures.
Lecturer: Dr David Jacobson
Contact the synagogue to book by email or at 01273 737 223.
 
Lyons Learning Project – Jewish Mysticism: Tracing the History of Kabbalah Course
Wednesdays, 15 May – 26 June 2019
7-8:30pm
London
£200
Course Tutor: Rabbi Neil Janes
Getting beyond Madonna, red strings, and hocus pocus, this study provides a deep, accurate, and intellectually honest understanding of the historical backdrop that led to the birth of an esoteric Jewish tradition, alongside the societal and cultural changes that shaped and reshaped that tradition throughout the centuries, until this very day.
Jewish Mysticism: Tracing the History of Kabbalah offers students the framework to understand the development of Jewish mysticism while utilising the primary texts that have been central to that tradition. While grounded in scholarship, each class will include discussions that address the timeless mysteries of human existence and many of life’s eternal, universal questions.
Click here for details and to apply
 
West Central Liberal Synagogue Beginner’s Hebrew
Tuesdays, Weekly
7:30-8:15pm
Montagu Centre
Contact Rabbi Jackie Tabick for details and to join.
 
West Central Liberal Synagogue Judaism 101
Tuesdays, Weekly
8:15-9:30pm
Montagu Centre
A weekly exploration of the Jewish festivals, traditions and history.
Contact Rabbi Jackie Tabick for details and to join.
 
Leo Baeck College Lehrhaus
Various dates and times
Leo Baeck College, London or Online
Prices vary for each course (Please check the website to confirm exact prices)
The Lehrhaus is the Leo Baeck College’s programme in adult Jewish lifelong learning. The programme has been operating for a number of years with great success. The courses include study in Bible, Talmud, philosophy, Biblical Hebrew, Midrash, sacred music, Jews and art, ulpan and others.
Click here for details
 
Teaching Animation
Online, self-paced
BimBam Online
Free
BimBam are offering their first ever professional development course to teach Jewish educators stop motion animation and how to bring it into the classroom. The free, self-paced online course means you can take the course whenever and wherever you want.
Click here to be notified when the programme launches.
 
 
 
If your community has an adult education programme you’d like to be included in our listings please email ebulletin@liberaljudaism.org.

Ba’alei Tefillah is Liberal Judaism’s lay leadership programme, training members so that they can lead all aspects of a service in their community – including reading from the Torah and delivering a sermon.
 
From its origins, Liberal Judaism has always celebrated the partnership of a professional rabbinate and committed lay men and women. The movement is committed to strengthening local communities by nurturing the skills and commitment of individuals.
 
Since 2010, the Ba’alei Tefillah programme has given participants the opportunity to meet and work with fellow Liberal Jews from all over the UK, to study and discuss the rich tradition and meaning of Jewish liturgy and its role in modern Jewish communities.
 
Participants learn about the essential elements of the Jewish prayer service and speaking confidently in front of others, as well as ways in which they can serve their communities as informed and engaged members.
 
The course includes a mix of distance learning, group get-togethers and a summer residential retreat.
 
Please email Sandra Kviat for more details.

The LJ Learning Network was created in 2013 as a response to the need of community educators for training, networking, and sharing of resources and experiences in our movement.

On this background we have run a plethora of seminars for everyone involved in children’s learning on subjects like: Safeguarding, Learning Disabilities, especially autism, creative curricula, sensitive teenage Holocaust education, Israel and Hebrew. The seminars are suitable for all levels of teaching experience.

We currently run a yearly educators seminar together with MRJ, as well as providing curricula, and support for headteachers and chedarim.

In addition, we share external courses which may be of interest to Jewish educators:
Teaching Animation
BimBam are offering their first ever professional development course to teach Jewish educators stop motion animation and how to bring it into the classroom. The free, self-paced online course means you can take the course whenever and wherever you want.
Click here to be notified when the programme launches.

If you would like support, have an idea or would like to get involved please contact our Education Consultant.

Liberal Judaism’s Resource Bank is your essential guide to running a community, containing invaluable advice, downloadable template documents and training opportunities.
 
You will find teaching resources for the whole community, including cheder and adult learning curricula, service booklets for every occasion, sermons to share, musical recordings, PR templates and a library of books and DVDs you can borrow.
 
Click here to visit the Resource Bank

The 2013 Day of Celebration saw the launch of the LAFTAs (Liberal Academy for Film and Torah Awards), a competition where Liberal Judaism religion schools are asked to make a short film on a Jewish topic, linked to the biannual Day of Celebration theme.
 
The 2017 LAFTAs theme was: What would your community look like in the Messianic Age?

The 2017 theme made communities to think about creating an ideal world. Imagine a world where everyone is working together towards social justice, environmental stability, global harmony – what are the issues that matter to your community specifically, and how are you using Liberal Jewish values to work on them? How does your community envision the Messianic Age?
 
Click here to find out more