Education

Liberal Judaism’s Education Hub provides opportunities to learn and think about Judaism, faith and philosophy for people from all religions and backgrounds. Classes are taught by various progressive rabbis and lay leaders covering a range of topics throughout the year.
Click here for details and to book

Introduction to Judaism & Biblical Hebrew
Wednesdays
7-9pm
Rabbi Janet Burden
£20 for 5 weeks

This class is perfect for those who want to learn about Judaism and its traditions. The first half of the class will cover basic Hebrew, and the second half will look at different Jewish principles, holidays and traditions. No previous knowledge or experience required.
Click here for details and to book

ONLINE Biblical Hebrew Course
Tuesdays; 7 Jan – 18 Feb 2020
7-8pm
Rabbi Lea Mühlstein
£30 for 7 weeks
A continuation of the 2019 Online Biblical Hebrew class working through The First Hebrew Primer: The Adult Beginner’s Path to Biblical Hebrew Book by Ethelyn Simon. Click here for details and to book

The Liberal Jewish Synagogue Tuesday Texts
Tuesdays, Weekly (14 January-31 March | 28 April-21 July)
11:15am-12:30pm
LJS Rabbis
The Liberal Jewish Synagogue
Free for LJS members and proselytes | £10/week for non-members
A friendly group led by the rabbis at the LJS, which studies biblical and rabbinic texts, modern poetry and short stories, and enjoy sessions on Jewish art and music. The starting point is always a text or a painting, whether ancient or modern, but the class is based around discussion on a variety of different topics. New students are always welcome!
Contact the Education Department at The LJS for details and to join.
 
West Central Liberal Synagogue Basic Hebrew Reading
Tuesdays, Weekly from September 3rd
7:30-8:15pm
Rabbi Jackie Tabick
Montagu Centre
If you don’t yet know an Aleph from a Beit, or are a bit rusty about such things, this course is for you. The course will use ‘Beginnings of Siddur Hebrew’ and ‘Prayerbook Hebrew the Easy Way’ textbooks.
Contact Rabbi Jackie Tabick for details and to join.
 
The Liberal Jewish Synagogue Hebrew Classes
Tuesdays, Weekly (14 January-31 March | 28 April-14 July)
7-8pm
Beginners: Susannah Alexander | Next Steps in Prayerbook Hebrew: Dr Sally Gold | Reading the Psalms in Hebrew: Rabbi Alexandra Wright
The Liberal Jewish Synagogue
Free for LJS members and proselytes | £10/week for non-members
Contact the Education Department at The LJS for details and to join.
 
The Liberal Jewish Synagogue Tuesday Evening Seminars
Tuesdays
8-9:15pm
Guest Speakers
The Liberal Jewish Synagogue
Free for LJS members and proselytes | £10/week for non-members
Tuesday 21 January – Antisemitsm: What is is. What it isn’t. Why it matters. with Rabbi Julia Neuberger.
Rabbi Neuberger will talk about antisemitism and her new book of the same title.
3 March-19 May 2020 – The Gospels and Rabbinic Judaism with the London Society for Jews and Christians.
Building on last year’s course ‘Deep Calls to Deep’, this course aims to explore common themes or texts in Judaism and Christianity, not out of a spirit of rivalry, but in order to learn about both faiths and to enhance our understanding of our own faith.
Contact the Education Department at The LJS for details and to join.
 
The Liberal Jewish Synagogue Exploring Judaism
Tuesdays, Weekly (14 January-31 March | 28 April-14 July)
8-9pm
Rabbi Igor Zinkov
The Liberal Jewish Synagogue
Free for LJS members and proselytes | £10/week for non-members
Exploring Judaism is for people, including non-Jewish family members, who wish to know more about Judaism or who would like to brush up on their Jewish knowledge. It is also an essential programme of instruction for people choosing Judaism by conversion. Class members are encouraged to read materials which will be made available online during the year. In addition to offering knowledge of Judaism, the course encourages practical experiences of Liberal Judaism and space for personal reflection within the group.
Contact the Education Department at The LJS for details and to join.
 
West Central Liberal Synagogue Judaism 101
Tuesdays, Weekly from September 3rd
8:15-9:30pm
Rabbi Jackie Tabick
Montagu Centre
Click here for a breakdown of the classes
Contact Rabbi Jackie Tabick for details and to join.
 
West Central Liberal Synagogue Biblical Hebrew
Thursdays, Weekly from September 26th
7:30-8:15pm
Rabbi Jackie Tabick
Montagu Centre
This course will help participants feel more at home in services and read Torah with greater confidence. The course will use ‘The First Hebrew Primer’ textbook.
Contact Rabbi Jackie Tabick for details and to join.
 
West Central Liberal Synagogue Medieval Rabbis
Thursdays, Weekly from September 19th
8:30-9:30pm
Rabbi Jackie Tabick
Montagu Centre
Each week will look at a different Medieval rabbis. The class will then pick one or two of the rabbis to learn about in more detail in future terms. Click here for a breakdown of the classes
Contact Rabbi Jackie Tabick for details and to join.
 
Westminster Synagogue & WZO Ulpan
Thursdays, Weekly (Terms: 12 September-19 December | 9 January-2 April | 23 April-25 June)
6-7:20pm; Intermediate class | 7:30-8:50pm; Beginners 1 class | 9-10:20pm; Beginners 2 class
Shai Grosskopf
Westminster Synagogue
£240 – Liberal Judaism or Westminster Synagogue members | £280 – non-members
Over just 30 weeks this interactive Hebrew Ulpan will get you speaking Hebrew like an Israeli! Whether you want to make Aliyah or just to learn a new language, this class will bring Hebrew to life and help you converse with ease. The course is in partnership with the World Zionist Organisation who have significantly sponsored the programme, lowering the price to just under £10 per class.
Visit Westminster Synagogue’s website for details and to join.
 
West Central Liberal Synagogue Shabbat Lunch & Learn Series
Saturdays
1:30pm
Rabbi Jackie Tabick and/or guest speakers
Montagu Centre
Click here for a breakdown of the classes
Contact Rabbi Jackie Tabick for details and to join.
 
The Liberal Jewish Synagogue Shabbat Morning Classes
Saturdays, Weekly (11 January-28 March | 25 April-4 July)
9:45-10:45am
The Liberal Jewish Synagogue
Free
Exploring The Psalms: How can reading Psalms help us in today’s world? with Michael Romain
The class will be looking at a number of different psalms. The classes will be led by our rabbis and other teachers. No previous knowledge is required. If you would like to know more please contact Michael Romain.
Beginners’ Hebrew with Naomi Brightwell
This class will start afresh using Jonathan Romain’s Signs and Wonders book to help complete beginners decode the squiggles and start tackling what they’ve always been afraid of. Absolutely no previous knowledge required.
Moving Up in Hebrew with Dr Dov Softi
The aim of this class is to allow students to begin to understand the Hebrew prayers and songs used in services. Those joining the class will need basic reading skills. The class will spend some time each week increasing reading fluency, and understanding the basics of Hebrew grammar using ‘Prayerbook Hebrew the Easy Way’.
Intermediate Hebrew with Nitza Spiro
The aim of these sessions is to explore the Hebrew texts which the learners will come across in synagogue services on Shabbatot and Festivals. Some of the texts which will be introduced and studied in preparation for each festival. The class will be working on fluency in reading but at the same time will also be working on the understanding of the historical, ethical, philosophical, and ideological messages of the texts.
Contact the Education Department at The LJS for details and to join.
 
The Liberal Jewish Synagogue Nosh’N’Drosh
Saturdays, Monthly
1:15-2:15pm
Guest speakers
The Liberal Jewish Synagogue
Free including a light lunch
A discussion led by an outstanding guest speaker with time for discussion and questions over a bagel lunch.
18 January 2020: Dr Tony Klug special advisor on the Middle East to the Oxford Research Group and an international board member of the Palestine-Israel Journal.
February 2020: Author Thomas Harding on his new book Legacy – The story of how Lehmann Gluckstein escaped the pogroms of Eastern Europe and how his family worked tirelessly to create the largest catering company in the world; J. Lyons.
March 2020: Maggie & William Carver tell the story of Licoricia of Winchester, one of the most prominent Jewish women of the 13th century.
30 May 2020: Carol Turner talks about and celebrates the life of close friend Walter Wolfgang.
Contact the Education Department at The LJS for details and to join.
 
 
 
If your community has an adult education programme you’d like to be included in our listings please email educationhub@liberaljudaism.org.

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
 
King David in Power
Tuesdays (22 October – 10 December)
7:30-9pm
Rabbi Professor Jonathan Magonet
Leo Baeck College, London
£120
The Book of Samuel is one of the masterpieces of world literature. While the overall story can be read and appreciated in translation, the full richness and subtleties of the narrative deserve spending time with the Hebrew text. This year we will continue our reading using the insights of rabbinic tradition and modern literary approaches to the text. Newcomers will quickly catch up on what has been covered before and together we will explore the unfolding drama of David’s rise to power.
Click here for details and to book

ONLINE Ulpan
Beginners: Tuesdays
Intermediate: Thursdays
Liat Aharonovich
£160 (8 week course) | £220 (11 week course)
Click here for dates, details and to book

Classical Greek for Beginners
Tuesdays (5 November – 10 December)
7:30-9pm
Rabbi Dr Michael Hilton
Leo Baeck College, London
£90
Classical Greek was not just the language of Homer and Plato but was also the language of the oldest known translation of the Hebrew Bible into any other language, known as the Septuagint. If you’ve ever struggled trying to learn the Hebrew alphabet, reading Greek will seem glorious simple. The phrase “It’s all Greek to me” is only for those who’ve never even tried. This course is Classical Greek for complete beginners – including the alphabet. Even early on, we’ll get a chance to look at some Greek Bible texts which are strangely different from the Hebrew.
Click here for details and to book

Some Foolish Men and a Feisty Women in the Biblical ‘Early Prophets’
Wednesdays (6 – 27 November)
7:45-9:30pm
Rabbi Professor Jonathan Magonet
East London & Essex Liberal Synagogue
£60 (Subsidised price for ELELS members is £36)
The compilers of the Hebrew Bible made the unusual decision to classify the Books of Joshua, Judges, Samuel and Kings under the category of ‘prophecy’ and not the more obvious label ‘history’, as they are organised in Christian Bibles. This means that we are forced to read them not simply as recording past events of mere antiquarian interest, but as offering reflections on contemporary life; not in terms of future events foretold, but as recurring patterns of human experience and behaviour from which to learn. So, we will study the rise of a despot (Abimelech Judges 9); an over-pious and -zealous soldier (Jephthah Judges 11); a shrewd but unnamed woman (the mother of Samson Judges13); and a prophet who gets it wrong (Samuel 1 Samuel 9, 16).
Click here for details and to book

Passion, Politics and a Prophet in the Books of Samuel and Kings
Sundays (9 February – 1 March 2020)
11am-12:30pm
Rabbi Professor Jonathan Magonet
South London Liberal Synagogue
£60 (Subsidised price for ELELS members is £50)
We will study the ‘Early Prophets’ of the Hebrew Bible, this time turning to episodes from the Books of Samuel and Kings. Some passages show the follies and tragic mistakes of kings (David and Bathsheba – 2 Samuel 11) and of would-be kings (Absalom, Ahitophel and Hushai – 2 Samuel 17)); others reflect the terrible burdens of leadership or power, but also the reluctance to give them up (Saul and David – 1 Samuel 24, 26; Elijah at Mt Horeb -1 Kings 19).These episodes illustrate the psychological insight and literary skills, the subtle mixture of irony and compassion, of the Biblical narrators.
Click here for details and to book

Nurturing the nurturers
Sunday 5 January 2020

This year our teacher training will include sessions on how to sensitively teach about the Shoah (including the use of social media), as well as using music in the classroom and assembly, crafting and mental health, basic teaching skills, using games as a teaching tool, mindfulness as a teaching aid, classroom management and behaviour, safeguarding training, Hebrew, and lots more.

We will also be hosting an expanded shuk of resources from Jewish organisations, from Yad Vashem, the Jewish Book Service, and lots more!

Our educators will include Cantor Sarah Grabiner, Yoni Berrous from Yad Vashem, and experts from across the Jewish community.

Click here for details and to book

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Teachers may also be interested in:

Leo Baeck Lehrhaus ONLINE Jewish Education Course: The Route to Routes
Thursdays (28 November – 19 December)
7:30-9pm
Dr Jo-Ann Myers
£60
Using a pedagogic framework I developed using the Hebrew root system, this course will give the Hebrew teacher and Hebrew enthusiast the tools to integrate Modern and Biblical Hebrew in a simple and enjoyable way. Delving into the three consonantal Hebrew root system, layers of meanings and nuances, both old and new, will emerge to give the participants a richer and deeper understanding of Hebrew. The framework can be applied to any Hebrew teaching context. Whether you are a Hebrew teacher or just love the Hebrew language, this course is for you!
Click here for details and to book

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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 Reform Judaism, as well as providing curricula, and support for headteachers and chedarim.

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

Join with other young people from small Liberal Judaism communities in years 9 & 10 to explore ‘Judaism in plain sight’ – what does it mean to be Jewish in today’s world?

This programme, aimed at Progressive Jewish communities with a maximum of 5 students in years 9 or 10, provides the chance for post-B’nei Mitzvah students to examine our Liberal values and traditions, and where they fit into modern life; in plain sight.
 
Click here to find out more

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 Alexandra Simonon for more details.

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 2019 LAFTAs asked religion schools to create videos, in the style of a political broadcast, campaigning for the key social justice issue that Liberal Judaism should focus on in the coming years. The videos were accompanied by posters and flyers.

The theme expanded on the Day of Celebration title ‘If I am not for myself…’ to encourage participants to think about the role we play in caring for each other and our community.

 
Click here to find out more