Here at Emek Shalom, we have historically prided ourselves on having a strong and vibrant culture of Adult Education that far exceeds our size as a relatively small congregation. Our goal is to create, nourish, and sustain a community of lifelong learners, and at TES you will find a plethora of classes taught by rabbis, community experts and guests, who aim to bring depth and breadth to the subjects they explore. Our classes and programs provide paths of connection that meet learners wherever they are in their journey.
Please join Rabbi Julie for a midday walk in Lithia Park, on the 2nd Tuesday of the month, at a slightly new time: 1:00 pm. This will be a time to walk and take in the beauty of the foliage and just BE together.
Meet at the entrance to Lithia Park at top of the Ashland Plaza. See the calendar for the current scheduled walks.
Meet at the entrance to Lithia Park at top of the Ashland Plaza. In the event of rain, we will still meet at the entrance to the park and will then decide together if we want to go forth and walk in the rain or instead go to a restaurant or cafe.
Join fellow TES members and others at 5 pm every Tuesday evening on Zoom. For more information, email office@emekshalom.org
Unraveled, our kitting and other yarn crafts group, will meet on the first and third Thursday of the month at 11:00 am at TES! Bring your current project and what you’ve recently completed! Let’s kvell over our successes and work together on our challenges!
Any questions, email Melissa Grudin at mkgrudin@gmail.com
This is an ongoing group that meets the 2nd Thursday of each month at 6:00 pm on TES Zoom. It’s a time of sharing, listening, and connecting for anyone who identifies as a man in our TES community. Please contact Chazzan Randall Miller for more info.
Mahloket Matters: How to Disagree Constructively
An 8-session class taught by Emily Simon
Begins Sunday, January 5th and will run ~ every other week.
10:30 -11:45am, TES Conference Room and Zoom
Most people concur that civil discourse has deteriorated to an extent that endangers democracy. We are unable to listen to one another, let alone understand each other. We have progressively tuned in to the exclusive echoes of our own silos.
Is it possible to productively engage those with whom we disagree? Can Jewish text study empower us to engage more constructively in disagreements today?
Join an 8-session class taught by Emily Simon to study mahloket l’shem shamayim (constructive disagreements) as a vital tool to generate critical thinking and personal growth. Text study can be used to increase the desire and ability to understand and engage more constructively with conflicting political opinions today.
Each class will present a mahloket (disagreement) in classical Jewish texts that is relevant to a unique aspect of modern life and contemporary challenges. For example, our classes will cover topics such as DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion), truth vs peace, public shaming, and if Zionists and anti-Zionists can share the same tent.
For a complete list of dates and topics click here
Classes will be every other Sunday beginning January 5 through April 6 from 10:30 until 11:45am at Temple Emek Shalom in Ashland, Oregon or on Zoom. No Hebrew or prior study is necessary for this course.
You can register for the class here . This class will be free for TES members and cost $120 for non-TES member households. If anyone needs financial assistance, please contact Rabbi Julie: rabbijulie@emekshalom.org.
Every second Saturday members Julia Sommer and Diane Werich will facilitate the Shabbat Torah Study as a Mussar Torah Study, building discussions largely based on the book, The Mussar Torah Commentary: A Spiritual Path to Living a Meaningful and Ethical Life, edited by Rabbi Barry Block. Each chapter in the book offers an essay by a rabbi or scholar about a mussar middah (value or character trait) central to the story of the weekly Torah portion. For more information, email office@emekshalom.org.
Check back for a new class. See Mussar for more information.
Tuesday afternoon Torah Study, 5:00 pm
Saturday morning Torah study, 9:00-9:45 am Please see our calendar for the current schedule.
If you’re interested in joining our extraordinary Temple Emek Shalom Mussar Study program (or just to hear more), contact Marty Towbin.