Full Temple Calendar

Facilitators: Jo Ann Schneider Farris and Dan Farris, Temple Israel Congregants
Jews and Christians read the same stories differently. Explore and discuss the New Testament from a Jewish perspective and learn more about the Jewish roots of Christianity.
Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82285979629

9:00 am – Service in sanctuary
9:30 am – Discussion Social Hall

Organizer: Mark Beizer

Contact:
Jennifer Hill
(714) 349-8886
920 East 37th Street, Long Beach, CA 90807.
Phone: 562-260-5650
Email: address is sithly1@gmail.com

Contact:
Judy Peterson: pflaglb@yahoo.com

Facilitator: Martine Korach, Temple Israel congregant
Have you ever wondered about the biblical-era writings that didn’t “make the cut” into Biblical Canon? Well, wonder no more! The Thursday Tanakh group will be diving in and studying these fascinating materials, known as the Apocrypha, that were not included in the Tanakh.

Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86029516690

Thursdays at 12:00 pm
October 12, November 9, December 14, January 11, February 8, March 14
Every step of life brings with it unique experiences and opportunities. Join us as we explore the new frontier of roles and opportunities that come with sacred aging. We will examine the wisdom that comes with experience and talk together about the questions that make our lives meaningful. Join Rabbi Fox, as we explore Jewish questions and texts that speak to a meaningful spiritual life as we enter our golden years.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/163280737

Come join Rabbi Fox and Cantor Cooper for coffee and conversation and enjoy this opportunity to connect with the clergy and meet other parents. We’ll discuss current events, explore big Jewish questions, and have a little fun along the way.
This opportunity is for current Torah Center parents only.

Facilitators: Jo Ann Schneider Farris and Dan Farris, Temple Israel Congregants
Jews and Christians read the same stories differently. Explore and discuss the New Testament from a Jewish perspective and learn more about the Jewish roots of Christianity.
Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82285979629

9:00 am – Service in sanctuary
9:30 am – Discussion Social Hall

Organizer: Mark Beizer

Facilitator: Trish Goldin, Temple Israel congregant
Mussar is a system of introspective practices that can help you identify and break through the obstacles to your inherent holiness, using methods that are easy to integrate into daily life. The program laid out in the book Everyday Holiness: The Jewish Spiritual Path of Mussar by Alan Morinis focuses on 26 traits (middot) – such as loving-kindness, strength, generosity, compassion, honor, and equanimity – each of which takes center stage for a week of contemplation and exercises, in order to develop and refine that quality in yourself. Our study group meets every other Wednesday morning to work on one or more Mussar soul traits. Come join us!

Material Link:
https://www.rabbishefagold.com/love-and-truth/

Contact:
Jennifer Hill
(714) 349-8886
920 East 37th Street, Long Beach, CA 90807.
Phone: 562-260-5650
Email: address is sithly1@gmail.com

Facilitator: Martine Korach, Temple Israel congregant
Have you ever wondered about the biblical-era writings that didn’t “make the cut” into Biblical Canon? Well, wonder no more! The Thursday Tanakh group will be diving in and studying these fascinating materials, known as the Apocrypha, that were not included in the Tanakh.

Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86029516690

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/163280737

9:00 am – Service in sanctuary
9:30 am – Discussion Social Hall

Organizer: Mark Beizer

Contact:
Jennifer Hill
(714) 349-8886
920 East 37th Street, Long Beach, CA 90807.
Phone: 562-260-5650
Email: address is sithly1@gmail.com

Facilitator: Martine Korach, Temple Israel congregant
Have you ever wondered about the biblical-era writings that didn’t “make the cut” into Biblical Canon? Well, wonder no more! The Thursday Tanakh group will be diving in and studying these fascinating materials, known as the Apocrypha, that were not included in the Tanakh.

Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86029516690

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/163280737

9:00 am – Service in sanctuary
9:30 am – Discussion Social Hall

Organizer: Mark Beizer

Facilitator: Trish Goldin, Temple Israel congregant
Mussar is a system of introspective practices that can help you identify and break through the obstacles to your inherent holiness, using methods that are easy to integrate into daily life. The program laid out in the book Everyday Holiness: The Jewish Spiritual Path of Mussar by Alan Morinis focuses on 26 traits (middot) – such as loving-kindness, strength, generosity, compassion, honor, and equanimity – each of which takes center stage for a week of contemplation and exercises, in order to develop and refine that quality in yourself. Our study group meets every other Wednesday morning to work on one or more Mussar soul traits. Come join us!

Material Link:
https://www.rabbishefagold.com/love-and-truth/

Contact:
Jennifer Hill
(714) 349-8886
920 East 37th Street, Long Beach, CA 90807.
Phone: 562-260-5650
Email: address is sithly1@gmail.com

Facilitator: Martine Korach, Temple Israel congregant
Have you ever wondered about the biblical-era writings that didn’t “make the cut” into Biblical Canon? Well, wonder no more! The Thursday Tanakh group will be diving in and studying these fascinating materials, known as the Apocrypha, that were not included in the Tanakh.

Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86029516690

Each time we study Torah, we find something new in its verses…and in ourselves. Join Rabbi Fox in our engaging Torah study. Each week, an enthusiastic group examines the parashat hashavuah (weekly Torah portion) and discusses its meaning and relevance using traditional commentaries, personal reflection, and lively debate. This Torah study is for everyone – no previous background or knowledge of Hebrew is required! Come one time – or every week! Join us, as we discover and re-discover the timeless teachings in our Torah and see what the “Torah Study buzz” is all about!

Facilitators: Jo Ann Schneider Farris and Dan Farris, Temple Israel Congregants
Jews and Christians read the same stories differently. Explore and discuss the New Testament from a Jewish perspective and learn more about the Jewish roots of Christianity.
Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82285979629

9:00 am – Service in sanctuary
9:30 am – Discussion Social Hall

Organizer: Mark Beizer

Teachers: Cantor Cooper, Rabbi Robin Foonberg, and Rachel Van Raalte

Participation in our Adult B’nai Mitzvah Program is an incredible way to strengthen one’s connection to Judaism and the Temple Israel community. We are excited to welcome a new group of adult learners this January who will have become B’nai Mitzvah in Fall 2025.

Learners who register for the Temple Israel Adult B’nai Mitzvah course are making a 22-month long commitment to learning. In the first year, we will learn the prayers of the Shabbat morning service, learn key liturgical vocabulary, and discuss the meaning of many of our key prayers. Our Judaica studies will focus on the Jewish lifecycle, Reform observance and history, Torah Study and commentary.

Please note that there is a beginning Hebrew prerequisite for this class. Temple Israel will be offering a beginning Hebrew class this fall. If you are considering participating in the Adult B’nai Mitzvah program and have questions about your level of Hebrew reading please contact Sharon Amster Brown.

Cost: $500

Teachers: Rabbi Scott Fox and Rabbi Michal Loving
We invite you to join with learners of all backgrounds in our Introduction to Judaism course. The course will cover a broad cross-section of topics related to Judaism in a discussion-based format with experts in the field. This class is ideal for anyone looking to explore Judaism for the very first time, seeking conversion, or for folks who would like to fill in pockets of knowledge in a tradition that takes a lifetime to learn. Everyone is welcome.

We look forward to your joining us.
Cost: $200 plus the cost of textbooks

Teacher: Janet Liss, Temple Israel Congregant
This six-week class is for people who want to learn in a fun and encouraging environment some basic blessings that we use often, as well as a standard prayer recited at every service. Prayers will depend on who enrolls in the class and interest level for specific prayers. We will look at the meaning of the prayers, as well as learn the Hebrew.
Cost: $80, including learning materials

The Lazarus Project by Aleksandar Hemon

On March 2, 1908, nineteen-year-old Lazarus Averbuch, an Eastern European Jewish immigrant, was shot to death on the doorstep of the Chicago chief of police and cast as a would-be anarchist assassin. A century later, a young Eastern European writer in Chicago named Brik becomes obsessed with Lazarus’s story. Brik enlists his friend Rora – a war photographer from Sarajevo – to join him in retracing Averbuch’s path.

Through a history of pogroms and poverty, and a prism of a present-day landscape of cheap mafiosi and even cheaper prostitutes, the stories of Averbuch and Brik become inextricably intertwined, creating a truly original, provocative, and entertaining novel that confirms Aleksandar Hemon, often compared to Vladimir Nabokov, as one of the most dynamic and essential literary voices of our time.

For more information, contact Donna Mitnick at donna.mitnick@gmail.com
Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87285748108

Contact:
Jennifer Hill
(714) 349-8886
920 East 37th Street, Long Beach, CA 90807.
Phone: 562-260-5650
Email: address is sithly1@gmail.com

Contact:
Judy Peterson: pflaglb@yahoo.com

Facilitator: Martine Korach, Temple Israel congregant
Have you ever wondered about the biblical-era writings that didn’t “make the cut” into Biblical Canon? Well, wonder no more! The Thursday Tanakh group will be diving in and studying these fascinating materials, known as the Apocrypha, that were not included in the Tanakh.

Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86029516690

Thursdays at 12:00 pm
October 12, November 9, December 14, January 11, February 8, March 14
Every step of life brings with it unique experiences and opportunities. Join us as we explore the new frontier of roles and opportunities that come with sacred aging. We will examine the wisdom that comes with experience and talk together about the questions that make our lives meaningful. Join Rabbi Fox, as we explore Jewish questions and texts that speak to a meaningful spiritual life as we enter our golden years.

Facilitator: Mark Dressner, Temple Israel Past President

We are very pleased to share a new 10-part Israel educational curriculum, to be facilitated by Mark Dressner, offered by URJ (Union of Reform Judaism) and ARZA (Association of Reform Zionists of America). The curriculum is based on the framework of the “4 Hatikva Questions” – “To Be,” “A People,” “Free,” “In Our Land,” taken from the penultimate line of Israel’s National anthem “Hatikva.” It is a resource to address all of Israel’s complexities in a safe and thorough way, focusing on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Sessions will include: Introduction to the concept, Peoplehood, Democracy, Israeli General Elections, Home-Land, The Kotel, Israeli Judaism, The “O” Word, and Morality of War.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/163280737

Facilitators: Jo Ann Schneider Farris and Dan Farris, Temple Israel Congregants
Jews and Christians read the same stories differently. Explore and discuss the New Testament from a Jewish perspective and learn more about the Jewish roots of Christianity.
Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82285979629

9:00 am – Service in sanctuary
9:30 am – Discussion Social Hall

Organizer: Mark Beizer

With Dr. Sarah Burney

Facilitator: Trish Goldin, Temple Israel congregant
Mussar is a system of introspective practices that can help you identify and break through the obstacles to your inherent holiness, using methods that are easy to integrate into daily life. The program laid out in the book Everyday Holiness: The Jewish Spiritual Path of Mussar by Alan Morinis focuses on 26 traits (middot) – such as loving-kindness, strength, generosity, compassion, honor, and equanimity – each of which takes center stage for a week of contemplation and exercises, in order to develop and refine that quality in yourself. Our study group meets every other Wednesday morning to work on one or more Mussar soul traits. Come join us!

Material Link:
https://www.rabbishefagold.com/love-and-truth/

Teachers: Cantor Cooper, Rabbi Robin Foonberg, and Rachel Van Raalte

Participation in our Adult B’nai Mitzvah Program is an incredible way to strengthen one’s connection to Judaism and the Temple Israel community. We are excited to welcome a new group of adult learners this January who will have become B’nai Mitzvah in Fall 2025.

Learners who register for the Temple Israel Adult B’nai Mitzvah course are making a 22-month long commitment to learning. In the first year, we will learn the prayers of the Shabbat morning service, learn key liturgical vocabulary, and discuss the meaning of many of our key prayers. Our Judaica studies will focus on the Jewish lifecycle, Reform observance and history, Torah Study and commentary.

Please note that there is a beginning Hebrew prerequisite for this class. Temple Israel will be offering a beginning Hebrew class this fall. If you are considering participating in the Adult B’nai Mitzvah program and have questions about your level of Hebrew reading please contact Sharon Amster Brown.

Cost: $500

Teachers: Rabbi Scott Fox and Rabbi Michal Loving
We invite you to join with learners of all backgrounds in our Introduction to Judaism course. The course will cover a broad cross-section of topics related to Judaism in a discussion-based format with experts in the field. This class is ideal for anyone looking to explore Judaism for the very first time, seeking conversion, or for folks who would like to fill in pockets of knowledge in a tradition that takes a lifetime to learn. Everyone is welcome.

We look forward to your joining us.
Cost: $200 plus the cost of textbooks

Teacher: Janet Liss, Temple Israel Congregant
This six-week class is for people who want to learn in a fun and encouraging environment some basic blessings that we use often, as well as a standard prayer recited at every service. Prayers will depend on who enrolls in the class and interest level for specific prayers. We will look at the meaning of the prayers, as well as learn the Hebrew.
Cost: $80, including learning materials

Contact:
Jennifer Hill
(714) 349-8886
920 East 37th Street, Long Beach, CA 90807.
Phone: 562-260-5650
Email: address is sithly1@gmail.com

Facilitator: Martine Korach, Temple Israel congregant
Have you ever wondered about the biblical-era writings that didn’t “make the cut” into Biblical Canon? Well, wonder no more! The Thursday Tanakh group will be diving in and studying these fascinating materials, known as the Apocrypha, that were not included in the Tanakh.

Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86029516690

EVENING WITH TV PERSONALITY AND COOKBOOK AUTHOR, NATASHA FELDMAN
Best selling cookbook author of The Dinner Party Project, Natasha Feldman, will join us to talk about ways to remove stress from your Shabbat dinners, holiday meals, or any dinner party for that matter.

She will demo/pass out easy to make appetizers and you’ll be heading home with Sour Cream Coffee Cake inspired by her great great grandmother’s recipe.
Bring any questions you have and books to be signed for a Q&A after the demo.
Books for sale for $30 at Temple Israel.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/163280737

Teachers: Rabbi Michal Loving and Andrew Lunt, Temple Israel Congregants

Proven backyard farmer Andrew Lunt will demonstrate how to harness Long Beach’s Mediterranean climate to grow your own produce in a small-footprint, raised bed garden, for a minimal cost. Southern California’s growing season moments and their alignment with Jewish holidays like Tu B’Shevat will be discussed. Be the magic alchemist of sun, soil, seed, and water and feel the satisfaction of growing what you eat.

Come join Cantor Cooper for coffee and conversation and enjoy this opportunity to connect with the clergy and meet other parents. We’ll discuss current events, explore big Jewish questions, and have a little fun along the way.

This opportunity is for current Torah Center parents only.

Facilitators: Jo Ann Schneider Farris and Dan Farris, Temple Israel Congregants
Jews and Christians read the same stories differently. Explore and discuss the New Testament from a Jewish perspective and learn more about the Jewish roots of Christianity.
Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82285979629

9:00 am – Service in sanctuary
9:30 am – Discussion Social Hall

Organizer: Mark Beizer

Teachers: Cantor Cooper, Rabbi Robin Foonberg, and Rachel Van Raalte

Participation in our Adult B’nai Mitzvah Program is an incredible way to strengthen one’s connection to Judaism and the Temple Israel community. We are excited to welcome a new group of adult learners this January who will have become B’nai Mitzvah in Fall 2025.

Learners who register for the Temple Israel Adult B’nai Mitzvah course are making a 22-month long commitment to learning. In the first year, we will learn the prayers of the Shabbat morning service, learn key liturgical vocabulary, and discuss the meaning of many of our key prayers. Our Judaica studies will focus on the Jewish lifecycle, Reform observance and history, Torah Study and commentary.

Please note that there is a beginning Hebrew prerequisite for this class. Temple Israel will be offering a beginning Hebrew class this fall. If you are considering participating in the Adult B’nai Mitzvah program and have questions about your level of Hebrew reading please contact Sharon Amster Brown.

Cost: $500

Teachers: Rabbi Scott Fox and Rabbi Michal Loving
We invite you to join with learners of all backgrounds in our Introduction to Judaism course. The course will cover a broad cross-section of topics related to Judaism in a discussion-based format with experts in the field. This class is ideal for anyone looking to explore Judaism for the very first time, seeking conversion, or for folks who would like to fill in pockets of knowledge in a tradition that takes a lifetime to learn. Everyone is welcome.

We look forward to your joining us.
Cost: $200 plus the cost of textbooks

The holiday of Tu B’Shevat marks the new year or the birthday of the trees. Tu B’Shevat translates as the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Shevat; A harbinger of spring, Tu B’Shevat falls during the time that trees in Israel begin to bud. The Tu B’Shevat seder is a beautiful way to celebrate this holiday. Based on the Passover seder, the Tu B’Shevat seder was instituted by the Kabbalists, who connect each segment of the ritual to a different mystical teaching about the body and spirit. During the seder, we will drink four glasses of wine (or juice), read texts about agriculture and vegetation in Israel, sing beautiful songs about nature, and recite special blessings over different groupings of fruits and nuts. Please join us for this unique learning and social opportunity.
Cost: $10/person

Contact:
Jennifer Hill
(714) 349-8886
920 East 37th Street, Long Beach, CA 90807.
Phone: 562-260-5650
Email: address is sithly1@gmail.com

Facilitator: Martine Korach, Temple Israel congregant
Have you ever wondered about the biblical-era writings that didn’t “make the cut” into Biblical Canon? Well, wonder no more! The Thursday Tanakh group will be diving in and studying these fascinating materials, known as the Apocrypha, that were not included in the Tanakh.

Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86029516690

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/163280737

NEW MUSICAL TRENDS AND COMPOSERS:
SHABBAT LUNCH AND LEARN WITH CANTOR COOPER
Saturday, January 27 at 11:30 am
Jewish music has always been influenced by the music of the surrounding culture. Pop, country, rap, and other styles of music are impacting what modern Jewish composers are writing now. Come discuss and listen to what is new in Jewish music.

COOKING CLASS:
HOLIDAY COOKING – NEW TWISTS ON THE CLASSICS
In partnership with Temple Israel Sisterhood
Sunday, January 28 at 9:45 am
Teacher: Amy Lipeles, Temple Israel Congregant
Join us for a fun morning in the kitchen with long time cooking teacher Amy Lipeles.
Together, we will try out recipes for Mediterranean cauliflower steaks, Israeli couscous and roasted tomatoes, and a new version of an apple cake. Sounds delicious, doesn’t it?
See you there!
Cost: $10/person

Facilitators: Jo Ann Schneider Farris and Dan Farris, Temple Israel Congregants
Jews and Christians read the same stories differently. Explore and discuss the New Testament from a Jewish perspective and learn more about the Jewish roots of Christianity.
Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82285979629

9:00 am – Service in sanctuary
9:30 am – Discussion Social Hall

Organizer: Mark Beizer

NEW JEWISH FUNERAL AND BURIAL PRACTICES
in partnership with the Ritual Practices Committee
Tuesday, January 30 at 7:00 pm
Join us for a fascinating conversation about contemporary trends in funeral practices, including new liturgy, water cremation, human composting, and green burial. Panel discussion will feature Cantor Cooper, Rabbi Jonathan Bernhard (green burial expert), Laura Cassidy (Recompose), and David Perfito (White Rose Aqua Cremation).

Facilitator: Trish Goldin, Temple Israel congregant
Mussar is a system of introspective practices that can help you identify and break through the obstacles to your inherent holiness, using methods that are easy to integrate into daily life. The program laid out in the book Everyday Holiness: The Jewish Spiritual Path of Mussar by Alan Morinis focuses on 26 traits (middot) – such as loving-kindness, strength, generosity, compassion, honor, and equanimity – each of which takes center stage for a week of contemplation and exercises, in order to develop and refine that quality in yourself. Our study group meets every other Wednesday morning to work on one or more Mussar soul traits. Come join us!

Material Link:
https://www.rabbishefagold.com/love-and-truth/

Teachers: Cantor Cooper, Rabbi Robin Foonberg, and Rachel Van Raalte

Participation in our Adult B’nai Mitzvah Program is an incredible way to strengthen one’s connection to Judaism and the Temple Israel community. We are excited to welcome a new group of adult learners this January who will have become B’nai Mitzvah in Fall 2025.

Learners who register for the Temple Israel Adult B’nai Mitzvah course are making a 22-month long commitment to learning. In the first year, we will learn the prayers of the Shabbat morning service, learn key liturgical vocabulary, and discuss the meaning of many of our key prayers. Our Judaica studies will focus on the Jewish lifecycle, Reform observance and history, Torah Study and commentary.

Please note that there is a beginning Hebrew prerequisite for this class. Temple Israel will be offering a beginning Hebrew class this fall. If you are considering participating in the Adult B’nai Mitzvah program and have questions about your level of Hebrew reading please contact Sharon Amster Brown.

Cost: $500

Teachers: Rabbi Scott Fox and Rabbi Michal Loving
We invite you to join with learners of all backgrounds in our Introduction to Judaism course. The course will cover a broad cross-section of topics related to Judaism in a discussion-based format with experts in the field. This class is ideal for anyone looking to explore Judaism for the very first time, seeking conversion, or for folks who would like to fill in pockets of knowledge in a tradition that takes a lifetime to learn. Everyone is welcome.

We look forward to your joining us.
Cost: $200 plus the cost of textbooks

Teacher: Janet Liss, Temple Israel Congregant
This six-week class is for people who want to learn in a fun and encouraging environment some basic blessings that we use often, as well as a standard prayer recited at every service. Prayers will depend on who enrolls in the class and interest level for specific prayers. We will look at the meaning of the prayers, as well as learn the Hebrew.
Cost: $80, including learning materials

Contact:
Jennifer Hill
(714) 349-8886
920 East 37th Street, Long Beach, CA 90807.
Phone: 562-260-5650
Email: address is sithly1@gmail.com

Facilitator: Martine Korach, Temple Israel congregant
Have you ever wondered about the biblical-era writings that didn’t “make the cut” into Biblical Canon? Well, wonder no more! The Thursday Tanakh group will be diving in and studying these fascinating materials, known as the Apocrypha, that were not included in the Tanakh.

Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86029516690

50 People

HILLEL AT 100: JEWISH TRENDS
ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES
A Wine and Cheese Event
Sunday, February 4, 4:00-6:00 pm
Location: Long Beach Hillel House
Facilitator: ChayaLeah Sufrin, Cal State Long Beach Hillel Director
Join us for an enlightening lecture titled “Exploring Identity: Navigating Jewish Life on Campus.” Delving into the dynamic and diverse experiences of Jewish students, this lecture offers a profound exploration of how young adults navigate their Jewish identities in the college environment. From celebrating traditions and religious observances to embracing cultural heritage and fostering connections with peers, to standing up to antisemitism, we will delve into the intricate tapestry of Jewish life on campuses. As we address the challenges of balancing academic pursuits with preserving cultural roots, we aim to inspire meaningful conversations about building a strong Jewish identity while engaging with the broader campus community. Through personal anecdotes, thoughtful reflections, and expert insights, this lecture aims to inform the community of the work Beach Hillel is doing locally and what is happening nationally as students try to navigate their journey of self-discovery and thrive as proud members of the vibrant Jewish community on college campuses.

Facilitators: Jo Ann Schneider Farris and Dan Farris, Temple Israel Congregants
Jews and Christians read the same stories differently. Explore and discuss the New Testament from a Jewish perspective and learn more about the Jewish roots of Christianity.
Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82285979629

9:00 am – Service in sanctuary
9:30 am – Discussion Social Hall

Organizer: Mark Beizer

Teachers: Cantor Cooper, Rabbi Robin Foonberg, and Rachel Van Raalte

Participation in our Adult B’nai Mitzvah Program is an incredible way to strengthen one’s connection to Judaism and the Temple Israel community. We are excited to welcome a new group of adult learners this January who will have become B’nai Mitzvah in Fall 2025.

Learners who register for the Temple Israel Adult B’nai Mitzvah course are making a 22-month long commitment to learning. In the first year, we will learn the prayers of the Shabbat morning service, learn key liturgical vocabulary, and discuss the meaning of many of our key prayers. Our Judaica studies will focus on the Jewish lifecycle, Reform observance and history, Torah Study and commentary.

Please note that there is a beginning Hebrew prerequisite for this class. Temple Israel will be offering a beginning Hebrew class this fall. If you are considering participating in the Adult B’nai Mitzvah program and have questions about your level of Hebrew reading please contact Sharon Amster Brown.

Cost: $500

Teachers: Rabbi Scott Fox and Rabbi Michal Loving
We invite you to join with learners of all backgrounds in our Introduction to Judaism course. The course will cover a broad cross-section of topics related to Judaism in a discussion-based format with experts in the field. This class is ideal for anyone looking to explore Judaism for the very first time, seeking conversion, or for folks who would like to fill in pockets of knowledge in a tradition that takes a lifetime to learn. Everyone is welcome.

We look forward to your joining us.
Cost: $200 plus the cost of textbooks

Teacher: Janet Liss, Temple Israel Congregant
This six-week class is for people who want to learn in a fun and encouraging environment some basic blessings that we use often, as well as a standard prayer recited at every service. Prayers will depend on who enrolls in the class and interest level for specific prayers. We will look at the meaning of the prayers, as well as learn the Hebrew.
Cost: $80, including learning materials

Contact:
Jennifer Hill
(714) 349-8886
920 East 37th Street, Long Beach, CA 90807.
Phone: 562-260-5650
Email: address is sithly1@gmail.com

Facilitator: Martine Korach, Temple Israel congregant
Have you ever wondered about the biblical-era writings that didn’t “make the cut” into Biblical Canon? Well, wonder no more! The Thursday Tanakh group will be diving in and studying these fascinating materials, known as the Apocrypha, that were not included in the Tanakh.

Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86029516690

Thursdays at 12:00 pm
October 12, November 9, December 14, January 11, February 8, March 14
Every step of life brings with it unique experiences and opportunities. Join us as we explore the new frontier of roles and opportunities that come with sacred aging. We will examine the wisdom that comes with experience and talk together about the questions that make our lives meaningful. Join Rabbi Fox, as we explore Jewish questions and texts that speak to a meaningful spiritual life as we enter our golden years.

February 8, 2024 at doors open 4:30pm, Challah Bake starts at 5:15
$20 per Challah Kit, reserved in advance
Make your own Challah and bake at home
Make your own Kosher Trail mix
Live music from Jelly of the Month Club
Special Tot area for children under 5 years old

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/163280737

Facilitators: Jo Ann Schneider Farris and Dan Farris, Temple Israel Congregants
Jews and Christians read the same stories differently. Explore and discuss the New Testament from a Jewish perspective and learn more about the Jewish roots of Christianity.
Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82285979629

9:00 am – Service in sanctuary
9:30 am – Discussion Social Hall

Organizer: Mark Beizer

Facilitator: Trish Goldin, Temple Israel congregant
Mussar is a system of introspective practices that can help you identify and break through the obstacles to your inherent holiness, using methods that are easy to integrate into daily life. The program laid out in the book Everyday Holiness: The Jewish Spiritual Path of Mussar by Alan Morinis focuses on 26 traits (middot) – such as loving-kindness, strength, generosity, compassion, honor, and equanimity – each of which takes center stage for a week of contemplation and exercises, in order to develop and refine that quality in yourself. Our study group meets every other Wednesday morning to work on one or more Mussar soul traits. Come join us!

Material Link:
https://www.rabbishefagold.com/love-and-truth/

Teachers: Cantor Cooper, Rabbi Robin Foonberg, and Rachel Van Raalte

Participation in our Adult B’nai Mitzvah Program is an incredible way to strengthen one’s connection to Judaism and the Temple Israel community. We are excited to welcome a new group of adult learners this January who will have become B’nai Mitzvah in Fall 2025.

Learners who register for the Temple Israel Adult B’nai Mitzvah course are making a 22-month long commitment to learning. In the first year, we will learn the prayers of the Shabbat morning service, learn key liturgical vocabulary, and discuss the meaning of many of our key prayers. Our Judaica studies will focus on the Jewish lifecycle, Reform observance and history, Torah Study and commentary.

Please note that there is a beginning Hebrew prerequisite for this class. Temple Israel will be offering a beginning Hebrew class this fall. If you are considering participating in the Adult B’nai Mitzvah program and have questions about your level of Hebrew reading please contact Sharon Amster Brown.

Cost: $500

Teachers: Rabbi Scott Fox and Rabbi Michal Loving
We invite you to join with learners of all backgrounds in our Introduction to Judaism course. The course will cover a broad cross-section of topics related to Judaism in a discussion-based format with experts in the field. This class is ideal for anyone looking to explore Judaism for the very first time, seeking conversion, or for folks who would like to fill in pockets of knowledge in a tradition that takes a lifetime to learn. Everyone is welcome.

We look forward to your joining us.
Cost: $200 plus the cost of textbooks

Teacher: Janet Liss, Temple Israel Congregant
This six-week class is for people who want to learn in a fun and encouraging environment some basic blessings that we use often, as well as a standard prayer recited at every service. Prayers will depend on who enrolls in the class and interest level for specific prayers. We will look at the meaning of the prayers, as well as learn the Hebrew.
Cost: $80, including learning materials

Contact:
Jennifer Hill
(714) 349-8886
920 East 37th Street, Long Beach, CA 90807.
Phone: 562-260-5650
Email: address is sithly1@gmail.com

Contact:
Judy Peterson: pflaglb@yahoo.com

Facilitator: Martine Korach, Temple Israel congregant
Have you ever wondered about the biblical-era writings that didn’t “make the cut” into Biblical Canon? Well, wonder no more! The Thursday Tanakh group will be diving in and studying these fascinating materials, known as the Apocrypha, that were not included in the Tanakh.

Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86029516690

Facilitator: Mark Dressner, Temple Israel Past President

We are very pleased to share a new 10-part Israel educational curriculum, to be facilitated by Mark Dressner, offered by URJ (Union of Reform Judaism) and ARZA (Association of Reform Zionists of America). The curriculum is based on the framework of the “4 Hatikva Questions” – “To Be,” “A People,” “Free,” “In Our Land,” taken from the penultimate line of Israel’s National anthem “Hatikva.” It is a resource to address all of Israel’s complexities in a safe and thorough way, focusing on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Sessions will include: Introduction to the concept, Peoplehood, Democracy, Israeli General Elections, Home-Land, The Kotel, Israeli Judaism, The “O” Word, and Morality of War.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/163280737

Facilitators: Jo Ann Schneider Farris and Dan Farris, Temple Israel Congregants
Jews and Christians read the same stories differently. Explore and discuss the New Testament from a Jewish perspective and learn more about the Jewish roots of Christianity.
Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82285979629

9:00 am – Service in sanctuary
9:30 am – Discussion Social Hall

Organizer: Mark Beizer

With Dr. Sarah Burney

Teachers: Cantor Cooper, Rabbi Robin Foonberg, and Rachel Van Raalte

Participation in our Adult B’nai Mitzvah Program is an incredible way to strengthen one’s connection to Judaism and the Temple Israel community. We are excited to welcome a new group of adult learners this January who will have become B’nai Mitzvah in Fall 2025.

Learners who register for the Temple Israel Adult B’nai Mitzvah course are making a 22-month long commitment to learning. In the first year, we will learn the prayers of the Shabbat morning service, learn key liturgical vocabulary, and discuss the meaning of many of our key prayers. Our Judaica studies will focus on the Jewish lifecycle, Reform observance and history, Torah Study and commentary.

Please note that there is a beginning Hebrew prerequisite for this class. Temple Israel will be offering a beginning Hebrew class this fall. If you are considering participating in the Adult B’nai Mitzvah program and have questions about your level of Hebrew reading please contact Sharon Amster Brown.

Cost: $500

Teachers: Rabbi Scott Fox and Rabbi Michal Loving
We invite you to join with learners of all backgrounds in our Introduction to Judaism course. The course will cover a broad cross-section of topics related to Judaism in a discussion-based format with experts in the field. This class is ideal for anyone looking to explore Judaism for the very first time, seeking conversion, or for folks who would like to fill in pockets of knowledge in a tradition that takes a lifetime to learn. Everyone is welcome.

We look forward to your joining us.
Cost: $200 plus the cost of textbooks

Teacher: Janet Liss, Temple Israel Congregant
This six-week class is for people who want to learn in a fun and encouraging environment some basic blessings that we use often, as well as a standard prayer recited at every service. Prayers will depend on who enrolls in the class and interest level for specific prayers. We will look at the meaning of the prayers, as well as learn the Hebrew.
Cost: $80, including learning materials

Contact:
Jennifer Hill
(714) 349-8886
920 East 37th Street, Long Beach, CA 90807.
Phone: 562-260-5650
Email: address is sithly1@gmail.com

Facilitator: Martine Korach, Temple Israel congregant
Have you ever wondered about the biblical-era writings that didn’t “make the cut” into Biblical Canon? Well, wonder no more! The Thursday Tanakh group will be diving in and studying these fascinating materials, known as the Apocrypha, that were not included in the Tanakh.

Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86029516690

COOKING CLASS:
TRENDY OR TRADISH KNISH? THEY’RE BOTH DELISH!
In partnership with Temple Israel Sisterhood
Thursday, February 22 at 7:00 pm
Teachers: Eve Lunt and Levi Lunt, Temple Israel Congregants
Mother and Son duo Eve and Levi Lunt will take on the beloved Jewish dumpling in both classic and TikTok styles. Eve will teach you the absolute easiest way to make a yummy potato knish and then her son Levi will take her traditional filling, add some spice and create knishentaschen, a savory cross between a knish and hamantaschen with a nod to international flavors. Come hungry and ready to roll (a knish that is!)
Cost $10/person

Jocee Hudson is a Rabbi, Spiritual Director, and Teacher. In July 2021, she joined LA Voice, a multi-racial, multi-faith community organization that awakens people to their own power, as their Clergy and Formation Lead.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/163280737

MOVIE SCREENING AND DISCUSSION: KISS THE GROUND
In partnership with the Social Action Committee
Sunday, February 25 at 2:00 pm
Discussion Facilitator: Dori Chandler, Policy Advocate and Temple Israel Climate Justice Committee Member
Narrated by and featuring Woody Harrelson, Kiss The Ground is an inspiring and groundbreaking film that reveals the first viable solution to our climate crisis. Kiss the Ground reveals that, by regenerating the world’s soils, we can completely and rapidly stabilize Earth’s climate, restore lost ecosystems and create abundant food supplies. Using compelling graphics and visuals, along with striking NASA and NOAA footage, the film artfully illustrates how, by drawing down atmospheric carbon, soil is the missing piece of the climate puzzle. This movie is positioned to catalyze a movement to accomplish the impossible – to solve humanity’s greatest challenge, to balance the climate and secure our species’ future.

Facilitators: Jo Ann Schneider Farris and Dan Farris, Temple Israel Congregants
Jews and Christians read the same stories differently. Explore and discuss the New Testament from a Jewish perspective and learn more about the Jewish roots of Christianity.
Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82285979629

9:00 am – Service in sanctuary
9:30 am – Discussion Social Hall

Organizer: Mark Beizer

Facilitator: Trish Goldin, Temple Israel congregant
Mussar is a system of introspective practices that can help you identify and break through the obstacles to your inherent holiness, using methods that are easy to integrate into daily life. The program laid out in the book Everyday Holiness: The Jewish Spiritual Path of Mussar by Alan Morinis focuses on 26 traits (middot) – such as loving-kindness, strength, generosity, compassion, honor, and equanimity – each of which takes center stage for a week of contemplation and exercises, in order to develop and refine that quality in yourself. Our study group meets every other Wednesday morning to work on one or more Mussar soul traits. Come join us!

Material Link:
https://www.rabbishefagold.com/love-and-truth/

Teachers: Cantor Cooper, Rabbi Robin Foonberg, and Rachel Van Raalte

Participation in our Adult B’nai Mitzvah Program is an incredible way to strengthen one’s connection to Judaism and the Temple Israel community. We are excited to welcome a new group of adult learners this January who will have become B’nai Mitzvah in Fall 2025.

Learners who register for the Temple Israel Adult B’nai Mitzvah course are making a 22-month long commitment to learning. In the first year, we will learn the prayers of the Shabbat morning service, learn key liturgical vocabulary, and discuss the meaning of many of our key prayers. Our Judaica studies will focus on the Jewish lifecycle, Reform observance and history, Torah Study and commentary.

Please note that there is a beginning Hebrew prerequisite for this class. Temple Israel will be offering a beginning Hebrew class this fall. If you are considering participating in the Adult B’nai Mitzvah program and have questions about your level of Hebrew reading please contact Sharon Amster Brown.

Cost: $500

Teachers: Rabbi Scott Fox and Rabbi Michal Loving
We invite you to join with learners of all backgrounds in our Introduction to Judaism course. The course will cover a broad cross-section of topics related to Judaism in a discussion-based format with experts in the field. This class is ideal for anyone looking to explore Judaism for the very first time, seeking conversion, or for folks who would like to fill in pockets of knowledge in a tradition that takes a lifetime to learn. Everyone is welcome.

We look forward to your joining us.
Cost: $200 plus the cost of textbooks

Contact:
Jennifer Hill
(714) 349-8886
920 East 37th Street, Long Beach, CA 90807.
Phone: 562-260-5650
Email: address is sithly1@gmail.com

Facilitator: Martine Korach, Temple Israel congregant
Have you ever wondered about the biblical-era writings that didn’t “make the cut” into Biblical Canon? Well, wonder no more! The Thursday Tanakh group will be diving in and studying these fascinating materials, known as the Apocrypha, that were not included in the Tanakh.

Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86029516690

Join us for an afternoon of hot tea, scones, and memories about our home away from home here at Third and Loma. Together, we will recall some of the highlights of the past 100 years and the many blessings and stories along the way.

Facilitators: Jo Ann Schneider Farris and Dan Farris, Temple Israel Congregants
Jews and Christians read the same stories differently. Explore and discuss the New Testament from a Jewish perspective and learn more about the Jewish roots of Christianity.
Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82285979629

9:00 am – Service in sanctuary
9:30 am – Discussion Social Hall

Organizer: Mark Beizer

Teachers: Cantor Cooper, Rabbi Robin Foonberg, and Rachel Van Raalte

Participation in our Adult B’nai Mitzvah Program is an incredible way to strengthen one’s connection to Judaism and the Temple Israel community. We are excited to welcome a new group of adult learners this January who will have become B’nai Mitzvah in Fall 2025.

Learners who register for the Temple Israel Adult B’nai Mitzvah course are making a 22-month long commitment to learning. In the first year, we will learn the prayers of the Shabbat morning service, learn key liturgical vocabulary, and discuss the meaning of many of our key prayers. Our Judaica studies will focus on the Jewish lifecycle, Reform observance and history, Torah Study and commentary.

Please note that there is a beginning Hebrew prerequisite for this class. Temple Israel will be offering a beginning Hebrew class this fall. If you are considering participating in the Adult B’nai Mitzvah program and have questions about your level of Hebrew reading please contact Sharon Amster Brown.

Cost: $500

Teachers: Rabbi Scott Fox and Rabbi Michal Loving
We invite you to join with learners of all backgrounds in our Introduction to Judaism course. The course will cover a broad cross-section of topics related to Judaism in a discussion-based format with experts in the field. This class is ideal for anyone looking to explore Judaism for the very first time, seeking conversion, or for folks who would like to fill in pockets of knowledge in a tradition that takes a lifetime to learn. Everyone is welcome.

We look forward to your joining us.
Cost: $200 plus the cost of textbooks

Contact:
Jennifer Hill
(714) 349-8886
920 East 37th Street, Long Beach, CA 90807.
Phone: 562-260-5650
Email: address is sithly1@gmail.com

Facilitator: Martine Korach, Temple Israel congregant
Have you ever wondered about the biblical-era writings that didn’t “make the cut” into Biblical Canon? Well, wonder no more! The Thursday Tanakh group will be diving in and studying these fascinating materials, known as the Apocrypha, that were not included in the Tanakh.

Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86029516690

LIVING WITH COMPLEXITY: THE ISRAEL-DIASPORA RELATIONSHIP
WITH STEVEN WINDMUELER, PH.D.
Thursday, March 7 at 7:00 pm
Seventy-five years into this experiment, the Jewish State is experiencing the cultural, demographic, and political dynamics associated with nation-building. What do these “Jewish Wars” mean for American Jewry and Israelis? What do we need to understand beyond the headlines? How can we move beyond this moment?

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/163280737

Facilitators: Jo Ann Schneider Farris and Dan Farris, Temple Israel Congregants
Jews and Christians read the same stories differently. Explore and discuss the New Testament from a Jewish perspective and learn more about the Jewish roots of Christianity.
Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82285979629

9:00 am – Service in sanctuary
9:30 am – Discussion Social Hall

Organizer: Mark Beizer

Facilitator: Trish Goldin, Temple Israel congregant
Mussar is a system of introspective practices that can help you identify and break through the obstacles to your inherent holiness, using methods that are easy to integrate into daily life. The program laid out in the book Everyday Holiness: The Jewish Spiritual Path of Mussar by Alan Morinis focuses on 26 traits (middot) – such as loving-kindness, strength, generosity, compassion, honor, and equanimity – each of which takes center stage for a week of contemplation and exercises, in order to develop and refine that quality in yourself. Our study group meets every other Wednesday morning to work on one or more Mussar soul traits. Come join us!

Material Link:
https://www.rabbishefagold.com/love-and-truth/

Teachers: Cantor Cooper, Rabbi Robin Foonberg, and Rachel Van Raalte

Participation in our Adult B’nai Mitzvah Program is an incredible way to strengthen one’s connection to Judaism and the Temple Israel community. We are excited to welcome a new group of adult learners this January who will have become B’nai Mitzvah in Fall 2025.

Learners who register for the Temple Israel Adult B’nai Mitzvah course are making a 22-month long commitment to learning. In the first year, we will learn the prayers of the Shabbat morning service, learn key liturgical vocabulary, and discuss the meaning of many of our key prayers. Our Judaica studies will focus on the Jewish lifecycle, Reform observance and history, Torah Study and commentary.

Please note that there is a beginning Hebrew prerequisite for this class. Temple Israel will be offering a beginning Hebrew class this fall. If you are considering participating in the Adult B’nai Mitzvah program and have questions about your level of Hebrew reading please contact Sharon Amster Brown.

Cost: $500

Teachers: Rabbi Scott Fox and Rabbi Michal Loving
We invite you to join with learners of all backgrounds in our Introduction to Judaism course. The course will cover a broad cross-section of topics related to Judaism in a discussion-based format with experts in the field. This class is ideal for anyone looking to explore Judaism for the very first time, seeking conversion, or for folks who would like to fill in pockets of knowledge in a tradition that takes a lifetime to learn. Everyone is welcome.

We look forward to your joining us.
Cost: $200 plus the cost of textbooks

The Guarded Gate by Daniel Okrent

A forgotten, dark chapter of American history with implications for the current day, The Guarded Gate tells the story of the scientists who argued that certain nationalities were inherently inferior, providing the intellectual justification for the harshest immigration law in American history. Brandished by the upper class Bostonians and New Yorkers—many of them progressives—who led the anti-immigration movement, the eugenic arguments helped keep hundreds of thousands of Jews, Italians, and other unwanted groups out of the US for more than 40 years.

A work of history relevant for today, The Guarded Gate is an important, insightful tale that painstakingly connects the American eugenicists to the rise of Nazism, and shows how their beliefs found fertile soil in the minds of citizens and leaders both here and abroad.

For more information, contact Donna Mitnick at donna.mitnick@gmail.com
Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87285748108

Contact:
Jennifer Hill
(714) 349-8886
920 East 37th Street, Long Beach, CA 90807.
Phone: 562-260-5650
Email: address is sithly1@gmail.com

Contact:
Judy Peterson: pflaglb@yahoo.com

Facilitator: Martine Korach, Temple Israel congregant
Have you ever wondered about the biblical-era writings that didn’t “make the cut” into Biblical Canon? Well, wonder no more! The Thursday Tanakh group will be diving in and studying these fascinating materials, known as the Apocrypha, that were not included in the Tanakh.

Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86029516690

Thursdays at 12:00 pm
October 12, November 9, December 14, January 11, February 8, March 14
Every step of life brings with it unique experiences and opportunities. Join us as we explore the new frontier of roles and opportunities that come with sacred aging. We will examine the wisdom that comes with experience and talk together about the questions that make our lives meaningful. Join Rabbi Fox, as we explore Jewish questions and texts that speak to a meaningful spiritual life as we enter our golden years.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/163280737

Facilitators: Jo Ann Schneider Farris and Dan Farris, Temple Israel Congregants
Jews and Christians read the same stories differently. Explore and discuss the New Testament from a Jewish perspective and learn more about the Jewish roots of Christianity.
Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82285979629

9:00 am – Service in sanctuary
9:30 am – Discussion Social Hall

Organizer: Mark Beizer

With Dr. Sarah Burney

Teachers: Cantor Cooper, Rabbi Robin Foonberg, and Rachel Van Raalte

Participation in our Adult B’nai Mitzvah Program is an incredible way to strengthen one’s connection to Judaism and the Temple Israel community. We are excited to welcome a new group of adult learners this January who will have become B’nai Mitzvah in Fall 2025.

Learners who register for the Temple Israel Adult B’nai Mitzvah course are making a 22-month long commitment to learning. In the first year, we will learn the prayers of the Shabbat morning service, learn key liturgical vocabulary, and discuss the meaning of many of our key prayers. Our Judaica studies will focus on the Jewish lifecycle, Reform observance and history, Torah Study and commentary.

Please note that there is a beginning Hebrew prerequisite for this class. Temple Israel will be offering a beginning Hebrew class this fall. If you are considering participating in the Adult B’nai Mitzvah program and have questions about your level of Hebrew reading please contact Sharon Amster Brown.

Cost: $500

Teachers: Rabbi Scott Fox and Rabbi Michal Loving
We invite you to join with learners of all backgrounds in our Introduction to Judaism course. The course will cover a broad cross-section of topics related to Judaism in a discussion-based format with experts in the field. This class is ideal for anyone looking to explore Judaism for the very first time, seeking conversion, or for folks who would like to fill in pockets of knowledge in a tradition that takes a lifetime to learn. Everyone is welcome.

We look forward to your joining us.
Cost: $200 plus the cost of textbooks

Contact:
Jennifer Hill
(714) 349-8886
920 East 37th Street, Long Beach, CA 90807.
Phone: 562-260-5650
Email: address is sithly1@gmail.com

Facilitator: Martine Korach, Temple Israel congregant
Have you ever wondered about the biblical-era writings that didn’t “make the cut” into Biblical Canon? Well, wonder no more! The Thursday Tanakh group will be diving in and studying these fascinating materials, known as the Apocrypha, that were not included in the Tanakh.

Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86029516690

Facilitator: Mark Dressner, Temple Israel Past President

We are very pleased to share a new 10-part Israel educational curriculum, to be facilitated by Mark Dressner, offered by URJ (Union of Reform Judaism) and ARZA (Association of Reform Zionists of America). The curriculum is based on the framework of the “4 Hatikva Questions” – “To Be,” “A People,” “Free,” “In Our Land,” taken from the penultimate line of Israel’s National anthem “Hatikva.” It is a resource to address all of Israel’s complexities in a safe and thorough way, focusing on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Sessions will include: Introduction to the concept, Peoplehood, Democracy, Israeli General Elections, Home-Land, The Kotel, Israeli Judaism, The “O” Word, and Morality of War.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/163280737

Facilitators: Jo Ann Schneider Farris and Dan Farris, Temple Israel Congregants
Jews and Christians read the same stories differently. Explore and discuss the New Testament from a Jewish perspective and learn more about the Jewish roots of Christianity.
Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82285979629

9:00 am – Service in sanctuary
9:30 am – Discussion Social Hall

Organizer: Mark Beizer

Facilitator: Trish Goldin, Temple Israel congregant
Mussar is a system of introspective practices that can help you identify and break through the obstacles to your inherent holiness, using methods that are easy to integrate into daily life. The program laid out in the book Everyday Holiness: The Jewish Spiritual Path of Mussar by Alan Morinis focuses on 26 traits (middot) – such as loving-kindness, strength, generosity, compassion, honor, and equanimity – each of which takes center stage for a week of contemplation and exercises, in order to develop and refine that quality in yourself. Our study group meets every other Wednesday morning to work on one or more Mussar soul traits. Come join us!

Material Link:
https://www.rabbishefagold.com/love-and-truth/

Teachers: Cantor Cooper, Rabbi Robin Foonberg, and Rachel Van Raalte

Participation in our Adult B’nai Mitzvah Program is an incredible way to strengthen one’s connection to Judaism and the Temple Israel community. We are excited to welcome a new group of adult learners this January who will have become B’nai Mitzvah in Fall 2025.

Learners who register for the Temple Israel Adult B’nai Mitzvah course are making a 22-month long commitment to learning. In the first year, we will learn the prayers of the Shabbat morning service, learn key liturgical vocabulary, and discuss the meaning of many of our key prayers. Our Judaica studies will focus on the Jewish lifecycle, Reform observance and history, Torah Study and commentary.

Please note that there is a beginning Hebrew prerequisite for this class. Temple Israel will be offering a beginning Hebrew class this fall. If you are considering participating in the Adult B’nai Mitzvah program and have questions about your level of Hebrew reading please contact Sharon Amster Brown.

Cost: $500

Teachers: Rabbi Scott Fox and Rabbi Michal Loving
We invite you to join with learners of all backgrounds in our Introduction to Judaism course. The course will cover a broad cross-section of topics related to Judaism in a discussion-based format with experts in the field. This class is ideal for anyone looking to explore Judaism for the very first time, seeking conversion, or for folks who would like to fill in pockets of knowledge in a tradition that takes a lifetime to learn. Everyone is welcome.

We look forward to your joining us.
Cost: $200 plus the cost of textbooks

Contact:
Jennifer Hill
(714) 349-8886
920 East 37th Street, Long Beach, CA 90807.
Phone: 562-260-5650
Email: address is sithly1@gmail.com

Facilitator: Martine Korach, Temple Israel congregant
Have you ever wondered about the biblical-era writings that didn’t “make the cut” into Biblical Canon? Well, wonder no more! The Thursday Tanakh group will be diving in and studying these fascinating materials, known as the Apocrypha, that were not included in the Tanakh.

Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86029516690

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/163280737

Facilitators: Jo Ann Schneider Farris and Dan Farris, Temple Israel Congregants
Jews and Christians read the same stories differently. Explore and discuss the New Testament from a Jewish perspective and learn more about the Jewish roots of Christianity.
Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82285979629

9:00 am – Service in sanctuary
9:30 am – Discussion Social Hall

Organizer: Mark Beizer

Teachers: Cantor Cooper, Rabbi Robin Foonberg, and Rachel Van Raalte

Participation in our Adult B’nai Mitzvah Program is an incredible way to strengthen one’s connection to Judaism and the Temple Israel community. We are excited to welcome a new group of adult learners this January who will have become B’nai Mitzvah in Fall 2025.

Learners who register for the Temple Israel Adult B’nai Mitzvah course are making a 22-month long commitment to learning. In the first year, we will learn the prayers of the Shabbat morning service, learn key liturgical vocabulary, and discuss the meaning of many of our key prayers. Our Judaica studies will focus on the Jewish lifecycle, Reform observance and history, Torah Study and commentary.

Please note that there is a beginning Hebrew prerequisite for this class. Temple Israel will be offering a beginning Hebrew class this fall. If you are considering participating in the Adult B’nai Mitzvah program and have questions about your level of Hebrew reading please contact Sharon Amster Brown.

Cost: $500

Teachers: Rabbi Scott Fox and Rabbi Michal Loving
We invite you to join with learners of all backgrounds in our Introduction to Judaism course. The course will cover a broad cross-section of topics related to Judaism in a discussion-based format with experts in the field. This class is ideal for anyone looking to explore Judaism for the very first time, seeking conversion, or for folks who would like to fill in pockets of knowledge in a tradition that takes a lifetime to learn. Everyone is welcome.

We look forward to your joining us.
Cost: $200 plus the cost of textbooks

Contact:
Jennifer Hill
(714) 349-8886
920 East 37th Street, Long Beach, CA 90807.
Phone: 562-260-5650
Email: address is sithly1@gmail.com

Facilitator: Martine Korach, Temple Israel congregant
Have you ever wondered about the biblical-era writings that didn’t “make the cut” into Biblical Canon? Well, wonder no more! The Thursday Tanakh group will be diving in and studying these fascinating materials, known as the Apocrypha, that were not included in the Tanakh.

Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86029516690

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/163280737

Facilitators: Jo Ann Schneider Farris and Dan Farris, Temple Israel Congregants
Jews and Christians read the same stories differently. Explore and discuss the New Testament from a Jewish perspective and learn more about the Jewish roots of Christianity.
Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82285979629

9:00 am – Service in sanctuary
9:30 am – Discussion Social Hall

Organizer: Mark Beizer

Facilitator: Trish Goldin, Temple Israel congregant
Mussar is a system of introspective practices that can help you identify and break through the obstacles to your inherent holiness, using methods that are easy to integrate into daily life. The program laid out in the book Everyday Holiness: The Jewish Spiritual Path of Mussar by Alan Morinis focuses on 26 traits (middot) – such as loving-kindness, strength, generosity, compassion, honor, and equanimity – each of which takes center stage for a week of contemplation and exercises, in order to develop and refine that quality in yourself. Our study group meets every other Wednesday morning to work on one or more Mussar soul traits. Come join us!

Material Link:
https://www.rabbishefagold.com/love-and-truth/

Teachers: Cantor Cooper, Rabbi Robin Foonberg, and Rachel Van Raalte

Participation in our Adult B’nai Mitzvah Program is an incredible way to strengthen one’s connection to Judaism and the Temple Israel community. We are excited to welcome a new group of adult learners this January who will have become B’nai Mitzvah in Fall 2025.

Learners who register for the Temple Israel Adult B’nai Mitzvah course are making a 22-month long commitment to learning. In the first year, we will learn the prayers of the Shabbat morning service, learn key liturgical vocabulary, and discuss the meaning of many of our key prayers. Our Judaica studies will focus on the Jewish lifecycle, Reform observance and history, Torah Study and commentary.

Please note that there is a beginning Hebrew prerequisite for this class. Temple Israel will be offering a beginning Hebrew class this fall. If you are considering participating in the Adult B’nai Mitzvah program and have questions about your level of Hebrew reading please contact Sharon Amster Brown.

Cost: $500

Teachers: Rabbi Scott Fox and Rabbi Michal Loving
We invite you to join with learners of all backgrounds in our Introduction to Judaism course. The course will cover a broad cross-section of topics related to Judaism in a discussion-based format with experts in the field. This class is ideal for anyone looking to explore Judaism for the very first time, seeking conversion, or for folks who would like to fill in pockets of knowledge in a tradition that takes a lifetime to learn. Everyone is welcome.

We look forward to your joining us.
Cost: $200 plus the cost of textbooks

Contact:
Jennifer Hill
(714) 349-8886
920 East 37th Street, Long Beach, CA 90807.
Phone: 562-260-5650
Email: address is sithly1@gmail.com

Contact:
Judy Peterson: pflaglb@yahoo.com

Facilitator: Martine Korach, Temple Israel congregant
Have you ever wondered about the biblical-era writings that didn’t “make the cut” into Biblical Canon? Well, wonder no more! The Thursday Tanakh group will be diving in and studying these fascinating materials, known as the Apocrypha, that were not included in the Tanakh.

Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86029516690

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/163280737

Facilitators: Jo Ann Schneider Farris and Dan Farris, Temple Israel Congregants
Jews and Christians read the same stories differently. Explore and discuss the New Testament from a Jewish perspective and learn more about the Jewish roots of Christianity.
Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82285979629

9:00 am – Service in sanctuary
9:30 am – Discussion Social Hall

Organizer: Mark Beizer

With Dr. Sarah Burney

In partnership with Temple Israel Sisterhood
Teacher: Martine Korach, Temple Israel Joys of Jewish Learning Committee Chair
Ever thought about eating more plant-based (aka vegan or vegetarian) foods, but were worried about the time it takes? Want to reduce meat and dairy consumption while also getting food on the table quickly and easily? Don’t want to have to order online or go to a specialty store? Not sure if you’ll like plant-based options? Join us for some quick plant based recipes that include pantry staples — all from ingredients found in your average supermarket.
Cost $10/person

Teachers: Cantor Cooper, Rabbi Robin Foonberg, and Rachel Van Raalte

Participation in our Adult B’nai Mitzvah Program is an incredible way to strengthen one’s connection to Judaism and the Temple Israel community. We are excited to welcome a new group of adult learners this January who will have become B’nai Mitzvah in Fall 2025.

Learners who register for the Temple Israel Adult B’nai Mitzvah course are making a 22-month long commitment to learning. In the first year, we will learn the prayers of the Shabbat morning service, learn key liturgical vocabulary, and discuss the meaning of many of our key prayers. Our Judaica studies will focus on the Jewish lifecycle, Reform observance and history, Torah Study and commentary.

Please note that there is a beginning Hebrew prerequisite for this class. Temple Israel will be offering a beginning Hebrew class this fall. If you are considering participating in the Adult B’nai Mitzvah program and have questions about your level of Hebrew reading please contact Sharon Amster Brown.

Cost: $500

Teachers: Rabbi Scott Fox and Rabbi Michal Loving
We invite you to join with learners of all backgrounds in our Introduction to Judaism course. The course will cover a broad cross-section of topics related to Judaism in a discussion-based format with experts in the field. This class is ideal for anyone looking to explore Judaism for the very first time, seeking conversion, or for folks who would like to fill in pockets of knowledge in a tradition that takes a lifetime to learn. Everyone is welcome.

We look forward to your joining us.
Cost: $200 plus the cost of textbooks

Contact:
Jennifer Hill
(714) 349-8886
920 East 37th Street, Long Beach, CA 90807.
Phone: 562-260-5650
Email: address is sithly1@gmail.com

Facilitator: Martine Korach, Temple Israel congregant
Have you ever wondered about the biblical-era writings that didn’t “make the cut” into Biblical Canon? Well, wonder no more! The Thursday Tanakh group will be diving in and studying these fascinating materials, known as the Apocrypha, that were not included in the Tanakh.

Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86029516690

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/163280737

Facilitators: Jo Ann Schneider Farris and Dan Farris, Temple Israel Congregants
Jews and Christians read the same stories differently. Explore and discuss the New Testament from a Jewish perspective and learn more about the Jewish roots of Christianity.
Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82285979629

Facilitator: Trish Goldin, Temple Israel congregant
Mussar is a system of introspective practices that can help you identify and break through the obstacles to your inherent holiness, using methods that are easy to integrate into daily life. The program laid out in the book Everyday Holiness: The Jewish Spiritual Path of Mussar by Alan Morinis focuses on 26 traits (middot) – such as loving-kindness, strength, generosity, compassion, honor, and equanimity – each of which takes center stage for a week of contemplation and exercises, in order to develop and refine that quality in yourself. Our study group meets every other Wednesday morning to work on one or more Mussar soul traits. Come join us!

Material Link:
https://www.rabbishefagold.com/love-and-truth/

Teachers: Cantor Cooper, Rabbi Robin Foonberg, and Rachel Van Raalte

Participation in our Adult B’nai Mitzvah Program is an incredible way to strengthen one’s connection to Judaism and the Temple Israel community. We are excited to welcome a new group of adult learners this January who will have become B’nai Mitzvah in Fall 2025.

Learners who register for the Temple Israel Adult B’nai Mitzvah course are making a 22-month long commitment to learning. In the first year, we will learn the prayers of the Shabbat morning service, learn key liturgical vocabulary, and discuss the meaning of many of our key prayers. Our Judaica studies will focus on the Jewish lifecycle, Reform observance and history, Torah Study and commentary.

Please note that there is a beginning Hebrew prerequisite for this class. Temple Israel will be offering a beginning Hebrew class this fall. If you are considering participating in the Adult B’nai Mitzvah program and have questions about your level of Hebrew reading please contact Sharon Amster Brown.

Cost: $500

Contact:
Jennifer Hill
(714) 349-8886
920 East 37th Street, Long Beach, CA 90807.
Phone: 562-260-5650
Email: address is sithly1@gmail.com

Facilitator: Martine Korach, Temple Israel congregant
Have you ever wondered about the biblical-era writings that didn’t “make the cut” into Biblical Canon? Well, wonder no more! The Thursday Tanakh group will be diving in and studying these fascinating materials, known as the Apocrypha, that were not included in the Tanakh.

Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86029516690

Facilitator: Mark Dressner, Temple Israel Past President

We are very pleased to share a new 10-part Israel educational curriculum, to be facilitated by Mark Dressner, offered by URJ (Union of Reform Judaism) and ARZA (Association of Reform Zionists of America). The curriculum is based on the framework of the “4 Hatikva Questions” – “To Be,” “A People,” “Free,” “In Our Land,” taken from the penultimate line of Israel’s National anthem “Hatikva.” It is a resource to address all of Israel’s complexities in a safe and thorough way, focusing on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Sessions will include: Introduction to the concept, Peoplehood, Democracy, Israeli General Elections, Home-Land, The Kotel, Israeli Judaism, The “O” Word, and Morality of War.

A Temple is Born: Jewish Long Beach in 1923
Explore the events and personalities behind the founding of Temple Israel in 1923.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/163280737

Chol Ha-mo’ed Pesach: Exodus 33:12–34:26
“Lead this people forward:” Long Beach as a Promised Land
The Torah’s concept of the Promised Land has motivated Jewish migrants and communities to settle in disparate lands, including Long Beach.

Sunday Morning Book Talk:
Centennial by the Sea: 100 Years of Temple Israel, Long Beach
Centennial by the Sea is a decade-by-decade history of the first hundred years of Temple Israel, Long Beach (1923–2023).

Facilitators: Jo Ann Schneider Farris and Dan Farris, Temple Israel Congregants
Jews and Christians read the same stories differently. Explore and discuss the New Testament from a Jewish perspective and learn more about the Jewish roots of Christianity.
Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82285979629

9:00 am – Service in sanctuary
9:30 am – Discussion Social Hall

Organizer: Mark Beizer

Teachers: Cantor Cooper, Rabbi Robin Foonberg, and Rachel Van Raalte

Participation in our Adult B’nai Mitzvah Program is an incredible way to strengthen one’s connection to Judaism and the Temple Israel community. We are excited to welcome a new group of adult learners this January who will have become B’nai Mitzvah in Fall 2025.

Learners who register for the Temple Israel Adult B’nai Mitzvah course are making a 22-month long commitment to learning. In the first year, we will learn the prayers of the Shabbat morning service, learn key liturgical vocabulary, and discuss the meaning of many of our key prayers. Our Judaica studies will focus on the Jewish lifecycle, Reform observance and history, Torah Study and commentary.

Please note that there is a beginning Hebrew prerequisite for this class. Temple Israel will be offering a beginning Hebrew class this fall. If you are considering participating in the Adult B’nai Mitzvah program and have questions about your level of Hebrew reading please contact Sharon Amster Brown.

Cost: $500

Teachers: Rabbi Scott Fox and Rabbi Michal Loving
We invite you to join with learners of all backgrounds in our Introduction to Judaism course. The course will cover a broad cross-section of topics related to Judaism in a discussion-based format with experts in the field. This class is ideal for anyone looking to explore Judaism for the very first time, seeking conversion, or for folks who would like to fill in pockets of knowledge in a tradition that takes a lifetime to learn. Everyone is welcome.

We look forward to your joining us.
Cost: $200 plus the cost of textbooks

Contact:
Jennifer Hill
(714) 349-8886
920 East 37th Street, Long Beach, CA 90807.
Phone: 562-260-5650
Email: address is sithly1@gmail.com

Facilitator: Martine Korach, Temple Israel congregant
Have you ever wondered about the biblical-era writings that didn’t “make the cut” into Biblical Canon? Well, wonder no more! The Thursday Tanakh group will be diving in and studying these fascinating materials, known as the Apocrypha, that were not included in the Tanakh.

Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86029516690

In observance of Mental Health Awareness Month
Facilitator: Amy Lipeles, TempleI srael congregant
A film written and directed by Mayim Bialik, As They Made Us follows Abigail, a divorced mother of two, who is struggling to balance the dynamic forces within her dysfunctional family as she attempts to cultivate new love. Her father Eugene (played by Dustin Hoffman) has a degenerative condition that he and his wife Barbara (played by Candice Bergen) refuse to accept, and her brother Nathan has been estranged from the family for decades. A self-appointed fixer, Abigail attempts to mend her complicated family’s dysfunction before it’s too late.

Facilitators: Jo Ann Schneider Farris and Dan Farris, Temple Israel Congregants
Jews and Christians read the same stories differently. Explore and discuss the New Testament from a Jewish perspective and learn more about the Jewish roots of Christianity.
Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82285979629

9:00 am – Service in sanctuary
9:30 am – Discussion Social Hall

Organizer: Mark Beizer

Facilitator: Trish Goldin, Temple Israel congregant
Mussar is a system of introspective practices that can help you identify and break through the obstacles to your inherent holiness, using methods that are easy to integrate into daily life. The program laid out in the book Everyday Holiness: The Jewish Spiritual Path of Mussar by Alan Morinis focuses on 26 traits (middot) – such as loving-kindness, strength, generosity, compassion, honor, and equanimity – each of which takes center stage for a week of contemplation and exercises, in order to develop and refine that quality in yourself. Our study group meets every other Wednesday morning to work on one or more Mussar soul traits. Come join us!

Material Link:
https://www.rabbishefagold.com/love-and-truth/

Teachers: Cantor Cooper, Rabbi Robin Foonberg, and Rachel Van Raalte

Participation in our Adult B’nai Mitzvah Program is an incredible way to strengthen one’s connection to Judaism and the Temple Israel community. We are excited to welcome a new group of adult learners this January who will have become B’nai Mitzvah in Fall 2025.

Learners who register for the Temple Israel Adult B’nai Mitzvah course are making a 22-month long commitment to learning. In the first year, we will learn the prayers of the Shabbat morning service, learn key liturgical vocabulary, and discuss the meaning of many of our key prayers. Our Judaica studies will focus on the Jewish lifecycle, Reform observance and history, Torah Study and commentary.

Please note that there is a beginning Hebrew prerequisite for this class. Temple Israel will be offering a beginning Hebrew class this fall. If you are considering participating in the Adult B’nai Mitzvah program and have questions about your level of Hebrew reading please contact Sharon Amster Brown.

Cost: $500

Teachers: Rabbi Scott Fox and Rabbi Michal Loving
We invite you to join with learners of all backgrounds in our Introduction to Judaism course. The course will cover a broad cross-section of topics related to Judaism in a discussion-based format with experts in the field. This class is ideal for anyone looking to explore Judaism for the very first time, seeking conversion, or for folks who would like to fill in pockets of knowledge in a tradition that takes a lifetime to learn. Everyone is welcome.

We look forward to your joining us.
Cost: $200 plus the cost of textbooks

All Other Nights by Dara Horn

How is tonight different from all other nights? For Jacob Rappaport, a Jewish soldier in the Union army during the Civil War, it is a question his commanders have already answered for him. Based on real personalities such as Judah Benjamin, the Confederacy’s Jewish secretary of state and spymaster, and on historical facts and events ranging from an African American spy network to the dramatic self-destruction of the city of Richmond, All Other Nights is a gripping and suspenseful story of men and women driven to the extreme limits of loyalty and betrayal. It is also a brilliant parable of the rift in America that lingers a century and a half later: between those who value family and tradition first, and those dedicated, at any cost, to social and racial justice for all.

For more information, contact Donna Mitnick at donna.mitnick@gmail.com
Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87285748108

Contact:
Jennifer Hill
(714) 349-8886
920 East 37th Street, Long Beach, CA 90807.
Phone: 562-260-5650
Email: address is sithly1@gmail.com

Contact:
Judy Peterson: pflaglb@yahoo.com

Facilitator: Martine Korach, Temple Israel congregant
Have you ever wondered about the biblical-era writings that didn’t “make the cut” into Biblical Canon? Well, wonder no more! The Thursday Tanakh group will be diving in and studying these fascinating materials, known as the Apocrypha, that were not included in the Tanakh.

Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86029516690

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/163280737

Facilitators: Jo Ann Schneider Farris and Dan Farris, Temple Israel Congregants
Jews and Christians read the same stories differently. Explore and discuss the New Testament from a Jewish perspective and learn more about the Jewish roots of Christianity.
Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82285979629

9:00 am – Service in sanctuary
9:30 am – Discussion Social Hall

Organizer: Mark Beizer

Teachers: Cantor Cooper, Rabbi Robin Foonberg, and Rachel Van Raalte

Participation in our Adult B’nai Mitzvah Program is an incredible way to strengthen one’s connection to Judaism and the Temple Israel community. We are excited to welcome a new group of adult learners this January who will have become B’nai Mitzvah in Fall 2025.

Learners who register for the Temple Israel Adult B’nai Mitzvah course are making a 22-month long commitment to learning. In the first year, we will learn the prayers of the Shabbat morning service, learn key liturgical vocabulary, and discuss the meaning of many of our key prayers. Our Judaica studies will focus on the Jewish lifecycle, Reform observance and history, Torah Study and commentary.

Please note that there is a beginning Hebrew prerequisite for this class. Temple Israel will be offering a beginning Hebrew class this fall. If you are considering participating in the Adult B’nai Mitzvah program and have questions about your level of Hebrew reading please contact Sharon Amster Brown.

Cost: $500

Contact:
Jennifer Hill
(714) 349-8886
920 East 37th Street, Long Beach, CA 90807.
Phone: 562-260-5650
Email: address is sithly1@gmail.com

Facilitator: Martine Korach, Temple Israel congregant
Have you ever wondered about the biblical-era writings that didn’t “make the cut” into Biblical Canon? Well, wonder no more! The Thursday Tanakh group will be diving in and studying these fascinating materials, known as the Apocrypha, that were not included in the Tanakh.

Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86029516690

A Panel Discussion featuring Judge Dan Lowenthal and Doctoral Student Taryn Williams
Moderator: Adolfo Guzman-Lopez, Southern California Public Radio reporter and Temple Israel congregant

The Religious Action Center of the Reform Movement teaches that it is the obligation of the government to ensure that no one is unjustly accused, convicted, or punished. There is growing evidence that race and poverty play a role in determining who gets arrested, who gets a fair trial, and how those convicted are sentenced. The Torah commands “Tzedek tzedek tirdof,” or “Justice, justice you shall pursue’’ (Deuteronomy 16:20). The sages explained that the word “tzedek” is repeated not only for emphasis but also to teach us that we must be just in our pursuit of justice, that our means must be as just as our ends. Join us for an important and fascinating conversation about Criminal Justice Reform from the perspective of fighters for social justice Judge Lowenthal and Taryn Williams.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/163280737

Facilitators: Jo Ann Schneider Farris and Dan Farris, Temple Israel Congregants
Jews and Christians read the same stories differently. Explore and discuss the New Testament from a Jewish perspective and learn more about the Jewish roots of Christianity.
Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82285979629

9:00 am – Service in sanctuary
9:30 am – Discussion Social Hall

Organizer: Mark Beizer

With Dr. Sarah Burney

Facilitator: Trish Goldin, Temple Israel congregant
Mussar is a system of introspective practices that can help you identify and break through the obstacles to your inherent holiness, using methods that are easy to integrate into daily life. The program laid out in the book Everyday Holiness: The Jewish Spiritual Path of Mussar by Alan Morinis focuses on 26 traits (middot) – such as loving-kindness, strength, generosity, compassion, honor, and equanimity – each of which takes center stage for a week of contemplation and exercises, in order to develop and refine that quality in yourself. Our study group meets every other Wednesday morning to work on one or more Mussar soul traits. Come join us!

Material Link:
https://www.rabbishefagold.com/love-and-truth/

Teachers: Cantor Cooper, Rabbi Robin Foonberg, and Rachel Van Raalte

Participation in our Adult B’nai Mitzvah Program is an incredible way to strengthen one’s connection to Judaism and the Temple Israel community. We are excited to welcome a new group of adult learners this January who will have become B’nai Mitzvah in Fall 2025.

Learners who register for the Temple Israel Adult B’nai Mitzvah course are making a 22-month long commitment to learning. In the first year, we will learn the prayers of the Shabbat morning service, learn key liturgical vocabulary, and discuss the meaning of many of our key prayers. Our Judaica studies will focus on the Jewish lifecycle, Reform observance and history, Torah Study and commentary.

Please note that there is a beginning Hebrew prerequisite for this class. Temple Israel will be offering a beginning Hebrew class this fall. If you are considering participating in the Adult B’nai Mitzvah program and have questions about your level of Hebrew reading please contact Sharon Amster Brown.

Cost: $500

Contact:
Jennifer Hill
(714) 349-8886
920 East 37th Street, Long Beach, CA 90807.
Phone: 562-260-5650
Email: address is sithly1@gmail.com

Facilitator: Martine Korach, Temple Israel congregant
Have you ever wondered about the biblical-era writings that didn’t “make the cut” into Biblical Canon? Well, wonder no more! The Thursday Tanakh group will be diving in and studying these fascinating materials, known as the Apocrypha, that were not included in the Tanakh.

Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86029516690

Facilitator: Mark Dressner, Temple Israel Past President

We are very pleased to share a new 10-part Israel educational curriculum, to be facilitated by Mark Dressner, offered by URJ (Union of Reform Judaism) and ARZA (Association of Reform Zionists of America). The curriculum is based on the framework of the “4 Hatikva Questions” – “To Be,” “A People,” “Free,” “In Our Land,” taken from the penultimate line of Israel’s National anthem “Hatikva.” It is a resource to address all of Israel’s complexities in a safe and thorough way, focusing on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Sessions will include: Introduction to the concept, Peoplehood, Democracy, Israeli General Elections, Home-Land, The Kotel, Israeli Judaism, The “O” Word, and Morality of War.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/163280737

Facilitators: Jo Ann Schneider Farris and Dan Farris, Temple Israel Congregants
Jews and Christians read the same stories differently. Explore and discuss the New Testament from a Jewish perspective and learn more about the Jewish roots of Christianity.
Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82285979629

9:00 am – Service in sanctuary
9:30 am – Discussion Social Hall

Organizer: Mark Beizer

Teachers: Cantor Cooper, Rabbi Robin Foonberg, and Rachel Van Raalte

Participation in our Adult B’nai Mitzvah Program is an incredible way to strengthen one’s connection to Judaism and the Temple Israel community. We are excited to welcome a new group of adult learners this January who will have become B’nai Mitzvah in Fall 2025.

Learners who register for the Temple Israel Adult B’nai Mitzvah course are making a 22-month long commitment to learning. In the first year, we will learn the prayers of the Shabbat morning service, learn key liturgical vocabulary, and discuss the meaning of many of our key prayers. Our Judaica studies will focus on the Jewish lifecycle, Reform observance and history, Torah Study and commentary.

Please note that there is a beginning Hebrew prerequisite for this class. Temple Israel will be offering a beginning Hebrew class this fall. If you are considering participating in the Adult B’nai Mitzvah program and have questions about your level of Hebrew reading please contact Sharon Amster Brown.

Cost: $500

Contact:
Jennifer Hill
(714) 349-8886
920 East 37th Street, Long Beach, CA 90807.
Phone: 562-260-5650
Email: address is sithly1@gmail.com

Facilitator: Martine Korach, Temple Israel congregant
Have you ever wondered about the biblical-era writings that didn’t “make the cut” into Biblical Canon? Well, wonder no more! The Thursday Tanakh group will be diving in and studying these fascinating materials, known as the Apocrypha, that were not included in the Tanakh.

Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86029516690

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/163280737

Facilitators: Jo Ann Schneider Farris and Dan Farris, Temple Israel Congregants
Jews and Christians read the same stories differently. Explore and discuss the New Testament from a Jewish perspective and learn more about the Jewish roots of Christianity.
Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82285979629

9:00 am – Service in sanctuary
9:30 am – Discussion Social Hall

Organizer: Mark Beizer

Facilitator: Trish Goldin, Temple Israel congregant
Mussar is a system of introspective practices that can help you identify and break through the obstacles to your inherent holiness, using methods that are easy to integrate into daily life. The program laid out in the book Everyday Holiness: The Jewish Spiritual Path of Mussar by Alan Morinis focuses on 26 traits (middot) – such as loving-kindness, strength, generosity, compassion, honor, and equanimity – each of which takes center stage for a week of contemplation and exercises, in order to develop and refine that quality in yourself. Our study group meets every other Wednesday morning to work on one or more Mussar soul traits. Come join us!

Material Link:
https://www.rabbishefagold.com/love-and-truth/

Contact:
Jennifer Hill
(714) 349-8886
920 East 37th Street, Long Beach, CA 90807.
Phone: 562-260-5650
Email: address is sithly1@gmail.com

Facilitator: Martine Korach, Temple Israel congregant
Have you ever wondered about the biblical-era writings that didn’t “make the cut” into Biblical Canon? Well, wonder no more! The Thursday Tanakh group will be diving in and studying these fascinating materials, known as the Apocrypha, that were not included in the Tanakh.

Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86029516690

In partnership with JJL
In this study session, we will study Bamidbar from a trans perspective – reading it in terms of the ideas about what we now call gender that it reflects, both so that we can compare those ideas to our own, and so that can think about the position of those who don’t fit prevailing ideas of gender, then and now.

Joy Ladin is the author of a memoir of gender transition, National Jewish Book Award finalist, Through the Door of Life; Lambda Literary and Triangle Award finalist, The Soul of the Stranger: Reading God and Torah from a Transgender Perspective; and ten books of poetry, including her new collection, Shekhinah Speaks, National Jewish Book Award winner. Two new books – Family, a poetry collection, and Once Out of Nature, a collection of essays on the transformation of gender, are forthcoming in 2024.

Ladin’s work has been recognized with a National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship, a Fulbright Scholarship, an American Council of Learned Societies Research Fellowship, and a Hadassah Brandeis Institute Research Fellowship, among other honors. Her writing is available at joyladin.com, and episodes of her online conversation series, “Containing Multitudes,” are available at JewishLive.org/multitudes.

Teachers: Kara Liu, Amy Rosenberg, Temple Israel Congregants and Sharon Amster Brown, Director of Education and Congregational Engagement

Kara Liu, our Temple Israel Youth Director, welcomes you to her urban farm organic garden. Come enjoy seasonal fruits and vegetables as we tour the garden. Feel free to ask questions about the many fruit tree varieties, learn about home garden recipes, and Kara’s favorite, compost. Special guests: Amy Rosenberg and her composting worms!

Facilitators: Jo Ann Schneider Farris and Dan Farris, Temple Israel Congregants
Jews and Christians read the same stories differently. Explore and discuss the New Testament from a Jewish perspective and learn more about the Jewish roots of Christianity.
Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82285979629