Adult Education

Temple Emeth’s Adult Education program provides an abundance of opportunities to give our hearts to learning.

There is no charge for Temple Emeth members to participate in any of our programs (except those that provide meals, or are trips). Some courses may require books and/or other materials, for which there may be a charge. There is a fee for non-members of Temple Emeth, based on the specific program, plus book or material costs.

For more information, contact adulteducation@emeth.org or the Temple office at 201-833-1322.

Ongoing Programs

Lunch and Learn is a weekly conversation on ideas that challenge us to think deeply. This year, our textbook will be Studies in Spirituality: A Weekly Reading of the Jewish Bible, by Rabbi Jonathan Sacks. The book inspires us to see models of courage, innovation, faith, fear, the challenges and beauty of family dynamics, healing, the art of listening, hope, personal transformation, and more. His poignant reflections on spirituality return to us the sense of closeness with God that resonated so powerfully with our ancestors - that intimacy which gave them a sense of hope and courage and singularity. Studies in Spirituality aspires to bring the covenant between God and humanity closer to each of us, today and always.

 Copies of the book are available for purchase in the Temple office; it is also available as an e-book. Every six weeks or so, we set our books aside and discuss a topic from current events. You bring your lunch, and we provide the learning…and the coffee.

Lunch and Learn is held in the Library, as well as on Zoom for those who wish to participate virtually. To participate via Zoom, see the weekly email for a link, or contact the Temple office for the meeting ID and password.

Wednesday, September 10, 12:00 p.m.
Our first class will give everyone a chance to catch up about their summer activities, distribute books, and have an overview of our new text. 

Wednesday, September 17, 12:00 p.m.
Temple member Sara Halman will continue her annual tradition of leading us in a poetry discussion to prepare for the High Holy Days.

Wednesday, October 8, 12:00 p.m.
Weather permitting, we will meet in the Sukkah to discuss the Forward and Introduction of our new book on pages xiii – xxi.

Wednesday, October 15, 12:00 p.m.
we will return to the Library and begin using the book according to its week-by-week format, starting with Bereshit on page 3.

Shabbat Morning Torah Study

Mini-University 2025-26
Check back for our new courses.

Literature from a Jewish Perspective
Tuesdays, 7:45–8:45 p.m., October 14, 21, 28; November 4, 11, 18
This participant-drive course is one of our most popular and long-standing Adult Education programs. Members select short stories to read and then lead class discussions. For fall 2025, in preparation for the Temple’s 2025- 26 One Book, One Synagogue selection, Ayelet Tsabari’s Songs for the Brokenhearted, we are focusing on Ms. Tsabari’s short story collection, the highly ac- claimed The Best Place on Earth (winner of the Sami Rohr Prize for Jewish Literature). The course is offered in hybrid format, in person in the Temple Library, as well as via Zoom.

Movies That Mattered
Tuesday, September 9, 2025, 7:30 p.m.
Movies That Mattered will show Enlighten Up!, a documentary which was scored by Krishna Venkatesh, our own Temple Emeth yoga teacher. Since the movie is right after yoga class, Krishna will stay and be the guest speaker talking (briefly) about the process of scoring a movie. Filmmaker Kate Churchill has a theory that the practice of yoga can transform just about anyone. Skeptic Nick Rosen has his doubts, but agrees to be the filmmaker's guinea pig. Churchill immerses Rosen in yoga, then follows him around the world to meet with celebrity yogis, true believers and true kooks.

Tuesday, October 7, 2025, 7:30 p.m.
Bye Bye Braverman is a 1968 American comedy directed by Sidney Lumet and starring George Segal, Jack Warden, Jessica Walter, Alan King, and Phyllis Newman. It tells the story of four Jewish intellectuals who carpool to the funeral of their old friend, Leslie Braverman, who died suddently at the age of 41.

Yiddish Lessons
Schedule to be posted soon
Mameloshen: Temple Emeth's Yiddish Class is a unique opportunity to cultivate your knowledge of Yiddish. The class, led by David Braun, meets on Monday mornings in our hybrid mode (in our Library and on Zoom). It focuses on conversation using multimedia, gezang (songs), written, as well as oral stories, and a variety of other materials. Be part of a worldwide resurgence to make certain Yiddish continues to be alive and well! There is a small fee for all students.