MID (Multi-Interest Day)

We are pleased that Multi-Interest Day (MID) is returning in the fall with creative and informative classes. Rabbi Mark Goodman returns in the fall and spring semesters with the “Continuation of Wandering Jews of the Diaspora.” In the fall semester, Rabbi Leslie Alexander will teach “Sage Tales - Fun, Meaningful and Eye-Opening Stories from Rabbinic Literature.” Rabbi Schuldenfrei will focus this spring on an interesting class topic, “Talmudic Tales” that will charm us with colorful stories.  Susie Katz returns to facilitate the “Writing Club” where students write on different personal memories and topics. Lastly, Mah Jongg will be available for those wishing to play after lunch. The rabbinic classes will be streamed on the Adat Ari El website. The Writing Club will be on Zoom.

SPECIAL NOTE: This year we continue to charge a basic amount for our classes.  We are always looking for generous donors to support MID classes throughout the year. Our catalog of courses is given below. Specific fee and registration information are also given on page three of this letter. Like last year we are inviting members of Chai Neighbors to join our MID classes.

MID COURSE CATALOG

“CONTINUATION OF THE WANDERING JEWS OF THE DIASPORA.” Join Rabbi Mark Goodman as he continues his exploration of the various homes of the Diaspora Jews as they migrate from country to country that proved to be both a disadvantage and a boon. Rabbi Goodman serves as spiritual leader at Valley Beth Israel in Sun Valley, California.  He has taught Jewish History classes at the American Jewish University and is an Adjunct Professor at Los Angeles Valley College. He earned his B.A. in English from UCLA, obtained an M.A. in Music from California State University Los Angeles, earned an M.A. in Jewish Studies and Rabbinics, and received his ordination at the Academy of Jewish Religion as a Cantor and Rabbi.  Rabbi Goodman will complete his comprehensive exams in Jewish Studies from the Spertus Institute of Jewish Studies later this year. Thereafter, he will start writing his doctoral dissertation. Coincidentally, Rabbi Goodman is an opera singer as well!

“SAGE TALES – FUN, MEANINGFUL AND EYE-OPENING STORIES FROM RABBINIC LITERATURE.” Join Rabbi Leslie Alexander, our Adat Interim Rabbi, as she teaches a new exciting class this year focused every week on a different and unusual story (or two) from the Talmud. The class will actively generate participation in creating the backstory of the Talmudic text, will discuss why this text exists, and what lessons it conveys.  We also will be modernizing the text to discuss it from a current perspective.

Rabbi Alexander currently serves as Interim Rabbi at Adat Ari El. Years ago she served as Assistant and later Associate Rabbi at Adat Ari El from 1986-1996 working with Rabbi Moshe Rothblum. She was the first woman in the world appointed to serve as a Rabbi at a major Conservative synagogue. Rabbi Alexander left Adat Ari El for the Silicon Valley to join her husband, Ken, to pursue his dream in science and technology. She returned to the Valley last year to be near her family and, consequently, returned to the Adat family as Interim Rabbi.

“TALMUDIC TALES.” Join Rabbi Brian Schuldenfrei, our Adat Senior Rabbi, for an exciting new class, “Talmudic Tales.” Rabbi Schuldenfrei will explore some of the Talmud’s most interesting and colorful stories. Rabbi Schuldenfreiserves as Senior Rabbi at Adat Ari El. He also served as a Senior Rabbi in Palos Verdes, CA and Miami, FL and was an Associate Rabbi at Sinai Temple in Los Angeles. Rabbi Schuldenfrei’s flair for creative programming and outreach has received international coverage in many publications. Rabbi Schuldenfrei also sat on the Executive Committee of the Los Angeles Board of Rabbis, the Rabbinical Assembly’s Resolutions Committee, the Rabbinic Cabinet of the Masorti Foundation for Conservative Judaism, and other organizations. Rabbi Schuldenfrei was a distinguished student at the Jewish Theological Seminary, and received his B.A. with honors from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. Originally from New York, Rabbi Schuldenfrei is a big Mets baseball fan!

WRITING CLUB:  Join Susie Katz as she facilitates the members of the class in writing their never-to-be forgotten memories and experiences. This class has been ongoing for many years.

MAH JONGG:  Join us for fun as we play Mah Jongg after lunch. Several tables will be set up for us to play.   

MID SCHEDULE

1^st Period (10:00 am – 10:50 am)

October 18, 2023 – January 31, 2024 (Semester 1)

February 7, 2024 - May 15, 2024 (Semester 2)

“Continuation of the Wandering Jews of the Diaspora” (Both Semesters) with Rabbi Mark Goodman

2^nd Period (11:00 am – 11:50 am)

October 18, 2023 – January 31. 2024 (Semester 1)

“Sage Tales - Fun, Meaningful and Eye-Opening Stories from Rabbinic Literature” with Rabbi Leslie Alexander.                           

2^nd Period (11:00 am – 11:50 am)

February 7, 2024 - May 15, 2024 (Semester 2)

“Talmudic Tales” with Rabbi Brian Schuldenfrei

3^rd Period (1:00 pm - 3:00 pm)

WRITING CLUB (first Wednesday of each month on Zoom) with Susie Katz (Both Semesters, starting November 1st)

MAH JONGG:  Join us for fun as we play Mah Jongg after lunch. Several tables will be set up for us to play.   

NO CLASSES:  Thanksgiving Holiday, November 22, 2023; Winter Break, December 20, 2023, and December 27, 2023; and Passover Holiday, April 17, 2024 and April 24, 2024. 

ANNUAL REGISTRATION AND FEES: $54 for women and men who are members of Adat Ari El and Chai Neighbors, and $72 for all others. Please remit your check to Susie Katz at 4945 Gaviota Avenue, Encino, CA 91436. Make check payable to Women of Adat.  Or, you may register and pay by clicking below. We will forward you the streaming link after the High Holy Days before the start of classes for those not coming to the in-person classes. 

For further information call: Rosalee Pechersky, at (818) 360-0437, or Susie Katz at (818) 995-0391. 

To register for classes, please click here.