MID (Multi-Interest Day)

Click here to register for M.I.D., and see below for more information regarding classes this year. 

To the Adat Ari El Community,

We are very excited that Multi-Interest Day (MID) is returning in the fall with creative and informative classes. Rabbi Schuldenfrei will focus this fall on an interesting class topic, Unresolved Arguments in the Talmud that will pique our interest in resolving Jewish disputes in a creative way. In spring semester, we are happy that Rabbi Leslie Alexander, former Rabbi at Adat years ago, is returning on a part-time basis to teach at MID. Rabbi Alexander’s topic is the Jewish California Pioneers, an historical look at Jewish presence in Northern and Southern California history. Rabbi Mark Goodman is returning with another Jewish historical perspective, the Wandering Jews of the Diaspora. This specific class will concentrate on the various countries and regions wherein Jews were forced to live as they escaped persecution and sought a better life. Susie Katz returns to facilitate the Writing Class where students write on different personal memories and topics. Lastly, Mah Jongg returns for those wishing to play after lunch. Regarding our format this year, we are delighted that MID is returning to in-person learning by popular demand. All three rabbis will return to teach in-person classes in the Dieber Chapel that is also set up for 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 catalogue of courses is given below. Specific fee and registration information are also given on page three of this letter. Lastly, this year we are inviting members of Chai Neighbors to join our MID classes. Chai Neighbors has been a highly successful seniors’ partnership between Adat Ari El and Temple Beth Hillel, and we feel that the invitation be extended to all their members as a collaborative effort to share educational resources.

MID COURSE CATALOGUE

“THE WANDERING JEWS OF THE DIASPORA.” Join Rabbi Mark Goodman as he focuses on the various homes of the Diaspora Jews as they migrate from country to country that proved to be both a disadvantage and a boon. Frequently, Jews were ripped from their roots, and were forced to make a new life in strange surroundings. Nonetheless, some factors worked in their favor. More importantly, the Jews were a literate people who shared a common language with their relatives and compatriots in other lands. The Jews enjoyed a commercial advantage by virtue of familial ties and ability to communicate. Jews became integral to the international trade of the countries into which they settled or were hurled. They were a cohesive people based on the preservation of religious beliefs and practices at synagogues and the importance of family life. Rabbi Goodman will provide an historical perspective focusing on the Jewish migration patterns and Jewish life experienced throughout the centuries. 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 continues pursuing his doctoral degree in Jewish Studies from the Spertus Institute of Jewish Studies. Coincidentally, Rabbi Goodman is not only a spiritual leader, but an opera singer as well!

“UNRESOLVED ARGUMENTS.”. Join Rabbi Brian Schuldenfrei, our Adat Senior Rabbi, for an exciting new class, Unresolved Arguments. Rabbi Schuldenfrei will explore some of the Talmud’s most compelling arguments that end at a standstill. Together we will unpack the issues, and meet the personalities involved. Finally, we will put an end to each argument by offering our own resolution!  Prior to coming to Adat Ari El as Senior Rabbi, Rabbi Schuldenfrei served as a Senior Rabbi in Palos Verdes, CA and Miami, FL, and also served as 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!

“THE JEWISH CALIFORNIA PIONEERS.”  Join Rabbi Leslie Alexander, our Adat Interim Rabbi, as she teaches a new exciting class this year focused on the Jewish history of California. Rabbi Alexander writes: “Eureka!” Take a journey back in time to the early days of California and learn how much immigrant Jews had to do with the growth and development of our state. We will learn about the development of the powerful Jewish community that basically built San Francisco, and we will hear about the Gold Rush towns in the Mother Lode to learn about the life of Jewish miners and merchants. We will find out about the Jewish involvement in Los Angeles, and get a chance to be introduced to the Jewish movers and shakers in the state. We will also experience the Jewish response to the 1906 earthquake in San Francisco. We will look at Los Angeles as it begins to thrive Jewishly and how some of the difficult experiences made the Jewish community even stronger. Rabbi Alexander served as Assistant and later Associate Rabbi at Adat Ari El from 1986-1996 working under Rabbi Moshe Rothblum. She was the first woman in the world appointed to be a Rabbi at a major Conservative synagogue. She very sadly left Adat for the Silicon Valley to join her husband Ken to pursue his dream in science and technology. She visited Adat many times over the years and maintained friendships with many synagogue members in the intervening 25 years. She served as a Rabbi at Congregation Beth David in Saratoga and worked for the Jewish Federation of Silicon Valley in several roles. Rabbi Alexander has re-located to the Valley to be near her family, and is very excited to return to the Adat family. She will be working part time along with Rabbi Schuldenfrei, Cantor Aranoff, the entire Adat staff, and is looking forward to working with you!

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 as we return to the Adat Ari El campus. Several tables will be set up for us to play.           

MID SCHEDULE

1^st Period (10:00 am – 10:50 am)

October 19, 2022 – February 1, 2023 (Semester 1)

February 8, 2023 - May 17, 2023 (Semester 2)

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

2nd  Period (11:00 am – 11:50 am)

October 19, 2022 – February 1. 2023 (Semester 1)

“Unresolved Arguments” with Rabbi Brian Schuldenfrei

2^nd Period (11:00 am – 11:50 am)

February 8, 2023 - May 17, 2023 (Semester 2)

“The Jewish California Pioneers” with Rabbi Leslie Alexander

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

Writing Club (first Wednesday of each month) with Susie Katz (Both Semesters, starting November 2nd)

Mah Jongg Tables and sets available every Wednesday for playing

No classes:  Thanksgiving Holiday, November 23, 2022; Winter Break, December 21, 2022 and December 28, 2022; and Passover Holiday, April 5, 2023 and April 12, 2023. 

ANNUAL REGISTRATION AND FEES: $54 for AAE members; $54 for Chai Neighbors members; and $72 for 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 Zoom link after the High Holy Days before the start of classes for those not coming to in-person classes. 

For further information call: Rosalee Pechersky, at (818) 360-0437, or Susie Katz at (818) 995-0391. We look forward to seeing you in the fall!

To register for classes, please click here.

Sincerely,

Rosalee and Susie

Rosalee Pechersky and Susie Katz

Co-Vice Presidents, Education

Women of Adat