COMMUNITY LEARNING

Join our community for learning and engagement opportunities ranging in topics from Jewish Parenting to Torah Study.

SPS UNIVERSITY

Lets Learn Together

Weekly Torah Study with The Clergy

Friday mornings 9:00 am.

On zoom, with rotating clergy:

Each week heading into Shabbat, our group meets to review the weekly sedra (Torah reading), both to attain familiarity with our foundational laws and stories, and also to discuss the various themes. We don’t shy away from hard questions, and we learn in a way that invites learners of all backgrounds and familiarity with the text.

613 Mitzvot with Rabbi Dave

Wednesdays 12:00 pm

In person at SPS

We may have heard that there are 613 Mitzvot (Commandments) in Jewish tradition, but have you ever stopped to count them? That's a lot of mitzvot. Join Rabbi Dave weekly to explore Maimonides' listing of the 613 commandments. How many are we still keeping? Which ones are no longer available for us to perform? We will answer these questions and all of yours when we gather to study.

What is liberal Zionism? A Shalom Hartman Course taught by Rabbi Ain

November 10, December 8, January 5, February 2 & March 9 at 7:00 pm

In person at SPS

In this course, Hartman scholars explore the core tensions and values of liberal Zionism, responding to the dominant critiques of Israel and Zionism in a post-October 7 reality. Together, we’ll explore frameworks for holding moral complexity and for thinking about Israel in a time of war. Each class will include a selection of podcast interviews between Tal Becker and a Hartman faculty member, Jewish sources, and meaningful conversation facilitated by Rabbi Ain.

Please rsvp to acreditor@spsnyc.org to enroll in the course.

Deep Dives into Kashrut with Rabbinic Intern Eitan Bloostein

Saturdays Nov 22 & Jan 10 Following Services

Have you ever wondered why some foods have a hekhsher (kosher label)? What could possibly make cheese or fish, for example, not kosher? Join rabbinic intern Eitan Bloostein on deep dive into some topics of kashrut. In three sessions, we will start by exploring the kashrut of cheese (yum!) and swordfish (controversial!). Bring questions, curiosities, and an open mind as we learn about Jewish dietary customs together!

Jewish Themes in Music with Rabbinic Intern Eitan Bloostein

More info coming soon

Maimonides and Moby Dick with Rabbi David Whiman

November 18, December 2, 9, & 16 at 7:00 pm

In Person at SPS

Eleven centuries separate the two men and yet in their monumental undertakings -The Guide for the Perplexed and Moby Dick - both writers sought to answer one of the great existential questions of existence: How Free Are We? Do we human beings have agency or are we / how are we controlled by forces external to the self. In their writings, both offered propositions radically opposed to the religious thinking of their day. Both used similar literary conventions and struggled with the limitations of language. Selected passages from both books, along with sound recordings and film clips from cinematic treatments of Moby-Dick will be used

RSVP to acreditor@spsnyc.org

Intro to Jewish Prayer with Cantor Cattan

More info coming soon

Click below to see past programming

Israeli popular music as interpretive prayer with Cantor Cattan

#SPStalks Featuring John Podhoretz

Jewish New York with Rabbi Dave

Paging Dr. Maimonides with Rabbi Dave

Understanding Jewish Community with Rabbi Ain

Adult Hebrew Class with Michal Nachmany

Talmud’s Greatest Hits with Rabbinic Intern Eitan Bloostein

Death and Memory: The sacred conversations we need to have