Intro to Judaism and Hebrew Basics 2026-2027

Intro to Judaism and Hebrew Basics
2026 - 2027

Welcome to Temple Israel’s Introduction to Judaism Class!

Below you will find class resources including the syllabus, required reading materials, and links.

Note: It is not possible to truly understand Judaism from a class; it must be experienced. Students are strongly encouraged (and warmly welcomed!) to attend Friday night Shabbat services at Temple Israel, as well as festivals and holidays. If you are pursuing conversion, plan to regularly attend services — twice a month is a good goal (we’re not taking attendance).

Syllabus

Preparing for Class

Most classes have both a reading assignment and a text to discuss in class.

Readings are homework and should be completed before class, and are found in the books below or in the links listed under certain classes. Please come to class prepared with at least one question from the reading. When everyone completes the reading, class discussions are much more interesting!

Texts will be studied in class and provided by the instructor.

Books

Note: There is a reading assignment to be completed before the first class.

BOOKS TO PURCHASE BEFORE THE FIRST CLASS:

● Jewish History: A Very Short Introduction by David N. Myers
ISBN-13: 978-0199730988

● Living Judaism: The Complete Guide to Jewish Belief, Tradition, and Practice by Wayne Dosick
ISBN-13: 978-0060621797

● The Sabbath by Abraham Joshua Heschel
ISBN-13: 978-0374529758

TEMPLE ISRAEL PROVIDES:
● Lashon HaKodesh (Hebrew Book)

Curriculum, Dates, and Instructors

Classes are on Tuesdays from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Temple Israel.
Hebrew is 6:00 - 6:30 p.m.
Class topic is 6:30 - 8:00 p.m.

October 20, 2026
Rabbi Zimmerman teaches Jewish Belonging, Behaving, and Believing: Who is a Jew? Who are the Jewish people? What is Judaism? What are the Jewish movements?

Reading: Living Judaism, Chapter 2

October 27, 2026
Rabbi Hartman teaches Sunsets and Lunar Cycles: Living in Jewish time, and the Jewish year in holidays and festivals.

Here is the link to the one-hour lecture by David Meyers from the Center for Jewish History in New York City. He is the author of the book we will read on Jewish history, Jewish History: A Very Short Introduction by David N. Myers, ISBN-13: ‎978-0199730988

Text: A Jewish Calendar
Reading: Living Judaism, Chapter 4, pages 119-180, 196-200

November 3, 2026
No class - election day

November 10, 2026
Rabbi Rodich teaches We Were All at Sinai, offering an overview of Jewish sacred texts and an introduction to chavrutah, a Jewish peer-learning method of engaging with sacred texts.

November 17, 2026
Rabbi Rodich teaches Destruction and Rebuilding: The radical move from sacrifice to prayer and the creation of the Jewish legal tradition.

Text: The Stubborn and Rebellious Son: Deuteronomy 21: 18-21, Sanhedrin 68b, 70a, 71a2

November 24, 2026
No class - Thanksgiving

December 1, 2026
Rabbi Zimmerman and Muffy Rudnick teach the real story of Chanukah and the December dilemma.

Text: Maccabees 1:43-2:28 & 2:40-48, Chanukah Blessings
Reading: Living Judaism, Chapter 4, pages 151-155

December 8, 2026:
Alex Bonoff teaches Crescent and Cross, Medieval Jewish life under Islamic and Christian rule.

Texts: 1. Fourth Lateran Council, Canons 68 & 69 (yellow badges & exclusion from civil authority.)
2. King Henry III, The Statute of Jewry (England, 1253 & 1275)
3. The Pact of Umar (Creation of dhimmi law for Jews and Christians).
Reading: Jewish History: A Very Short Introduction by David N. Myers (Oxford)

December 15, 2026:
Rabbi Zimmerman teaches the Holocaust and post-Holocaust Jewish life.

Reading: Living Judaism, Chapter 4, pages 181-194

December 22, 2026
No class - winter break

December 29
No class - winter break

January 5, 2027
Rabbi Rodich teaches Introduction to Jewish Theologies: God in Torah, Chasidut, and Kabbalah.

Reading: Living Judaism, Chapter 1

Optional for those interested in Kabbalah (Jewish mysticism): Listen to this episode of the On Being podcast with Krista Tippet and Rabbi Lawrence Kushner: https://onbeing.org/programs/lawrence-kushner-kabbalah-and-everyday-mysticism/

January 12, 2027
Rabbi Rodich teaches Contemporary Theologies: Process theology, God in Reform Jewish thought, and feminist theology.

Text: Excerpts of work from several modern Jewish thinkers
Reading: Short introduction to Jewish views of God at My Jewish Learning: https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/modern-jewish-views-of-god/

January 19, 2027
Rabbi Hartman helps us explore what antisemitism looks like today.

Reading: A Very Brief Guide to Antisemitism, T’ruah, the rabbinic call for human rights. Download the free PDF at https://truah.org/antisemitism/. Scroll to the bottom of the page below the section where you pay for a printed version.

January 26, 2027
Rabbi Zimmerman teaches Zionisms and the State of Israel.

Reading: Living Judaism, Chapter 7, 303-312

February 2, 2027
Rabbi Rodich teaches The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict.

February 9, 2027
Rabbi Zimmerman teaches Shabbat: A sanctuary in time.

Reading: The Sabbath by Abraham Joshua Heschel (approx. 100 pages)

February 16, 2027
Rabbi Hartman and Alex Bonoff teach The Mitzvah of Jewish Prayer: Siddur and Shabbat Learner’s Service.

February 23, 2027
Rabbi Hartman teaches The Jewish Home: Blessings for home, kashrut, Jewish foods, and Judaica.

March 2, 2027
Rabbi Zimmerman and Johan Van Parys teach Judaism and Christianity. Johan Van Parys is the Managing Director of Ministries/Director of Liturgy & Sacred Arts at the Basilica of Saint Mary.

March 9, 2027
Rabbi Hartman teaches Birth, B’nai Mitzvah, and Marriage: Rituals, customs, and practices.

Reading: Living Judaism, Chapter 7, 285-303

March 16, 2027
Rabbi Zimmerman teaches End of Life: Grief and mourning in Jewish life.

Reading: Living Judaism, Chapter 7, 303-312.

March 23, 2027
Rabbi Rodich and Barry Cytron teach Jewish Ethics, and we’ll also explore a case study.

March 30, 2027
Alex Bonoff teaches Chazanut: Calling out to God through sacred music.

April 6, 2027
Rabbi Rodich and Wendy Schwartz teach Passover: The meta story of the Jewish people.

April 13, 2027
We conclude this year’s Intro to Judaism course with Rabbi Zimmerman teaching The American Jewish Community Today andJewish Diversity. There will be time for questions afterward.

April 20, 2027
No class - Passover break

April 27, 2027
No class - Passover break

CONVERSION SEMINARS

Meeting with a rabbi is required for enrollment.

Conversion Seminar A
May 4, 2027; Yom HaShoah Day
6:30 – 8:00 p.m.

Rabbi Rodich teaches texts, background, liturgy, and ritual.

Conversion Seminar B
May 11, 2027; Yom HaZikaron Day
6:30 – 8:00 p.m.

Rabbi Zimmerman teaches the dynamics of conversion.

Conversion Seminar C
May 18, 2027
6:30 – 8:00 p.m.

Rabbi Zimmerman leads a panel discussion.