Adult Education
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Fulfilling its mission of being a Bet Midrash, a house of study, Temple Bat Yam encourages lifelong Jewish study through adult education classes. Students explore our rich Jewish culture and heritage, uncovering new appreciation for their Jewish identity and traditions..
A Little Something for Everyone
Roundtable - A Spiritual Path to Living a Meaningful and Ethical Life
Tuesday mornings, 10:30 am -11:45 am
Begins September 17, 2025
No background is required. Rabbi Spey will lead a relaxed, weekly discussion based on the book: The Mussar Torah Commentary: A Spiritual Path to Living a Meaningful and Ethical Life. The book is available in paperback ($23.95) or on Kindle ($9.95) from Amazon. This mussar-based commentary is a vital resource for Torah study, offering a thoughtful analysis of each of the 54 weekly parashot. Each essay in this anthology brings a parashah into juxtaposition with one of the mussar middot (character traits as described within the Jewish school of ethics called mussar), thereby providing an applied lens of mussar teachings that helps us to delve deeper into our tradition with increased mindfulness and intention.
There is no charge for this class, but students may need to purchase books depending on which text(s) are selected for study. Registration is not required. The course is open to the community.
Never Stop Learning - Monday Nights at TBY!
Call the Temple office at 954-928-0410 or emaiil at info@templebatyam.org for more information and to register.
All courses are offered in person at TBY and on Zoom. Classes are NOT recorded.
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86538821160
Please enter the classroom for year 1, year 2, or year 3 classes.
First Steps in Jewish and Hebrew Learning
These courses are for anyone who:
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didn't have the opportunity to learn during childhood.
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is considering becoming part of a Jewish family.
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is considering joining the Jewish people.
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wants a good review of the basics of Judaism.
Year 1 https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86538821160
6:30: Introduction to Hebrew (Full Year Course)
No background is required.
This is the right place to start if you can't tell the difference between an alef and a bet. Throughout this course, you will master the Hebrew letters and their sounds. You will also learn the meaning of some basic vocabulary words that will help you decode and understand simple sentences and prayers. You will become comfortable with words and phrases used in daily Jewish life with practice. This class continues all year.
[Texts for this course: The New Reading Hebrew: A Guided Instruction Course, $11.99 on Amazon and The New Reading Hebrew: Practice, Drill, and Review Workbook, $9.95 on Amazon]
9/9, 9/16, 9/23, 9/30, 10/7, 10/14, 10/21, 10/28, 11/4, 11/11, 11/18
12/2, 12/9, 12/16, 1/6, 1/13, 1/27, 2/3, 2/10, 2/24
3/3, 3/10, 3/17, 3/24, 3/31, 4/7, 4/28, 5/5, 5/12, 5/19
Year 1 https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86538821160
7:30: Introduction to Jewish History (September through November)
Learn about the fascinating history of the Jewish people from their roots in Ancient Israel until now.
9/9, 9/16, 9/23, 9/30, 10/7, 10/14, 10/21, 10/28, 11/4, 11/11, 11/18
Year 1 https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86538821160
7:30: Introduction to Jewish Holidays (December through February)
The Jewish people always celebrate, observe, or remember significant moments each year, often with food. Learn what, how, and why.
12/2, 12/9, 12/16, 1/6, 1/13, 1/27, 2/3, 2/10, 2/24
Year 1 https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86538821160
7:30: Introduction to the Jewish Lifecycle (March through May)
From the time a child is born, that child will move through different rites of passage marked by Jewish rituals, even through and beyond death.
3/3, 3/10, 3/17, 3/24, 3/31, 4/7, 4/28, 5/5, 5/12, 5/19
Next Steps in Jewish and Hebrew Learning
Continue your learning for another year because you:
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didn't have the opportunity to learn during childhood.
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want to know more than just basic Judaism.
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want to become a Brit Mitzvah or Confirmand.
Call the Temple office at 954-928-0410 for more information and to register.
(September through December)
Year 2 https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86538821160
6:30: TaNaCH and Jewish Texts
We are the People of the Book, but how did there get to be so many of them? We'll examine the Torah, Prophets, Writings, Midrash, Mishnah, Gemara, Talmud, and modern-day commentary.
Year 2 https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86538821160
7:30: The Erev Shabbat Service
We'll examine the major prayers and blessings of the Erev Shabbat Service in Hebrew. We'll learn root words, prefixes, and suffixes to help us understand the prayers' meaning.
[Text for this course: Hineni: Prayerbook Hebrew for Adults by Behrman House, $22.31 on Amazon]
9/9, 9/16, 9/23, 9/30, 10/7, 10/14, 10/21, 10/28, 11/4, 11/11, 11/18, 12/2, 12/9, 12/16
(January through May)
Year 2 https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86538821160
6:30: Our Prayerbook
Where did our prayer book come from? How did it develop over time? Why doesn't Rabbi Spey sacrifice animals on the bimah as it says in the Torah? How are the weekday, Shabbat, and holiday services the same and different? Bring your own questions!
[Text for this course: Entering Jewish Prayer, by Reuven Hammer, $16.95 (paperback) from Amazon]
Year 2 https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86538821160
7:30: The Shabbat Morning Service
We'll take a closer look, in Hebrew, at the major prayers and blessings of the Shabbat morning service. We'll continue to learn root words and grammatical structures that will aid our understanding of the prayers.
[Text for this course: Hineni: Prayerbook Hebrew for Adults by Behrman House, $22.31 on Amazon]
1/6, 1/13, 1/27, 2/3, 2/10, 2/24, 3/3, 3/17, 3/24, 3/31, 4/7, 4/28, 5/5, 5/12, 5/19
More Steps in Jewish and Language Learning
Continue your learning for another year because you:
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just can't get enough of a good thing!
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found a great group of people to learn with.
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know learning has become a way of life.
Call the Temple office at 954-928-0410 for more information and to register.
(September through December)
Year 3 https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86538821160
6:30: Everything You Wanted to Know About Judaism If You're Not Afraid to Ask...with apologies to Woody Allen
You've got questions? We'll search for answers together. In this student-led course, Rabbi Spey will help us learn to find the answers to the questions we most want to discover...but know that there will probably be either more than one answer, if an answer exists at all!
Come chat with us. Whether you aspire to speak Hebrew or are already fluent and want to practice, Dr. Sam Jacobs will encourage all students along their path. He will introduce and review vocabulary and grammatical concepts for Hebrew speakers.
Year 3 https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86538821160
7:30: Modern Hebrew
Come chat with us. Whether you aspire to speak Hebrew or are already fluent and want to practice, Dr. Sam Jacobs will encourage all students along their path. He will introduce and review vocabulary and grammatical concepts for Hebrew speakers.
[Text for this course: Let's Talk: Modern Hebrew for Teens (and Adults), by Behrman House, $13.79 from Amazon]
9/9, 9/16, 9/23, 9/30, 10/7, 10/14, 10/21, 10/28, 11/4, 11/11, 11/18, 12/2, 12/9, 12/16
(January through May)
Year 3 https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86538821160
6:30: Israel: Pandora's Box is Open - Now What?
The situation in Israel changes daily. It is hard to know what to believe, where to get credible information, and what to expect next. Let's look at the history and current situation and support each other as we grapple with the difficulties in our Homeland.
Year 3 https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86538821160
7:30: Yiddish: the Mamma Loshen!
You might have grown up in a household where Yiddish was spoken, if only to leave the kinderlach out of the conversation. Come learn a bissel Yiddish with Dr. Sam. Perhaps you know some already? That's great! You'll learn some more. Don't know any? Perfect! You'll learn a lot more! There's something for everyone! Bring your own nosh.
1/6, 1/13, 1/27, 2/3, 2/10, 2/24, 3/3, 3/17, 3/24, 3/31, 4/7, 4/28, 5/5, 5/12, 5/19
Shabbat Worship and Torah Study
... and More
Special programs throughout the year provide opportunities to explore books, Jewish music, and culture. Please check the TBY calendar for all program listings.
