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The Center for Adult Jewish Learning
Celebrating and Reflecting on the past year with the
By Brigid Goggin, Managing Director of the Center for Adult Jewish Learning
Last month, I was invited to join a virtual community gathering organized by our weekly Torah/Yoga with the Moon class. I logged onto Zoom from my couch on a cloudy Wednesday afternoon, and listened as the students and teachers, most of whom have never met in person, went in a round to give blessings and gratitude to one another for the time they had spent learning and growing together over the past 6 months. It was a gift to witness the bond shared between this group of folks, and it was a meaningful reflection of what I’ve seen over and over again this past year: even though we cannot be together in person, we are more connected to one another now than ever before.
Thanks to the ever-present creativity and support of the Temple Israel community, and of course Zoom, we have been able to continue our commitment to rigorous scholarship, spiritual nourishment, and deep relationships with our learners, educators, and partners. This past fall, we hosted 24 virtual classes with over 650 registrations, including many people engaging with Temple Israel for the first time from around the country and the world. We’ve also welcomed several guest speakers, learning from a broad array of renowned scholars and engaging in deep conversations about current events.
The concept of what a “classroom” means has been turned on its head this year, yet what remains constant is the fact that when we gather to learn together in a spirit of openness and curiosity, we encounter lessons beyond the page and reach out beyond our Zoom boxes to discover new truths about ourselves, our Jewish lives, and the world. This spring, we continue on with an exciting lineup of classes, events, and other programs and we can’t wait to learn with you!
