We warmly welcome attendance to anyone interested in advancing their Jewish education, regardless of CAA membership. Program fees are waived for CAA’s Kol HaKavod Members (email shari.frank@caa-austin.org for more info). We offer weekly, monthly and quarterly classes.
CAA seeks to provide an inclusive, accessible, and affirming community for all our learners. If you need accommodations to participate in our programs, please inquire. Any questions? Email shari.frank@caa-austin.org.
You can view the entire semester’s class listings below. This semester, we have divided the classes into categories. To view all classes in a particular category, please click on the appropriate button below.
Classes With The Rabbis
Tuesdays
Instructor: Rabbi Neil Blumofe
Description: Join us every Tuesday afternoon at noon (central) for an enlivening conversation exploring the riches of our Jewish textual tradition. All backgrounds welcome. Texts provided (online). Add your voice to our rabbinic discussion with joy and steady guidance.
Time: Tuesdays, 12:00-1:00 pm
Dates: 2/8 – 4/12 (No class 3/15)
Location: Online (No pre-registration)
Investment: Donation suggested
Wednesdays
Instructor: Rabbi Neil Blumofe
Description: Join Rabbi Blumofe for this dynamic class which will introduce or refresh many areas of Judaism and Jewish life including history, holidays, lifecycle events, philosophy, theology and Israel. This class is for Jews and non-Jews. Class is held 3-4 times per month and will continue through May and is a course for anyone interested in learning more about Judaism – theological, practical, historical, liturgical, etc. Everyone is welcome to be a part of this class – those looking to choose Judaism, those who would like a refresher, interfaith, and all who are curious. Questions? Email jane.weiss@caa-austin.org .
Time: Wednesdays, 6:30-8:00 pm
Dates: 10/6 – 5/4 (No class 3/16)
Location: Online
Investment: $180 ($240/couple) + books
Thursdays
Instructor: Rabbi Gail Swedroe
Description: What a time to be a parent! This 6-week cohort will give participants a renewed sense of community and opportunity to reflect on how to parent with intentionality. Give yourself the gift of friendship, adult conversations, personal learning so that you can bring your best self forward when engaged in the sacred act of parenting.
*Please note-This semester will be focusing on different themes from last semester’s offerings and last semester is not a prerequisite for this semester*
This curriculum, published by Hebrew College, will focus on how to prepare our children to be independent, confident people with a strong connection to their Jewish identity focusing on the following themes:
- Parenting for Resilience
- Parenting for Responsibility
- God Talk and Spirituality
- Making Space for Self-Expression
- How Our Families Connect with Israel
- Hopes and Dreams for Our Children
Participants will engage with relevant and accessible Jewish texts, be empowered with parenting strategies and approaches derived from both Jewish and secular sources, participate in rich and important conversations sharing their own experiences and insights on parenting, connect with other parents and to enjoy the benefits of community.
Participants are asked to commit to attending the entire 6 week series as each session builds upon itself and we are seeking to build intentional community.
Time: Thursdays, 12-1 pm
Dates: 2/3 – 3/10
Location: Online
Investment: $18 per parenting team (whether the team consist of 1 or more adults)
Fridays
Instructor: Rabbi Neil Blumofe
Description: After our morning minyan (8:00-8:30am) get some quick learning from our tradition. Each week, we dive into various commentaries on the weekly Torah portion as we start our day. All are welcome.
Time: Fridays, 8:30-9:00 am
Dates: 2/11 – 4/14 (no class 3/18)
Location: Online (No pre-registration)
Investment: Donation suggested
Language Classes
Mondays
*New students welcomed upon conversation with instructor to confirm level.
Instructor: Sharon DeKoning Kessel
Description: Class will continue to expand Hebrew literacy and conversation skills in a fun, dynamic way. Contemporary media as well as Israeli culture and slang will also be incorporated into the learning experience. Each class session will be followed by a custom newsletter summarizing the material covered, with links to resources, and suggested practice tasks.
Time: Mondays, 10-11 am
Dates: 2/21 – 5/2 (no class 3/14 and 4/19)
Location: Online
Investment: $144 + cost of the text
Students to purchase texts individually:
- Hebrew: A Language Course Level 2 by Ora Band
- Oxford Dictionary: English-Hebrew/Hebrew-English (Hebrew Edition)
*New students welcomed upon conversation with instructor to confirm level.
Instructor: Sharon De Koning Kessel
Description: Students will continue to expand fluency through conversation. Each class will focus on a different topic and will be focused primarily on conversing in Hebrew around specific topics. Contemporary media, as well as Israeli poetry and literature, will be integrated. Each class session will be followed by a custom newsletter summarizing the material covered, with links to resources, and suggested practice tasks.
Time: Mondays, 6-7 pm
Class Dates: 2/21 – 5/2 (no class 3/14 and 4/19)
Location: Online
Investment: $96 + cost of any texts
Wednesdays
*Please note this same class is taught on Wednesdays & Shabbat
Instructor: Gail Tosto
Description: This class is a continuation of the Fall 2021 Hebrew Through Torah class. If you have some basic knowledge of Hebrew, join us as we continue our informal, organic approach to its grammar and vocabulary. Using verses from the weekly Parshah and snippets of the siddur as study texts, we’ll explore how words that look and sound very different are actually related. Expect the instructor to interject fun and surprising facts about language in general and about Hebrew’s interconnections with Arabic, Yiddish, English, Spanish, and more.
Time: Wednesdays & Saturdays, 1-2 pm
Dates: 1/12-4/27 (no class 4/20)
Location: Online
Investment: Donation suggested
*New students welcomed upon conversation with instructor to confirm level.
Instructor: Sharon DeKoning Kessel
Description: Students will continue to deepen Hebrew fluency through expanding skills in reading, writing, and conversation. Contemporary Israeli poetry, literature, and media will also be incorporated into the learning experience. Each class session will be followed by a custom newsletter summarizing the material covered, with links to resources, and suggested practice tasks.
Time: Wednesdays, 6:30-8:00 pm
Dates: 2/23 – 5/4 (no class 3/17 or 3/31)
Location: Online
Investment: $144 + cost of the text
Students to purchase texts individually:
- Hebrew: A Language Course, Level 3 (English and Hebrew Edition) by Ora Band
- Oxford Dictionary: English-Hebrew/Hebrew-English (Hebrew Edition)
New in 2022 Classes
Sunday
Instructor: Sharon De Koning Kessel
Description: The how, what, and why of reading Hebrew Poetry, from Biblical to modern times, revealed by practice with different forms, modes, and methods. This course will be conducted in English, with many readings in Hebrew and English facing-page translation and transliteration. Materials for the course and syllabus will be posted by the instructor on a specialty class newsletter.
Time: Sundays, 4-5 pm
Dates: 2/20 – 5/1 (no class 3/13, 3/20 and 4/17)
Location: Online
Investment: $54
Instructor: Rabbi Gail Swedroe
Description: Looking to enhance your personal connection with the spring holidays? Interested in what Purim really has to teach us about the ways we interact in the world? Want to be able to bring more music and discussion to your Seder this Passover? Can’t remember what we celebrate after Passover but before Rosh Hashanah? Join us for a monthly opportunity to explore the upcoming Jewish holidays. All levels of experience are warmly welcomed.
Time: 9:40 – 10:30 am
Dates: Sundays, 2/27 (Purim), 3/27 (Passover Part 1), 4/10 (Passover Part 2), May TBD
Location: In-Person (exact location TBD)
Investment: Donation suggested
Description: Are you ready to take your next step toward caring for our environment? Inspired by the shmitta year, CAA is leading a 4-part series, open to the entire community, focused on learning and action around climate change. In the words of Pirke Avot, “We do not have to complete the work, but neither are we free to desist from it.” Each program will include a brief D’var Torah by David Reifler, followed by teaching from our guest speaker, and then conversation on concrete action steps. Each event stands alone; come to one or all!
Check CAA website for info on guest speakers as they are confirmed.
Time: 7:00 – 8:30 pm
Dates: Sundays, 3/6 – Climate Change; 4/10 – Food Supply & Conservation; 5/1 – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle; 6/3 – Capstone program at Tikkun Leil Shavuot (topic: TBD)
Location: Online
Investment: Donation suggested
Mondays
Instructor: Risa Ferdman
Description: Want to learn to leyn (chant) from the Torah? Then this is the course for you! In addition to an overview of the Torah trope (cantillation) system, we will study the functions of the trope marks as punctuation and their role in accurate pronunciation. The ability to read Hebrew phonetically is helpful, but you do not need to be a fluent Hebrew speaker.
Time: Mondays, 7:30 – 8:30 pm
Dates: 2/7 – 4/25 (no class 3/14)
Location: Online
Investment: $54 + cost of the text
Students to purchase books individually
Thursdays
Instructor: Davida Charney
Description: This online class will explore rabbinic teachings about social justice issues like poverty, homelessness, criminal justice, medical care, and the environment. Each session will focus on a different issue. We will use the book There Shall be No Needy by Rabbi Jill Jacobs who pulls together basic and surprising texts from the Talmud and beyond. Six sessions.
Time: Thursdays, 6:30 – 7:45 pm
Dates: Thursdays, 2/10 – 4/7 (no class 3/17)
Location: Online
Investment: Donation suggested + cost of text
Students to purchases book individually:
Instructor: Anita Lavie
Description: Join our new Hebrew book club. This book club is for people with an interest in Hebrew, Israel, and fiction in general, to understand how Israelis think and feel in their everyday lives by reading their books. Anita was in a Hebrew book club in NY and wants to bring one to CAA. The first meeting is scheduled for Feb. 17, 2022 reading David Grossman’s latest novel: Iti Hachayim Mesachek Harbei. If you are interested in this book club and have not read the book, you are still welcome. Your input and feedback will determine the direction and future of the group.
Time: Thursdays, 12 – 1 pm
Dates: 2/17, (future dates TBD)
Location: In-Person (exact location TBD)
Investment: Donation suggested + Novel purchased from the app E-vrit
Text Study Classes
Sundays
Instructor: Dr. Harvey Raben
Description: Beit Midrash students will explore and study selections from Seder Moed (Talmudic material discussing Jewish Festivals) and will include both information as to how festivals were/are to be celebrated as well as interesting rabbinic stories and tangents. Students will gain an appreciation of the Talmudic system of questioning and a deeper understanding of traditional Jewish learning. We will continue to follow the general rhythm of Daf-Yomi (a world wide practice of studying one page of Talmud per day) by highlighting the “best” of that week’s scheduled learning. Be part of a larger movement of Jewish learning! No prior background necessary, texts studies primarily in English.
Time: Sundays, 11 – 12:30 pm
Dates: 1/9 – 5/15
Location: Online
Investment: Donation suggested
Instructor: Mark Long
Description: He founded no dynasty, established no enduring kingdom, and gave rise to no messianic expectations, but Israel’s first anointed king, Saul of the tribe of Benjamin, continues to haunt Jewish memory as a figure both heroic and deeply flawed. Was he truly rejected by HaShem, or was he simply the victim of mental instability, bad luck, and bad press? We will look for answers in the Biblical account (almost the whole of I Samuel, plus portions of II Samuel and Judges), and participants will therefore need access to a Tanakh in English translation. Although some modern studies will be summarized or cited, there should be no need to purchase additional texts.
Time: Sundays, 9:30-10:50 am
Dates: 2/6 –5/1 (no class 3/13, 3/20 and 4/17)
Location: Online
Investment: Donation suggested + cost of text
Students to purchases book individually:
Wednesdays
Instructor: Alex Friedman
Description: Often the words in the prayerbook can feel more like an obstacle to meaningful prayer than an aid to it. Each week, we will work to enliven both the texts and our prayers through study, conversation, and practice. Openness is required, but Hebrew knowledge is not.
Time: Wednesdays, 1-2 pm
Dates: 2/9 – 4/27 (no class 3/16, 4/20)
Location: Online
Investment: Donation suggested
Thursdays
Instructor: Dr Harvey Raben
Description: Join us as we learn from Simi Peter’s book; Learning to read Midrash. What is Midrash and how do we understand it as we interpret Biblical text? We will explore 2 genres of Midrash, the parable and the Midrashic story. This will give us a framework of interpretation as we encounter Biblical text.
Time: Thursdays, 12 – 1 pm
Dates: 1/20, 2/17, 3/24, 4/28 and 5/19
Location: Online
Investment: Donation suggested
Coming Soon!
Description: Grab your spatulas! Cooking in Community invites Jewish guest chefs to teach and then lead participants in a live cooking demonstration. We aim to share joy and delight as we learn together about culinary delights of our heritage. This program is a collaboration between Congregation Agudas Achim, Temple Beth Shalom, and Congregation Beth Israel.
Time: Tuesdays, 7:00 – 8:30 pm
Dates: 4/5, 8/2, 12/6
Location: Online
Investment: Donation suggested