Adult Education

Intent listeners at Rabbi Feld's brunch discussion

OT offers adult programs throughout the year. There is no fee unless specified. New students are welcome to join most continuing classes at any time.

Rabbi Kalender, Rabb Feld and Rabbi Paskind

Ongoing Programs

Talmud Study, Sundays, about 9:45am (after minyan). Taught by Rabbi Paskind. First session: Sunday, October 16 in the sukkah, around 10:15am. A weekly, continuous study of Masechet Brachot, the tractate dealing chiefly (but not solely!) with prayer. We will study in English, focusing on rabbinic ideas and argumentation, as well as making connections to our own prayer lives. You will probably want to acquire your own volume of the Schottenstein Daf Yomi edition of “Berachos” (artscroll.com or at any Judaica store); copies will be available for the first few sessions.

Mishnah Study, Wednesdays, 9:15-10:15am, beginning October 19. Taught by Rabbi Kalender. Gather each Wednesday morning to discuss the first Jewish law code. Join this lively group as we consider this core text for Jewish ethics, ritual and theology. No prior knowledge necessary, and the English translation is used. New students welcome at any time.

Niggunim (wordless melodies), every (non-holiday) Shabbat, about 1:00pm (at the end of Kiddush). Singing together is at the heart of communal Jewish experience. Song brings out a part of the soul that words sometimes cannot reach. OT has a large and established repertoire of music on Shabbat mornings, and we plan to expand it during this year. Be part of singing together and learning new and beautiful melodies, including many niggunim (wordless melodies), before we introduce them on Shabbat mornings!

Shabbat Dinner and Study Group: Newcomers Always Welcome! Join us at a congregant's home each month to welcome Shabbat and enjoy a delicious potluck fish/dairy meal. Discussions include the weekly Torah portion, a book of the Tanach, holiday topics, and contemporary themes. No Hebrew knowledge or previous Torah study experience is necessary. Our dynamic multigenerational group draws singles and couples, families with kids, older members, long-time members, new members, and people with a range of knowledge levels. Contact Eric Rothberg at ericandrachel@verizon.net or 703-425-8120 for more information and to get on our email list.

Mini-Series & Special Programs

Life Cycle, Sundays, December 18, January 8 & February 12, 11:00am-12:00pm. Taught by Rabbi Kalender. As we make our way through life, we know there are important times that allow us to define who we are and what matters to us. Jewish tradition speaks to these important life cycle moments in profound and meaningful ways. Together we’ll explore the “hows” and “whys” of what we do at birth, B’nai Mitzvah, marriage, divorce, and death.

The Nuances of Trope (Torah & Haftarah), Wednesdays, January 4, 18, 25, & February 1, 7:30pm-9:00pm. Taught by Rabbi Paskind. We will focus on the lesser-known but extremely important nuances of trope and Hebrew grammar that will improve your reading—and make you think more about it as you prepare. The class is open to anyone comfortable with a trope system (Torah, Haftarah, Megillah, etc). [Note: Teenage Torah and Haftarah readers comfortable with trope are invited to participate as well.] We'll study many details of how trope works; how trope and biblical grammar work together; and we’ll learn all of the rare tropes and special melodies for Torah and Haftarah throughout the year, including the conclusion of each book of the Torah. I guarantee that you will learn something new (probably many things) and that you’ll never look at your readings in the same way again! A class packet will be provided, but feel free to bring along your tikkun. There is no RSVP required. Please contact Rabbi Paskind with questions.

Modern Jewish Theologians, Wednesdays, February 15, 22, 29, & March 14, 7:30pm-9:00pm. Taught by Rabbi Kalender. Judaism demands that we constantly consider life’s most basic, yet complicated concepts. In this course, we will study the works of several 20th century Jewish theologians to develop a better understanding of these influential thinkers and expand our own theological perspectives.

Get to Know the Siddur, Sundays, February 26, March 4, 11, 18, & 25, 10:45am-12:00pm. Taught by Rabbi Paskind. A thematic and structural introduction to the prayerbook, focusing on the Shabbat morning service. Whether you’ve attended services for your whole life and want to clarify what’s going on, or you haven’t been that much but want to know what takes place, or you want to be able to answer your children’s questions about tefillah (prayer)—this is the class for you.

The Sabbath Soul: Mystical Reflections on the Transformative Power of Holy Time, Thursday, March 15, 7:30pm-9:00pm. Explore the spiritual texture of Shabbat and its meaning for our lives today through the writings of mystical masters from the history of Hasidism with speaker Dr. Eitan Fishbane. Dr. Fishbane is Assistant Professor of Jewish Thought at the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York. In this lecture, Dr. Fishbane will speak about the ways in which Sabbath holiness has been understood in the history of Jewish mysticism, with special attention to the core rituals and symbols of the Sabbath day. Reflecting on his recently published book, The Sabbath Soul (Jewish Lights), Dr. Fishbane will present these sources as inspiration for our contemporary experience of Shabbat. Co-sponsored by The Foundation for Jewish Studies. There is no charge, but please register online at http://www.foundjs.org/Calendar.php?evntId=629.

Pre-Pesach Class, Wednesday, March 21, 7:30pm-9:00pm. Our seders are wonderful opportunities to be with family and engage with tradition. But if we want to keep our traditions alive and not just serve as memories of what ‘we used to do,’ we must constantly refresh them. Join Rabbi Kalender as he shares a treasure chest of ideas to liven up your seder. He’ll also have over 30 different haggadot with him for you to peruse.

Book of Jonah, Wednesdays, April 18, and May 2, 9, & 16, 7:30pm-9:00pm. Taught by Rabbi Paskind. One of the only prophetic books to make it into the liturgy, the book of Jonah is read each year as the Haftarah at Yom Kippur Mincha. We will read it closely in order to deepen our understanding, both of the biblical book itself and of its role in our observance of Yom Kippur.

Recent Programs

See some examples of our programming from the past year:

Dr. Benjamin Sommer

From the Northern Virginia Conservative Community and The Jewish Theological Seminary:
A Day of Study: Encountering God—From Sinai to Today. Keynote address by JTS Scholar Dr. Benjamin Sommer, followed by small group discussions to consider revelation throughout Jewish history and in our own lives, led by Northern Virginia's JTS-trained rabbis.

Ten Years After 9/11: Muslim-Jewish-Christian Perceptions and Progress in Our Community. Members of different faiths meet at Olam Tikvah to share personal experiences after 9/11 and learn from one another in facilitated small-group discussions.

The Rise of American Jewry. Explore the history of the Jewish experiences here, including the establishment of the movements, the institutions and the historical (and future) developments.

Mashgiach Boot Camp. Study the most current OT kitchen kashrut policies and then have the opportunity to supervise some cooking.

Florence Melton Adult Mini-School

Registration, with fee, required through http://pjll.org/content/partnerships-florence-melton-adult-mini-school.

The Florence Melton Adult Mini-School, offered through the Partnership for Jewish Life & Learning in the Washington area, is a comprehensive, pluralistic program of adult Jewish learning offered throughout the world. Developed at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, the Melton curriculum offers adults a well-rounded, in-depth study of Judaism in a user-friendly format. Olam Tikvah is proud to host courses each year. This year's classes at OT include:

Exodus I: From Slavery to Sinai. Thursdays, October 27-January 12, 9:30-11:00am (10 sessions). This course brings us the Egyptian narrative of our people from slavery to redemption. Leadership, bravery, faith and doubt define some of the critical moments in these texts and challenge our own assumptions. Cost: $286 (includes tuition and materials). Registration deadline: October 17, 2011.

Exodus II: Revelation and Revolution. Thursdays, January 19-March 22, 9:30-11:00am (10 sessions). Follow the development of the emerging Jewish nation from their awe-inspiring encounter at Mount Sinai through the building of the tabernacle in the wilderness and the Israelites’ worship of the Golden Calf. Cost: $286 (includes tuition and materials). Registration deadline: January 12. Click here for registration material.

Foundation for Jewish Studies

(classes held at the JCCNV). Registration, with fee, required through www.foundjs.org.

Law as Narrative: Narrative’s Influence on the Development of Law in the Torah, Tuesdays, October 18, 25, & November 1. Brown-bag lunch at noon; class 12:10pm-1:30pm. Taught by Rabbi Paskind. In a world where halacha (Jewish law) and aggadah (people’s personal experience) are sometimes separated, we will examine the sections of the Torah where aggadah helps to decide halacha.

The Book of Ruth, Tuesdays, November 29, December 13 & 20. Brown-bag lunch at noon; class 12:10pm-1:30pm. Taught by Rabbi Kalender. The inspirational relationships of Ruth and Naomi on their journey from Moab to the land of Israel will be studied from a literary perspective, as well as through Jewish and Christian lenses.

Scholar-in-Residence

OT recently hosted Rabbi Edward Feld, senior editor of the new Rabbinical Assembly (Conservative) High Holy Day Mahzor Lev Shalem.

We appreciate your support. The Scholar-in-Residence program honors the memory of Rabbi Itzhaq Klirs. It is funded through individual contributions to the Rabbi Itzhaq Klirs Adult Education Fund. Your contributions help us finance our Scholar weekends.

Annual World Of Hope Charity Golf Classic for the Benefit of the Rabbi Itzhaq M. Klirs Adult Education Fund and Capital Caring. Our Adult Education program, which charges no fees, is funded solely through donations. If you enjoy learning with us, please support our annual golf tournament, held each May, by sponsoring one hole or playing 18.