Adult Education

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Adult Education at OT includes classes, lectures, and seminars that enrich the Jewish culture of our adult members. We invite you to check out our ongoing and upcoming classes, and special events below.

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Ongoing Classes | Upcoming Classes | Previous Classes | Scholar-in-Residence

Ongoing Classes

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.

Mishnah Study with Rabbi Kalender, Wednesdays, 9:15-10:15am. This year, we will continue studying Pirkei Avot (the Ethics of our Ancestors). 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 provided. Email R ochelle Goldberg to be added to the class list. First Class of 5786 will be held on Wed., Oct 22, 2025

Torah Study Lunch and Learn, Thursdays, 12:00pm on Zoom. Explore the weekly parsha together in this 45 minute class. Led each Thursday by a rotation of congregants as well as our rabbis, it's the perfect "lunch and learn" opportunity to add to your weekly schedule. Email Rochelle Goldberg to be added to the class list.

Talmud Study with Rabbi Sigal, Fridays, 10:15am. Join Rabbi Sigal to study this rabbinic conversation across the ages. We will primarily learn text in English. Email Rabbi S igal to be added to the class list. First Class of 5786 will be held on Fri., Oct 17, 2025

Upcoming Classes

Israel 101 with Rabbi Sigal, Wed. on Nov. 5, 12, & 19, 7:15pm. Join Rabbi Sigal for a fast-paced, fact-filled journey through Israel’s history. We’ll start with the pre-state era, move through the early days of independence, and end with the modern nation you see in the news today. You’ll see maps, photos, and videos that bring history to life, and you’ll leave each session with a stronger grasp of the key moments, people, and events that shaped Israel. Designed for beginners but engaging for all, this welcoming crash course will give you the background to engage in thoughtful conversation — and maybe even activism — about Israel’s place in the world today. Perfect for adults and teens alike. Click Here To Register

Kasher Your Home with Rabbi Kalender and Rabbi Sigal, Sun, Nov. 23, 9:45am. Learn the process of making your kitchen and eating areas conform to the Jewish dietary laws of kashrut. Click Here To Register

The Garden of Eden with Susan Kristol, Wed. on Feb. 4, 11, & 18, 7:15pm. These 3 classes will look at the Garden of Eden as the background to the story of Adam and Eve. Possible topics: What does Eden mean? Is it a real place? What is Paradise? Why did God create a garden for the first human beings to dwell in? Why are there two special trees? What is the significance of gardens in Jewish and other cultures? Is Gan Eden (the garden of Eden) the place we go after we die? Click Here To Register

Law and Tradition: A Comparative Look at American and Jewish Legal Thought with Rabbi Sigal, Wed, Mar. 11 & 18, 7:15pm. How does Jewish law approach questions of justice, responsibility, and fairness compared to American law? In this class we’ll explore a range of topics through rabbinic texts and U.S. legal sources, uncovering surprising similarities, fascinating differences, and what each system can teach us about the values that shape our lives. Click Here To Register

The Daughters of Israel: Exploring Women in the Torah with Debra Ackerman, Wed, May 6 & 13 at 7:30pm. From matriarchs and prophets to unnamed wives and daughters, the women of the Torah play an active role in the Jewish narrative, even if they don’t always get top billing. This class will delve into their stories—both well-known and overlooked. Click Here To Register

Scholar in Residence

Scholar-in-Residence Weekend with Dr. Jordan D. Rosenblum
April 24-26, 2026

Dr. Jordan D. Rosenblum is the Belzer Professor of Classical Judaism at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and the current director of the Mosse/Weinstein Center for Jewish Studies (CJS). In 2009, he was a Starr Fellow at Harvard University. His research focuses on the literature, law, and social history of the rabbinic movement in general and on rabbinic food regulations.

His most recent book is Forbidden: A 3,000-Year History of Jews and the Pig, which received a National Jewish Book Award in the category of Jewish Food Writing and Cookbooks (the Jane and Stuart Weitzman Family Award). He is also the author of Rabbinic Drinking: What Beverages Teach Us About Rabbinic Literature; The Jewish Dietary Laws in the Ancient World; and Food and Identity in Early Rabbinic Judaism.

During his time with us, Dr. Rosenblum will explore the following topics:

Thou Shalt Not Cook a Bird in its Mother’s Milk?: The History of How Cooking Fowl in Milk Came to be Prohibited
Rabbinic Drinking: Learning Themes in Rabbinic Literature Through the Drinking Glass
Forbidden: A 3,000-Year History of Jews and the Pig

More information and registration coming soon! And to purchase Dr. Rosenblum's books, please visit our online bookshop!