Temple Israel

In every Torah service, the liturgy compares the Torah to a tree of life. In fact, a verse from Proverbs was the inspiration for the Holy Ark in our Temple Israel Sanctuary. The Ark design resembles a tree trunk, and we sit under its shade with the roots of our Jewish faith beneath us. With that in mind, you're invited to "Take Root" and enjoy the many happenings offered at Temple Israel.

A Community of Learners (including Exploring Judaism Classes)
Temple Tuesdays
Live From NY's 92nd Street Y
Speakers and Artists in Residence
Family Education
Study Abroad
Health and Wellness
Jews Around Memphis
Temple Israel Museum
Interfaith Partnerships

A Community of LearnersAbraham Joshua Heschel wrote, "The unique attitude of the Jew is not the love of knowledge, but the love of study." From Exploring Judaism to Bagels for the Boys, take advantage of a variety of adult learning opportunities that are ongoing throughout the year.

Torah Study:  Taught by Temple clergy, weekly Torah study classes focus on the Parshat Hashavua, the portion of the week. These thought-provoking and meaningful discussions start with the original text and use the interpretations and questions of various commentators and scholars. Come when you can, Saturdays at 8:45am.

Exploring Judaism Classes:  Searching for more Jewish meaning? Looking for a Jewish "refresher course?" Considering a conversion to Judaism? Exploring Judaism, led by Temple Israel's clergy, is designed for adult Jews and non-Jews interested in learning more about Jewish teachings. Fall Exploring Judaism classes begin September 18, 2011. The following handouts What is a Jew?, The Many Faces of God, and Finding God: Selected Responses are nice resources for discussion, while these web addresses will help you to navigate through your various questions. Sign up online ($20 course fee).

For more information regarding Exploring Judasim classes, e-mail Carol Geller in the rabbis' 0ffice or call her at (901) 937-2771. 

Reading Hebrew 1:  Are you a beginner who wants to read along with the service? Learn the alef-bet and begin to read prayers in Hebrew with Dr. Dick Rubin. Sunday mornings, 10am-noon, beginning Sept. 11, 2011 (classes will meet unless religious school is not in session) $25 for materials

Reading Hebrew 2:  Are you interested in improving your Hebrew reading fluency and want to understand some of the prayers in the prayer book? Study with Dr. Dick Rubin to learn some prayer vocabulary and a bit of Hebrew grammar. Sunday mornings 11am, beginning Sept. 11, 2011 (classes will meet unless religious school is not in session), $25 for materials

Biblical Hebrew 1:  Learn the fundamentals for translating Hebrew in the Torah and the prayer book! Before long, you'll begin to understand the Hebrew you're reading in prayer and in the weekly Torah portion. This class, taught by Fred Kesselman, is the first year of a two-year course of study. Prerequisite: the ability to read Hebrew. Sunday mornings 10:30 am, beginning Sept. 11, 2011 (classes will meet unless religious school is not in session)

Biblical Hebrew 2:  This class, taught by Nancy Shapiro, is for second-year students in a two-year course of study, where students start the learning process and are prepared to continue study as a group or individually. Prerequisite: Biblical Hebrew 1. Sunday mornings 10 am, beginning Sept. 11, 2011 (classes will meet unless religious school is not in session)

Information sheet for adult Hebrew classes for fall of 2011

The Prophets: Dr. Joe Levy invites you to be a part of these thoughtful, reflective, and lively discussions as he leads the group in an exploration of the Prophets. Dr. Levy asks that participants please bring a bible to each session, beginning on November 6, 2011. The meet when religious school is in session on Sunday mornings at 11am.

The Jewish Short Story:  Join Leo Bearman, the master of the Jewish short story, as he delves into the authors' motives, meanings, and symbolism in a variety of readings. Please pick up a copy of the stories in advance at the Welcome Center. They meet from 9:30am-10:30am on Sundays, October 23, 2011, October 30, November 6, November 20, December 4, and December 11.

Rosh Chodesh Celebrations: Join in a unique women’s celebration of the New Moon as we explore the mysteries, traditions, and spiritual aspects of each Hebrew month through ritual, poetry, prayer, song, stories, personal reflection, and symbolic foods. Come when you can!

Temple Tuesdays What a concept! Temple Tuesdays is a new learning series offering a myriad of opportunities for intellectual, spiritual, and social connections to Temple and our members. Choose between several stimulating and diverse lectures, discussions, and workshops. After an hour of learning something new, enjoy coffee, desserts, and schmoozing. Bring your friends and make new friends! Temple Tuesdays is where it's happening.

Temple Tuesdays for October 12, 2010 features:
Jim Cramer; Billie Pierce; Barry Gilmore (“Werewolves in Their Youth” short story)

Temple Tuesdays for November 9, 2010 features:
Daniel Kiel, Natalie Jalenak, Leigh Mansberg, Michael Danziger

Temple Tuesdays for December 14, 2010 features:
Sheri Lipman and Judy Ringel; Rabbi Adam Grossman, Carol Buchman, Sally Rosenberg

Temple Tuesdays for January 11, 2011 features:
Rabbi Katie Bauman, Seth Front, Rabbi Adam Grossman and Eddy Zeno

Temple Tuesdays for February 8, 2011 features:
Susanna Perry Gilmore and Patricia Friedberg (Harvey Gelb will be rescheduled.)

Temple Tuesdays for March 8, 2011 features:
Toba Kornberg, Margaret Fargotstein, Ida Houston; Mark Gillenson; David Fleischman, Randy Haspel, George Klein; Lenore S. Greenstein

Temple Tuesdays for April 12, 2011 features:
Amy Grossman; E. Frank Bluestein; Josh Pastner and George Lapides

Temple Tuesdays for January 10, 2012 features:
Billie Pelts; Isaac Brynjegard-Bialik; Rabbi Adam Grossman and Eddy Zeno

Temple Tuesdays for February 7, 2012 features:
A "Live from NY's 92nd Street Y" discussion on "Unprotected Texts--Controversial Elements in the Bible"; Linda Kaplan; Robin Joyce

Live from NY's 92nd Street YTemple Israel is privileged to host Live from NY's 92nd Street Y speaker series. We've
chosen from newsmakers, political figures, opinion-shapers and authors—some of the
world's most fascinating people for compelling and thought-provoking interactive
discussion. You will feel like you are in the audience in New York while you watch each of
the speakers. You'll even have the ability to pose questions to each speaker during
question-and-answer sessions at the end of each broadcast.

Tuesday, October 12, 2010, 7-8pm: Jim Cramer

Thursday, November 4, 2010, 7-8pm: Alan Dershowitz

Monday, November 29, 2010, 7-8pm: Steve Martin

Wednesday, March 23, 2011, 7-8pm: Ina Garten


Tuesday, September 20, 2011, 6:45pm-8pm
Jeremy Ben-Ami and Peter Beinart

Sunday, October 2, 2011; 5:45pm-7pm
Eliot Spitzer and Alan Dershowitz

Tuesday, February 7, 2012; 7pm
"Unprotected Texts--Controversial Elements in the Bible" with

Bart Ehrman, Jennifer Wright Knust, and moderator David Gibson

Speakers and Artists in ResidenceOur distinguished featured guests bring a wide array of experiences, talent, and knowledge to the table. We hope you enjoy these experts in their respective fields.

Tuesday, November 16, 2010, 7-9pm: Kathy Kasten
       Note: at Beth Sholom; new date

Thursday, November 18, 2010, 6pm: Leon Bass and Rick Atkinson
       Note: at the University of Memphis, University Center Auditorium

   Marcus J Freed
       Dec. 5, 2010;
       Jan. 30, 2011;
       Feb. 27, 2011

January 7-9, 2011: Dan Nichols

February 10-12, 2011: Rabbi Michael Marmur

March 11-12, 2011: Rabbi David Ellenson

Family EducationTot Shabbat
6:15 pm on select first Fridays of the month
For our families with little ones, enjoy a family worship and learning experience, complete with music, stories, and a selected theme for each week. A Shabbat dinner or breakfast follows each service.

Family Shabbat
6:15 pm on select Friday nights
Come to a family worship and learning experience, complete with music and stories around a selected theme. A Shabbat dinner follows each service. Wendy and Avron Fogelman Religious School students will have an opportunity to prepare and present aspects of Hebrew, Jewish, and musical learning. Geared toward families with children in first through fifth grades, this service will inspire family learning and parent-child dialogue that will deepen and enrich the Jewish experience for all.

Making Bedtime Jewish
Tuesday, October 18, 2011, 6-7pm
Your preschool and kindergarten children will love to come to Temple in PJs for an evening activity designed to reinforce their Jewish identity and to make bedtime more relaxed and meaningful. This event is free, but please bring a package of unopened disposable diapers that will be donated to children's agencies for Mitzvah Day. To register call the WRJ Hotline at 937-2790 with the number of children attending.

Study AbroadA Temple Israel trip with the rabbis is filled with fun, facts, and awe-inspiring experiences that you will never forget. These educational trips are designed to not only create Jewish bonds with your fellow travelers but also to stimulate your spirit and your soul, capturing the sights and sounds of places you may or may not have visited before.

Israel   There is so much in Israel to experience—a jeep tour climbing to the Golan Heights; ascending Mt. Bental for a first hand view of Israel's security position along the Syrian border; rafting on the Jordan River; riding the cable car to Masada; floating in the Dead Sea; praying at the Western Wall in Jerusalem; remembering the victims of the Holocaust at Yad Vashem; and so much more. Read the details online or call the rabbis' office at 937-2771 for more information.

Where in the World are the Rabbis?  Temple Israel is planning to offer new opportunities to learn through travel in 2011 and beyond, and we are gauging interest NOW! If you want to travel with the Rabbis and staff on one of these trips or would like to suggest others, please email Barb Gelb or call 937-2776.

• Jewish New York — See New York like you've never seen it before! Led by Rabbi Greenstein, you'll experience three unique worship services, a walking/eating tour of the Lower East Side, select museum exhibits, great food, spectacular entertainment, and will make new friends along the way.

• Jewish Los Angeles — Learn about the famous Jews of Hollywood, experience the Simon Wiesenthal Center and Museum of Tolerance, visit the dynamic Skirball Museum, and pray with the stars at their synagogues on a brand-new tour of L.A., led by former Angeleno, Director of Education Barb Gelb.

• Jewish Prague — The buildings of the Jewish Quarter, or the Prague Jewish Ghetto as it was later to become known, form the best preserved complex of Jewish historical monuments in the whole of Europe. Explore our rich history in one of Europe's great Jewish cities.

• Jewish Spain — Discover the heart of Jewish life for almost 500 years! Through visits to Barcelona's Old City, Girona, and Cordoba to name a few, the tour will highlight Judaism's growth and achievements in this historic Diaspora center. Led by Rabbi Grossman, amazing memories and friends await.

Health and WellnessMany individuals differentiate between religious experience and physical wellness. However, in practice, Judaism has consistently advocated that while the soul and the body might be separate, these two entities are inseparable. By offering wellness classes and activities in a Jewish context, we designate time to consciously find shleimut, balance, in the caring of our souls and bodies.

Interfaith PartnershipAs a follow-up to the interfaith dinners held in the fall of 2009, Temple Israel and Church of the Holy Spirit have formed discussion groups to share and explore Jewish and Catholic beliefs. These groups, which meet once monthly in participants' homes, have led to new friendships and greater understanding of each other's faith. Each group has a volunteer facilitator. If you are interested in joining an existing group or forming a new group, e-mail Barb Gelb or call 937-2776.

For more information about the services and events in the Take Root program at Temple Israel, please contact Director of Education Barb Gelb or call (901) 937-2776.

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