The Gertrude Lederman Family Continuing Education courses at North Suburban Synagogue Beth El offer a wonderful chance to deepen your understanding of Jewish thought, culture, and identity. This program is made possible through the generous gift of the estate of Gertrude Lederman. The value she placed on Jewish education became the cornerstone of her legacy of lifelong learning in our congregation.
The fee for Continuing Education tuition courses is $60 per quarter for NSS Beth El members and $125 per quarter for guests. Payment for one course includes any additional classes during the same quarter at no additional charge unless otherwise noted. Note that many of our courses are offered for free. ANNUAL PASS: Beth El members can purchase an annual pass for $180 ($360 for guests) which includes all classes during the winter, spring and summer quarters.
Contact Rachel Kamin, Director of Lifelong Learning, for more information about adult education and Marcie Eskin, Education Coordinator, for registration and other class-related information. Note: Because the cost of tuition should never be a barrier to participation in our NSS Beth El classes, we do offer financial assistance. Please contact Marcie Eskin for scholarship information.
Register for Fall Quarter 2026 Classes
SAPIR Salon with Randy Iden
Wednesday, 8:00 – 9:00 pm, October 21, 2026
Class will meet in person. FREE
Lunch & Learn with Rabbi Michael Schwab
Thursday, 12:00 – 1:00 pm, October 29, 2026
Class will meet in person and on Zoom. FREE
Thursdays @ Beth El
Register for the following FREE Fall Thursdays @ Beth El Classes (after HAZAK Fitness), 11:15 am – 12:15 pm
High Holiday Boot Camp with Rabbi Alex Freedman
August 27 & September 3, 2026
The days of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are filled with awe and anxiety. As we cultivate a stance of trembling before God, fearful of God’s awesome power and what the year may bring, we are challenged to reflect on the place of fear in our lives. In this two-part series from Hadar’s Project Zug, Rabbi Freedman will use texts from Tanakh, Talmud, Mussar, and Hasidut, to explore these questions: How is cultivating a posture of fear in our lives helpful? How might it be harmful? Is it possible to strike a balance?
In person and on Zoom. FREE
Understanding Israel Today: Can Israel Be Both Jewish and Democratic? with Rabbi Alex Freedman
October 15 & 22 and November 5, 2026
A discussion-based class about Israel’s present and future. What challenges does Israel face today as a thriving Jewish and democratic state? How can Israel best manage these in this chaotic moment?
Class will meet in person. FREE
Sisterhood Torah Fund Book Club
Join Rachel Kamin, Director of Lifelong Learning, for lively book discussions and author events. New participants are always welcome!
Saturday, October 10, 12:30 pm (after Shabbat Kiddush)
Sisters of Fortune by Esther Chehebar
In this hilarious, heart-warming debut novel, three Syrian Jewish sisters chase love and grapple with the growing pains of young womanhood as they seek their place within, and beyond, their Brooklyn community.
Participants are encouraged to make a minimum donation of $54 to the Torah Fund Campaign. The Book Club will continue in November 2026 and January, March & May 2027. Clilck here for the 2026-2027 Calendar.
Open Conversational Hebrew (ongoing)
Sundays, 9:30 – 11:00 am
Practice Hebrew conversation informally with other participants. Class will meet on Zoom. FREE
Writer’s Beit Midrash
Wednesdays, 9:30 am, August 19; September 2; October 14 & 28; November 11; December 2 & 16, 2026
All fiction, non-fiction, poetry, memoir, and essay writers (published or not yet published) are welcome for discussions, exercises, camaraderie, and critique every other Wednesday morning. Class will meet in person. FREE
Talmud: Tractate Berakhot with Rabbi Michael Schwab
Tuesdays, 8:30 – 9:30 am, October 6 – December 15, 2026
Class will meet in person and on Zoom. Fall Quarter Fee
Breaking Jewish News & Views with Carl Schrag
Wednesdays, 9:45 – 11:00 am, October 7 – December 16, 2026
This class zooms in on local, national, and global news through a distinctly Jewish lens. We’ll navigate the ever-evolving post-October 7 reality as we talk about politics, Israel, anti-Semitism, anti-Zionism, rifts in our Jewish community, and more. Carl Schrag, former editor of The Jerusalem Post, brings a journalist’s probing questions to every topic. Class will meet on Zoom. Fall Quarter Fee
Jewish Wisdom for Life’s Great Questions with Rabbi Michael Schwab
Tuesdays, 8:00-9:00 pm, October 13, 20 & 27; November 10; and December 1, 2026
Using the IYUN curriculum, we will explore some of the most fundamental, big questions of life, recognizing that we are not the first generation to ask them, and we can draw strength and wisdom from Jewish tradition. Together we ask: What is the role of gratitude in our lives? Is forgiveness important? How do we present ourselves to the world? For whom am I responsible? What is my relationship with God, and who is the God I don’t believe in? Class will meet in person and on Zoom. Fall Quarter Fee.
Parables and Epistles: Stories of Jesus and Letters of Paul with Rabbi Steven Bob
Thursdays, 11:15 am – 12:15 pm, November 12 & 19 and December 3, 2026
Class will meet in person and on Zoom. Fall Quarter Fee
Hebrew Classes
Hebrew Literacy 101 with Marci Dickman
Tuesdays, 10:30 – 11:45 am, October 13 – December 15, 2026
Class will meet in person. Fall Quarter Fee
Practice your Hebrew reading fluency, learn the most commonly recited Jewish prayers and blessings (and what they mean!) and develop your Hebrew vocabulary. Perfect for parents who want to learn alongside their children and anyone who wants to feel more comfortable with everyday Hebrew as well as with the Shabbat and holiday services at Beth El. A basic knowledge of the Hebrew alphabet is recommended but not required.
Introduction to Conversational Hebrew with Rabbi James Sagarin
Mondays, 10:00 – 11:15 am, October 19 – December 14, 2026
Class will meet in person. Fall Quarter Fee
This introductory course will focus on modern Hebrew language skills through listening, reading, speaking, and vocabulary. Geared for students who took the Intro class last year, but new students are welcome too.
Café Ivrit: Intermediate Conversational Hebrew with Pnina Arsers
Tuesdays, 6:00 – 7:30 pm, October 6 – December 15, 2026
Using the Brandeis Modern Hebrew textbook, we will continue to improve our listening, reading, and speaking skills and explore aspects of Israeli culture through language, literature and current events. Class will meet in person. Fall Quarter Fee
Sicha B’Ivrit: Advanced Conversational Hebrew with Shlomit Hoch
Thursdays, 6:00 – 7:30 pm, October 8 – December 17, 2026
Continuing with the textbook, Kriat Beynaim from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, we will explore an array of enriching materials including news articles, songs, literature, and much more. We will also have fun with online games and engaging warm-up activities to enhance our learning experience. Class will meet on Zoom. Fall Quarter Fee
Schechter Institute of Jewish Studies Fall Course
From Shepherd to King: David in Bible and Midrash with Rabbi Vernon Kurtz
Sundays, 10:30 – 11:45 am CT, October 18 – December 27, 2026 (no class December 6)
King David is one of the Bible’s most complex and compelling figures. Through selected passages from the Book of Samuel, the Talmud, and the Midrash, we will explore key moments in his life: his friendship with Jonathan, marriage to Avigail, rise to power, conquest of Jerusalem, the Bat Sheva episode, the tragedies of Amnon and Tamar, Avshalom’s rebellion, and the struggle over his succession. Combining literary analysis, historical context, and discussion, this course revisits these enduring stories and the questions they raise about leadership, power, family, and moral responsibility. Class will meet on Zoom. Tuition: Approximately $215. Register through the Schechter Institute. The weekly Zoom link will be sent via email from the Schechter Institute to all registered students one week before the start of classes.
1175 Sheridan Road, Highland Park, IL 60035 | (847) 432-8900 | [email protected] |
Copyright © 2026. All rights reserved. Website designed by Addicott Web.
