Welcome!

Enter the world of Jewish Learning with new classes from the Temple of Aaron. We offer four types of learning, to meet all kinds of schedules and all areas of interest. To register for Adult Learning classes, mail your check to Temple of Aaron, 616 South Mississippi River Boulevard, St. Paul, MN 55116. Please indicate the course for which you're registering. Feel free to contact us with questions. All of this is made possible by our many Adult Education Endowments.

You can sign up for email updates to our Adult Education offerings.

On Schedule

• Scheduled Lunch and Learns
• Adult Education on Organ Donation
• Fundamentals of Judaism Class

On Demand
Any topic, any time. You get the minyan, and we will provide the teacher.

On Going
We have many classes that are continuing throughout the year. Feel free to drop in at any time.

On Line
Learn online with divrei Torah and blogs.

In Case You Missed It...

See what the Temple of Aaron has done in the past for Adult Education.

On Schedule

17 Wednesdays    7:30 - 9:30 p.m.

Downloads require free program: Acrobat Reader)

Outlines and Assignments (pdf)
Evaluation (pdf)

Temple of Aaron's Introduction to Judaism is designed to give:

• Knowledge of the Jewish experience,
• understanding of the basic tenets of the Jewish faith,
• the tools with which to practice the Jewish way of life.

This full and comprehensive course of study is designed primarily for non-Jews, and is open to all who want an introduction to Jewish thought and practice. Our purpose is to impart knowledge and understanding of the Jewish historical experience and the Jewish people today. We seek to help you develop an appreciation of the fundamental tenets of the Jewish faith, basic values and practices.

Exposure to the Jewish community and way of life is an integral part of the program. In separate classes the Hebrew language is introduced, leading to your ability to use the prayer book in the synagogue and to handle comfortably the corpus of Hebrew blessings, songs and prayers in the home. In this course, the "why's" of Jewish law, custom and ceremony, the "how to" of these, and inner attitudes toward them are stressed.

Some of those who take this course do so, not for the purpose of conversion to Judaism, but for the sake of knowledge and personal enrichment alone. Some are Jews who want to know more about themselves, their heritage and roots. All are people in search of answers to basic questions, who seek ways to meaningful lives. We hope this program proves informative and helpful to all involved.

Please contact Rabbi Shavit-Lonstein for further help and guidance.

Course of Instruction Highlights

The Jewish Way of Life

• Ritual: its purpose and relationship to ethics
• Jewish law: what do we mean by "Judaism teaches"
• Shabbat and how it's experienced: candles, kiddush, homotzi, havdalah
• The synagogue and prayer: Torah and skull cap, talit and tefillin
• What is a Jewish home: The dietary laws and their meaning for modern times.
• The life cycle: from birth to Bar/Bat Mitzvah, to marriage, to death
• The holidays: Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, Passover, Shavout, Sukkot, Purim, Hanukah

Jewish History and Thought

• Survey of Jewish history from biblical times through rabbinic period and middle ages to enlightenment, to rise of American Jewish community and emergence of State of Israel
• The Jewish idea of God and how it differs from other conceptions
• The Jewish views of revelation, messiah, after-life, reward and punishment
• What is Zion, Zionism, the idea of "holy land"?
• What is Torah? How did Talmud, midrash, response, codes, develop?
• Great Jewish personalities and contributions
• The ghetto, crusades, expulsions, anti-Semitism
• What is a "good" Jew?

Evening, Hours, Location

All classes meet at
Temple of Aaron
616 South Mississippi River Boulevard
St Paul, MN 55116
651-698-8874

Faculty
Rabbi Alan Shavit-Lonstein

Tuition
Tuition fee: none
Notebook fee $25.00
Book & notebook combined fee: $100.00.

Purchase books from the synagogue and Jewish book stores, or borrow from libraries.
Bibliography (pdf) | Check out the Temple of Aaron Amazon affiliate Bookstore. A percentage of your purchase here benefits Temple of Aaron.

Artson, Rabbi Bradley Shavit. It's a Mitzvah! (Behrman House/Rabbinical Assembly, 1995).
Dosick, Rabbi Wayne, Living Judaism (HarperCollins, 1995).
Wolfson, Dr. Ron The Art of Jewish Living: The Shabbat Seder (Jewish Lights, 2000).
Telushkin, Rabbi Joseph, Jewish Literacy (HarperCollins, 2001).

To Prospective Converts to Judaism:

• Requirements for Conversion
• Supplementing the course of study, the following are requirements for conversion established by Temple of Aaron Rabbis:
• Personal meetings with us who serve as your counselors and guides.
• Attendance at synagogue services on a regular basis and involvement in synagogue community
• Participation and regular attendance of class
• Acceptance of invitations to Jewish homes for Shabbat and Festival meals
• Where the course is taken for conversion in preparation for Jewish marriage, the partner is expected to enroll and attend.
• Individual examination by a Bet Din (Rabbinical Court) for knowledge of and commitment to Judaism and Jewish way of life.
• Brit Milah or Hatafat Dam 'Brit for male proselyte. Immersion in the Mikevah at the St Paul Mikveh for male/female proselytes.
• A formal conversion ceremony celebrating your entry into the covenant between God and the Jewish people.

Admission Policy
All potential converts, Jews-By-Choice must contact Rabbi Alan Shavit-Lonstein in advance. The course is open to adult men and women of any race, color, national origin or religion.

On Demand

Torah To Go
You pick the topic, you pick the place, and you get some friends together, and we will facilitate the learning. Email or call to set it up.

Instructors: Rabbi Alan Shavit-Lonstein
Fee: None

Who Wrote the Torah?

Our first class, chosen by interested congregants, is an exploration of how the text of the Torah is put together. It will both examine historical and textual views. For details contact: the instructor.

Instructor: Rabbi Alan Shavit-Lonstein

On Going

Coffee with Rashi
Wake up with friends, and join us for a cup of coffee and Torah study. We meet at 8:00 a.m. every Saturday before morning services. We study this week’s Torah portion guided by the commentary of the great Medieval French commentator, Rashi. No preparation or Hebrew experience is required. Drop in any week.
(Tea and Hot Chocolate are also available.)

You can also order the new T-Shirts --->

Date/Time: Every Saturday, 8 a.m..
Location: Smith Library
Instructor: Rabbi Alan Shavit-Lonstein
Fee: None.

Bible Class
A word by word study and discussion of the Biblical text including the Books of Joshua, Judges, Samuel I and II, and Kings I and II exploring the historical background associated with each of the books. Hebrew language proficiency is not required.
Date/ Time: Every Thursday, 7:30-9:00 p.m.
Location: Wine Room
Instructor: Ritual Coordinator, Larry Eisenstadt
Fee: None

Hebrew Class
Exploring the Hebrew language including pronunciations and the use of the language in common day speech and in the Siddur.
Date/ Time: Every Sunday, 10:30-11:30 am (time change for June, July and August)
Location: Wine Room
Instructor: Ritual Coordinator, Larry Eisenstadt
Fee: None

Talmud Class
A word by word study and discussion of the Talmudic tractate of Sanhedrin using the traditional ways of studying Talmud using the commentaries of Rashi and Tosafot. Discussion of how the legal principles in Sanhedrin have affected jurisprudence today. Hebrew language proficiency is not required.
Date/ Time: Every Thursday, 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Location: Wine Room
Instructor: Ritual Coordinator, Larry Eisenstadt
Fee: None

The Continuing Education courses
are partially funded by the following endowments:
Annette & Theodore Goodman
Drs. Malka & Ernie Goodman, Scholar in Residence
Elsie & John Halper/Lieberman Family
Harvey & Shirley Lubov, Scholar in Residence
Mervin E. Hites, Introduction to Hebrew
Yale Libman Haftarah Education Fund
Alexander & Sophia Rosenaur, Learners’ Minyan
Rose & Herman Schleiff
Dr. Everett & Norene Karon Young Adult Fund

Please sign up for email updates.