Adult Education
Learning Jewish sacred wisdom (Torah) is the bedrock of Jewish spiritual life. One of the primary activities of a Jew is to learn Torah. Wisdom from Torah is the fuel behind everything we do at Temple of Aaron. Jewish sacred wisdom is a gift from God that helps each of us find meaning in our lives. Torah learning is available to each Temple of Aaron member occurring at many different times and settings. If there is a topic in Judaism you wish to study that you do not see here, please do not hesitate to contact us with your interest, we might put a special class together on it! If you are interested in learning separately from our ongoing learning programs with one of our rabbis, please let us know as well. No prior knowledge needed for any of the classes! Please contact Rabbi Marcus Rubenstein at 651-252-6411 for questions, comments or registrations. We look forward to learning with you!
Clink Links Below for Temple of Aaron Podcasts…
Listen to all of Rabbi Rachel and Marcus’ ToA Saturday morning sermons on demand
TRTM: They’re Rabbis & They’re Married
What does it mean to be Rabbis who are married to each other? What does it mean to live
Jewishly? What are ways that I can incorporate Jewish wisdom, values, and practices into my everyday life? Join Rabbi Rachel and Rabbi Marcus, a husband-and-wife rabbi team who serve as the co-rabbis of Temple of Aaron in Saint Paul, Minnesota, as they bring you an intimate glimpse into how they live out their daily Jewish lives. Each episode they will share their joys, struggles and everything in between as they work to apply Jewish ideas, values, and practices to their daily lives—building a Jewish home, raising children, serving their community, and navigating their busy daily lives. Join Rabbis Rubenstein each episode to learn ways that you too can practice an open-minded, modern, human-oriented, and sincere Judaism in your everyday life.
Intro music by the very talented Coleen Dieker and Jeffrey Baldinger.
Produced by Jesse Ulrich at Ran9 Productions.
R. Marcus Rubenstein’s May Adult Education Offerings:
Parsha Study- the Conversation between Rashi and Ramban
Times: Saturdays, 8:15am: May 10th, May 17th, May 24th, May 31st
Description: The foundations of the Jewish understanding of the Torah begin with it’s two most important and famous commentators Rabbi Shlomo Bar Yitzchaki (Rashi, 1040-1105) and Rabbi Moshe ben Nachman (Ramban, 1194-1270). Rashi ztz”l was first and, in his commentary, he brings the essential interpretations of Jewish tradition from earlier rabbinic collections such as the Midrash and the Talmud. Ramban ztz”l, who lived more than a century later, responded to Rashi by often agreeing, disagreeing, explaining or expanding upon Rashi’s explanation. By doing so, Ramban clarifies the foundational beliefs, philosophies and understandings of Judaism- allowing the learner to vividly understand what the Torah seeks to reveal. The conversation between the two, marks the canonical starting point for all Jewish discussion of the meaning of the Torah. Join with R. Marcus, as he unpacks their compelling conversation in the weekly parsha.
Legends of the Talmud– Inspiring Faith through Rabbinic Legends
Times: Wednesdays, 12pm: May 7th, May 28th
Description: Hidden within the vast and dense legal analysis of the Talmud lie often hidden-away stories and teachings that can enlighten and inspire Jews of all kinds. These teachings are treasures that form the heart, soul and vibe of our Torah. Because these teachings were woven into longer legal discourses- they lay mostly untouched except by Rabbinic scholars of the highest order. Thanks to R. Yaakov Ibn Chaviv ztz”l, (1460-1516) these teachings are now available to us in an organized and revealed manner. This wonderful medieval rabbi, pulled out all of these teachings from the Talmud and organized it into a collection he called Ein Yaakov or the “Wellspring of Jacob.” Together R. Marcus will guide you through these intriguing and unique teachings with a focus on their eternal message for each of us in our own everyday lives.
Analyzing the Talmud: Rabbinic Power in a Torah-Centered Judaism
Times: Thursdays, 10am May 1st, May 8th, May 15th, May 22nd, May 29th
Teacher: Rabbi Marcus Rubenstein
Description: The legal discussions of the Talmud form the very bones, muscles, tendons and blood vessels of Jewish practice and tradition. The Talmud is the foundational text of the Judaism we practice today. Together, R. Marcus will lead you through a complex, legal discussion on the limits of rabbinic authority in the enactment of protective Torah guard-rails as to prevent a Jew from violating the Torah in tractate Shabbat. The goal of the class will not only be to understand the simple meaning of the Talmudic discussion but to unearth the deeply held values that underly the positions taken in the text- which may lead one to understand, in a deeper sense, how Torah values can be made manifest within careful Jewish decision-making.
Maimonides’ Mishnah Torah: the Foundations of Torah
Tuesdays, 3pm: May 6th, May 13th, May 20th, May 27th
Description: Maimonides ztz”l worked to solve a difficult problem he saw confronting the Jewish masses of the 12th century. Most Jews could not understand the complex legal discussion as well as the Aramaic language of the Talmud. Because of this, they had no way to understand for themselves what was permitted or prohibited in Jewish law unless they were lucky enough to have a rabbinic scholar living in their neighborhood. Maimonides tried to solve this problem by creating the first Jewish legal code, what he entitled, the Mishnah Torah (a repetition of the Torah). In it, he codifies in clear language, according to his opinion, the detailed laws of Judaism. Unlike other legal codes written after him, his code uniquely begins by detailing the foundational beliefs and philosophies that underpin the entire edifice of Jewish religious thought and practice. We will explore and try to understand those foundations together.
Nach: Channah and the Birth of Shmuel
Times: Thursdays 3pm: May 1st, May 8th, May 15th, May 22nd, May 29th
Description: Many Jews are very well acquainted with the stories of the Torah. They hear about them in synagogue or perhaps learned of them in Hebrew school. The same cannot be said for the rest of the Tannakh (Torah, Neviim, Ketuvim=Hebrew Scriptures). Nach, or the prophets and writings section of the Tannakh, are collected essential stories, teachings and history of the Jewish people through the creation of the second Temple. Together, we will study the story of the incredible female hero- Channah and the story of the miraculous birth of her child Samuel. We will try to analyze the discussion of the story, verse by verse, within the Jewish medieval commentary tradition. We will endeavor to absorb the lessons of what these stories can mean for us today.
Midrash Rabbah: The Creation of Humanity
Times: Sundays 10am: May 18th, May 28th
Teacher: R. Marcus Rubenstein
Description: The great rabbis had a unique, innovative and compelling way of reading the Tannakh. They expanded the text and found their life-enhancing values within the often-terse verses of the Tannakh. They did this through a process called midrash. Together we will unpack how our Sages of blessed memory made the entire Tannkah be a commentary on itself- unpacking their values, discussions and philosophies. We will focus on the midrash’s teachings on the creation of humanity in the book of Genesis. In doing so, we hope to gain greater insight on the internal mysteries of God’s greatest creation- the human-being.
Menorat HaMeor: Jewish Character Building
Time: Minyon Monday-Thursday 6pm (5-minute Shiurim during Minyon)
Description: Menorat HaMeor is a famous medieval work of Jewish theology and thought written by Rabbi Isaac ben Abraham Aboab (1300, Spain). Rabbi Aboab’s goal was to unearth the values and character attributes that a Jew ought to pursue as expressed by our Rabbinic sages. The book will be taught in five-minute chunks as a d’var Torah at afternoon/evening minyon. The teachings leave one with a deep impression of Jewish ethics and foundational myth. They will leave you inspired and looking forward to your next time at Temple of Aaron daily Minyon.
All classes will be recorded and posted on the Torah from Temple of Aaron podcast feed (except Shabbat Parsha Study and Legends of the Talmud) All classes will not run unless at least 3 people email KristinJohnson@TempleofAaron.org registering for the class prior to the first session. All classes will be held in-person and on zoom (except Parsha study which will be in-person only). Please come in-person if you are able.
For those interested in conversion to Judaism:
Contact Rabbi Marcus Rubenstein to find out more about converting to Judaism at Temple of Aaron. Join a large and ongoing community of people who are exploring and working towards conversion at Temple of Aaron!
Subscribe today to “Meir HaAretz”,
Rabbi Marcus’ personal Jewish thought digital newsletter or click to just view it.
Ongoing Learning:
Digging into the Parsha at 8:15 each Shabbat Morning With Rabbi Marcus Rubenstein
Talmud & Bible Classes each Thursday at 6:30 pm with Ritual Director Larry Eisenstadt
Legends of the Talmud every other Wednesday beginning February 5, 2025 at Razava
Email Kristin Johnson with any questions or to sign up for classes.