Congregation Etz Chayim

Midor and Shorashim: Jewish Learning Programs for children in kindergarten through sixth grade. For more information, check our website or contact our Director of Learning, Abra Greenspan at abra@etzhcyaim.org.

This is a monthly informal gathering of Etz women to be together and chat about what’s going on in our lives. The link for this event is available through our weekly Thursday newsletter. Not on our email list yet? Contact office@etzchayim.org to be added.

The Etz Bookworms are reading the 2021 One Bay One Book selection, The Book of V. by Anna Solomon. One Bay One Book is an annual city-wide book club sponsored by the Jewish Community Library and its larger organization, Jewish LearningWorks.

Proverbs teaches us that each human soul is the lamp of G0d. (20:27) In this session, we will explore a number of Biblical texts that reference light and the role we play in lighting up the darkness, imagining how we can embody the spiritual meaning and message of the golden menorah of ancient times.

Jewish Learning from the Roots Up! Shorashim (Roots) Grades 3-6 Wednesday afternoons, 4:00-6:00 pm Join us as we explore the historical, spiritual and cultural experiences of the Jewish people through study, song, prayer, art, movement, story-telling, projects and a lot of fun! To foster a sense of connection and identity in our student-oriented learning programs, each class is given a Chavurah/Group name and identity. These are based on Shivat Ha-Minim, the Seven Plant Species found in the Land of Israel that are mentioned in the Torah. Students continue with that Chavurah group identity until the end of 8th Grade at which time they pass their name along to the rising 2nd Grade students. Students who join our program after 2nd grade automatically become members of the Chavurah for their grade-level. For more information or to sign-up, check our website or contact our Director of Learning, Abra Greenspan at abra@etzchayim.org

Hineini Grades 7-8 weekly learning sessions, Wednesdays, 6:15-8:30 pm Hineini, "Here I am" is a phrase that appears multiple times in the Torah. What does it mean for each of us to respond, "Here I am, a Jew in the 21st century?" Hineini 7 -8 sessions take place on Wednesday evenings. Eating dinner together is part of the program 21st Century Jewish Identity and Life What is Prayer? Why Pray? Why do Jews Pray the Way We Do? and Leading a Shabbat Morning Service Holocaust-Rescue, Resistance, Resilience 8th Grade Jewish Ethics, Values, Traditions and Me: How Judaism Guides My 21st Century Choices Staying Connected to the Community

The group will offer virtual sing-alongs, relying on lead singers who know the songs well and can break them down for learners.

Staff Chanukah Party

With Karen Bergen and Rabbi Chaim. We’ll light candles and learn a Yiddish song or two.

A casual conversation with Rabbi Chaim and other Etzniks beginning with a short teaching followed by the sharing of highlights, challenges, or reflections from the week. The link for this session is available through our weekly Thursday newsletter. Not on our email list yet? Contact office@etzchayim.org to be added.

Our Kabbalat Shabbat service will start with lighting both our chanukiyot and our Shabbat candles. During the Oneg, we’ll tell stories about the history of our chanukiyot.

This is an ongoing, drop-in class that is open to everyone looking for a deeper, rational understanding of Torah.

With our Next Gen group and Rabbi Chaim. We’ll mark the end of Shabbat with a Havdalah service, candle lighting and maybe a short meditation.