Temple Emanuel

Torah for our Times
2026-02-12 09:30 - 10:30, 2026-02-26 09:30 - 10:30, 2026-03-05 09:30 - 10:30 (America/New_York) | Virtual
With Rabbi Michelle Robinson
While some of the difficulties we face today are new, grappling with an uncertain world is an age-old challenge. Our Jewish tradition offers us a timeless toolbox of traditional texts that offer us ancient wisdom we can apply to our modern challenges. Join us each Thursday morning as we grapple with the big questions of who we are and how we might craft a life worth living.
NEW THIS YEAR: Each week we explore a compelling story from the Talmud through the eyes of commentators whose insights can spark our own.
Our class takes place on zoom – whether you’re in Newton, New York, Nevada, or anywhere else around the world, come learn with us!
Register and join us on Zoom here.
View the 2025-26 calendar HERE→

Modern Spoken Hebrew III
2026-02-12 17:00 - 18:00, 2026-02-26 17:00 - 18:00, 2026-03-05 17:00 - 18:00 | Virtual
Spoken Modern Hebrew: Everyday Language for Life and Legacy
This continuing course welcomes all learners at an equivalent level. Together, we read, write, speak, and listen in Hebrew—building practical skills for everyday life and deepening our connection to the language.
It’s a golden opportunity to model Hebrew for our children and grandchildren, while also supporting cognitive health and brain function.
Newcomers: We’d love to welcome you! To assess your level and join the course, please reach out to Sigalit.
Session Dates
Session 1: Oct 16, 23, 30; Nov 6, 13, 20; Dec 4
Session 2: Dec 11, 18; Jan 8, 15, 22, 29; Feb 5
Session 3: Feb 12, 26; Mar 5, 12, 19, 26; Apr 16
Session 4: Apr 23, 30; May 4, 14, 28; June 4, 11
Register→

Talmud Class with Our Clergy
2026-02-14 08:30 - 09:20, 2026-02-21 08:30 - 09:20, 2026-02-28 08:30 - 09:20, 2026-03-07 08:30 - 09:20 | Hybrid (In Person and Virtual Options), 385 Ward Street, Newton, MA, 02459, United States
Start Shabbat each week with a special hour of learning and discussion on a variety of Jewish issues with Wes, Michelle, Elias, Aliza and Dan as our clergy team connects the lessons of our sacred texts with the realities of our lives. The clergy team will close with a song that leads into Shabbat morning services at 9:30.
Join us on livestream in the Rabbi Samuel Chiel Sanctuary

You, Too, Can Cantillate: Haftarah Edition
2026-02-16 18:15 - 19:30 | Slater Conference Room, 385 Ward Street, Newton, MA, 02459, United States
While not as ancient as the public reading of the Torah, chanting of the prophets, known as the Haftarah, began in the 1st century CE. Join Hazzan Sheni/Ritual Director Dan Nesson for seven sessions to learn this sacred tradition. A reading knowledge of Hebrew is recommended.
Yes, you, too, can Cantillate!
Class Dates: January 12, 19, 26, February 2, 9, 16, 23
Register→

Sisterhood Tuesday Morning Study Group
2026-02-17 09:30 - 10:30, 2026-02-24 09:30 - 10:30, 2026-03-03 09:30 - 10:30, 2026-03-10 09:30 - 10:30 | Virtual
With Rabbi Wes Gardenswartz

The theme of Tuesday Sisterhood Torah study is the power of “And.” How two things that are in direct conflict with one another can both be true. That is true in life. That is true in Torah study. Solomon was the wisest King and the author of Song of Songs, Proverbs and Ecclesiastes. And Solomon violated all the Torah’s rules about a Jewish king. The Torah says not too many horses, Solomon had too many horses. Not too much silver and gold, Solomon had too much silver and gold. Not too many foreign wives as they will turn the King’s heart towards the worship of false Gods. Solomon has too many wives and they turned him into an idolater.
We will study the Torah, and we will think about our lives, through the evocative lens of “And”.

Join in on Zoom.

Shabbat Morning Service: DIY Instructions for the Tabernacle? What Did Moses Receive at Sinai? with Rabbi Peretz Rodman
2026-02-21 09:30 - 12:00 | Rabbi Samuel Chiel Sanctuary, 385 Ward Street, Newton, MA, 02459, United States
The Torah offers more than one account of what was revealed to Moses on Mt. Sinai. This week’s reading, Terumah, suggests that the Ten Commandments were not the focus of revelation. What are the implications for us of the different portrayals of Moses’ experience?
Join us as Rabbi Peretz Rodman speaks during this special Shabbat morning service.
About Rabbi Peretz Rodman
Rabbi Rodman is a Jerusalem-based writer, translator, and editor. A native Bostonian, he has studied and taught at Brandeis University, Hebrew College, and the Rothberg International School of the Hebrew University.

Bikkur Cholim: Becoming a Better You by Helping Someone Else with Rabbi Israel de la Piedra
2026-02-22 10:45 - 12:00, 2026-03-01 10:45 - 12:00, 2026-03-08 10:45 - 12:00 | Gann Chapel, 385 Ward Street, Newton, MA, 02459, United States
We know someone who is sick, lonely or ageing. We want to visit them and help. But how often have we stopped in our tracks as the reality of the upcoming visit hits us? What are we going to do when we visit? What are we going to say? How should we behave? Is prayer part of the visit? What if the person doesn’t want a visitor or doesn’t want to talk? Will we be of help, or will we be a bother? And so on. Bikkur Cholim – visiting the sick, the lonely and the old – may seem hard. We know it is important, a true mitzvah, but we may not feel prepared for doing it. What does it take to rise up to the occasion? This 3-session course will help you learn the practicalities of bikkur cholim visits; identify ways in which spirituality and prayer can help us in our efforts to reach out to those whom we visit; and appreciate the special case of visiting our ageing elders. And importantly, what we learn will help us not only be prepared to face the challenges of being there for others but also will help us prepare for our own future because one day we may well be that sick person or that ageing person who needs a visit.
Session Schedule

2/22 – Visiting the sick, the lonely, and the old
3/1 – Spirituality, prayer and religion in the visit
3/8 – The special case of old age

Register→
About Rabbi Israel de la Piedra
Rabbi Israel has been working with the sick, the old and the dying for the last fifteen years. He was the Rabbi and Spiritual Director at Miami Jewish Health (MJH), a large senior residential and rehabilitation facility in Miami, during 2014-2021. He was awarded the “Clergy of the Year” award by the Ministering to the Elderly Conference in Miami in 2021 for his work at MJH. After his return to Boston in late 2021, Rabbi Israel worked as a hospice chaplain at AccentCare Hospice and currently serves as the rabbi at Hebrew Senior Life’s Simon C. Fireman Community in Randolph, MA. Rabbi Israel received his rabbinical ordination from Hebrew College in 2013. Prior to becoming a rabbi, he had a long career as an economist with the International Monetary Fund in Washington DC and in two African countries. Rabbi Israel and his wife Aliza are proud members of Temple Emanuel and keep homes in Kiriat Motzkin (near Haifa) in Israel and in Canton, MA.

Bible & Siddur Hebrew I
2026-02-23 15:30 - 16:30, 2026-03-09 15:30 - 16:30 | Virtual
How does Hebrew used for liturgical purposes differ from Modern Hebrew?
Pronunciation varies across ethnic traditions, and globalization has influenced the way Hebrew is spoken and understood today. In this course, learners will build a strong foundation for engaging with Jewish texts—including prayers, the Torah, the Bible, and more.
Session Dates

Session 1: Oct 20, 27; Nov 3, 10, 17; Dec 1, 8
Session 2: Dec 22, 29; Jan 5, 12, 26; Feb 2, 9
Session 3: Feb 23; Mar 9, 16, 23, 30; Apr 13, 20
Session 4: May 4, 11, 18; June 1, 8, 15, 22

Register→

Biblical & Siddur Hebrew V
2026-02-23 17:30 - 18:30, 2026-03-09 17:30 - 18:30 | Virtual
This group is dedicated to deepening our understanding of Torah, Haftara, and Prayers—texts that form the bedrock of Modern Spoken Hebrew in Israel. These sacred sources have played a vital role in the revival and survival of Hebrew, sustaining its transmission MiDor L’Dor (from generation to generation).
New participants are warmly welcomed! If you’re joining us for the first time, please ensure you have the necessary background knowledge. We’re here to support your journey and help you find your place in the learning community. Contact Sigalit with any questions.
Session Dates

Session 1: Oct 20, 27; Nov 3, 10, 17; Dec 1, 8
Session 2: Dec 22, 29; Jan 5, 12, 26; Feb 2, 9
Session 3: Feb 23; Mar 9, 16, 23, 30; Apr 13, 20
Session 4: May 4, 11, 18; June 1, 8, 15, 22

Register→

Modern Spoken Hebrew V
2026-02-24 14:00 - 15:00, 2026-03-10 14:00 - 15:00 | Virtual
The Sisterhood team continues to thrive—we are an active, engaged force!
Thank you for your leadership in making Hebrew a meaningful part of our community. We welcome new participants who meet the prerequisites.
Newcomers: To assess your level and join us, please reach out to Sigalit for guidance. We’re excited to help you find your place.
Session Dates
Session 1: Oct 21, 28; Nov 4, 11, 18; Dec 2, 9
Session 2: Dec 23; Jan 6, 13, 27; Feb 3, 10, 24
Session 3: Mar 10, 17, 24; Apr 14, 21, 28; May 5
Session 4: May 19, 26; June 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
Register→

Modern Hebrew I: Speaking Foundations
2026-02-24 17:00 - 18:00, 2026-03-10 17:00 - 18:00 | Virtual
Modern Spoken Hebrew: A Journey of Language and Culture
This course invites you to explore Modern Spoken Hebrew through reading, writing, speaking, singing, and listening—with a strong emphasis on comprehension. Whether you’re connecting to your heritage, preparing to travel to Israel, or simply curious about Israeli culture, this program offers a meaningful path forward.
You’ll build bridges across generations, deepen your understanding of Jewish identity, and even give your brain a healthy workout. We start from the basics and progress at the group’s pace, creating a welcoming and supportive environment for all learners.
Session Dates
Session 1: Oct 21, 28; Nov 4, 11, 18; Dec 2, 9
Session 2: Dec 23; Jan 6, 13, 27; Feb 3, 10, 24
Session 3: Mar 10, 17, 24; Apr 14, 21, 28; May 5
Session 4: May 19, 26; June 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
Register→

Post-Kiddush Talk with Rabbi Elan Babchuck
2026-02-28 12:45 - 14:15 | Rabbi Samuel Chiel Sanctuary, 385 Ward Street, Newton, MA, 02459, United States
Join us after Brotherhood Shabbat, along with members of Minyan Ma’or and the Walnut Street Minyan, for a post-kiddush talk from our guest speaker, Rabbi Elan Babchuck, in the Rabbi Samuel Chiel Sanctuary.
Topic: Erosion or Evolution? Interrogating the Two Master Narratives about American Judaism
About our Speaker
Rabbi Elan Babchuck serves as the Executive Vice President at Clal (National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership) and the Founding Executive Director of Glean Network, which partners with Columbia Business School. He has published in The Atlantic, The Guardian, Washington Post, and Religion News Service, writes a column for The Wisdom Daily, contributed to Meaning Making – 8 Values That Drive America’s Newest Generations (2020, St. Mary’s Press) and is the co-author of Picking Up the Pieces: Leadership After Empire (2023, Fortress Press). His newest book about Shabbat, Sacred Time, is coming out in 2027.
He also serves as a Founding Partner of Starts With Us, a movement to counteract toxic polarization in America, and is a founding Research Advisory Board Member of Springtide Research Institute.
Rabbi Babchuck is a Newton native who attended Solomon Schechter Day School and was a member of the Newton Centre Minyan. He currently resides in Providence with his wife and three children.

Yoga Minyan
2026-03-08 09:00 - 10:00 | Virtual
With Michelle Silberman Hubbard, Yoga Instructor
Sundays mornings | 9 – 10 am
Our rabbis taught us that the soul is joined intimately to the body. The two move together and each can be used in the service of God. In this innovative morning minyan we will be using our bodies to pray, our voices to chant, and movement to connect with holiness in a Jewish way. Awaken your senses as you awaken your soul. Expect an uplifting morning service and a great sweat. No previous Yoga or davening experience necessary. Dress for comfort. Bring a yoga mat or towel, a small towel, and water. Time to get up and stretch your body! Grab your mat or towel and join in via Zoom. New participants always welcome!
Zoom link will be provided upon registration.
Register Here→
Sponsored by Sisterhood Temple Emanuel

Stars of David Meeting
2026-03-08 12:00 - 14:00 | In Person – Temple Emanuel, 385 Ward Street, Newton, MA, 02459, United States
The Stars of David is a group of adults with disabilities that meet for fun and spirited Jewish themed activities at Temple Emanuel. The group ages 30-70, meets one Sunday per month, and always includes lunch.
New participants are warmly welcomed by all including our many volunteers! Come see for yourself! Aides and family members are also welcome as needed and you need not be a Temple Emanuel member to attend. RSVPs for each meeting are appreciated.
For further information and to confirm the starting time for each meeting (sometimes we start at noon), please contact Debbie Sussman at templestarsofdavid@gmail.com or call (617) 620-8384.
