CHALLAH

סְתָו  / Stahv / Fall course offerings: 

Hebrew
Open to all levels of Hebrew language learners, with no previous experience required. Beginning Hebrew speakers will learn foundational skills such as grammar, vocabulary and composition, while more experienced learners will deepen their knowledge and understanding of the language as they progress towards fluency. The goal is to be in community in learning Hebrew while understanding the different ways that language relates to the intersection of Jewish identities. 

Instructor: Lev Fein (they/them) comes to this role with an associate of arts degree from Rockland Community College and a bachelor of arts degree from Smith College and is currently an MSW candidate at Smith College School for Social Work.  Lev identifies as Non-Binary and BIPOC, has taught Hebrew for the Jewish Community of Amherst and the synagogue Beit Ahavah in Florence, and is fluent in English, Spanish, Hebrew, and Yiddish. This will be Lev's second year teaching CHALLAH. 

Fall trimester dates:
Tuesdays, 4pm - 5:30pm - 10/15, 10/22, 10/29, 11/12, 11/19, 11/26 

חורף / Choref / Winter:

Jewish Garage Band
Come and Rock out with Aram in the garage of the new building! We will learn music from shabbat services that will help you lead songs not only in our own community, but also at camp, college, and in countless other settings. You do not need to be an accomplished musician to join the band: if you took this class before, Aram will help you take your skills to the next level, and if you are brand new then we would love to have you join! If your thing is singing, we want to hear your voice! If you dance, then come and show off your moves. If you’re into banging on a drum, by all means, be our guest. By the end of the trimester, our little Jewish Tefillah Rock Orchestra will help to lead a service at CBI. We look forward to making music together!

Instructor: Aram Rubenstein-Gillis (he/him) is a song leader and music teacher who has led joyful music with schools, camps, and religious communities for over 25 years. Aram is the Director of Musical Programs for CBI Northampton and the Music Teacher at the Lander Grinspoon Academy.  Please welcome Aram back for year three of teaching CHALLAH! 

Hebrew
See full class description under Fall courses!

Winter trimester dates:
Hebrew = Tuesdays, 4pm - 5:30pm:  1/7, 1/14, 1/21, 1/28, 2/4, 2/11  
Music = Wednesdays, 4pm - 5:30pm: 1/8, 1/15, 1/22, 1/29, 2/5, 2/12

אֲבִיבֵ / Aviv / Spring courses: 

Jewish Cooking and Food Studies 
Explore the world of the Jewish diaspora with your mouth! Learn Jewish history, culture and tradition through cooking and, of course, eating. Working with both a geographical and a historical framework, this course seeks to interrogate the very idea of Jewish food, engaging with questions such as: What makes a food Jewish? How is Jewish food from a particular region different from non-Jewish food from the same place? Are certain ingredients Jewish? This trimester we will focus on global, Jewish cuisine for the three main spring holidays: Purim, Pesach, and Shavuot. Co-taught by Ozzy Gold-Shapiro and Aaron Kagan. 

Instructor: Ozzy Gold-Shapiro (they/them) teaches with CBI's Alma program and is a Yiddishis historian, and performer among many other things! This is Ozzy's third time teaching a cooking and food studies class with CHALLAH. Ozzy loves forging connections, building community on and off the stage, and creating joyous and raucous occasions for local mutual aid work. 

Hebrew
See full class description under Fall courses!

Spring trimester dates:
Tuesdays, 4pm - 6pm: 3/4, 3/11, 3/18, 3/25, 4/1, 4/8