Kollel (Adult Education)

Study (Torah) is one of the three pillars on which Jewish life stands, along with worship (Avodah) and acts of loving kindness (Gemilut Hasadim). A Kollel is an institute for advanced adult Jewish studies. The word comes from the Hebrew word "klal" and means a gathering of scholars.

At Temple Beth Hillel, we call our Sunday Morning adult education program, taught by our rabbi, Dean Kertesz, a Kollel because it explores Jewish topics of interest to adults at a level that participants will find both intellectually and spiritually challenging. No prior knowledge is required, only curiosity and the desire to learn.

The Sunday Morning Kollel meets on the first and third Sunday of each month (except where noted in the schedule below, so please check).

This year we will offer one ninety minute study session each Sunday. Classes begin at 10:15 AM immediately following Sunday morning Religious School Tefillah and end at 11:45 AM

We invite all invite all congregants to join us, and encourage religious school parents to stay with us after Tefillah to enrich their lives with Jewish study. We also welcome non-congregants to join us for an exciting year of study.  

Kollel Series II – Jewish Views on Current Social Issues

As the name implies, Judaism does not have a single outlook or dogma on many of the social issues with which we grapple today, from reproductive rights, to sexual and gender equality, to immigration and war. This series will take a broad look at a number of issues that are critical and controversial to American political and social life today. Each class will begin with a study of Jewish texts that relate to the issue, combined with a group discussion about the particular issue. Our goal is to gain an understanding of the Jewish views on the topic and to clarify or modify our own point of view.

All classes are from 10:15 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.

Session I - December 2, 2007 - Reproductive Rights
Session II - December 16, 2007 - Wars of Choice/Wars of Obligation
Session III - January 6, 2008 - Death Penalty
Session IV - January 13, 2008 - Immigration
Session V - February 3, 2008 - Poverty/Social Welfare

Kollel Series III – Talking About God

Do you believe in God? Can you describe the God in whom you believe? Do you not believe in God? Can you describe the God in which you don’t believe? Perhaps you aren’t sure. Believer, atheist, or agnostic many of us have an image of God. Often its something we haven’t thought about in years. This series is an opportunity study some of the fundamental Jewish beliefs and views about God and to have a safe place to explore, examine, and discuss our own views, beliefs (or lack thereof), and images of God. Each session will involve text study and facilitated discussions.

All classes are from 10:15 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.

Session I - March 2, 2008 - The Biblical View of God
Session II - March 9, 2008 - The Rabbinic View of God
Session III - April 6, 2008 - The Modern View of God
Session IV - April 13, 2008 - Idolatry
Session V - April 27, 2008 – The Afterlife
Session VI – May 18, 2008 - Developing our Own Beliefs