URJ - Classes

In the Washington, DC area, the Introduction to Judaism course is offered twice a year, with two class locations: one in DC or nearby Maryland, and one in Northern Virginia. Classes begin in mid-January and early September of each year.

The cost of this 16-week course is $300 for an individual, or $325 for a couple sharing one set of books. Members of a Reform congregation receive a $25 discount. The cost of the course includes eight books and a festive class Shabbat dinner held once a semester. Books are distributed at the first class meeting.

Payment plans can be worked out. Please call to inquire.

You will note that having a sponsoring rabbi or invested cantor is a requirement. Pages 2 and 3 of the registration form is a listing of the congregations of the rabbis and cantors in this area who regularly sponsor Introduction to Judaism students. If you don't already know a rabbi or cantor whom you would like as your sponsor, you should contact a congregation convenient to yourself and ask for a rabbi or cantor there to sponsor you for the class.

You can also sign up for the course before you have a sponsoring rabbi or cantor and we will assist you in finding a sponsor. Please let us know if you would like this help.

Please Fax, mail or email registration forms to the addresses/numbers on the form. For more information, please contact the Class Registrar, Lirit Goodman, by email at LGoodman@urj.org , or by telephone toll-free at 888.842.8242.

View and print INTRO CLASS REGISTRATION FORM & List of Rabbis/Cantors:
word.doc or .pdf

FALL 2008 DC-area class locations and dates are:

Northern Virginia

Beginning September 8 2008 -
running through January 19, 2009
INTRODUCTION TO JUDAISM
Northern Virginia Hebrew Congregation
1441 Wiehle Ave
Reston VA 20190

Instructor: Rabbi Henry Weiner
MONDAYS
7:30 – 9:20 pm

Maryland/Washington DC

Beginning September 4 2008 -
running through January 15, 2009
INTRODUCTION TO JUDAISM
Temple Emanuel
10101 Connecticut Ave
Kensington MD 20985

Instructor: Rabbi Paul Tuchman
THURSDAYS
7:30 - 9:20 pm

Download and print a POSTER/FLYER for the FALL 2008 Intro Classes:

VIEW CLASS SYLLABI:
Syllabus for Maryland/Washington DC Intro to Judaism classes:
MD/DC FALL 2008 Syllabus.pdf

Syllabus for Northern VA Intro to Judaism classes:
NoVa FALL 2008 Syllabus.pdf

INTRODUCTION TO JUDAISM CLASSES ELSEWERE IN THE MID-ATLANTIC REGION

DELAWARE

The rabbis of the Wilmington DE community offer an Intro to Judaism class. For more information contact Congregation Beth Emeth at 302.764.2393.

MARYLAND

Baltimore area Introduction to Judaism classes are sponsored by the Baltimore Board of Rabbis. For the schedule of Baltimore area Intro classes and to register, please contact Rabbi Michael Myerstein at 410.843.7406. You may also get information on these classes at the Baltimore Jewish Information and Referral Service (JIRS) at www.jirs.info/. Telephone 410.466.4636.

Harford Jewish Center in Havre de Grace holds a Basic Judaism Class. If interested, please contact the congregation at 410.939.3170.

Classes for the Northern Montgomery County, MD area are held in Rockville MD through the Board of Jewish Education of Greater Washington/Partnership for Jewish Life and Learning. Please call class coordinator Lynn Arons at 301.255.1941, email her at introtojudaism@pjll.orgor visit http://www.pjll.org/article.php?id=187.

The Prince George's County (MD) Consortium offers classes. Please call 301.498.5151.

NORTH CAROLINA

Judea Reform Congregation in Durham offers Introduction to Judaism. Classes meet for 10 weeks beginning in late August/early September. For more information call 919.489.7062.

B'nai Israel Synagogue in High Point offers "Basic Judaism". For more information call 336.884.5522.

Triangle-area rabbis offer "Introduction to Judaism" in the fall and "Gateways" in the spring. For more information, contact Congregation Beth Or in Raleigh at 919.781.4895.

VIRGINIA

In Ashburn, a class is offered by Beth Chaverim Reform Congregation. The class recently met once a month, on ten Sundays. Contact Lisa Kimball at bradamk@aol.comor call 703.391.8669 to see if future classes are being offered.

In Charlottesville, a class is offered by Congregation Beth Israel. Please call 434.295.6382.

A class is offered every year or so in the Fairfax Station area at Temple B'nai Shalom. Please call 703.764.2901. An 18-week Wednesday class is set for 2008, beginning January 2 and running through April 30th.

Classes are given at Beth Sholom Temple in Fredericksburg . PHONE: 540.373.4834, EMAIL: ta@bstoffice.netWEB: www.bethsholomtemple.org

Beth El Congregation in Harrisonburg offers a series of classes covering Introduction to Judaism topics. For more information contact Rabbi Joe Blair at rabbijoeb@hotmail.comor 540.434.2744.

Ohef Sholom Temple in Norfolk offers "Introduction to Judaism or Back to the Basics" for Jews by Birth, Jews by Choice or the Curious... on Sunday mornings. For more information, please call 757.625.4295.

Congregation Beth Ahaba in Richmond holds a 15-week Intro class. For more information, call 804.272.0017.

Temple House of Israel in Staunton offers an Introduction to Judaism class. Please call 540.886.4091.

A Taste of Judaism: Are You Curious?

is a special free-of-charge, 3-session class for beginners -- Jewish or not -- that explores the topics of Jewish spirituality, ethics and community.

It is designed for unaffiliated Jews, non-Jews, intermarried couples and all who are searching for an easy-access and open-minded entry into Jewish beliefs and Jewish life.
The class was developed by the Outreach Department of the Union for Reform Judaism, and is offered from time to time by various congregations in the Mid-Atlantic Region. ____________________________________________

Congregations that periodically offer Taste of Judaism classes:

Chevy Chase MD. Temple Shalom. Contact 301.587.2273
Damascus MD. Congregation Or Chadash. Contact 301.482.1025
Kensington MD. Temple Emanuel. Contact Diane Raphael at 301.942.2000
Greensboro NC. Temple Emanuel. Contact Diane Press at 336-292-7899
High Point NC. B'nai Israel Synagogue. Contact Barbara Collins at 336.884.5522
Fredericksburg VA. Beth Sholom Temple. Contact Ruth Golmant at 540-659-2203 or 540-373-4834
or rgolmant@verizon.net
Reston VA. Northern Virginia Hebrew Congregation. Contact 703.437.7733

For information about A Taste of Judaism in the Baltimore area, you can also contact the Baltimore Jewish Information and Referral Service at their website of www.jirs.info/, or by telephone, 410.466.INFO (410.466.4636).

For information about A Taste of Judaism in the Washington, DC Metro area, contact the DC Area Jewish Information and Referral Service at their website of www.jirs.org/, or by telephone, 301.770.4848.

Information on upcoming Taste of Judaism classes throughout the Mid-Atlantic Council Region will be posted here when set. For more information, please call Ruth Goldberger, URJ-MAC Director of Outreach at 202.232.4242 or email RGoldberger@urj.org

For additional class locations and more information on A Taste of Judaism in other parts of the Region, contact the Outreach Department of the Union for Reform Judaism at their class information website of www.urj.org/outreach/classes/.

Since class schedules are continually being updated, you may also wish to contact congregations in your area directly to see if they are offering any classes. A North American Directory of Reform congregations is found at: contact a Reform congregation near you .

For information on Interfaith workshops in the URJ Mid-Atlantic Region contact Ruth Goldberger, Director of Outreach at rgoldberger@urj.org

For URJ Interfaith class information for all of North America, please contact www.urj.org/outreach/interfaith/

Since class schedules are continually being updated, you may also wish to contact congregations
in your area directly to see if they are offering any iIntroduction to Judaism classes.

Click here for a North American Directory of Reform Congregations

If you learn of any classes in the Mid-Atlantic Region which are not mentioned above, would you please let us know so that we may add them to this page? Please email us at MAC@urj.org.

The Union for Reform Judaism
Mid-Atlantic Council
2027 Massachusetts Ave NW 3rd Floor
Washington, DC 20036-1011

Toll Free: 888.842.8242
Tel: 202.232.4242
Fax: 202.483.6550
Email: mac@urj.org
Web: www.urj.org/mac

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