Skip to content

Lifelong Learning

Join the conversation.

The Lifelong Learning Committee encourages our members to be active participants in Judaism by providing engaging speakers, seminars and small-group programs that appeal across generations in different levels of learning.  The established objectives of the committee are to focus on a few primary initiatives from both a scholarly and experiential perspective as follows:

  • Israel / History of Zionism
  • Jewish Perspectives on Socio-Economic Topics of the Day
  • Denominational Judaism
  • Interfaith Studies

In addition, Oheb Shalom’s affiliation with the Jewish Theological Seminary  provides access to scholarly presentations (see below) that you can watch via Zoom and ask questions within a special Oheb group, or you can stream these lectures to watch at your convenience. 

Above: Rabbi Shai Held signs a copy of his book Judaism Is About Love, May 2024

Upcoming

In person

Starting Oct 30: Shabbat Hospitality Studio, with Rabbi Treu

Sun, Nov 17: The Rabbi Alexander M. Shapiro z”l Memorial Breakfast & Lecture: Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove, For Such a Time As This

Tue, Jan 14:  The Challenge of Accepting the ‘Other’: Jewish Attitudes Toward Converts with Rabbi David Kraemer (recorded conversation, live discussion)

Via Zoom

Thu, Nov 14: Where Are We Now? Rethinking Exile, Diaspora, and Home in Israel and America, with Rabbi Arnold Eisen, JTA Chancellor Emeritus (recorded conversation, Zoom discussion)

Past presentations

In person

Judaism Is About Love, with Rabbi Shai Held*
Two Truths in One Heart, Two Peoples in One Land, with Rabbi Hanan Schlesinger and Noor A’wad of Roots
Refugee Shabbat, with KIND Newark’s Jacqueline Stabnow, Managing Director, and Lizbeth Veliz, Social Services Supervisor
Unraveling the Path to Reparations, with Jean-Pierre Brutus (NJ Institute for Social Justice) and Kelly Harris (Center for Africana Studies, UPenn)
Liberal Zionism for Conflicted Liberal Jews, with Yehuda Kurtzer, Shalom Hartman Institute*
How Can I Pray What I Don’t Believe, with Rabbi Elie Kaunfer*

*Rabbi Alexander M. Shapiro z”l Memorial Lecture & Breakfast

Via Zoom

Understanding Antisemitism on Campus, with David White (ADL)
Community Organizing in Tumultuous Times, with Rabbi Stephanie Ruskay**
How Did a Handful of Sages Change Judaism Forever, with Dr. David Kraemer**
The Kabbalists and Tikkun Olam, with Dr. Eitan Fishbane**

**Part of the “Change Agents in Jewish History” series