
Adult Education



Lunch and Learn with Rabbi Mikelberg
Jews and the News
We’ll focus a Jewish lens on contemporary hot topics such as the rise of hate crimes, anti-gun legislation and environmental consciousness. Join us for a bagel and schmeer with coffee as we provide both food for the belly and food for the mind.
$5 per person includes light lunch.

Shavuot, Coffee, and The Jewish Story Reconsidered: Shavuot Virtual Study Session with Rabbi Lawrence Hoffman
RSVP required. Long before we got the idea to spend the night of Shavuot learning, Shavuot was the opportunity to rethink the nature of Jewish history. On this Shavuot eve, we will work our way through the various ways Jews have seen history unfolding, from the Bible, to the Rabbis, and into our own time. Who are we? What are the lessons of Jewish history for today? What coffee has to do with all of this will be part of our study.
Rabbi Lawrence A. Hoffman, PhD, has served for more than three decades as professor of liturgy at Hebrew Union College–Jewish Institute of Religion in New York. He is a world-renowned liturgist and holder of the Stephen and Barbara Friedman Chair in Liturgy, Worship and Ritual. His work combines research in Jewish ritual, worship and spirituality with a passion for the spiritual renewal of contemporary Judaism.
Virtual Lunch and Learn with Tema Smith on Thoughts from a Unicorn: 100% Black, 100% Jewish, 0% Safe
RSVP required. Sponsored by our Anti-Black Racism Taskforce, we welcome back Jewish Activist Tema Smith to review the acclaimed book by author Ma Nishtana.
Thoughts from a Unicorn is described as “Being a Black man in America means taking prejudice, bias, and ignorance head-on on a daily basis. Being a Jew in America means taking prejudice, bias, and ignorance head-on on a daily basis, but while trying to eat a bagel. But when you combine the two…? Enter “Thoughts From A Unicorn”, a witty and uncanny satire detailing the “not-autobiographical” account of MaNishtana, an African American Orthodox Jew from birth.”

Virtual Fireside Chat with Author David Eisenstadt on his new book “Under the Radar – 30 Notable Canadian Jewish Musicians.”
RSVP required. What do pop singer Corey Hart, folksingers The Travellers, jazz singer Sofie Milman, rock star/broadcaster Danny Marks, children’s music trio Sharon Lois & Bram, and film score writer/composer Howard Shore have in common? They are all notable Canadian Jewish musicians who appear in a new book, UNDER THE RADAR – 30 Notable Canadian Jewish Musicians (www.undertheradarbook.com).
Rabbi Mikelberg will join the author for an enlightening virtual conversation on these various musicians, highlighting both their Canadian and Jewish identities.

Yom Ha’Atsmaut Movie Festival
After a successful Chanukah run, we have another week long virtual film festival to look forward to, this one in honour of Israel’s birthday. Check out www.jewishfilmfests.com . For the price of one ticket, you will receive access for 6 days to 9 films. Don’t forget to use the special Ottawa code: CAPITAL.
Virtual Ukraine Briefing with Rabbi Cy Stanway
Rabbi Steinway is the rabbi of Temple Beth Miriam in Elberon, New Jersey. Just before Passover he spent five days in Poland working with Ukranian refugees, learning about the Polish response to the crisis, getting to know the city leaders of various Polish cities and touring the crisis centres in the country.
Join Zoom meeting:
https://templeisraelottawa.zoom.us/j/84164432875
NOTE: Zoom link will not work before Sunday May 1. You can log on starting at 9:50am.
Truth and Reconciliation Presentation
RSVP. Presentation by Temple Israel congregants Charlie Khazzam and Marie-Carmen Berlie, medical doctors who have lived and worked half-time in a Northern Indigenous community and half in Ottawa, about their experiences and their insights.