Location:
Burning Tree Elementary School, 7900 Beech Tree Road, Bethesda, MD. Bagels and coffee provided. Programs are free for members, guests, and prospective members.

Overview:
Beth Chai places particular emphasis on our participatory Adult Education program, which we view as one of our most important shared community activities. The Adult Education curriculum is structured around six categories representing diverse fields of Jewish interest: Philosophy and Theology; Classical Text; History; Culture; Practice; and Social Issues. Our ongoing discussion of the foundations of Jewish civilization and religion is enthusiastic, at times intense, and, in keeping with our Humanistic bent, dogmatically undogmatic. The goal of Adult Ed is to make available a program of Jewish education that enables those taking part to feel strengthened and legitimate in their relationship to Judaism, regardless of their personal religious beliefs or observances. We are fortunate to be able to draw on the expertise and knowledge of the engaging Rabbi Art Blecher and Education Director Rain Zohav to lead our sessions, and we also invite outside speakers and draw on the talent and experience of our own members. A high level of attendance is sustained week to week; Adult Ed is some members’ main tie to the community, and many see it as the greatest benefit of membership.

Adult Ed meets for two hours almost every Sunday that the Beth Chai Sunday School is in session — more than 20 days per year. This allows the adults to be in class at the same time as the children, even taking the same break to share bagels and coffee.