Adult and Life Long Learning
Life long Jewish learning is a core value of Valley Beth Shalom. Our Senior Rabbi Ed Feinstein recently drafted a Statement of Vision for Valley Beth Shalom, in which he stated,
“Learning has always been the strength of VBS. Our synagogue culture is deeply committed to encountering God in study, and we offer many opportunities to engage in serious learning… We gain meaning by locating our personal story in a grand narrative, a narrative of our people, our nation…”
We welcome your engagement in our many programs supporting life long learning.
Weekly Torah Study with Rabbi Feinstein
Join Rabbi Ed Feinstein online every Friday at 4:00pm.
College of Jewish Studies
Offering adults an experience of university-level learning from October to April on Wednesday evenings.
Hazak
A vibrant Jewish community of seniors dedicated to lifelong education and enrichment.
Lunch and Learn
Informal learning sessions on scheduled Thursdays afternoons from noon to 1:30pm.
VBS Book Club
Meets monthly on Tuesday evenings, exploring books with Jewish related themes.
OurSpaceLA
The Artistic Spectrum of Jewish Learning for Adults.
The Inner Life of Men
For men 50+. This group meets online weekly to guide conversations related to mens topics.
Adult Israeli Dance Classes
A unique way of encountering the history and culture of Israel, while you learn Israeli folk dances.
Melton School of Adult Jewish Learning
Follows a sophisticated adult learning curriculum, exploring Jewish thought, practice, ethics and history.
Adult B'nai Mitzvah Program
Enables adults to access the texts and prayers of our traditions, in preparation for our annual Adult Bar/Bat Mitzvah ceremony.
Living a Jewish Life
At Valley Beth Shalom, we take an active role in making four pillars of Jewish living the foundation for a meaningful life. Through the four pillars: Torah (wisdom), Avodah (spirituality), Chesed (care for others), and Havurah (social encounters), our synagogue offers a wide variety of encounters with Jewish tradition.
Coming Soon: SAYVA!
We are so proud to announce that Valley Beth Shalom, in collaboration with Temple Ramat Zion and Temple Judea, has been awarded a grant from the Jewish Community Foundation of Los Angeles to form Sayva: A New Approach to Positive Aging.
Sayva will provide educational, recreational, community-building and wellness programming to hundreds of Jewish older adults. The program aims to provide opportunities for older adults to feel connected, appreciated, and useful in their community, therefore enabling them to lead more fulfilling lives in older age.
"Sayva means the wisdom and depth that comes in our later years," says Rabbi Ed Feinstein. "Unlike American culture, Jewish tradition never saw old age as a time of diminishment, disability and loss. The old were never retired, removed or isolated. The Jewish tradition recognized that elders possess a capacity to see life from higher perspectives. The tradition honored and celebrated the unique contributions of elders to our collective life. The goal of Sayva is to make the years of Later Adulthood joyful, interesting and purposeful – a time of life to be anticipated, celebrated and cherished."
Click here to learn more about the JCF grant in their press release
