Eser

Eser: Top Ten Jewish Innovations

Young Adult Learning Series

10 topics, 20 Jews, 600 opinions!

In Judaism, ‘Eser’—the Hebrew word for the number 10—has great significance, and symbolizes "completeness of order." Each year, Eser will offer a different “Top Ten” theme to be explained during a six-week learning series that features stimulating small group discussions and inspiring events. This year, discover top ten innovations, such as “Shabbat: A Day to Unplug,” “Shiva: A Week to Mourn,” and “Food: A Way to Connect.”

Enjoy Shabbat meals and a mid-series theatrical performance.

Learn with a dynamic young rabbi in a living room setting.

This program is designed for those in their 20s and 30s. Participants hail from all backgrounds.

Program fee: $75

Program begins the last week of February 2012.

For more information contact Elisha at egechter@hebrewcollege.edu or 617-559-8733.

Facilitators

Rabbi Neil Hirsch joined the staff of Temple Shalom in Newton in June 2010, but was familiar with Greater Boston from his college days at Tufts. He was born and raised in Houston, Texas, and received his ordination from Hebrew Union College in New York City. Rabbi Hirsch is an avid cyclist and runner—he ran in the November 2009 New York City Marathon.

Rabbi Rachel Silverman is director of congregational learning at Congregation Kehillath Israel (KI) in Brookline. An alumnus of Brandeis University, she also received rabbinic ordination from the Jewish Theological Seminary. Rabbi Rachel created the "Real Men Marry Rabbis" T-shirt, of which hundreds have sold worldwide, and launched Homegrown Judaica (www.homegrownjudaica.com), an online art marketplace.

Rabbi Daniel Klein is director of admissions for the Rabbinical School of Hebrew College and director of student life of Hebrew College. A Newton native, Rabbi Klein taught middle school history prior to receiving ordination from Hebrew College. He has worked for years in informal education—at Camp Yavneh, Genesis at Brandeis, and Gann Academy. He is married to Jen, has a three-year-old, Micah, and is a huge fan of the Cohen brothers.

Elisha Gechter is the Associate Director of Adult Learning at Hebrew College and spent four years working in CJP’s Young Leadership Division as a senior development officer. She grew up in New York and has called Cambridge her home for the last six years. She enjoys leading services at an independent congregation, Minyan Tehillah, which she and her husband Sam attend. Jewish education and cooking are her passions and she combines the two in her blog: www.elishasdoubleportion.blogspot.com.

Eser Schedule

Groups meet from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. at volunteers’ homes in Brookline on Tuesday and Wednesday, in Cambridge on Wednesday, and in Newton on Thursday.

Week of February 27th - Innovation #1
Week of March 5th - Innovation #2
Friday March 9th - Potluck Shabbat Dinner
Week of March 12th - Innovation #3
Thursday March 22nd - All Group Event – Innovation #4
Week of March 26th - Innovation #5
Week of April 2nd - Innovation #6
Week of April 9th - Innovation #7

Saturday, April 21st - All Groups Shabbat Afternoon – Innovations #8, #9, #10

Eser Committee

Talia Abrahams, Alegria Aigen, Laura Conrad Mandel, Eliane Dreyfus, Ruth Ginsberg, Rachel Grossman, Sarah Kirshenbaum, Jason Kleinerman, Becky Price, Daniel Solomon, and Jason Stark.

For more information and to register contact Elisha at egechter@hebrewcollege.edu or 617-559-8733.

The Young Adult Learning Series is sponsored by Hebrew College, CJP’s Commission on Jewish Life & Learning, as well as an allocation from the Young Adult Planning Committee.

Images courtesy of Nir Landau.

Hebrew College 160 Herrick Road Newton Centre, MA 02459

617-559-8600 www.HebrewCollege.edu