If you’re grappling with an empty nest, retirement, taking care of older parents, or being an older parent who needs more taking care of, consider BHC’s Wise Aging series. In an inquisitive and comfortable setting, this group will explore such themes as the value of life, the deep wisdom that comes with experience, our relationship to our changing bodies, and spiritual tools that can help us live with greater gratitude and equanimity. Through texts, shared stories, and careful listening to others and to one’s self, the series will cultivate ways to help participants continue to live with love, wisdom, joy, kindness, resilience, and spirit.

Some of us resent this stage of our lives, bemoaning the things we’ve lost and dreading the challenges ahead. Others of us embrace it, with all of its surprises, challenges, and rewards. One person who completed the series said, “My fear of aging has become eagerness to embrace the challenges and possibilities of the years ahead.” The Wise Aging group will meet Wednesdays, October 3 through November 28, 1-3 pm and will be led by BHC congregants Phyllis Kolman and Jon Shorr.

INFO: Nicki Stratford, nstratford@baltimorehebrew.org or 410-764-1587, ext. 246.

Click here to download the flyer.

Join us for wonderful learning, discussion and noshing as we explore topics taught by BHC educators, clergy and lay leaders. Schmooze during our meet and greet at 10 am, then learn from 10:30 am-Noon. Everyone is welcome to attend all or part of the sessions. There is no charge for the program. INFO: Brad Cohen, Director of Education, bcohen@baltimorehebrew.org or 410-764-1587, ext. 290.

Taste of Judaism is a three week course beginning Thursday, November 1 that will explore Judaism. Classes are free and open to all, but registration is required. INFO & RSVP: Nicki Stratford, Coordinator of Engagement and Programming, nstratford@baltimorehebrew.org or 410-764-1587, ext. 246.

Our regular 10 AM Shabbat morning service is welcoming and meaningful to both those who come regularly and those who attend for the first time. Shabbat Shelanu means Our Shabbat, and we endeavor to celebrate Shabbat together with communal reading, engaging melodies, and embracing one another. The weekly Torah portion is both chanted and discussed at this service.

STAY Shabbat (Shabbat That’s About You) and Kiddish allows us to come together and make our community more intimate through convivial conversation and connection. We will enjoy a STAY Shabbat on Saturday, November 17, 10 am. Following Shabbat Shelanu we will share a delicious Kiddush with lively conversation and special music from a Peabody quartet. INFO & RSVP: Carol J. Caplan, Chair, carolcjca@comcast.net.

Say goodbye to Shabbat during our newest opportunity for Infant—Pre-K children, the third Saturday of every month, 4 pm. It is a great way to build connections with BHC families, our clergy, and educators.

Family Social Action is on Sunday, November 18, 9-11 am. This is an exciting opportunity for our families to volunteer and give back to the community. Following, join us for our infamous “Turkey Bowl,” a flag football game from 11 am-12:30 pm.

INFO & RSVP: Brad Cohen, Director of Education, 410-764-1587, ext. 290 or bcohen@baltimorehebrew.org or Lauren Offermann Luger, Assistant Director of Education, 410-764-1587, ext. 248 or loffermann@baltimorehebrew.org 

Judaism offers us great opportunities to learn about our tradition, the world, and ourselves. PEP: Pursuing Educational Possibilities, is an ongoing Sunday morning learning opportunity enjoyed by BHC congregants for decades. We offer four different classes, two each semester on select Sundays.

This fall, we have Rabbi Busch teaching “Contemporary Dilemmas via Reform Jewish Perspectives” at 9:30 am and Rabbi Amy Scheinerman teaching “Judaisms” at 10:45 am. The semester begins Sunday, October 14, 9 am, and continues Sundays, October 21 & 28, November 18, and December 9 & 16. Every PEP class begins with bagels and sweets and concludes at 11:45 am. Our spring classes will be led by Dr. Susanna Garfein teaching “Voices from the Biblical World” and Dr. Neil Rubin teaching “Jews and Christians: Interfaith Relations in America.” The cost per person is $18 per semester or $30 for both semesters. 

INFO & REGISTRATION: Ruth Spivak, spivakcpa@verizon.net or 410-666-1891, or fill out a form on BHC’s main flyer table. PEP is generously funded by the Lee Egerton Educational Fund.

Learning to read Hebrew is a great way to exercise those brain cells and discover the wonders of the Hebrew language. Classes will begin Sunday, October 9, 9:15-10:15 am, during Youth Education and continue through the early spring. This class is for adult BHC members with little or no Hebrew reading ability and will fulfill the beginner Hebrew requirement for the Adult Bar/Bat Mitzvah program. INFO & SIGN UP: David Bielenberg, dbielenberg@baltimorehebrew.org or 410-764-1587, ext. 250.

Join BHC’s cadre of Torah chanters by learning to recognize the trope symbols and their melodies. If you can decode Hebrew and carry a simple tune, you have all the tools you need. Classes are for adult BHC members and will begin Sunday, October 9, 11:15 am-Noon. Classes will continue on Sundays during Youth Education, through the early spring. INFO & SIGN UP: David Bielenberg, dbielenberg@baltimorehebrew.org or 410-764-1587, ext. 250.

Create, plan, and implement a Family Social Action Day for our Youth Education families.

INFO & RSVP: Brad Cohen, Director of Education, 410-764-1587, ext. 290 or bcohen@baltimorehebrew.org or Lauren Offermann Luger, Assistant Director of Education, 410-764-1587, ext. 248 or loffermann@baltimorehebrew.org 

Family Social Action is on Sunday, November 18, 9-11 am. This is an exciting opportunity for our families to volunteer and give back to the community. Following, join us for our infamous “Turkey Bowl,” a flag football game from 11 am-12:30 pm.

INFO & RSVP: Brad Cohen, Director of Education, 410-764-1587, ext. 290 or bcohen@baltimorehebrew.org or Lauren Offermann Luger, Assistant Director of Education, 410-764-1587, ext. 248 or loffermann@baltimorehebrew.org 

The Community Shred Event is scheduled for Sunday, November 18, 1:30–3:30 pm, in the E.B. Hirsh Early Childhood Center parking lot. A commercial, mobile, shredding truck will provide secure on-site document destruction to insure proper disposal of your sensitive documents. Paper is all we shred—no cardboard, plastics, metal, or other materials. It is shredded completely right there. 

Besides raising income, this is an easy, enjoyable mitzvah. All it takes is one afternoon from 1:30 to 3:30; there’s no heavy lifting, and the event affords a chance to help the community as well acquainting folks with our cordial, welcoming Congregation. We would love to have some new volunteers for this event. To help, call or e-mail Suzanne Strutt, 410-236-6177 or swstrutt@verizon.net. 

Each class will cook or bake an item for the school meal that is held in our lobby, and each class will lead the school in a song, poem or story. INFO: Jill Eisen, Director, E.B. Hirsh Early Childhood Center, 410-764-7281 or jeisen@baltimorehebrew.org.