There is an extraordinary variety of Adult Education at Temple Emanu-El. Our members enjoy stimulating programs and challenging lectures. Attendance at Adult Education events is exceptional, particularly among our generation of retirees. Most of the programs are free and open to the public, sponsored by community grants and generous donations of temple members. Come join us and energize your mind!
Monthly Speakers
Our committee invites local scholars to present at temple on a variety of Jewish topics. Sarasota has a wealth of creative minds, and the committee selects well. The programs enthuse and entertain, and open up worlds of new information and insight. Recent topics have included Jewish folklore, the artifacts of American Jewish History, and genealogy.
Film Series
This is our most popular program! In the past year we have installed a brand new, state-of-the art projector, speakers, and giant screen. The committee screens dozens of films to select the very best for our series. All the films are of Jewish interest, but the diversity is great. They range from popular dramas to award-winning documentaries, from classic favorites to just-released Israeli films. And the ticket price includes popcorn and cookies!
Scholar-in-Residence
Each year we fly in a pre-eminent scholar or author for a weekend of stimulating insight. Generous funding allows us to attract the very best! Recent scholars have included Dr. Gary Zola, Director of the national American Jewish Archives; Rabbi David Saperstein, Director of the Religious Action Center in Washington, D.C.; and Dr. Sol Gittleman, longtime Provost of Tufts University. The Mal Peck Scholar-in-Residence is the highlight of year.
United States Holocaust Museum Scholar
Each year we host a curator from the Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C. to make a presentation to the community. It is the largest-attended annual event in the Sarasota Jewish community. The spring program is free and open to the public, but reservations are required with attendance capped at 600.
Classes with the Rabbi
Temple members and friends eagerly await the next offering from Rabbi Brenner Glickman. Rabbi Glickman brings his wealth of knowledge, keen insight, and delightful humor to his annual discussion series. Recent topics have included Jewish Values Regarding Stem-Cell Research, and Short Stories of the Great Yiddish Writers.
Our temple is blessed with a bevy of retired rabbis who volunteer to teach at temple. The Adult Education Committee regularly taps this wonderful resource for diverse and stimulating discussions.
Weekly Bible Study
Every Thursday morning finds a loyal group of students engaged in text. Dr. Ruth Simons chooses the passages and leads the discussion. All are welcome.
Adult Hebrew Classes
On Sunday mornings Norty Bick teaches the aleph-bet to a vibrant group of adults learning to read Hebrew for the first time. Most are preparing to become bnai mitzvah as a class and read a passage of Torah before the congregation. For more information, please contact Norty Bick at nbick@comcast.net.
