Adult Education

Through the active pursuit of educational opportunities by PJTC's clergy, staff, and Adult Education Committee, our community provides a variety of classes, lectures, and discussions to help build knowledge and understanding of the world around us. We're always adding more opportunities! 

Scientists In Synagogues | Melton Classes | Exploring Your Life Through Torah | Shema Circles | Meditation | Bagel Breakfasts | Sunday Learning

SCIENTISTS IN SYNAGOGUES SPEAKER SERIES
PJTC was the proud recipient of a grant from Sinai and Synapses. This project bridges the religious and scientific worlds, offering people a worldview that is scientifically grounded and spiritually uplifting. Our project, The Intersection of Judaism and Science: Coexisting Searches, leverages the presence of our congregation's scientists and rabbis to explore the nexus of science and religion. We will be posing questions and encouraging discussions that will challenge assumptions about the incompatibility of juxtaposing science and Judaism. For more information about Sinai and Synapses (which is incubated at CLAL - The National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership) or to get on their mailing list go to sinaiandsynapses.org.

The programs offered under this grant were so successful that two additional programs will be occurring this year! Watch for details. All programs are free and open to the entire community.

MELTON CLASSES
To enhance our PJTC Adult Education program, we are a campus for the Melton School of Adult Jewish Learning. Their courses, developed in conjunction with Hebrew University of Jerusalem, use ancient and modern texts to explore our Jewish experience. As each class approaches, we send information about how to enroll directly with the Florence Melton School. There is a fee for these classes, but scholarships through PJTC are available. These classes are open to the entire community.

To register for PJTC courses, please click here. Where it says "All Communities," click the dropdown arrow and select "California: Pasadena / Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center" to find PJTC's course. 

PJTC's fall course will be "Jewish Medical Ethics: A 21st Century Discussion," beginning on November 14. For more information, please contact adulted@pjtc.net.

EXPLORING YOUR LIFE THROUGH TORAH
A weekly Torah discussion facilitated by PJTC member, Rabbi Jason Mann, Thursdays at 10 AM on Zoom.

The Torah is an amazing source of ancient and eternal wisdom. Our group meets every Thursday morning to harvest this ancient wisdom and explore how we can incorporate it into our modern lives by looking at some teachings based on the weekly Torah portion. Our group has lively and inclusive discussions. All are invited to participate or just actively listen. No Hebrew is needed to participate. We are all so blessed by meeting together each week. It is a great opportunity to study together and create a caring community to sustain us each day. To receive the Zoom link and other updates, contact Rabbi Mann, jmann227@gmail.com.

SHEMA CIRCLES 
Open to PJTC members only, now in its fourth year. Shema comes from the Hebrew root word "to listen." Shema Circles are closed groups of 8-10 congregants who meet monthly for 60-90 minutes from October-May to learn with and from each other in a safe, open, non-judgemental environment.
Discussion materials will come from a combination of traditional lewish texts and secular sources.

For our fourth year, we are focusing our Shema Circles around the book The Way of Humanity According to Chasidic Teaching by Martin Buber. Each Shema Circle is facilitated by a congregant, with source materials provided by PJTC clergy and staff. Shema Circles meet at congregant homes. This is a great way for newer members to get to know others in the community in a small group setting, and a great way for lifelong members to meet new people or deepen relationships. We reset the groups each October, and we can get you on the waitlist to join in the middle of a cycle. Check your PJTC emails for sign-up information each year!

BAGEL BREAKFASTS
These Sunday morning events are sponsored by various PJTC organizations. They include conversations led by world-class speakers and authors.

UNSUNG STARS IN JEWISH HISTORY
Sunday Center Learning With Rabbi Joshua Garroway, Ph.D
10 AM on Sundays on Zoom 
David, Hillel, Rashi, Herzl: We know who they are. But, what about Zerubabbel, John Hyrcanus, Menasseh ben Israel, or Gluekl of Hameln? Come learn with congregant Rabbi Joshua Garroway about the lives of these and other important Jews from the past who remain largely unknown.