Community Beit Midrash


	About the Community Beit Midrash! Vision A gathering of the Atlanta Jewish community of all knowledge, religious, and observance backgrounds for text-based learning. Mission To foster participatory, active Jewish learning within a diverse Jewish community Frequently Asked Questions What is a Beit Midrash? Beit Midrash literally translates as “house of learning.” Within our tradition, Jews learn as a community with the warmth and familiarity of one’s home. The Beit Midrash is a place to study Torah, investigate meaning, ask questions, listen to discussions, build relationships – a place to grow intellectually, emotionally, and spiritually. Who can attend the Beit Midrash? Adults from all backgrounds, with all knowledge, religious, and observance levels are welcomed. All sessions will be accessible to those with either limited or vast prior knowledge. Texts will always have English translations. Who will be teaching the sessions? A diverse group of educators and religious leaders from all denominational backgrounds will be invited to teach. If you or someone you know would be interested in leading a session, please contact us. What topics will be studied? Each instructor will select the topic for the evening and will provide a brief description and copies of texts that will be included on this web site. The information will be provided for those curious minds who would like to delve into study prior to the session, but instructors will not expect prior familiarity. How is a session structured? - Welcome and introduction from the featured instructor - Shiur (lesson) from instructor on selected text - Chevruta (partner) learning - Instructor led reflection - application of text to daily and theological life - Optional: Gather with friends to continue the discussions or socialize at a self-selected location What happens during a shiur (lesson)? During the shiur portion of the evening, the instructor will lecture on the topic of the evening with specific references to the text being studied. The texts will be available before the session for participants to have the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the topic, but the instructor will not expect any prior knowledge. What happens during chevruta (partner) learning? A chevruta is defined as a partnership learning experience of two people reading, investigating, and questioning a text in greater depth. On occasion, the chevruta expands to three or four people, but the ideal experience connects two individuals in shared dialogue. Is there a cost? While sessions are free, donations to the Community Beit Midrash are always welcome. What is the Atlanta Chevre Minyan? Chevre means a community of friends. Our name, the Atlanta Chevre Minyan, expresses our vision to build a warm, welcoming cohort within metro-Atlanta who are deepening their connection and commitment to Judaism through the creation of meaningful prayer services and a cohesive community. To engage the spiritual and social needs of the untapped Jewish community of metro-Atlanta, we host twice-monthly Friday night prayer services that are inclusive of the community and guided by principles of Jewish law. What is The Goodman Institute? The Goodman Institute (est. 2002) makes it possible for every member of the AA community to travel his/her own path to Jewish learning. We offer a wide variety of programs (mostly free of charge) designed to serve the needs of beginning learners, advanced learners and everyone in between. Our scope includes the fundamental texts of Conservative Judaism, Jewish history, Zionism and Israel, religious beliefs, practices and rituals, Jewish philosophy, Hebrew language and all aspects of Jewish culture, including literature, music, art and drama.

About the Community Beit Midrash!

Vision
A gathering of the Atlanta Jewish community of all knowledge, religious, and observance backgrounds for text-based learning.

Mission
To foster participatory, active Jewish learning within a diverse Jewish community

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Beit Midrash?

Beit Midrash literally translates as “house of learning.” Within our tradition, Jews learn as a community with the warmth and familiarity of one’s home. The Beit Midrash is a place to study Torah, investigate meaning, ask questions, listen to discussions, build relationships – a place to grow intellectually, emotionally, and spiritually.
Who can attend the Beit Midrash?

Adults from all backgrounds, with all knowledge, religious, and observance levels are welcomed. All sessions will be accessible to those with either limited or vast prior knowledge. Texts will always have English translations.
Who will be teaching the sessions?

A diverse group of educators and religious leaders from all denominational backgrounds will be invited to teach. If you or someone you know would be interested in leading a session, please contact us.
What topics will be studied?

Each instructor will select the topic for the evening and will provide a brief description and copies of texts that will be included on this web site. The information will be provided for those curious minds who would like to delve into study prior to the session, but instructors will not expect prior familiarity.
How is a session structured?

- Welcome and introduction from the featured instructor
- Shiur (lesson) from instructor on selected text
- Chevruta (partner) learning
- Instructor led reflection - application of text to daily and theological life
- Optional: Gather with friends to continue the discussions or socialize at a self-selected location
What happens during a shiur (lesson)?

During the shiur portion of the evening, the instructor will lecture on the topic of the evening with specific references to the text being studied. The texts will be available before the session for participants to have the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the topic, but the instructor will not expect any prior knowledge.
What happens during chevruta (partner) learning?

A chevruta is defined as a partnership learning experience of two people reading, investigating, and questioning a text in greater depth. On occasion, the chevruta expands to three or four people, but the ideal experience connects two individuals in shared dialogue.
Is there a cost?

While sessions are free, donations to the Community Beit Midrash are always welcome.
What is the Atlanta Chevre Minyan?

Chevre means a community of friends. Our name, the Atlanta Chevre Minyan, expresses our vision to build a warm, welcoming cohort within metro-Atlanta who are deepening their connection and commitment to Judaism through the creation of meaningful prayer services and a cohesive community. To engage the spiritual and social needs of the untapped Jewish community of metro-Atlanta, we host twice-monthly Friday night prayer services that are inclusive of the community and guided by principles of Jewish law.
What is The Goodman Institute?

The Goodman Institute (est. 2002) makes it possible for every member of the AA community to travel his/her own path to Jewish learning. We offer a wide variety of programs (mostly free of charge) designed to serve the needs of beginning learners, advanced learners and everyone in between. Our scope includes the fundamental texts of Conservative Judaism, Jewish history, Zionism and Israel, religious beliefs, practices and rituals, Jewish philosophy, Hebrew language and all aspects of Jewish culture, including literature, music, art and drama.