Upcoming Classes & Events at Lehrhaus

Jewish Themes in Fantasy and Sci-Fi: Light in the Darkness
Dec
22

Jewish Themes in Fantasy and Sci-Fi: Light in the Darkness

Chanukah is a time of wonder and delight; little surprise that it's inspired tales that both amuse and amaze.  In this session, we'll  find new light together as we explore the cultural impact of Chanukah through the lens of speculative fiction.  Give yourself the gift of delight as we unwrap a few luminous stories together!    

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Oil & Joy: Crafting Perfect Sufganiyot
Dec
23

Oil & Joy: Crafting Perfect Sufganiyot

Learn how to make donuts just in time for the holidays! You’ll discover how to prepare donut dough, master the art of frying at home, and fill and enjoy delicious sufganiyot. Plus, you’ll take home six donuts of your choice, perfect for inspiring your next batch.

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Oil & Joy: Crafting Perfect Sufganiyot
Dec
23

Oil & Joy: Crafting Perfect Sufganiyot

Learn how to make donuts just in time for the holidays! You’ll discover how to prepare donut dough, master the art of frying at home, and fill and enjoy delicious sufganiyot. Plus, you’ll take home six donuts of your choice, perfect for inspiring your next batch.

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Jewish Romance Book Club: Love You a Latke
Jan
15

Jewish Romance Book Club: Love You a Latke

Stay in the Hanukkah bubble with a facilitated discussion of Love You a Latke, a Jewish holiday romance by Amanda Elliot. Abby, a grumpy coffee shop owner, agrees to fake-date cheerfully optimistic Seth, the only Jewish guy in her small Vermont tourist town--IF he'll help her plan the Hanukkah festival she's been voluntold to take on…

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Rava’s Chat-bot: Communication and Authenticity through the Golem and A.I.
Jan
19

Rava’s Chat-bot: Communication and Authenticity through the Golem and A.I.

Join us as we explore and discuss the startling Talmudic story of the sage Rava (3rd-4th century C.E. Babylonia) creating a “humanoid” who he sends to visit his colleague, Rabbi Zeira. We’ll utilize this haunting, brilliant, and very relevant story as a canvas for discussing artificial intelligence in relation to communication.

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From Me to We: Collective Responsibility and the Torah of Improv
Jan
26

From Me to We: Collective Responsibility and the Torah of Improv

Improvisation is more than a performance skill; it’s a practice of observing, connecting, and responding to the world around us. In fact, we all improvise every day as we navigate life’s unexpected twists and turns. In this safe, welcoming, and experiential workshop, we’ll delve into the Jewish value of Kol Yisrael arevim zeh ba’zeh (all Jews are responsible for one another), using the playful and powerful tools of Applied Improv.  

No experience is necessary—just bring your presence, curiosity, and an openness to connect with others in a spirit of collaboration and mutual care.

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Two Jews, Two Rooms: Relearning the Art of Difficult Conversations
Jan
27

Two Jews, Two Rooms: Relearning the Art of Difficult Conversations

We live in a moment where the old comedic truism: when there are 2 Jews in a room, there are 3 opinions; could arguably be replaced with a more tragic one: when there are two Jews in a room, there are 2 rooms. In this interactive learning experience we are going to practice Machloket (argument for the sake of heaven) as a way to rebuild our muscles so that we can grow our capacity for making Teshuvah (repair) within ourselves, our close relationships, and the communities we find ourselves in.

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Nahman of Bratslav: The Language of the Zaddik as Creation in Likkutei Moharan (Part 1)
Jan
29

Nahman of Bratslav: The Language of the Zaddik as Creation in Likkutei Moharan (Part 1)

This series of classes will be an in-depth text-study of Likkutei by Nahman of Bratslav, one of the most audacious and innovative Hasidic masters. We will study a variety of his homilies paying attention to structure, interpretive method, and theory of the self. We will spend the first two sessions unpacking Likkutei Moharan homily 1:19.

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L'El Eilim: Music for the Grand Synagogue in Amsterdam
Jan
30

L'El Eilim: Music for the Grand Synagogue in Amsterdam

The Esnoga, Amsterdam's Portuguese synagogue inaugurated in 1675, inspired art and music, including works by its composer-in-residence Abraham Caceres in the early 18th century. This class explores the context of synagogue performances, analyzes Caceres' cantata L'El Eilim, and examines its role in Jewish music and the Dutch Baroque tradition.

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Engaging with Endangered Jewish Languages Today
Feb
2

Engaging with Endangered Jewish Languages Today

This class explores the evolving linguistic landscape of Jewish communities, focusing on the decline of endangered Jewish languages like Ladino, Judeo-Arabic, and Jewish Malayalam, while highlighting the rise of new Jewish language varieties. Participants will discuss the importance of preserving and reclaiming these languages, sharing their own ancestral language experiences and the “heritage words” passed down through generations.

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Jewish Romance: Nobody Wants This
Feb
2

Jewish Romance: Nobody Wants This

Did you love, hate, or love to hate this Jewish rom-com? An agnostic sex-and-relationships podcaster and a charismatic rabbi meet cute at an L.A. dinner party and embark on an ill-advised relationship; will it survive their disparate lifestyles and meddling friends and families? We’ll discuss themes of cultural divides, faith, identity, feminism, love, privacy, and millennial malaise drive the plot; stereotypes and tropes abound.

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From Silence to Strength: Finding Meaning in Unanswered Prayers
Feb
3

From Silence to Strength: Finding Meaning in Unanswered Prayers

If you have ever felt like you have sincerely prayed but your Tefillot have gotten you nowhere, this class is for you. This inspirational and text based class will explore several fundamental approaches to the phenomenon of unanswered prayers, and how we can derive guidance and encouragement as we continue to make requests of G-d. 

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Nahman of Bratslav: The Language of the Zaddik as Creation in Likkutei Moharan (Part 2)
Feb
12

Nahman of Bratslav: The Language of the Zaddik as Creation in Likkutei Moharan (Part 2)

This series of classes will be an in-depth text-study of Likkutei by Nahman of Bratslav, one of the most audacious and innovative Hasidic masters. We will study a variety of his homilies paying attention to structure, interpretive method, and theory of the self. We will spend the first two sessions unpacking Likkutei Moharan homily I:19.

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Jewish Romance Book Club: Rules for Ghosting
Feb
19

Jewish Romance Book Club: Rules for Ghosting

While back home working in his family's Jewish funeral home, clairvoyant birth doula Ezra falls for widowed death doula Ben… The novel's themes span transitioning, body dysmorphia, being Jewishly observant, navigating complicated family dynamics, consistent and respectful use of pronouns, and navigating conversations about pleasure and consent.

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Nahman of Bratslav: Faith and Heresy in Likkutei Moharan (Part 1)
Feb
26

Nahman of Bratslav: Faith and Heresy in Likkutei Moharan (Part 1)

This series of classes will be an in-depth text-study of Likkutei by Nahman of Bratslav, one of the most audacious and innovative Hasidic masters. We will study a variety of his homilies paying attention to structure, interpretive method, and theory of the self. We will spend these two sessions unpacking Likkutei Moharan homily 1:64.

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Nahman of Bratslav: Faith and Heresy in Likkutei Moharan (Part 2)
Mar
12

Nahman of Bratslav: Faith and Heresy in Likkutei Moharan (Part 2)

This series of classes will be an in-depth text-study of Likkutei by Nahman of Bratslav, one of the most audacious and innovative Hasidic masters. We will study a variety of his homilies paying attention to structure, interpretive method, and theory of the self. We will spend these two sessions unpacking Likkutei Moharan homily 1:64.

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Kissing Girls on Shabbat: Judaism and the Art of Writing
Mar
16

Kissing Girls on Shabbat: Judaism and the Art of Writing

This class will draw upon Dr. Glass's experience of writing her personal memoir about leaving Hasidic Judaism to set herself and her children free. As a trauma-focused psychotherapist, Glass learned to use writing as a tool for healing and reconstructing her relationship with herself, her queer identity, and her Judaism.

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Thank You for Being Such a Pain: Jewish Guidance for Dealing with Difficult People
Dec
19

Thank You for Being Such a Pain: Jewish Guidance for Dealing with Difficult People

If the Torah can be viewed as an instruction manual for life and for developing a relationship with the Divine, then why is it filled with filled with stories of intrigue, betrayal and conflict? Can holiness be found in struggle and heartbreak? This class will present both practical and spiritual strategies for dealing with and learning from difficult people and situations.

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Why Your Grandfather Fled the Tsar's Army: A Jewish Soldier’s Journey Through War and Forgiveness
Dec
16

Why Your Grandfather Fled the Tsar's Army: A Jewish Soldier’s Journey Through War and Forgiveness

This class, inspired by the novel The Tinker’s Son, will dive into the intellectual, spiritual, and emotional journey of Yakov Leibovich, a rabbinical student drafted into the army during the Russo-Turkish War of the 1870s. We’ll explore the broader historical context of Jewish life in Imperial Russia, the oppressive military conscription policies, and the moral and ethical dilemmas these young men faced.

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Creating Worlds: Speculative Fiction as a Jewish Tradition
Dec
9

Creating Worlds: Speculative Fiction as a Jewish Tradition

Jews are inveterate storytellers. Jewish storytelling--the work of midrash--is not merely descriptive; it is also generative. We tell stories not only to document the world as it goes by, but also to create new worlds, to open portals into novel ways of seeing and imagining. In this session we'll explore storytelling, especially speculative fiction, as Jewish endeavor, paying special attention to how Jewish writers have used imaginary worlds to illuminate Jewish experience.

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Turning the Pages: A Century of Sermons and Modern Reflections on Jewish Life
Dec
5

Turning the Pages: A Century of Sermons and Modern Reflections on Jewish Life

Rabbi Isador Signer (1900-1953) delivered weekly sermons throughout his 20's prior to the Great Depression and the Holocaust. A century later, his granddaughter, Aliza Arzt, has selected and annotated over two dozen of Rabbi Signer's sermons. Taken together, the sermons and responses in this volume provide an illuminating window on American Judaism in both the early 20th and early 21st centuries. 

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There’s No Such Thing as the Ten Commandments in Jewish Tradition
Dec
1

There’s No Such Thing as the Ten Commandments in Jewish Tradition

We’re used to backing up data from our tablets to the cloud, but in this session, we’ll explore tablets that actually came from the clouds. The Ten Commandments have an unparalleled history: not only in the Bible, but in the courtrooms and classrooms as well. In this class, we’ll investigate the origins of the term “Ten Commandments,” and examine how various religions and religious denominations have divided up the verses into ten distinct commandments.

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From Ancient Mountain Tops to Modern Times: The Story of Sigd and Ethiopian Jewish Heritage
Nov
26

From Ancient Mountain Tops to Modern Times: The Story of Sigd and Ethiopian Jewish Heritage

Join us for an illuminating exploration of Sigd, an Ethiopian Jewish holiday that weaves together spiritual elevation, communal bonds, and ancient wisdom. This session will delve into the unique aspects of Sigd, where physical and spiritual journeys merge as communities gather on mountaintops. Together, we'll explore the concept of "community resilience" and discover how this ancient practice of communal celebration continues to resonate in our modern world.

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Learning From Leadership Mistakes
Nov
25

Learning From Leadership Mistakes

Join us to pour over ancient and contemporary Jewish texts to mine them for meaning about our own leadership and the leaders we see around us, or the models we are searching for. As people we are bound to make mistakes - as leaders how do we come back from them? What feedback do we need, and as followers what is the best way to give feedback? Where does apologizing and atoning come into play and how does having faith in each other impact the dynamics of leadership mistakes? 

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Jewish Themes in Fantasy and Sci-Fi: Magic Meals
Nov
24

Jewish Themes in Fantasy and Sci-Fi: Magic Meals

Just in time to whet your appetite for your Thanksgiving feasting, we'll explore some stories on the wondrous intersection of food and speculative fiction.  Our menu will include a lighthearted (though very adult) story of a haunted kugel as well as a sci-fi-inspired Thanksgiving menu.  Join us at the table and sink your teeth into these delicious tales!

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Roaring to Life: Ran Bechor on Adapting Library Lion for the Stage
Nov
24

Roaring to Life: Ran Bechor on Adapting Library Lion for the Stage

Join us for an engaging conversation with acclaimed playwright and director Ran Bechor as he reveals the creative journey behind Library Lion, his vibrant new children’s theater production premiering at Boston’s Calderwood Pavilion, featuring a life-sized lion puppet by Jim Henson’s Creature Shop and music by renowned Israeli composer Yoni Rechter.

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Ancestral Allyship: A Book Talk
Nov
21

Ancestral Allyship: A Book Talk

Join Rabbi Mike Moskowitz for a thought-provoking class on allyship as a spiritual practice, based on his new book, Ancestral Allyship. This session will explore how we can be transformative allies, drawing inspiration from the weekly Torah portion and the wisdom of our ancestors. Don’t miss this opportunity to deepen your understanding of allyship within the Jewish tradition.

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I Don’t Belong: A Rebbe Nachman Dream Dive
Nov
20

I Don’t Belong: A Rebbe Nachman Dream Dive

What can our dreams reveal to us us? How about the dreams of our sages? Join in a journey of unabashed voyeurism into a 200-yr old dream from one of the greatest spiritual masters of Jewish tradition, Rebbe Nachman of Breslov. We’ll explore what this intricate dream—with its themes of knowing and belonging—might say about his own psychology and, using tools of self-inquiry, reflect on what it might say to and about us.
There are no wrong (or right) answers, just opportunities for learning and growth!

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The League of Kitchens Cookbook: Book Tour
Nov
19

The League of Kitchens Cookbook: Book Tour

The League of Kitchens — the widely acclaimed cooking school that empowers immigrant women to share family recipes, culinary expertise, culture, and stories through intimate, hands-on cooking workshops, both in their homes and online — releases its highly anticipated debut cookbook, The League of Kitchens Cookbook: Brilliant Tips, Secret Methods & Favorite Family Recipes from Around the World. Lisa will participate in an author talk to discuss the making and importance of the book!

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Jewish Representation in the Marvel Cinematic Universe
Nov
17

Jewish Representation in the Marvel Cinematic Universe

Explore how Jewish identity and themes emerge in the Marvel Cinematic Universe! This class dives into characters, storylines, and symbolism that reflect Jewish values and culture. From resilience to community, we’ll examine how Jewish representation shapes the world of superheroes in subtle yet powerful ways.

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Lights, Camera, Shalom: Storytelling and Jewish Representation in Film
Nov
17

Lights, Camera, Shalom: Storytelling and Jewish Representation in Film

Join us for an exciting and insightful discussion on the art of storytelling, from crafting a compelling narrative to getting it onto the big screen. We’ll dive into the creative process behind bringing stories to life, with a special focus on how filmmakers can shine a light on the Jewish community and its rich cultural legacy. This conversation will explore the power of representation in film, highlighting the importance of Jewish voices and perspectives in the entertainment industry. And, of course, we’ll delve into two fascinating projects—Bad Shabbos and Nobody Wants This—examining how these films reflect and amplify Jewish identity, while resonating with audiences worldwide. Whether you're a budding filmmaker, a seasoned storyteller, or simply a lover of cinema, this event promises to inspire and spark new ideas for how we can use film to connect, empower, and create lasting impact.

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The Radical Traditionalist Thought of Rabbi Sacks
Nov
14

The Radical Traditionalist Thought of Rabbi Sacks

Rabbi Jonathan Sacks was a trailblazing British Orthodox rabbi and thought leader, who served as Chief Rabbi for over two decades. Renowned for his passionate advocacy of interfaith dialogue and social justice, he inspired countless individuals with his engaging writings on faith and ethics. We will explore his legacy that continues to resonate, making him a vibrant voice in contemporary Jewish thought.

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • Our tickets utilize a Pay-What-You-Can model so attendees can pay a range of prices based on what they are able to pay to allow for greater accessibility. Please select the price point that feels right for you.

  • If a class is sold out, please email us at [email protected] and let us know which class you are looking to attend, and we will add your name to the waitlist.

  • While we do not serve food in the study, you are welcome to order and enjoy drinks during class and join us for a meal before or after class. We highly recommend making a reservation if you know you'll be dining with us. Visit www.lehr.haus/reservation to check availability and book a table.

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