The Jewish Community Scholars Program began in 2001 in Orange County California to provide high level adult Jewish education. Technology has given CSP a global reach with partner synagogues in Israel, Europe and all of North America. As a partner synagogue, Temple Israel members have access to CJP’s vast array of live presentations from top notch scholars. CSP also has an extensive archive of past programs on You Tube.
Sunday, September 21st & 28th from 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. (PT) and 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. (ET) live on Zoom from Berkeley, CA
“How Kabbalah Reimagines Torah” led by Prof. Daniel Matt
As we approach the Jewish New Year and prepare to complete the annual cycle of Torah reading, we are invited to revisit an ancient question with fresh eyes: What is the Torah, really? While traditionally understood as a sacred text combining narrative and law, the Kabbalistic tradition offers a radically different lens—seeing the Torah not just as words on parchment, but as a living, dynamic force, a divine emanation that reveals the mysteries of God and the boundless potential within each soul. In this two-part series, renowned Kabbalah scholar and translator Prof. Daniel Matt will guide us into this mystical understanding, illuminating key Kabbalistic texts that challenge us to rethink the nature of Torah itself. Drawing on decades of scholarship—including his monumental nine-volume translation and commentary of the Zohar, as well as accessible works like The Essential Kabbalah and God and the Big Bang—Prof. Matt will open new spiritual pathways for encountering Torah at this season of renewal and reflection. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER.
Thursdays, September 4th, 11th, 18th, 25th from 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. (PT) and 3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. (ET) live on Zoom from New York City
“From Pickles to Prada: 150 Years on the Lower East Side” led by Dr. Sharon Keller
Join us for a four-part series exploring over 150 years of transformation in one of New York’s most iconic neighborhoods—the Lower East Side. Once a bustling enclave of pushcarts, pickled herring, and Yiddish theatre, this historic district has reinvented itself as a vibrant hub of boutique fashion, fusion cuisine, and cultural evolution. Through evocative images, rich stories, and sharp commentary, we’ll examine the changing landscape of entertainment, food, shopping, and social norms. Part 1 – Spotlight on the LES: Stages, Shtick, and Stardom, Part 2 – “I’ll Have What She’s Having!” Food Then and Now, Part 3 – Where Did You Buy Your Camp Clothes? From Pushcarts to Prada, and Part 4 – “They Were Good to Their Mothers,” But Were They? The Seamy Side of Life on the LES. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE UPCOMING SESSIONS IN SEPTEMBER
