Beth Am University

Class Descriptions 2026

Jewish History in the Low Countries: The Netherlands and Belgium

Uncover the resilient Jewish communities of the Netherlands and Belgium from the Sephardic Golden Age to today. Perfect preparation for those joining or considering the TBAM Tours Tulip Time river cruise.

Making Political Moral Sense of Our Post October 7th World

The Search for Morality and Leadership in Post Ocotber 7th Israel and America – Since October 7th, there have been radical shifts in public policy, political dialogue and the American and Israeli streets. This class will examine those shifts and discuss how Jewish tradition advises us to proceed in unsettling times and unchartered waters.

You Can Do That? Relevance, Meaning, and Fun in the Jewish Home

A 5-week guide for Religious School parents seeking meaningful answers to “why we do what we do.” Uncover creative, lesser-known rituals from crumb hunting to movie nights, that make Jewish traditions exciting at home.

What’s Love Got to Do With It? Love and the Hebrew Bible

A 5-week study of biblical romance, ancient meet-cutes, and erotic poetry like the Song of Songs to see how ancient love stories still spark romance today.

Why Prayer? Joining Judaism’s Enduring Conversation

Examine how biblical texts, philosophers, mystics, and modern thinkers have wrestled with the purpose of prayer to deepen your own spiritual practice.

The Good Life: Judaism, Spirituality and Positive Psychology

Discover the fascinating intersection of Jewish wisdom and positive psychology in this engaging class. Together, we’ll explore how ancient Jewish teachings and contemporary research on well-being, resilience, gratitude, and meaning can enrich our daily lives and strengthen our relationships. Whether you’re familiar with these ideas or encountering them for the first time, you’ll leave with practical insights and tools for cultivating a more joyful and purposeful life.

Introduction to Kabbalah

What are the sefirot? Does my soul have a structure? Do spiritual worlds exist? Explore these questions and more in this introduction to the basic concepts of Kabbalah, or Jewish mysticism.

Music History, a Jewish Point of View

Discover the rich intersection of Jewish history, culture, and the Western classical music tradition in this engaging series. Through the lives of composers, iconic musical works and fascinating historical stories, we will explore how Jewish identity has shaped and been shaped by the development of classical music, American musical culture and the concert stage.

Triumphs of Survival from the Holocaust

This course will explore the extraordinary resilience of the human spirit and the miraculous sequence of events of many survivors for their triumph of survival during the Holocaust, despite horrific circumstances that befell them. It is said that many doors had to open and close in the right sequence for a lucky person to make it through. Because no two paths to freedom were the same, each session brings you an intimate look into the unique story of a survivor or their descendant, honoring their escape, triumph, and lasting legacy.

Hebrew from Scratch

This course is designed for beginners with no or little prior knowledge of Hebrew. Students will build a solid foundation in modern Hebrew, focusing on practical communication and Shabbat prayers. (This is a two hour class. Students will be enrolled in this class for session A and B).

Israel and the Diaspora: Towards and Understanding of the Relationship (ONLINE ONLY)

As the divide between American Jews and Israelis grows, this course examines the fundamental questions of homeland, Zionism, and identity to build greater mutual understanding between our communities.