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Adult Education

2025-2026 Lifelong Learning

American Scripture Project: October 8 - May 13 
First Wednesday of the month

Taught by Rabbi Wainer

In this class, Jewish habits of parashanut will be combined with the rich treasury of American texts to inspire & reteach complex narratives that can unify us as a community of Americans.

 

Adult Hebrew I: October 23 - January 15,  Adult Hebrew II: January 22 - April 15, Adult Hebrew III: April 23 - June 18
Thursdays, 7:00 - 8:00 PM on Zoom

Taught by Marla Aviva Bentley, RJE

Cost: Free for members. $216 per course for guests. Learners are required to purchase their textbooks; learn more here. 

 

Adult B'nai Mitzvah Class: November 2025 - July 2026

Taught by Rabbi Cosnowsky and Rabbi Wainer

 

Jewish Book Council (JBC) Author Events 

Purchase a copy of the authors' books here: https://bookshop.org/lists/2025-26-jewish-book-council-authors-list 

Sunday, January 11, 11:00 AM | CEC Library (Author on Zoom from Israel)

Author Lihi Lapid: I Wanted To Be Wonderful

 

 

 

Wednesday, February 11, 7:00 PM | Zoom

Author Rabbi Mike Moskowitz: Ancestral Allyship: lesson on allyship as spiritual practice in the weekly Torah portion

This event is in honor of JDAIM: Jewish Disabilities Awareness, Acceptance, and Inclusion Month, and focuses on LGBTQ+ allyship in Torah.

 

Wednesday, April 15, 1:00 PM | Social Hall (Author on Zoom)

Author Bonny Reichert: How to Share an Egg: A True Story of Hunger, Love, and Plenty

This is part of our Lunch and Learn series, and is in honor of Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day. 

Ongoing Classes & Experiences

Torah Study

Each week we read and discuss Torah on Saturdays at 9:00 AM. We examine Torah in the context of our lives and our ideas. Our explorations of the text always touch on world events as well as happenings in our Etz Chaim world. We avoid fancy, scholarly vocabulary, but our conversations regularly return to big themes such as leading Jewish lives in the modern world, our relationship with God, our understanding of truth, and our connection to the Jewish people and the land of Israel. Learn more about Torah Study here. 

Drop in as much or as little as you’d like. You can register for Torah Study to get the link.

Congregational Choir

Explore our sacred texts and prayers through music. Choir is open to post B'nai Mitzvah - 120! The choir sings for monthly Shabbat and High Holiday services. No previous choir experience is necessary, just a love of Jewish music and a desire to lead our congregation in song. Contact Marla Aviva Bentley, RJE, Director of Lifelong Learning & Music, for more information. 

Lunch 'n Learn

Lunch 'n Learn takes place monthly on Wednesdays, starting at 12:30 PM. Bring your own lunch and schmooze, and the program begins at 1:00 PM. Topics have included: Jewish Geneology of Illinois, Understanding the Signs of Alzheimer's and Dementia, Traditional High Holiday Melodies, Films, Music of Jewish Composers, Zumba, and more. Friends welcome.

Book Discussions and Author Talks

Join Rachel Kamin's every other month on Mondays at 7:00 PM for Book Discussions. Books have included: "The Hebrew Teacher: Three Novellas" by Maya Arad, "On Her Own" by Lihi Lapid, "Songs for the Brokenhearted", "Your Presence is Mandatory" and more.

Adult Learning

Learning at CEC is a lifelong pursuit. Lifelong Learning classes are for any and every adult at CEC, no experience is necessary, all are welcome! 

Over the past five years our offerings have included:

· Hartman Series Class "Belonging to a Collective"
· Israeli Wine Tasting
· Israel Education classes with Rabbi Hannah Estrin
· Spiritual Adventures: An Intro to Judaism Class with Rabbi Cosnowsky
· Artist-in-Residence Weekend with Rabbi Deborah Sacks Mintz
· Spring series exploring American Texts with Rabbi Wainer
· North Lawndale Intergenerational Tour of Chicago
· How to Spiritually Prepare for High Holy Days with Rabbi Cosnowsky
· Summer Concert with Ari Hest
· Israel Programs
· Adult Hebrew & B'nai Mitzvah Classes

Interested in becoming more involved with Lifelong Learning at CEC? Contact Marla Aviva Bentley, RJE, Director of Lifelong Learning, or Kenya Madison-Gabler, chair of the Lifelong Learning Committee. 

Tue, January 13 2026 24 Tevet 5786