Meets Mondays 7:00-8:30 PM 

Course Description: Dreaming of learning Hebrew? Now’s your chance! Join us for a fun and lively weekly Zoom class with fellow Twin Cities learners. 

This college-level course, designed by Susie Chalom, is perfect for beginners. The curriculum and price are tailored for busy adults. You’ll start with basic Hebrew conversation and quickly find yourself chatting about everyday topics. We’ll spice things up with current events, songs, and videos.

Required Materials:

First and Foremost Hebrew for Beginners and More (Barosh Uvarishona Ivrit Laramat Matchilim Veod), Textbook + Workbook

Link to purchase from Gefen Publishing

Link to purchase from Amazon

Class Sessions: Monday, February 9, 2026 | Monday, February 16, 2026 |  Monday, February 23, 2026 | No class 3/2: Erev Purim | Monday, March 9, 2026 | Monday, March 16, 2026 | Monday, March 23, 2026 | Monday, March 30, 2026 | | No class 4/6: Passover | No class 4/13: Erev Yom HaShoah |  Monday, April 20, 2026 |  Monday, April 27, 2026 | No class 5/4: Lag BaOmer | Monday, May 11, 2026 | Monday, May 18, 2026 |  No class 5/25: Memorial Day | Monday, June 1, 2026 

 Meets Tuesdays 7:00-8:30 PM 

Class Description: Improve your ability to speak, understand, read and write Modern Hebrew with Susie Chalom, a master teacher who strives for every student to succeed in learning everyday Hebrew.

These classes are lively, engaging, and tailored for busy adults. Our curriculum moves at an easy but steady pace — with minimal homework — and incorporates modern Israeli texts and media, Quizlet flashcards, and games like Kahoot to enhance engagement and increase learning. 

Advanced Conversational Hebrew will allow you to expand your vocabulary and grammar and to read, write and speak more fluently. This is not an introductory-level course: newer learners are encouraged to enroll in our Conversational Hebrew for Beginners and Intermediate Conversational Hebrew courses, depending on participants’ level and familiarity with the language.

Required Materials:

First and Foremost Hebrew for Beginners and More (Barosh Uvarishona Ivrit Laramat Matchilim Veod), Textbook + Workbook

Link to purchase from Gefen Publishing

Link to purchase from Amazon

Session Dates: Tuesday, February 10 | |Tuesday, February 17| Tuesday, February 24 | No class 3/3, Purim | Tuesday, March 10 | Tuesday, March 17 | Tuesday, March 24 | No Class 4/7, Passover | No Class 4/14, Yom HaShoah | No class 4/21, Yom YaZikaron | Tuesday, April 28 | No class 4/21, Lag BaOmer | Tuesday, May 12 | Tuesday, May 19 | Tuesday, May 26 | Tuesday, June 2 | Tuesday, June 9

Suggested donation: $25 per session. Your contribution supports the sustainability of the class and allows flexible pricing for everyone. Contributions may be made at checkout upon completing your course registration, or separately at tcjewfolk.com/donate.

Class Description: Who doesn’t love a good story? And especially a story that has a big idea connected to other big ideas? Join us as we take our time to read these texts slowly, working to consider why they were written and what messages we might learn (or push back on) from them.

Sefer HaAggadah is a massive collection of aggadot/tales, arranged thematically, and gleaned in the early 20th century by Bialik and Ravnitzky from classic Jewish sources (up to about 1000 CE).

Classes are designed for drop-in participation; no prior knowledge is necessary or expected.

Instructor Bio: Sara Lynn remembers receiving her first chumash (volume of Torah) in 3rd grade – and thus was born a life-long love of studying Torah. Born in Chicago, she landed in St. Paul in 1989 where she came to work at the Talmud Torah of St. Paul Day School because the mission and vision resonated with her soul. After serving in many roles at TTSP, she served as the Director of Hineni from its inception in 2014 to 2022. She believes passionately in the importance of Jewish learning and the impact it can have on people’s lives. She loves exploring Jewish texts, customs, values, and ideas with students. Sara Lynn enjoys cooking, gardening, visiting with friends, singing, and being outdoors. Sara Lynn is married to Barbie Levine and is Savta to Ruby and Lucy.

Spring 2026 Session Dates: Friday, Feb 20 • Friday, Feb 27 • Friday, March 6 • Friday, March 20 • Friday, March 27 • Friday, April 10 • Friday, April 17 • Friday, April 24 • Friday, May 1 • Friday, May 8 • Friday, May 29 • Friday, June 5 • Friday, June 12 • Friday, June 19 • Friday, June 26  

Suggested donation: $25 per session. Your contribution supports the sustainability of the class and allows flexible pricing for everyone. Contributions may be made at checkout upon completing your course registration, or separately at tcjewfolk.com/donate.

Class Description: Join us for lively discussion, rich text study, and compelling analysis. As we come to each Torah portion each year, we find new inspiration, new meanings, and new connections with the text. We use materials that enable us to access the depth and richness of Hasidic spirituality presented in contemporary terms. Our texts (in English) are the comments of a Hasidic master on the Torah portion, and its extension based in mindfulness practice and Jewish spirituality.

Classes are designed for drop-in participation; no prior knowledge is necessary or expected.

Instructor Bio: Sara Lynn remembers receiving her first chumash (volume of Torah) in 3rd grade – and thus was born a life-long love of studying Torah. Born in Chicago, she landed in St. Paul in 1989 where she came to work at the Talmud Torah of St. Paul Day School because the mission and vision resonated with her soul. After serving in many roles at TTSP, she served as the Director of Hineni from its inception in 2014 to 2022. She believes passionately in the importance of Jewish learning and the impact it can have on people’s lives. She loves exploring Jewish texts, customs, values, and ideas with students. Sara Lynn enjoys cooking, gardening, visiting with friends, singing, and being outdoors. Sara Lynn is married to Barbie Levine and is Savta to Ruby and Lucy.

Spring 2026 Session Dates: Tuesday, Feb 24 • Tuesday, March 10 • Tuesday, March 17 • Tuesday, March 24 • Tuesday, April 7 • Tuesday, April 14 • Tuesday, April 21 • Tuesday, April 28 • Tuesday, May 5 • Tuesday, May 12 • Tuesday, May 19 • Tuesday, May 26 • Tuesday, June 2 • Tuesday, June 9 • Tuesday, June 16

Suggested donation: $20 per session. Your contribution supports the sustainability of the class and allows flexible pricing for everyone. Contributions may be made at checkout upon completing your course registration, or separately at tcjewfolk.com/donate.

Class Description: Mindfulness meditation is a practice that can support and sustain our Jewish lives and the fulfillment of our Jewish values. This practice helps to make our minds more spacious, perceptive, and free.

Each session will include a short teaching followed by a sitting period. Drop-in; no experience necessary.

Instructor Bio: Sara Lynn remembers receiving her first chumash (volume of Torah) in 3rd grade – and thus was born a life-long love of studying Torah. Born in Chicago, she landed in St. Paul in 1989 where she came to work at the Talmud Torah of St. Paul Day School because the mission and vision resonated with her soul. After serving in many roles at TTSP, she served as the Director of Hineni from its inception in 2014 to 2022. She believes passionately in the importance of Jewish learning and the impact it can have on people’s lives. She loves exploring Jewish texts, customs, values, and ideas with students. Sara Lynn enjoys cooking, gardening, visiting with friends, singing, and being outdoors. Sara Lynn is married to Barbie Levine and is Savta to Ruby and Lucy.

Spring 2026 Session Dates: Thursday, Feb 19 • Thursday, Feb 26 • Thursday, March 4 • Thursday, March 19 • Thursday, March 26 | Thursday, April 16 • Thursday, April 23 • Thursday, April 30 • Thursday, May 7 • Thursday, May 16 • Thursday, May 21 • Thursday, May 28 • Thursday, June 4 • Thursday, June 11 • Thursday, June 18 • Thursday, June 25

Class Description

How many “Bible Stories” do you know from Tanakh (the Pentateuch, or Five Books of Moses) beyond those found in Bereshit (Genesis) and Shemot (Exodus)? Explore how Moses, Miriam, and Aaron change and develop after leading the Israelites out of Egypt and encounter a whole new cast of characters in Vayikrah (Leviticus) and Bamidbar (Numbers) through a weekly series on the human stories within these chapters — and how modern psychology can deepen our understanding of the behaviors, reactions, and dialogue exhibited therein.

Join Rabbanit Dalia Davis, Director of Pastoral Education at SVIVAH, for shared study and reflections every Wednesday, 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM at Congregation Darchei Noam or online.

Class Dates

5/27, 6/3, 6/10, 6/17, 6/24, 7/8
No class on 7/1

Instructor Bio

Dalia graduated from Yeshivat Maharat’s Advance Kollel, majored in Jewish History and Dance at Barnard College and studied in Israel at Nishmat. She also received an M.A. in Jewish Education from Y.U. and a certificate in Talmud and Halacha from GPATS. 

Join Maayanot and TC Jewfolk's FolkLab for a social and educational evening! Learn mikveh basics and explore ritual immersion practices or delve deeper into Jewish texts related to mikveh. We will enjoy dips and sips – snacks and custom mocktails like Naked Negronis, Immersion Elixirs, and Seven Steps Spritzers.

We will offer two learning tracks:

Intro to Mikveh, taught by Rabbi Alexander Davis - For those who are new to mikveh, or looking for a refresher on the basics of immersion customs and practices.

Mikveh in Rabbinic Texts, taught by Sara Lynn Newberger - For those seeking to deepen their understanding of texts related to mikveh and unpack some of the intricate conversations around mikveh laws and traditions.

Date: Thursday, June 11th, 2026
Time: 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Location: This event will take place at The Hillel Jewish Student Center on the University of Minnesota campus (1521 University Ave SE, Minneapolis 55414). A parking voucher for a nearby parking ramp is included in the cost of your registration. 

Finances are not a barrier to participation.

Please reach out to Cantor Rachel Stock Spilker at rachel@maayanotmn.org for confidential support.

About the Instructors:

Alexander Davis is senior rabbi of Beth El Synagogue. He received his B.A. in German Studies from Grinnell College and in 1999 graduated from the Jewish Theological Seminary with rabbinic ordination and an M.A. in Jewish Education. When he is not learning or teaching Torah, he loves cooking and baking, travel and the arts. Rabbi Davis grew up in Portland, Oregon and lived in Jerusalem and New York City before moving with his wife to the Twin Cities. He is blessed to be the father of four boys.

Sara Lynn Newberger believes in bringing the voices of her students into dialogue with Jewish texts and traditions. This process can be empowering, community building, and may even be transformative. Sara Lynn worked for many years at the Talmud Torah of St. Paul as a teacher, curriculum coordinator, administrator and founding director of Hineni: Adult Jewish Learning and Contemplative Practices. Now in retirement, Sara Lynn continues to teach adults through FolkLab, a program of TCJewfolk. When she is not teaching, she enjoys volunteering at the Como Conservatory, gardening, and spending time outdoors. She and her partner, Barbie, are active at Beth Jacob Congregation and frequently travel to visit their granddaughters. 

Every summer, Jewish clergy across the Twin Cities invite Jews of all backgrounds, identities, and life journeys to a community-wide series of teach-ins on a unifying theme or subject. Join TC Jewfolk's FolkLab and our community partners for the 2026 Summer Jewish Learning Series to explore Jewish perspectives on RESILIENCE through text-based learning, dialogue, and contemplative practice.

All sessions are open to everyone! A suggested donation of $18 is encouraged. Sign up for the whole series or select the events that speak to you. 

Wed, July 29th at 7:00 PM

Resilient Notes: Two Millenia of Jewish Music in Under an Hour
with Cantor Rachel Stock Spilker, Mayaanot

We will explore how Jews developed and continue to maintain a distinct musical tradition, despite migrating to disparate locations and intersecting with local cultures. Musical examples will punctuate our learning. You might even get to sing a song or two!

This session will meet at The Mount Zion garden and terrace.

Wednesday, August 5th at 7:00 PM

Receiving Help, Building Resilience: Lessons from Yitro
with Rabbi Sharon Stiefel, Mayim Rabim

Yitro, Moses’ father-in-law and a Midianite priest, recognizes the heavy burden Moses is carrying and helps him shift from isolated leadership to a more sustainable model of shared responsibility. This example shows that resilience is not achieved by doing everything alone, but through accepting help and establishing systems of support. We’ll also reflect on how openness to perspectives beyond our own circle can contribute to growth.

This session will meet at Mayim Rabim, at the Friends Meeting House 44th and York, Mineapolis.

Wednesday, August 12th at 7:00 PM

Resting for Resilience: More than Jews have kept Shabbat, Shabbat has kept the Jews
with Rabbi Tamar Magill-Grimm, Beth Jacob Congregation

This session will meet at Wabasha Brewery.