He who will not seek knowledge, knowledge will certainly not seek him.
—Midrash, Proverbs 2

Regardless of your age or how much you know about Judaism, Temple Beth Shalom has vibrant programs that will enlighten, educate, and entertain you. Whether it's a concert performance you crave, a deeper dive into the the Torah, a debate on Israel or discussion of Jewish life, Temple Beth Shalom is a beit midrash, a house of learning that will engage your mind, body, and soul. Join our congregants as they enjoy:

• Prayer
• Torah Study
• Holiday celebrations
• Adult education programs

details below

• Scholars in residence

details below

• Performing arts presentations

Adult Education
(check the weekly e-digest for more info and updates)

Dr. Patrick Clawson:
Where is Israel in the Arab Spring?
Sunday, January 29, 2:00 pm, Main Sanctuary
Join us to hear noted Middle East expert, Dr. Patrick Clawson, deputy director for research at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, discuss the impact on Israel of the recent momentous events throughout the Middle East. Dr. Clawson is the author or editor of 25 books and monographs, has written more than 75 articles about the Middle East and international economics, appears frequently on television and has published op-ed articles in major newspapers nationwide, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post.
Cost is $10 for TBS members, $15 for non-members.

Jewish Literature Series with Bonnie Ellinger: Perspectives of Jewish Identity The second session will meet on Sunday, February 5 from 1-2:30 in the Upper Sanctuary. My Father's Paradise (2008) is a memoir by journalist Ariel Sabar about his Kurdish-born father who is one of the last Jewish native speakers of Aramaic. Sabar traces his father's journey from isolated, poverty-stricken Kurdistan - where he was the region's last Bar Mitzvah - to an Israel that is unwelcoming to Kurdistan's "primitive" Jews, and finally, to the U.S., as a highly-regarded professor of his endangered native language. At the same time, Sabar documents his own path as a scornful son who is unable to appreciate his father's uniqueness until his own son is born. Cost is $10 per session for TBS members; $15 for non-members. A copy of the book may be borrowed from the Education Office.

Jewish Holiday Workshops, Rabbi Marvin Schwab. This series is designed to bring participants to a deeper level of philosophical understanding and spiritual meaning about the holidays. The next sessions will be Trees of Life: Our Commitment to the Future (Tu B’Shvat) on February 7 and What Do We Get from the Book of Esther (Purim) on February 28. Classes meet on Tuesdays from 7-8:30 in the Children’s Library. Cost is $10 per session for non-members, free for TBS members.

Walking with the Psalms: Creativity in the Journey of our Lives, Rabbi Nahum Ward-Lev
Biblical wisdom tells us that living is a creative process. The Hebrew Psalms, in powerful poetic imagery, explore the many twists and turns of a creative life. In this four-session workshop, we will study selected psalms that reveal the multi-faceted nature of a life journey. Our study will include a close examination of the written text, guided meditations, artistic exercises, conversation and walking with the psalms. Join us on Sundays (January 8, 22 & February 5, 19) from 1:00-4:30 pm in the Upper Sanctuary for this extraordinary experience. Cost: Members $35 per session; $120 for series; Non-members $40 per session; $140 for series.

National Jewish Arts Weekend: February 25-26 TBS will be part of a national effort to celebrate local Jewish artists who are creating Judaica. Chair Jim Cohen and Joy Rosenberg are gathering local Jewish artists from a variety of media (it’s easy to find Jewish artists in New Mexico, but more challenging to find Jewish artists making Judaic art!) who will help lead Shabbat morning services and participate in a panel discussion on Sunday at 2 p.m., moderated by Ellen Zieselman. After the discussion will be a trunk show, at which the community will have the opportunity to purchase works of art by the participating artists. Watch for more information on this very exciting program!

Ongoing Programs and Classes
•Shabbat Torah Study: Lox, bagels and lively discussion every Saturday at 9:15.
•Adult Hebrew. Teacher: Bonnie Ellinger). Sundays and Mondays.
•Beit Midrash. Teacher: Rabbi Nahum Ward-Lev. Tuesday evenings and Thursday mornings.

Scholar-in-Residence Rabbi Larry Bach, the Craig Fawcett Memorial Scholar: “Social Action and the Spirituality of Jewish Music” February 10-11. Rabbi Larry Bach looks forward to returning to Santa Fe for a second time as a scholar in residence. In his previous visit, he helped us to think about social justice and community organizing; this time around, he plans to focus more directly on Jewish spiritual practices. At the very deepest level, Rabbi Bach believes that a contemplative life and a search for justice reinforce each other, and he looks forward to exploring the deep connections between those two ways of being. He will do so through music, meditation, movement, prayer, study, and conversation.
Rabbi Bach has served Temple Mount Sinai of El Paso, Texas since his ordination from the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, in 1998.
Rabbi Bach works passionately on issues of interfaith understanding and social justice. He is among the founders of Border Interfaith, a broad-based community organization affiliated with the Industrial Areas Foundation. He has served on the boards of Project Arriba, a jobs-training program, and Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center, a non-profit provider of low-cost legal aid for immigrants. In 2007, he was named “Racial Justice Ambassador” by the YWCA in recognition of his work in these areas and others.
Rabbi Bach is also committed to scholarship and the inner life. He is an alumnus of the Institute for Jewish Spirituality’s Rabbinical Leadership Program, where he developed a passion for the study of Hasidic Torah commentary, and deepened his prayer life and meditation practice. In 2010-11, he was a member of the second cohort of “Rabbis Without Borders,” an interdenominational project of the National Center for Learning and Leadership.