Adult Education

We are delighted to offer a wide range of in-person and online courses and events, including these topics: Jewish arts and culture, text study, singing, social action, history, Israel, food, and literature--something for everyone. For more information about these programs, contact us at wct@wct.org.

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Woodlands Webinars with Your Clergy and friends!
Wednesdays throughout the year on Zoom
Take an hour and join your clergy and invited guests for an hour of learning online. Each month, we'll meet either for a lunch break (1:15 pm sessions) or dessert (8:00 pm sessions). Grab a nosh and get in front of a computer. We'll meet in real time and discuss lively topics together.

2023-2024 Schedule 

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Book Club - two options!
Join us on the third Wednesday of every month for reading, discussion, and fun! Two monthly book clubs offer more opportunities to explore the issues our community wrestles with through group conversation. Books will range in topic and may cross over between the clubs, and will be facilitated by different members of the group.  

Daytime Book Club
Wed, Dec 20, 2:00-3:30 pm (in person and on Zoom)

Evening Book Club
Wed, Dec 20, 7:30-9:00 pm (in person) 

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Hevra Torah Learning
Shabbat mornings, 9:15-10:15 am in the Library and on Zoom
Whether you bring a little one to religious school or you're just taking it easy at home, why not come spend Saturday morning in an engaging, stimulating and uplifting hour talking Torah? Some really nice folks come together and sit with our clergy to explore the portion of the week. No Hebrew or prior Torah study experience necessary!

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Jewish Studies with Harriet Levine
Thursdays from 10:15-11:45 am weekly starting Sep 28 in Person and on Zoom
Beginning topic:  Antisemitism in the US and Throughout the World
A beloved Jewish Studies learning group. Open to newcomers. Contact Harriet at hl19845@gmail.com. 

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Racial Justice Task Force/Adult Education Programs

The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story by Nikole Hannah-Jones 
The Book
4th Tue. of each month, on Zoom
Book discussion group sponsored by Racial Justice Task Force and Adult Education Committees. Each month, we read another 1 or 2 chapters of this controversial book, which attempts to reframe our understanding of American history by placing slavery and its ongoing legacy at the center of our national narrative. Read Chapter 8 (Self-Defense) and 9 (Punishment) for 9/26 session. Participants are invited to volunteer to take turns facilitating discussion. Although we have begun, it is not too late to join the group – each chapter stands on its own. Register at wct.org/1619Project. 

Project 1619 Documentary Series (at the Greenburgh Town Library) 
Wednesdays from 6:00-8:00 pm
Oct 11, Nov 8, Dec 13, Jan 10, Feb 7, Mar 13
The library will show part of the Hulu documentary series based on chapters from the book, followed by a discussion with moderators. Pizza will be served.

Racial Justice Book Read (date T/B/D)
For those going on the Adult Civil Rights Journey, those who have gone, and everyone else. Choose one book from a list of several that expand our understanding of racial justice, read it and discuss it with others who made the same choice. Watch for book selection in temple emails.

Generation Growth: Film Presentation and Discussion
Sun, Feb 25, 4:00 pm (hybrid)
Where do Racial Justice, Environmental, and Civic Engagement Task Forces Meet? At Woodlands, when Green Bronx Machine founder Stephen Ritz presents his award-winning documentary. Ritz, a globally acclaimed Bronx teacher, created the first edible classroom in the world. He shows how, in one of the nation’s poorest communities, his students thrive in school and life by growing, cooking, eating, and sharing the bounty of their classroom. Watch for sign-up info.

Contact rjtf@wct.org for more information.

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WCT University
Sun, Oct 29
Keynote speaker: Dr. Lisa Joffee from Brandeis University, will speak about the Jewish perspective on reproductive justice.  This program will include breakout groups for adults and teens.

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Book Fair Shabbat
Friday, Dec 1 from 8:00-9:00 pm
Susan Rudnick, author of Edna’s Gift, will speak. Book Club will read this book in November, and Susan will also speak at the Book Club meeting on Nov 15.

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Funny Girls (in coordination with Temple Beth Abraham)
Wed, Jan 24, 7:30-9:00 pm on Zoom
For the third year in a row, we’re partnering with Temple Beth Abraham to bring you this program on female comedians. Beginning with Jewish mother caricatures in the silent era through their evolution to becoming an indispensable segment of the Hollywood storytelling machine, Jewish women have never failed to capture the big screen with their attitudes, intelligence, appearance, style and, most of all, proudly Jewish wit. From such attention-grabbers as Totie Fields, Joan Rivers and Belle Barth to superstars like Fanny Brice, Gertrude Berg, Bette Midler, Barbra Streisand and Julia Louis-Dreyfus, we’re giving it up for the ladies and all the laughs they’ve provided over the decades. And we won’t forget about Molly Picon!

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Israel Course: For the Sake of Argument
4 Thursdays, Jan 18 and Feb 1 from noon-1:30 pm
Jan 25 and Feb 8 from 7:30-9:00 pm
Facilitated by Rabbi Joan Glazer Farber
We live in a divided world, avoiding conversations which could develop into arguments. We have forgotten how to disagree with and challenge each other and still talk to each other at the end of the day. Within the Jewish community, this is especially true about Israel. Using stories and a program developed by Robbie Gringras and Abi Dauber Sterne, we will provoke arguments and disagreements and hopefully reclaim arguments for a better world.

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Adult Education Planning Brunch
Sunday, Jan 28 from 11:30 am-1:00 pm
Please come with ideas of what you’d like to see educationally for adults in our congregation. What has worked? What’s missing?
What types of programs would engage you and your friends? Your participation is essential for keeping our adult learning vibrant,
exciting, and fun!

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The Janes, A Film and Discussion
Sun, Jan 28, 3:00 pm
The Reproductive Task Force presents a documentary about the Janes Collective, a group of daring but otherwise ordinary women who helped thousands of women obtain abortions in the pre-Roe days of the late 1960’s and 70’s.

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Know the Way, Go the Way, Show the Way
Six Sundays (11:30 am - 1:00 pm): Feb 4, 18, 25 and Mar 10, 17, 24
Facilitated by Rabbi Billy Dreskin
For millennia, Judaism has offered profound insights into how to live a life of integrity and joy. 20th century religious thinker Martin Buber found such wisdom in the imaginative stories of 18th-19th century Hasidism. We will use Buber’s six essays on “The Way of Humanity” to explore these teachings together. 

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Woodlands Singers
We hope you’ll consider joining Cantor Jenna and our Woodlands Singers, who delight and enrich services and other special events. Rehearsals are on Wednesday evenings, 8:00-9:15 pm. If you can carry a tune and like group singing, this is the place for you. Contact Cantor Jenna (cantorjenna@wct.org) for more information.