Community Lifelong Jewish Learning
Explore the array of Lifelong Jewish Learning programs offered annually or regularly at Temple Ner Tamid. For the most current information regarding the dates and times of these programs, please refer to our Calendar. If you're not a member yet and wish to attend any of these events, kindly reach out to our office for more details at 973-338-1500 or via email at hello@nertamid.org. We welcome your participation and look forward to sharing these enriching experiences with you!
Adult B'nei Mitzvah - Casual Minyan - Creatives' Beit Midrash - Interfaith Friends - Lunch With The Rabbi - Melton School
Open Judaism Parent's Group - Rosh Chodesh Women's Group - Seniors Group - Short Story Group
Summer Service Leading - Talmud Study For Lawyers - Tikkun Middot - Torah Study - Tot Shabbat
Adult B'nai Mitzvah Classes
While the notion of B’nei Mitzvah is often linked with 12- and 13-year-olds, it holds profound meaning at any stage of life. Whether you're a Jew-by-choice seeking to deepen your connection or missed this rite of passage earlier in life, we welcome you to explore our Adult B’nei Mitzvah course that runs every few years. This enlightening journey unfolds weekly starting with foundational teachings about Judaism and progressing to crafting a D'var Torah, mastering Torah reading, and leading segments of the Shabbat service. It offers a transformative and enriching experience for all participants. This class is offered every few years and runs for approximately 15 months. Please check with the office for when the next session will be held.
Casual Minyan and Tish
Are you Interested in leading Shabbat morning services in a casual setting?
Looking for opportunities to chant Torah or Haftarah? An opportunity to lead a Torah study? Does your spirituality thrive in smaller, more intimate settings?
Once a month, Clergy Associate Ronni Pressman leads our community in a Casual Minyan service in the Chapel. She provides comprehensive support, including service cue sheets, chant recordings and resources for Torah study, ensuring you feel fully prepared for success.
Following the service, join us for a delightful lunch and engaging speaker or discussion, a cherished gathering we call a Tish.
Creatives' Beit Midrash
Join our vibrant group dedicated to exploring and crafting expressive works that stem from the depths of our hearts and minds. Whether you're a visual artist, musician, theater enthusiast, culinary artist, writer, dancer, photographer, or simply passionate about creative expression, if you seek inspiration from Jewish texts to fuel your creativity, this group is tailor-made for you.
At each gathering, we embark on a fascinating text study. During the first half of our time together, we delve into pertinent texts, contemplating how, as creatives, we can interpret and draw inspiration from these narratives. In the latter part, we eagerly share and engage in constructive critique of our 'creations,' fostering a supportive environment for growth and innovation. This group is co-led by Clergy Associate, Ronni Pressman and a monthly guest co-teacher of text.
Interfaith Friends Circle
The Interfaith Friends Circle at Temple Ner Tamid embodies a nurturing and attentive community, dedicated to fostering a safe haven for individuals who cherish multiple religious and/or cultural traditions within their homes.
Here, participants enjoy a confidential, non-judgmental environment to engage in discussions on pertinent issues, delve into insightful articles and texts that impact interfaith families, openly share personal experiences, and forge enduring friendships within our inclusive community.
Lunch With The Rabbi
Embark on a captivating journey of learning with Rabbi Marc Katz in his engaging monthly series, Lunch with the Rabbi. Held mostly on the second Tuesday of each month, this group collectively reads and delves into the themes and values of a selected book throughout the year, fostering insightful discussions and exploration.
Newcomes are warmly embraced into this enriching experience. Please bring your own dairy or pareve lunch as we gather for an intellectually stimulating and nourishing discussion.
Melton School Graduate Classes
Are you looking for a deeper understanding of what it means to be Jewish? Our Melton class sets the standard for high-quality, text-based, interactive Jewish study by offering world-class curriculum that informs and inspires students from all knowledge-levels and backgrounds. Taking place virtually on Wednesday mornings with Rabbi Katz.
Open Judaism Class For Parents
Over the course of the year this group will tackle many of the hardest theological questions in Judaism, like what we think of God, our relationship to Jewish practice, who is a Jew, the place of Jewish law in our lives etc. Reading the book Open Judaism by Rabbi Barry Schwartz, we will try to figure out what we think of these issues and how to translate them to our children.
Rosh Chodesh Women's Group
The welcoming of the new moon is a day that has always been associated with women's renewal and celebration.
Our Temple Ner Tamid Rosh Chodesh Chavura began in 2009. Our group meets monthly between the months of Elul (Aug.-Sep.) and Sivan (May-June). The groups' diversity is its greatest strength. Each year Cantor Greenberg sets an intention for study and deep connection through text, chant, drumming, singing, dancing, artistic and literary Midrash, and ritual. Join us each month or whenever you are able. Everyone is welcome!
Seniors Group
The Louis R. and Dorothy Druian Fellowship Circle is a Senior Group sponsored by Temple Ner Tamid and the JCC Metrowest and founded by the late Dorothy Druian. The group meets weekly on Tuesdays from September until June. Meetings run from 11:15am to 1:15pm with exercises and current events discussions followed by a dairy bag lunch (dessert and coffee provided) and an afternoon educational program. The group is open to the community.
Short Story Group
The TNT Jewish Short Story Group was initiated at the beginning of Covid 19, February 2020. The sessions are led by Norman Pollack and over the past three years 113 short stories have been discussed. All the meetings are virtual (ZOOM) and there is no registration required. All the stories have been made available for the participants to read. All the meetings take place on the third Thursday of the month at 1:30 in the afternoon and the information about the story and the ZOOM details are made available in the weekly TNT Egeret under the banner of “Adult Education.” You can also get on the Short Story email list by contacting Norman Pollack.
Summer Service Leading
Become a Leader of Summer Services at Temple Ner Tamid! Ordination as a Rabbi or Cantor isn't a prerequisite to guide our community in prayer. For two months during summer, the Clergy take a well-deserved break from leading Friday night and Saturday morning services.
Over 40 dedicated community members assume diverse roles to facilitate our prayer services. From sharing personal perspectives on Torah portions in the weekly D'var to offering musical performances and chanting prayers, our members contribute significantly. It's a unique chance for our community to be led by fellow members, and we warmly invite you to participate.
Talmud Study For Lawyers
Tikkun Middot Project (TMP)
TheTikkun Middot Project (TMP) supports the ongoing character development of its participants, through mindfulness practice and tikkun middot, the cultivation of moral traits (such as patience, compassion, trust, and mindful speech). In 2014-15, the Institute For Jewish Spirituality piloted an innovative community-based national program, to promote character development through the integration of mindfulness and tikkun middot practice.
In 2017, Cantor Greenberg brought this wonderful approach to living Jewishly to our community, and along with twelve adults from our religious school parent population, spent 10 months engaging in this practice and it was a truly life changing experience for all involved. Participation involves monthly meetings with a cohort of 14 members, weekly check-ins with an assigned partner, and a daily journaling practice.
The ikkar/essence of this practice is that by cultivating one's attention to moral traits individuals become more...
Tot Shabbat, Wake-Up Shabbat, and Holiday Programs
Temple Ner Tamid cherishes our youngest members! Once a month, we gather for a vibrant Friday Night Shabbat service filled with music and movement, offering an interactive way to introduce the history, values, and traditions of Judaism to the newest generation. It's a fantastic opportunity for parents of little ones, from birth to first grade and beyond, to experience Shabbat in an exciting and interactive way. Stick around after the service for a delightful dinner.
On Saturday mornings, join us for Wake-Up Shabbat, complete with bagels and coffee. Our celebrations for holidays like Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Hanukkah, Purim, and Passover are equally special. These Tot services are designed to engage our younger congregants in a fun and interactive way, providing a networking experience for parents as well. Please note, these events are not separate; all congregants, whether tiny or not, are always welcome at our community events!