Chai Mitzvah Program

Being Jewish means you learn and do, all your life. Our tradition teaches us the world stands on Torah, Avodah, and Gmilut Chasadim – learning, spirituality, and social action. That is, head, heart, and hand.

We point our children’s learning toward that moment when they become full members of our community, when they become Bar or Bat Mitzvah. What about after that? How do we develop, re-define our Jewish lives?

The Adult Education committees of Tifereth Isra-el and B’nai Jeshurun have decided to launch an innovative initiative for adults, Chai Mitzvah.

Chai Mitzvah has five basic components in a twelve-month program:

  • Group study – meeting monthly on a set curriculum
  • Independent study – something you would like to learn more about in Jewish life, history, literature, culture, & etc. Design your own independent study.
  • Ritual – choosing a ritual or spiritual practice to incorporate into your life
  • Social action – choosing either individually, or as a group to commit to a local volunteer opportunity
  • Celebrate! – At the end of the twelve months, acknowledge the journey with some kind of celebration. Participants who finish the program receive a certificate from Chai Mitzvah, and a tree planted in their honor courtesy of Jewish National Fund’s collaboration with Chai Mitzvah.

Chai Mitzvah will meet on the fourth Tuesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. beginning October 23. Please note, December’s meeting will be Tuesday the 18th. See schedule and topics below. The cost for the pro-gram is $36. Scholarships are available. Please sign up and receive your program packet from Erin Plank at the TBJ office. If you have any questions please contact Rebecca Shaffer: bookcclane@me.com or (515) 343- 7831.

DATE LOCATION TOPIC INSTRUCTOR
Tues, Oct 23

Tues, Nov 27

Tues, Dec 18

Tues, Jan 22

Tues, Feb 26

Tues, Mar 26

Tues, Apr 23

Tues, May 21

Tues, June 25

Tues, July 23

Tues, Aug 27

Tues, Sept 17

Tiffereth Israel

B’nai Jeshurun

Tiffereth Israel

B’nai Jeshurun

Tiffereth Israel

Tiffereth Israel

B’nai Jeshurun

Tiffereth Israel

B’nai Jeshurun

B’nai Jeshurun

Tiffereth Israel

B’nai Jeshurun

Adult Rites of Passage

Tzedakah

Individual and Community

Interpersonal Relationships

Mindfulness 

Passover

Israel

Modim Anachnu Lach

The Environment

Leadership

Death and Loss

Arc of Fall Holidays

Rabbi Emily Barton

Rachelle Hjelmaas

Rabbi Emily Barton

Samantha Kemp-Carlin

Christine Dietz

Eleanah Siepmann

Rabbi David Kaufman

Christine Dietz

Josh Mandelbaum

Sally Frank

Robin Carney

Ryba Epstein