BZBI is a Beit Midrash, a House of Study, for all members of the Jewish community and the Philadelphia community at large. We offer a wide variety of lectures, classes, and discussions for adults of all ages. Some classes and events are fee-based. Please contact the temple office to learn about scholarships. No one will be turned away from any BZBI congregational learning.
BZBI clergy and members offer quite a unique hub of knowledge. Semi-retired rabbis, professors, and our lay leaders have a wealth of expertise in a vast array of topics such as Sacred Texts, Hebrew Instruction, Ritual, Arts and Culture, History, and so much more. The length of courses varies from one meeting to weekly for a semester or two. Some courses are offered strictly in person, while others are offered online only. Classes may meet during the day or in the evenings.
BZBI frequently invites various speakers, authors, and personalities to share their ideas, book releases, and expertise with our members and guests of our community. Other times, we will coordinate an outing for our members to attend a theatrical production or musical performance using our proximity to so many cultural institutions to its fullest.
Whether a small study group on Parshat HaShavua (“Weekly Torah Portion”) or a post-Kiddush informative discussion on a wide array of topics, the thirst for knowledge in our community will be quenched during the sacred time of Shabbat.
Judaism is a world unto itself, encompassing rituals, ideas, and thousands of years of history. If you’ve been curious about Jewish learning but didn’t know where to start, this is the place for you! The American Jewish University’s On One Foot curriculum covers all of the essentials in an interactive format that encourages personal engagement. Join BZBI clergy and many other community rabbis for a year-long adventure in Jewish learning. This course is ideal for students seeking a basic orientation to fundamental Jewish concepts.
This class is offered in cooperation with the Rabbi Morris Goodblatt Academy Introduction to Judaism Program sponsored by the Philadelphia Region of the Rabbinical Assembly, which represents Conservative Jewish rabbis in Greater Philadelphia, Southern New Jersey and Delaware. Students interested in conversion are invited to schedule an appointment to meet with BZBI clergy.