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