Judaic Studies

Chug Ivrit - Hebrew Club with Kollel Torah MiTzion
Wednesdays • 7:30-9:30pm • MJCC Senior Dining Room • FREE

Want to improve your Hebrew, enjoy fun games and activities, and meet some great people all at the same time? Join the young men and woman from Kollel Torah MiTzion and Bat Ami - the young, creative, and energetic team from Israel who've opted to spend the year in Memphis in order to strengthen our love for Israel and Torah learning - as they lead a Chug Ivrit (a Hebrew club). These club meetings, open to all ages and abilities, will help you learn Hebrew through game play, novel exercises, and humorous role play.

The Jewish Spin
(CANCELED) Thursday, June 8 • 12:00pm • Shainberg Art Gallery • FREE

Bring your own lunch and join Rabbi Mordechai Harris for an informal and informative conversation about Current Events from a Jewish lens.

Ahavat Achim Challenge
July 11–August 1, and August 7

During the Three Weeks (a period of mourning recalling the destruction of the Jewish Temples which our Rabbis teach was a consequence of needless Jewish infighting) the MJCC Ahavat Achim (Brotherly Love) Challenge seeks to build bridges, strengthen existing bonds, and make a bold statement of our mutual caring and interdependence.
We encourage all our members to make a special effort during this time to perform unprompted deeds of kindness toward one another, and in particular, on behalf of others who inhabit different social circles and demographics. Apply your creativity to enhance feelings of appreciation, warmth, and interconnectedness among our diverse community. Together, we will ensure that this period of mournful introspection serves as the catalyst for a happier tomorrow.

A comment box will be available at the fitness desk outside Rabbi Mordechai’s office for you to share stories with the rest of our community.

On an agency level, we challenge area Jewish organizations to participate in a Secret Agency Gift Exchange (SAGE). Community SAGE's will draw names (distributed at the beginning of the Three Weeks), and perform kindness toward their designated organization throughout the Three Weeks (with a firm spending limit of $100). We will publicly reveal the Secret Agencies and share their contributions on Tu B’Av – the Jewish holiday of love and rebirth – which falls on August 7th.

Elul Enrichment 
Wednesday, August 23–September 20

The Jewish month of Elul (which precedes Rosh HaShana and Yom Kippur) functions as a traditional time of personal reflection and self-improvement. We seek to increase our Jewish learning, strengthen our ritual practice, and improve our human character and relationships.

(SOON TO COME) Throughout the month of Elul, Rabbi Harris will offer a daily guide with suggestions for enrichment. Guide will also be available in print at the MJCC.

Interested in joining a class or have questions? Contact Rabbi Mordechai Harris at mharris@jccmemphis.org or (901) 259-9227.