Jewish Life & Learning Programs

Curious about Judaism? Have you always had questions? At the J, we offer a friendly and engaging place where you can learn about Judaism! Individuals from all faith backgrounds are welcome.

CJLL Programs

Snack and Story at the J
Children with their family and friends are invited for a monthly story hour and kid-friendly snack, presented by the Memphis Jewish Community Center in partnership with PJ Library of Memphis, a program of Memphis Jewish Federation.

Partners Memphis
Discussion Topic • The Seder Experience: A Nation of Educators
Come for an evening of good food, compelling dialogue, and fun socialization! The ”Partners” program is a “chavrusa-style” learning and social program through Partners in Jewish Life, based on the teachings of Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks. The goal is uniting Jewish communities, one pair at a time. We bring together Jews from diverse backgrounds, pairing up people from different levels of Jewish observance (even just Jew-ish identity), fostering new relationships built on friendship and respect.
Monday, March 23 • 7:00-8:30pm • in the Goldstein Lodge • Register

Author Talk | Children of The Shoah: Resistance, Refuge & Resilience | Two Amazing Stories – One Inspiring Event
Ages 10+

Rebecca Brenner Graham, author of Dear Miss Perkins
Frances Perkins was the first woman to serve in a presidential cabinet, the longest-serving Labor Secretary, and an architect of the New Deal. As Secretary of Labor, she wrestled widespread antisemitism and isolationism, finding creative ways to work around quotas and restrictive immigration laws. Diligent, resilient, empathetic, yet steadfast, she persisted on behalf of the desperate when others refused to act.

Janet Bond Brill, author of Little Edna’s War
A Harrowing memoir that traces the survival of Edna Szurek, a young Jewish girl born at Mila 18. Disguised as a Catholic child after escaping the Warsaw Ghetto, Edna became the youngest known member of the Polish Home Army at age 9. By 12, Pope Pius XII decorated her for bravery assisting the Polish Resistance, never knowing his "Catholic war hero" was actually a Jewish child in hiding.
Sun 2:00–3:30pm | 4/12 | $5 fee/FREE for members

Gems of Judaism: Ages 18+
Judaism has many beautiful facets that can be explored in myriad ways. This 6-week series of classes will highlight a different core, enduring treasure of Jewish Life that is meaningful across backgrounds and levels of observance.
Tue 10:30am–12:00pm | 4/14–5/19
All 6 weeks: $60 fee/$50m | Register

Community Challah Bake: Ages 10+
Men, women, and children (ages 10+) are invited to prepare and learn about making challah together. Pre-Registration required to ensure supplies for everyone.
Sponsorships available. For details, please email: LKurcfeld@jccmemphis.org
**Please Register by Wednesday, May 6**
Mon 6:30–8:00pm | 5/11 | $25 fee/$18m | Register

Come, Let's Learn
Are you interested in Jewish texts and ideas and want to gather with friends or like-minded individuals to think through how they might speak to your life? We can custom make a learning opportunity for you! Contact Laura Kurcfeld, Director of the Center for Jewish Life & Learning, at lkurcfeld@jccmemphis.org or (901) 259-9227 to get started.

These programs are funded by Memphis Jewish Federation’s Lemsky Endowment Fund.

Past Events

Tu B’Shevat Art Contest: Grades K–4th
Tu B’Shevat is a Jewish festival that marks the "New Year of the Trees" on the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Shevat. We invite all students in Grades K–4th to submit a piece of artwork to display in the MJCC. Tu B’Shevat's ancient roots are as an agricultural marker for Israeli farmers; today the holiday is primarily observed as an environmental holiday focused on gratitude for nature and the responsibility to care for the Earth. The holiday often incorporates the "seven species" of plants native to the land of Israel: wheat, barley, grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives, and dates.

Family Tu B'Shevat Celebration
Bring your family to celebrate Tu B'Shevat with the MJCC! Tree saplings, story times, and edible trees, oh my! Collect a FREE tree of your own to plant. Enjoy a professionally guided winter nature walk and then relax with the kids for a holiday story and create an edible tree for snacking!

Tu B'Shevat Seder at the J
In partnership with Torah MiTzion and Bat Ami, adults and teens (ages 16+) are invited to celebrate the Jewish New Year for the Trees, with the community at a meaningful Tu B’Shevat Seder focused on Jewish reflection and connection. Through traditional symbols, fruits of Israel, and guided conversation, we’ll explore themes of growth, responsibility, and renewal in our lives and in the world around us. Join us for an evening of learning, intention, and shared experience rooted in Jewish values and tradition.

Community Purim Carnival
Put on your most creative costume, grab your friends and family, and come enjoy a fun day filled with a bounce house, face painting, and more! Celebrate the joyous story of Purim with a costume contest and plenty of sweet treats. It’s a celebration you won’t want to miss! Price is per family.

Memphis Night of Jewish Learning
Join us as we come together across the Jewish community to learn from Memphis Jewish community rabbis, leaders, and educators. Cost covers dinner and 1 drink ticket. Attendees will choose a speaker in each of two consecutive 45-minute blocks of classes, affording the opportunity to study with great minds they always wanted to hear from, but may not have had the chance to previously. The third and final segment of the night will be a first taste of “Partners Memphis,” a new community-unifying program set to officially debut on Monday, March 23rd, pairing participants from different Jewish backgrounds for one-on-one learning and perspective sharing discussing the essays of the late Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sachs, zt”l, focusing on the poignant theme of "Community and the Dignity of Difference."

Rabbi Dr. Gavriel Brown (Margolin Hebrew Academy/Cooper Yeshiva of the South)
• "The Greatest Love Story Ever Told in the Talmud" - a study of Nedarim 50a and the story of Rabbi Akiva & his wife Rachel

Jason Caplan (The Bridge Institute Beit Abulafia)
• Beit Abulafia - The Torah sources of Melodic Hisbodedus - Learn How Music Deepens Our Personal Prayer

Rabbi Joel Finkelstein (Baron Hirsch Congregation)
• "The burden of the 613 commandants. Why is it so hard?"

Rabbi Ilai & Sarit Grunwald (Torah MiTzion Memphis)
• "Am Yisrael Chai - Where?"

Rabbi Cantor David Julian (Or Chadash Conservative Synagogue)
• "Music During Temple Times"

Rabbi Ross Levy (Temple Israel)
• "For the Sake of Heaven: How to Disagree Respectfully"

Rabbi Akiva Males (Young Israel of Memphis)
• “Operation Benjamin: Reclaiming the Fallen Jewish Soldiers of WWII”

Rabbi Yehoshua Nissan (Memphis Kollel)
• "A Hasidic Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy"

Rabbi Sammy Rosenbaum (Beth Sholom Synagogue)
• Rabbi’s Tisch - Come sing the songs of Motzei Shabbat, hear stories, learn Torah, and have a L’chaim

Bluma Zuckerbrot-Finkelstein (Memphis Jewish Federation)
• “Silence as Strategy: Unpacking the Absence of God in the Esther Story”

Questions? Contact Laura Kurcfeld, Director of the Center for Jewish Life & Learning, at lkurcfeld@jccmemphis.org or (901) 259-9227.