Needless to say, we are grateful for this exposure and look forward to our REAL launch here in the Bay Area shortly!  If you haven't seen the video on how our new eCharitybox works, be sure and check it out - and consider installing it on your PC, Mac, mobile phone, iPhone or Blackberry to perform the mitzvah of tzedakah on behalf of the Beit HaMidrash. :)

Listen to it streaming locally here or download the podcast from iTunes here. :)  Please note that if you are having any difficulty listening to this file, you can download QuickTime here.

Listen to it streaming from our website here or download the podcast from iTunes here. :) If you are having any difficulty listening to this file, you can download QuickTime here.

• The first and primary goal of the Beit HaMidrash is to enable cross-denominational learning and the sharing of perspectives across the full spectrum of Jewish movements: Orthodox (modern to haredi), Conservative, Reform, Reconstructionist, Renewal and Humanism. Enabling even the smallest minyanim from Novato to Aptos to have access to learning and scholarship from our full scholastic team as well as interested parties from outside these areas as applicable.

• To provide a broad range of educational classes, including but not limited to:

         o        Public lectures and seminars on issues of import and potential controversy within the Jewish community;

         o Co-sponsoring the Thursday morning Talmud and Pirkei Avot studies at Congregation Sinai;

o Thursday noon-1pm individualized study classes at Ahabat Torah;

o Secular studies including but not limited to Jewish art history, historical seminars, Jewish leadership, language studies;

o Other classes with support from leading Rabbis and lay scholars (regardless of Jewish denomination or other faith) throughout the Bay Area and beyond

• Bringing Jewish learning into the 21st century through appropriate use of technology – streaming multimedia via YouTube and iTunes, online social communities such as Facebook, Twitter; classes via videoconferencing and online teaching platforms. 

• Close working relationship with trans-Jewish national movements such as Hadassah as well as local groups serving the entire Jewish community such as Chevra Kadisha

• Working towards the development of a single Jewish court (beis din) in the San Jose area to serve potential converts from all denominations

• Co-sponsoring the annual Jewish Heritage day at the San Jose Giants and working with the San Francisco Giants for their similar event

• Sponsoring the annual Sephardic Heritage week program

• Outreach to the Anusim community

Dr. Levitow has taught Yiddish at Stanford and has received both a PhD in English literature from Princeton and a BA from Stanford. He has studied Yiddish at the Los Angeles Arbeter Ring (Workmen's Circle) and at the California Institute for Yiddish Culture and Language's intensive language program, where he has also served as an instructor. He is a graduate of the Uriel Weinreich Yiddish Program at NYU and has recently published his English translations of works by Yiddish poet Yisroel Shtern.

Our hope is that Dr. Levitow will be teaching both a short introductory class tentatively titled "How to understand (and talk back) to your grandparents" as well as a full-on introductory Yiddish class.

Watch this space for more details and be sure and register to receive our email updates for more news!

Thank you again, Dr. Levitow! :)

This is available on iTunes as a downloadable Podcast as well as also being available locally if you do not have iTunes here.  If you are having any difficulty listening to this file, you can download QuickTime here.

Enjoy, JH

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Enjoy, JH