Thursdays, beginning Oct. 15

Rabbi Ben Varon & Rabbi Matt Green

Mondays, beginning Nov. 2

Rabbi Lisa Grant & Rabbi Matt Green

This is an overview course in broad strokes about Jewish life, culture, belief, non-belief, and thought. Designed in a 20 week module, this course will attempt to give the participants a solid background to the ideas, practices, and expressions of Jewish life from ancient times to the present. This course will focus on weekly readings, discussions, and practical experiences for each of the course participants—from basic concepts, historical events, how-to demonstrations with rituals, to an overview of the key texts and traditions of Jewish life. The class will meet weekly and will include optional opportunities beyond the classroom setting.

Basic Judaism is designed for anyone looking to deepen their knowledge of Jewish traditions and their understanding of Jewish communal life. This course includes a broad range of perspectives and is appropriate for both newcomers to Jewish life and those with years of experience who feel that there may be gaps in their basic Jewish literacy.

Rabbi Ben Varon received his master's degree in Jewish education and ordination from the Jewish Theological Seminary of America. Before joining NYU Langone Hospital—Brooklyn, Rabbi Varon did a chaplain residency at New York–Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital. While in school, he interned at the T’Shuvah Center, a Jewish addiction recovery community. Rabbi Veron received his board certification from Nashama: Association of Jewish Chaplains (NAJC).

Rabbi Lisa D. Grant, Ph.D. is emerita professor of Jewish Education at the Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion.  She served on the faculty from 2006-2026 and was Director of the New York Rabbinical Program for her last seven years prior to retirement. Teaching Jewish texts to adults is one of her most favorite things.

Rabbi Matt Green (he/him) is the Co-Founder and Program Director of Union House. He is also the Associate Rabbi at Congregation Beth Elohim and the Director of CBE’s experimental communal project, Brooklyn Jews. He received rabbinic ordination from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in 2018, and was a Tisch Fellow while at HUC. Matt graduated with honors from the University of Michigan with a degree in History, and was recognized as one of the New York Jewish Week’s 36 Under 36 in June, 2018.