Discovering Judaism
An Introduction to Judaism
For those interested in learning more about the foundations of Judaism and Jewish life or considering conversion to Judaism.
For those seeking an orientation to Judaism and Jewish life, this course is a good beginning. Over the course of two semesters, we will explore holidays, lifecycles, theology, sacred texts, history, and personal practices. The class is designed to be a survey of Jewish topics; at the end of your study, you will have a foundation of Jewish knowledge upon which to build. Each class will include an introduction to a topic by a member of our clergy team, opportunities for questions and reflections, and time to build community and connect with fellow students.
The course is broken up into two semesters. Semester A runs from October to January and Semester B runs from February to May. Discovering Judaism includes both semesters, but you can begin with either Semester A or Semester B. For those seeking to convert to Judaism, completion of both semesters of Discovering Judaism is a required step.
In our Discovering Judaism program, you will find a warm and accessible environment open to all. Everyone is welcome – interfaith couples, people raising Jewish children, spiritual seekers, individuals considering conversion, and anyone curious about Judaism. We embrace adults of all abilities, races, sexual orientations, and gender identities. Throughout each semester, we spend time building community where lively discussion is encouraged among all the students in class.
Course Schedule + Fee
The next session of Discovering Judaism begins with Semester A on September 11, 2024. The class meets in person on Wednesday evenings from 7:00 to 8:30 pm at Congregation Rodeph Sholom, 7 West 83rd Street, on the following dates:
Semester A (2024)
September 11, 18, 25
October 9, 16, 23, 30
November 6, 13, 20
December 4, 11, 18
Semester B (2025)
January 22, 29
February 5, 12
March 5, 12, 19, 26
April 2, 9, 23, 30
May 7, 14
Registration for Semester A is currently open! Please contact Rabbi Goldberg to learn more.
Tuition for Discovering Judaism is $720. This includes all class materials, course time with clergy, two Shabbat dinners, and any class outings. Additionally, students have access to CRS member benefits while enrolled in the course.
Shabbat Dinners
Each semester, we gather as a class to attend Shabbat services and eat Shabbat dinner together; our cohort Shabbat dinners this year are on Friday, October 25, 2024 and Friday, February 7, 2025.
Zoom Policy
The Zoom link for class will only be available to those who are experiencing long-term medical issues. We do not want to exclude anyone from participating in class, but we know from experience that the best learning and community building happens when we all sit around the table together. We recognize that this means that people may miss a class here or there when sick or traveling. We will always post the slides and additional resources in a shared GoogleDrive that students have access to. We also hope that students will build connections with each other and can reach out to catch up on missed sessions.
Withdrawal Policy
Withdrawal prior to first class: Full Refund
Withdrawal after the second class: Full Refund less a $25 withdrawal fee
Withdrawal after the third class: No Refund
Hebrew
Hebrew is an incredibly important part of Jewish history, identity, and peoplehood. At CRS, we offer an online, 8-week introductory Hebrew course. No prior knowledge is required. At the end of the 8-week online course, you will be able to decode and read Hebrew words. We typically offer this course, Hebrew 101, at least twice a year.
Discovering Judaism students have access to our Hebrew 101 at a reduced rate ($100) while you are a student. Visit this page to learn more about our upcoming Hebrew class offerings. Scholarships are available for conversion students. Once you have completed the Discovering Judaism course, you are always welcome to join our Hebrew classes as a member or non-member.
Learning Hebrew is not a requirement for conversion—AND, our intro class is a really great introduction to learning how to read Hebrew, which can be an important part of feeling comfortable with Jewish prayer. Rabbi Goldberg is happy to speak with students individually about learning Hebrew.
Connect with Us
Rabbi Deborah Goldberg
(646) 454-3020
rabbigoldberg@crsnyc.org
Lella Michelson
(646) 454-3013
lmichelson@crsnyc.org
About the Conversion Process
Meet with our clergy, learn about Judaism, and reflect. Learn about the process ›
Adults @ CRS
We have courses and programs for everybody. See our offerings ›
Justin Callis (he/him), our Cantorial Intern, is a fourth-year student at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in the Debbie Friedman School of Sacred Music. He is the recipient of the Reuben Peretz Abelson Prize for dedication to Yiddish Song, the Temple Israel of Boston Cantorial Prize, and the Lee Gura Memorial Prize for Aptitude in Synagogue Choral Music.
Known for his sweet and “sumptuous” (New York Times) tone, American-born Doori Na took up violin at the age of four and began his studies with Li Lin at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. He quickly made his first performance with orchestra at age seven with the Peninsula Youth Symphony as the first prize winner of the concerto competition. Thereafter Mr. Na went on to win top prizes in The Sound of Music Festival, The Korea Times Youth Music Competition, the Chinese Music Teacher’s Association, The Menuhin Dowling Young Artist Competition, The Junior Bach Festival, VOCE of the Music Teacher’s Association of California, and The Pacific Musical Society. Receiving full scholarships to private high school Crossroads School of Arts and Sciences in Santa Monica, he moved to Los Angeles to study with renown violin teacher, Robert Lipsett, at The Colburn Music School. There he appeared as soloist with the Palisades Symphony, Brentwood Symphony, and Torrance Symphony. During that time, the summer of 2004 was Mr. Na’s first time at the Perlman Music Program where his expression and musical identity were greatly influenced. He has been a part of the program ever since and participated in many of their special residencies in Florida, Vermont, New York, and Israel.
Violinist Michael Roth is a native of Scarsdale, NY and received his early musical training with Frances Magnes at the Hoff-Barthelson Music School. He attended Oberlin College and Conservatory, continuing his studies with Marilyn McDonald. At Oberlin, he won the Kaufman Prize for violin and First Prize in the Ohio String Teacher’s Association Competition. He completed his Master of Music degree at the University of Massachusetts where he worked with the distinguished American violinist and pedagogue Charles Treger and was a recipient of the Julian Olevsky Award. Mr. Roth is currently associate concertmaster of the New York City Ballet Orchestra and has appeared in chamber music and as a soloist with the company, most recently in the debut of “Slice Too Sharp”, a ballet of Biber and Vivaldi violin concerti, and “After the Rain”, violin music of Arvo Part. In addition he is a member of the Mostly Mozart Festival Orchestra, Principal 2nd violin of the Westchester Philharmonic, the American Composers Orchestra and the New York Pops. He was concertmaster of the Vermont Mozart Festival Orchestra for many years and often appeared as soloist there, as well as at the Caramoor and Bard Music Festivals. He has played and toured internationally with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra and the New York Chamber Soloists.
Sarah Adams, viola, performs locally with the New York Chamber Ensemble, the Claring Chamber Players, the Sherman Chamber Ensemble, the Friends of Mozart, and the Saratoga Chamber Players.
Praised by the New York Times as “irresistible in both music and performance.” flutist, 
Rabbi Mira Weller (she/her) received her ordination at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Los Angeles in May 2022. She studied Culture and Politics at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service and received her Master’s in Jewish Education at the Rhea Hirsch School of Education at HUC-JIR. She is the proud recipient of awards for her studies in rabbinic literature, her work in Jewish education, and she was granted the Myrtle Lorch Pfaelzer-Monroe Pfaelzer Award for an Outstanding Female Rabbinical School Student (2022). Rabbi Mira speaks Hebrew and Spanish (so please practice with her!). She has a passion for uncovering new possibilities in the great wealth of our tradition and for making music inspired by Judaism’s many cultures. Her guilty pleasures include cupcakes, classical music, and philosophy.
Based in New York since 2001, South African-born pianist, composer and producer has performed on four continents in leading venues such as Carnegie Hall, had her original music performed in venues such as New York’s Lincoln Center, appeared on a host of recordings of classical, world music and multi-genre recordings and produced numerous recordings and inter-disciplinary programs from Cape Town to Los Angeles. She has created her own unique language at the piano, made up of techniques she developed and experimented with to expand the piano into a full electro – acoustic orchestra.
Alan Goodis is a touring Jewish musician playing over 150 events a year. Born and raised in Toronto, Alan is a proud product of URJ Goldman Union Camp Institute. Noted for his dedication to building relationships and community through music, Alan tours throughout the US to serve as an Artist-In-Residence and performer at Temples, Youth Conventions and Jewish summer camps.
Julie Silver is one of the most celebrated and beloved performers in the world of contemporary Jewish music today. She tours throughout the world, and has been engaging audiences with her gorgeous compositions and liturgical settings, her lyrical guitar playing, her dynamic stage presence, and her megawatt smile for over 25 years.
Dan is a product of the URJ Jewish camping movement. He has toured Jewish summer camps across North America for the last 15 years. A classically trained singer, Dan received his Bachelor of Music degree in vocal performance at the University of North Carolina. In 1995, realizing the potential of music to make powerful connections with Jewish youth, Dan established the Jewish rock band Eighteen. Since that time, Dan and Eighteen have released 13 albums. Songs like, L’takein, B’tzelem Elo-him, Kehillah Kedoshah, Chazak, Sweet As Honey, and Asher Yatzar have become Jewish communal anthems throughout North America.
Naomi Less is an internationally celebrated singer/songwriter, ritualist and educator. Beloved for her warm smile and inviting presence, communities celebrate her imagination and innovation, tenderness and pizzazz! Her original music is sung in worship communities worldwide. Naomi serves as Co-Founder, Ritual Leader and Associate Director of Lab/Shul and is a leader in amplifying women’s voices through her work at Songleader Boot Camp and her Jewish Women Rock show on Jewish Rock Radio. Naomiadvocates for people struggling with fertility journeys as a performance artist and speaker for Uprooted: A Jewish Response to Fertility Challenges. Fun fact: Naomi and her husband wrote the song shine/Yivarech’cha, a Friday night blessing, specifically composed for URJ Crane Lake Camp, sung every Friday night in the dining hall.
Her destiny became obvious to Joanie Leeds’ parents when, at the tender age of 2, Joanie grabbed the performer’s mic at a party and belted out the entire song“Tomorrow” from Annie. Jaws dropped! No one could remember ever hearing a big voice like that coming from one so tiny and certainly no one would have thought she would one day earn a GRAMMY® Award for her original music.
A composer, multi-instrumentalist, and prayer leader, Elana Arian is one of the leading voices in contemporary Jewish music. Elana’s music is part of Jewish life across the globe, and her compositions are sung in spiritual communities, summer camps, and synagogues from Louisville to London, from Chicago to the CzechRepublic, and everywhere in between. Elana just released her fourth album of original music, The Other Side of Fear, and her compositions have been published in countless Transcontinental Music collections. Elana serves proudly on the faculty of Hava Nashira (Oconomowoc, WI), the Wexner Heritage Foundation (Aspen, CO), Shirei Chagiga (London, England), and as an instructor at the Hebrew Union College in New York, where she teaches in the Debbie Friedman School of Sacred Music. Elana has performed at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Tanglewood, and perhaps most memorably, five separate appearances at the (Obama) White House. She lives in New York with her wife, Julia, and their two daughters, Maya and Acadia.
Known for his unique, engaging, and deeply soulful approach, Noah Aronson is considered one of the most sought after Jewish musicians in North America, making over 65 community appearances each year.
There is a reason why Time Magazine has listed Michelle in their Top Ten list of Jewish rock stars.
Kol B’Seder has been composing and performing contemporary Jewish music since the early1970s. Rabbi Dan Freelander and Cantor Jeff Klepper met as college students; over the past 50years they have released numerous CDs and songbooks. With Debbie Friedman (z”l) and others, they forged a new musical sound for American Jewish camps, schools and synagogues. Their songs, such as “Shalom Rav,” “Modeh Ani,” and “Lo Alecha,” have become traditionalJewish melodies around the world. They are delighted to be inaugurating their fiftieth anniversary celebration by appearing in support of URJ camps, where they first composed and incubated many of their early songs.
New York bassist Roger Wagner enjoys a long and diverse career. As soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral bassist, Mr. Wagner has appeared on many of the world’s great concert stages.
Margaret Kampmeier, 
Leonard Bernstein described 
Sarah Adams 
Michael Roth
Our initiative for young children and their grown-ups provides a slate of offerings including Shabbat and holiday celebrations, music, classroom readiness programs, and new parent experiences. During the pandemic, we have leaned on $1m of seed funding for Sholom Sprouts established through this campaign as we offer age-appropriate virtual programs for our families with young children, who are the future of our community. We look forward to welcoming our littlest members and their grown-ups back to our new fifth floor, as well as hiring a Program Assistant to increase the capacity of Sholom Sprouts to grow. This program provides a crucial entry-point to the congregation and membership for young families.
