For those confused about Friday night Shabbat services, a pair of eight-week classes launching this month could help. Titled “Davening Swim Lessons” by organizers, one of the classes will focus on Kabbalat Shabbat, the other on Ma’ariv.
East Bay Minyan and Kevah are co-sponsoring the classes. East Bay Minyan is an independent Jewish community for Jews of all observance levels, and Berkeley-based Kevah is an organization that supports Jewish learning.
The class on Kabbalat Shabbat (the first half of Friday night services) will start Tuesday, Feb. 21 and will meet every other Tuesday through May 29. Instructors will include Rabbi Chai Levy of Congregation Kol Shofar in Tiburon; Deena Aranoff, assistant professor at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley; and Berkeley Hillel Rabbi Dorothy Richman.
The class on Ma’ariv (the second half of services), will start on Feb. 27, meeting every other Monday through June 4. It will cover the content/meaning of liturgy and the melodies used in communal prayer.
All classes will begin at 7:30 p.m. at a residence near north Berkeley BART. Tickets for each eight-week class are $90. For more information, visit www.eastbayminyan.org or send an email to [email protected].