Azara x JW3's weeknight Community Beit Midrash is for beginners and more experienced Torah learners alike.
You will learn traditional Jewish texts such as Talmud and Tanakh with a chevruta (study partner for Jewish text). The learning will be open, warm and in depth with a focus on skill-building and meaning-making. Experienced Azara volunteers and teachers will be on hand to guide you through. All you need is the Hebrew alphabet, and you're ready to learn!
Azara is creating a culture of Jewish learning in the UK. We want to open the complex world of Torah to everyone, and build the skills to unlock our texts and traditions. Azara was founded by Rabba Dr Lindsey Taylor-Guthartz, Rabbi Leah Jordan, and Student Rabbi Jessica Spencer, and was born from two grassroots cross-communal learning projects, Pop-Up Beit Midrash and Open Talmud Project.
‘Azara’ is the Hebrew word for courtyard. The Temple had an azara in which all the Jews could gather, regardless of gender or priestly status. We aim to be a space where Jews of all denominations, backgrounds, and genders can gather to learn and to make religious meaning.
Community Beit Midrash FAQs■
What does the Azara Open Talmud Day at JW3 look like?
The day will include a Talmud intensive where you will learn a piece of Talmud guided by one of our teachers. This session will have a couple of different tracks at different levels of learning and will include some learning with a chavruta (study partner). Azara’s volunteers and teachers will be on hand to guide you as needed. In the afternoon there will be several different sessions on offer covering a range of topics and looking at a variety of sources.
Will there be food?
A kosher-certified lunch will be provided and there will be snacks to nosh on throughout the day.