“My study group is a chance to learn about Judaism each week in a vibrant and interactive way.”
– Joanne, Saramento
“A place where everyone’s view is appreciated and respected, where deep learning is possible, where we wrestle with Torah.”
– Sabrina, Washington, DC
Our weekly study groups are the heart of our learning community, a space where we can study in depth and build community over time.
Like all classes at Laasok, we create an inclusive, egalitarian environment, and look at our sacred texts from a progressive Jewish perspective.
Laasok is currently offering the following study groups:
- Talmud Study: Berachot (Mondays 1pm ET)
- Parsha Thru Midrash (Tuesdays 9am ET)
- Leviticus Deep Dive (Tuesdays 1:15pm ET)
- Torah From the Beginning (Tuesdays 3pm ET)
- You Shall Be Holy (Wednesdays Noon ET)
- Haftarah: Judaism’s Other Sacred Voice (Wednesdays 3pm ET)
- Queering the Weekly Parsha (Thursdays 1:15pm ET)
- Digging Deeper into Torah (Fridays Noon ET)
Study groups meet for one hour per week, 3-4 weeks a month.
Each study group is led by one of our wonderful faculty members:
Rabbi Rachael Bregman
Rabbi Nikki DeBlosi, Ph.D.
Rabbi Micah Streiffer
Rabbi Barbara AB Symons
Register by clicking on the button below, or read on for information about each group.
Talmud Study: Berachot
Mondays at 1pm ET / 10am PT
With Rabbi Micah Streiffer
The Talmud is, in many ways, Judaism’s essential text – a voluminous set of discussions, debates, laws, stories, and teachings that was compiled over 5 centuries and shaped Judaism as we know it.
In this study group we are exploring tractate Berachot, which is about blessings and prayer -specifically, the chapter about the Shema. However, the Rabbis’ discussion tends to go on tangents, so we finding ourselves talking about a range of issues surrounding community, ritual, God, and spirituality.
Note that this is an ongoing study group working its way through the tractate. New learners are welcome to join at any time, and we will catch you up!
Parsha Thru Midrash
Tuesdays 9am ET / 6am PT
With Rabbi Micah Streiffer
Let’s study the weekly Torah portion via the Midrash – the Rabbinic “stories about the stories” in the Torah. These wild, creative, sometimes-infuriating, always-interesting texts are ripe for discussion and exploration by modern Jews!
Each week we explore some midrashic passages relating to the parasha (weekly Torah portion). W engage in discussion with the texts and with each other about their meaning, and talk about how they relate to our own Jewish lives as well.
Leviticus Deep Dive
Tuesdays at 1:15 pm ET / 10:15 am PT
With Rabbi Micah Streiffer
How do we live in sacred relationship with one another and with the divine? What is the connection between body and spirit? What does it mean to live a holy life? If you always thought that the middle of the Torah was something to “pass over,” it’s time to think again. Leviticus may be filled with some of the Torah’s most difficult material—the laws of sacrifice, purity, and the ancient priesthood—but beneath those strange and challenging texts are profound questions about worship, atonement, ritual, ethics, and sacred living.
Leviticus Deep Dive is a chapter-by-chapter exploration of this fascinating and often misunderstood book. Through close reading, midrash, and classical and modern commentary, we’ll wrestle with Leviticus’s challenging ideas and discover why this ancient text still has much to say about what it means to live a holy life.
Torah From the Beginning
Tuesdays at 3pm ET / Noon PT
With Rabbi Micah Streiffer
“Torah From the Beginning” is for learners beginning a journey of Jewish learning. Maybe you are considering conversion; maybe you forgot everything you learned in Hebrew school, or never had the opportunity to study the Torah. This class is for you!
Each week we study the Torah portion, focusing on the “Who, What, When, Where, and Why.” You’ll come away knowing the basics of the Torah’s story, events, and figures. We’ll also look at commentaries (both modern and ancient), and have discussions about what these timeless texts and stories mean for our own Jewish lives.
You Shall Be Holy: Jewish Ethics for Real Life
Wednesdays at Noon ET / 9am PT
With Rabbi Rachael Bregman
What does Jewish tradition have to say about our everyday lives – how we live with integrity, make values-based choices, engage with others, cultivate gratitude, and respond to life’s challenges?
Drawing on Rabbi Joseph Telushkin’s acclaimed A Code of Jewish Ethics, this weekly study group explores timeless Jewish wisdom for living a life of compassion and purpose.
Through text study, conversation, and reflection, we’ll seek practical wisdom and fresh insights to help bring our Jewish values to life.
Haftarah: Judaism’s Other Sacred Voice
Wednesdays at 3pm ET / Noon PT
With Rabbi Barbara AB Symons
The haftarah is a weekly encore—a second sacred text that complements, challenges and expands upon the Torah portion or the holiday cycle. Chosen from amongst the books of the prophets, these selections offer a moral imperative and a sacred social critique. Some of them still stir us to this day, while others feel distant, inaccessible or unrelatable.
In this weekly study group, we’ll explore the prophetic voices of our tradition, talk about what the haftarah was meant to do—and ask what voices today might stand beside Torah, demand to be heard, and compel us to act.
Queering the Weekly Parsha
Thursdays at 1:15 pm ET /10:15 am PT
With Rabbi Nikki DeBlosi, Ph.D.
Queering the Weekly Parsha offers learners of all levels and identities the opportunity to look at the weekly Torah portion through a queer lens
We explore how the text affirms and challenges folks with queer identities, how our ancestors viewed sexuality, and where we might find inspiration for inclusion. Our sources will include Torah, Jewish literature from various time periods, excerpts from Torah Qu(e)eries, and other secular sources.
Trained in academic queer theory, Rabbi Nikki leads with pastoral awareness; our study group is aimed at helping us find relevant, applicable aspects of Jewish text. This class is open to all, and will center LGBTQ+ perspectives. All you need is an open mind and an open heart.
Digging Deeper Into Torah
Fridays at Noon ET / 9am PT
With Rabbi Micah Streiffer
Digging Deeper is for learners who have been through the Torah a bit and want to dig deeper. Each week we choose a section of the Torah portion and ask questions like:
- What is the historical context of the text?
- What did it mean then? What does it mean now?
- What philosophical/ethical/religious issues does it raise?
- How have previous Jewish thinkers responded? Do we agree or disagree?
To help us in our interactive discussion, we also look at modern and ancient commentaries, and ask how the Torah informs our own Judaism.
FAQs
- When can I start? Do I need to wait until a certain time of year? You can join any time you want!
- What if I can’t make it every week? That’s OK – we’re not taking attendance. And we record the sessions so that you can see what you missed.
- But I don’t know Hebrew! No problem. All of our study happens in English, though we talk about the meanings of certain Hebrew words to help our discussion.
- What’s the cost? The program is structured as a monthly subscription, with a cost of $45 per month. You can cancel at any time. As well, the cost goes down if you register for more than one group. (See the registration form for pricing details).
- What if the cost is inaccessible to me? We are committed to financial accessibility. If the $45 per month cost makes the class inaccessible, please email us and we will arrange for you to join for a different amount.
- Do I need to make a full-year commitment? Not at all – you can withdraw at any time. But we hope you’ll stay forever!
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