Investigate the early encounters between Jews and Muslims as we explore the origins of Islam in the Arabian Peninsula beginning in the 7th century. In the fall semester, we will read sections of the Quran as a primary key to understanding the values and beliefs of Islam. We will compare the Quran’s references to biblical characters such as Abraham, Ishmael, Moses and Ezra. Dr. Regina Stein is the Morris Kaplan Scholar-in-Residence at the Museum at Eldridge Street. She has taught…

Bring your questions and opinions as we explore a variety of Jewish texts and issues—often related to the weekly Torah portion or its accompanying reading from the Prophets, but sometimes a Biblical or Rabbinic text that raises questions of contemporary interest. Knowledge of Hebrew and previous Torah study are not required. Dr. Regina Stein is the Morris Kaplan Scholar-in-Residence at the Museum at Eldridge Street. She has taught for Temple Emanu-El’s Skirball Center for Adult Jewish Learning, the Wexner Heritage…

This four-part course, which combines two classroom sessions with two Lower East Side walking tours, examines the creative ways the Lower East Side immigrant community responded to the area’s overcrowding, oppressive heat and cold, and poor ventilation.  Residents took to the streets as fire escapes became bedrooms, stoops doubled as living rooms, storefronts became social halls, and streets like Hester and Orchard Street presaged contemporary shopping malls. Learn the full story by reserving for all four classes, or pick and choose the…