The fuel that lights the way for the Jewish people is Torah. Torah is Jewish learning in its broadest meaning, not just the first five books of  the Bible, although all things Jewish certainly emanate from that Torah. Congregation Or Ami has no higher priority or commitment than to assure that its mature members are provided with profound, exciting, meaningful ongoing adult education opportunities.
Basic Judaism classes and Torah study (parshat hashavua – Torah portion of the week) are held during the course of the year. Our Adult B’nai Mitzvah program meets every other year. Sessions on Jewish values, ethics, observance and philosophy take place during evenings and lunchtimes. 
Shlichay Tzibur (teachers, literally “representatives of the community”) for Or Ami’s adult learning are Rabbi Paul Kipnes, Cantor Doug Cotler, Rabbi Michael Comins of Torah Trek, local scholars, Rabbinic and Education Interns from Hebrew Union College and other members of our congregation. Our annual Scholar-in-Residence program brings in a prominent Jewish thinker to teach and challenge us. Many families enroll in our Mishpacha Family Alternative Learning program so as to participate in twice-monthly study with Rabbi Kipnes. Because of our engaging faculty, Or Ami enjoys among the highest percentage of Adult Education participants of any congregation in the West San Fernando and Conejo Valleys.
Upcoming Adult Learning Opportunities for 2007-2008 include:
Our calendar of classes is available each September. Click here to view our current Adult Learning brochure.
For more information, please contact our Program Director Michal Rozenberg-Yalovsky at principal@orami.org or Rabbi Paul Kipnes at Rabbipaul@orami.org.
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Here are few on-line resources that might help you deal with your aging parents:
Coping tips for children caring for aging parents When life takes that unnatural twist of child caring for aging parents, learning a few coping measures and techniques can help ease the burden for caregivers. Click on any of the links such as “caregivers” and you’re taken to many resources.
Helpful Links This site has many commercial resources you will find useful.
Aging and Aging Parents This site takes us to a large number of articles for us to learn more about the aging process itself but also conditions and treatments. As the field is changing rapidly, make sure the facts in these articles are confirmed and check with your parents’ physician. We always found articles like these helpful to ask better questions.
David Solie's Aging Parents Insights Insights to Understanding Our Aging Parents and Ourselves - David Solie is a writer and speaker who specializes in aging. This is his blog that consists of “Observations and commentary on care giving, aging, and the complex journey through the second half of life.” Easy reading while informative.
Coping with aging parents' decisions? even when they seem wrong This one is clearly written by someone who is going through it. Straight forward. Warm. Solid tips. And another one by the same writer.
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When the adults in the Mishpacha Family Alternative Learning program explored the meaning of the High Holy Day Unetaneh Tokef prayer ("Who shall live and who shall die"), we created our own Talmud page. Read our insights.
Here you can find all our amazing adult learning opportunities for 2007-2008
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Calabasas Talmud, Masechet Unetaneh Tokef, The Talmud on the Unetaneh Tokef Prayer
Scholarship by the Adult Study Group of the Mishpacha Family Alternative Learning Program
(Rosh Hashana 5764 * September 2003) The Traditional Text
A: Let us now relate the power of this day's holiness, for it is awesome and frightening. On it Your Kingship will be exalted; Your throne will be firmed with kindness and You will sit upon it in truth. It is true that You alone are the One Who judges, proves, knows, and bears witness; Who writes and seats, (counts and calculates); Who remembers all that was forgotten. You will open the Book of Chronicles - it will read itself, and everyone's signature is in it.
B: The great shofar will be sounded and a still, thin sound will be heard. Angels will hasten, a trembling and terror will seize them - and they will say, 'Behold, it is the Day of Judgment, to muster the heavenly host for judgment!'- for they cannot be vindicated in Your eyes in judgment. All mankind will pass before You like members of the flock. Like a shepherd pasturing his flock, making sheep pass under his staff, so shall You cause to pass, count, calculate, and consider the soul of all the living; and You shall apportion the fixed needs of all Your creatures and inscribe their verdict.
Calabasas Talmud...Insights on the Unetaneh Tokef Prayer, continued
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