Jewish Federation of St. Louis’ new Center for Jewish Learning will offer several winter courses beginning this January: 

• “Browsing the Bible: Biblical Books We Don’t Often Study,” a six-session series led by Rabbi Lane Steinger from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday mornings beginning Jan. 26, held at the Jewish Federation building, 12 Millstone Campus Dr.; Tuition is $60. The class will explore “each of the ‘minor’ prophets — minor only in words not message.”

• “Mysticism and Kabbalah: Secret Knowledge in Judaism,” a Melton Scholars Course led by Rabbi Dr. Neal Rose, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on Mondays starting Jan. 25 at the Saul Brodsky Jewish Community Library, 12 Millstone Campus Dr.; tuition is $250 plus book fee. The course explores the history and texts of Jewish mysticism.

• “Tu B’Shevat Sameach,” led by Cyndee Levy from 7 to 9 p.m. Monday, Jan. 25 in the kosher kitchen dairy kitchen at Traditional Congregation, 12437 Ladue Rd.; tuition is $20. The event will be a celebration of trees and the beauty and bounty of the earth as the group ponders the sheer wonder of creation. The program will include vegetarian recipes, new tastes and tips, and the opportunity to share a meal together in honor of the holiday. 

• “Jews in America: Insiders and Outsiders,” a 10-session course led by Bob Taxman, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on Wednesdays, starting Feb. 3, held at the Federation building; tuition is $250 plus book fee. This course provides students with the opportunities to consider the challenges of Jewish acculturation to American life, and the sacrifices as well as the contributions that have been made over the past 200 years.  

• “The History of Anti-Semitism,” an eight-session course led by Rabbi Seth Gordon, from 7:15 to 8:30 p.m. on  Wednesdays, starting Feb. 3, held at the Federation building; tuition is $100. 

 For more information on the courses, visit JFedSTL.org/Adult-Education-Classes or contact Cyndee Levy, director of the Center for Jewish Learning, at [email protected] or 314-442-3754.

In addition, University of Missouri-St. Louis (UMSL) will offer two courses with Jewish content, starting Jan. 19 and 20 and ending May 10 and 11: 

• “Conversational Hebrew,” practicing spoken Hebrew in its cultural context while strengthening reading and listening comprehension by studying authentic Hebrew texts. The class is open to all proficiency levels.

• “The Abrahamic Tradition in the Medieval Islamic World: A Jewish Perspective,” a course contextualizing the role of Jewish thinkers in the formation of and response to the intellectual world of medieval Islam and its rich exchange of philosophical and scientific ideas among Muslims, Christians and Jews. This course will be held at the Federation building.

The UMSL courses can be taken for credit or on a non-credit basis through the university. Register at pcscatalog.umsl.edu and look under Arts & Sciences.