The Explore the Talmud Chavurah is designed to engage members with each other and with Jewish culture via discussion of the Talmud. Our goal is to deepen understanding of Jewish thought, culture, and wisdom and have fun doing it! Everyone is welcome, no experience necessary.

The group will take a thematic approach to the Talmud. While we will ground our discussion in the actual text, we also foresee reaching into the worlds of art, literature, current law, and societal norms to enrich our conversation. Each month a different member will choose the topic and informally facilitate the discussion.

The complete text of the Talmud in multiple translations is available at www.sefaria.org   at no charge. We recommend visiting the Sefaria website and downloading their app.

This Chavurah will meet monthly—ideally in person although zoom meetings are an option in bad weather. Our initial meeting will be held on Thursday January 8, 2026 at 5:00pm at Israel Congregation. Organized by Amy Borman and Elizabeth Torak.  

Salons have a long and fascinating history of ushering in paradigm-shifting ideas born of more broad perspectives, and as a result often ruffling the feathers of established socio-political power structures. Doesn’t the time feel ripe to create more where that came from? Let’s shake things up and offer a welcoming forum for community amidst these strange, divisive times.

Imagine a gathering where curiosity is the only dress code and every topic—art, philosophy, personal stories, why the dog listens only when bribed—is fair game. Our Salon is a space where we ask questions, share experiences, explore readings, and follow ideas wherever they wander. And in each discussion, we look for a thread—subtle or bold—that connects to some aspect of Judaism: culture, history, ethics, humor, tradition, or simply the Jewish way of questioning everything.

One week, we might take a deep dive into Monet—yes, that Monet. We could start with a short reading about his life, then drift into questions like:
      “Was Monet chasing light, or was the light chasing him?”
      “Would he have painted differently if he’d grown up in a tradition that values breaking things to see how the light gets in?”
And of course, someone might ask, “If Monet painted my backyard, would it finally look tidy—or would he leave it delightfully imperfect, like a well-loved Shabbat table?”

Another week, we might begin with a simple reflection:
“When I was young, I thought life’s progression was simple. Now, I know differently.”
From there, the room fills with stories—careers that zigzagged, relationships that surprised us, joys that showed up unannounced. A reading might anchor us in Jewish wisdom about life’s nonlinear paths, and someone inevitably observes, “If the Israelites took 40 years to make an 11-day journey, maybe we’re all doing fine.”

Each conversation becomes a blend of insight, humor, personal meaning, and maybe the Jewish habit of turning every answer into three better questions.

No expertise needed. No tests. No need to agree. Just open minds, good humor, and the shared pleasure of exploring ideas together through a lens that is both ancient and beautifully alive.  Almost a stream of consciousness. We may even share a treat or imbibe a creative libation.

Think of it as intellectual jazz with a Jewish soul: spontaneous, surprising, sometimes profound, occasionally odd, always meaningful. A time to look into the past, ask current curiosities and project possible futures. 

We will meet on a regular basis, suggesting  and selecting topics.  Bring your questions, your stories, your readings, your curiosity—and let’s see where the conversation goes. After all, the only limit here is the one we forget to break.

The initial meeting of the Salon With No Limits Chavurah will be on Tuesday, January 13th at 2:00 pm. The address will be provided when you join by clicking the button below.  If you'd like to join, but the date doesn't work for you, you can suggest an alternative with your registration. Organized by Barbara Kaufman