CSAIR is committed to providing a range of Jewish learning for the Riverdale community. Classes and programs are open to all. Most of our programs are free and subsidized by CSAIR. For more information or to sponsor an adult education program, please contact Rabbi Katie Greenberg, Rabbi-Director of Engagement and Programming at 718-543-8400 ext. 1 or engagement@csair.org.
Classes, Events & Programs at a Glance
Check your emails or the website for additional programming and updates throughout the year. Check your email for Zoom credentials.
* Represents an ongoing program. Additional ongoing programming can be found below.
Click the programming guide cover for the 2025/2026 schedule of events.
Check further below for updates and additions throughout the year.
January Programming
Israel and Gaza; An Update on Recent Events and What They Mean for the Future of Israelis and Palestinian
Monday, January 5 | 8:00 PM
Join the CSAIR Israel Committee to hear from David Halperin, the CEO of the Israel Policy Forum, Michael Koplow, the Chief Policy officer of the Israel Policy Forum and Senior Research Fellow of the Kogod Research Center at the Shalom Hartman Institute of North America, for an update on recent events in Israel and Gaza and the implications for the future.
Sponsored by the Israel Committee.
Meet the Jewish Community of Rehovot, Israel and Rabbi Doron Rubin
Thursday, January 8 | 12:30 PM | Zoom
Hear from Rabbi Doron Rubin, the rabbi of Congregation Adat Shalom – Emanuel in Rehovot, about the role of the Masorti Movement in rebuilding Israeli society.
Rabbi Rubin worked for years at Hillel and the Jewish Agency and is on the board of the Israeli Rabbinical Assembly board. To learn more about Congregation Adat Shalom – Emanuel click here and more about Rabbi Rubin click here.
Pivotal Turning Points in Jewish History - Part 26: Zionism Post Herzl
Thursday, January 8 | 8:00 PM | Zoom
The Men’s Club of CSAIR is proud and delighted to present the incredible 25th installment of: Pivotal Turning Points in our Jewish history with Rabbi Joel Schwab. This lecture (1904-1948: Zionism post Herzl) explores Zionist leaders: David Ben-Gurion and Chaim Weizmann. Although their personal styles differed significantly, together they are considered as the founding fathers of Israel.
Each lecture is self-contained so even if you missed any earlier talks, everyone is welcome to jump in and join us on Thursday.
Sponsored by the CSAIR Men's Club.
Anne Klaber Lecture Series Scholar in Residence Shabbat with Dr. Laura Shaw Frank
Friday, January 9 - Saturday, January 10
On the anniversary of 250 years of Jews in the United States, explore Jewish history with Dr. Laura Shaw Frank, Vice President of AJC Center for Education Advocacy. Over the weekend, we will cover events from the American Revolution through today.
Try it Out Shabbat
Saturday, January 24
We're excited to invite all children (grades K-4) to Try-It-Out Shabbat. This is our second pilot for our new Shabbat morning program for kids in grades K-4, designed to help them make friends, feel comfortable, and enjoy prayer, learning, and games. This Shabbat, we ask our kids to just “try it out!” We'll have a surprise snack and, of course, a Parsha Trading Card!
YCFP Tu B'shvat Seder & Intimate Voices Family Program
Sunday, January 25 | 2:15 PM
Join us for a family friendly Tu B'shvat Seder for our YCFP families. Afterwards, stay for our Intimate Voices Family Program, starting at 3:00 PM. An informal and interactive performance, it is a sensory/autism friendly event that is fun for the whole family.
Three Part Toratah Class with Rabbi Miriam Weidberg Thursdays, January 29, and February 5, and 12 | 8:00 PM | Zoom
Each time we study Torah, we strive to see it through the lens of our current time and place. Yet, Torah often resists - it too is of a time and a place. How do we bridge this gap, particularly in view of the changes that feminism has brought to our world? Join us in the study of Toratah, the Regendered Bible. This rewriting of Tanakh, which reverses the genders of all characters, is enlightening, surprising, and challenging. Over the course of three sessions, we will study parshat hashvua from the text of Toratah.
Rabbi Miriam Weidberg is a Heschel High School Learning Specialist and Limudei Qodesh Teacher.
Winning the Right to Be Heard: How Women Challenged the Israeli Rabbinate for the Right to Rabbinic Ordination with Rabbanit Sarah Segal-Katz
Saturday, January 31 | After Kiddush
Come hear Rabbanit Sarah Segal-Katz share her powerful story of activism — from challenging the Israeli Rabbinate in court to the impact of the Supreme Court’s decision. Learn how her fight for women's right to take halakhic exams for ordination is reshaping religion and state in Israel.
Rabbanit Sarah Segal-Katz is a writer, teacher, and counselor. Her website, Gluya, includes articles about Jewish feminism, poetry, intimacy and more (mostly Hebrew with some English.)
CSAIR Comedy Night
Saturday, January 31 | 7:00 PM
Join CSAIR for our Second Annual Bernie Gleit Comedy Night, with performances from Liz Glazer and Carmiya Weintraub. We look forward to laughing together, having some drinks and some snacks and spending time with fellow CSAIR members. Come at 7:00 PM for snacks and at 7:30 PM for the show. $36 per person.
Tickets can be purchased in advance here or at the door.
ONGOING PROGRAMMING
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Wednesday Morning Learning with Rabbi Barry Dov Katz and Rabbi Katie Greenberg
Wednesday, 10:30 AM | Zoom
Dive into the rich world of Jewish texts and traditions that explore aging, wisdom, and the meaning of life’s later stages. Each week, we’ll study classical and contemporary sources—from Torah and Talmud to modern voices—to uncover how Judaism understands and honors the process of growing older.
Future dates for the fall are Wednesdays, December 3, 10, and 17. Spring dates TBA.
Sponsored by the CSAIR Sisterhood
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Hug Ivri
A Hebrew discussion group about politics, literature, current events, and more.
For more information and to confirm meeting dates, email Yaakov Taitz.
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Yiddish Vinkl
Sundays, 10:00 AM
(approximately 90 minutes)
Enjoy the joys of Yiddish with a group that meets to schmooze together.
For more information, email Charlie Goldfischer. Feel free to email Charlie to confirm a scheduled meeting date.
Zoom
Sundays, November 2 · December 7 · January 4 · February 1 · March 1 · April 5 · May 3 · June 7 · July 5 · August 2 · September 6
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Monday Minyan Mahjong
Mondays, 6:00 PM
Join us for Monday Minyan Mahjong on Mondays at 6:00 PM, followed by evening minyan at 7:30. Players should know how to play and bring their own card.
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