Isaiah Together

Isaiah Together connects congregants around shared interests, hobbies, and/or demographic. These small groups are led by trained Temple Isaiah members and meet as often as the members of the group wish, usually once a month. We hope that the conversations and activities that happen within the groups will enrich congregants’ lives in meaningful ways and also strengthen their ties to each other and to the Isaiah community.

Below are our current on-going small groups that focus specifically on adult learning or have an outside instructor.  If you are interested in joining a group, contact the group guide. Don’t see a group that fits you? Start one! Contact generalinfo@templeisaiah.net to learn more.

Achim - George Foote

Achim (meaning 'brothers') is a men's discussion group. It was started with a recognition that, in our culture, men are often reluctant to publicly share their innermost fears and feelings which are historically carried in silence. The discussion offers a format where the participants share their personal stories and experiences which relate to a particular topic. It is open to all men in the general Jewish community.  We have 4 events/meetings a year.

Biking – David Lees

We always start from the Temple, and unless otherwise noted, at 9:00 am, and aim to finish before Noon.  We often have two groups: one doing a slower, shorter (~6 mile) ride and a the second group doing a faster (~11 mph), longer (~25 mile) ride.  Both groups share the start of route together and the longer ride stops for a snack/coffee. No signup required, just be ready to ride at 9 AM. 

Community Quilting - Evy Megerman

Quilters work together on a project for the Temple or as a fundraiser.

Daytime Book Group [SISTERHOOD] - Carole Goldberg

Mondays monthly; 10:00 am to noon. All are welcome.  We choose our books and meeting times as we go along.

Discussions After Dinner [BROTHERHOOD] - Lester Gardner

Discussion after Dinner is an interactive conversation on a topic that shapes our lives (e.g., The loss of privacy in American Society, How to develop friends and community as an adult, What rules do you live by?) There will be no religious spin to these topics or discussions. Your opinions is welcome or simply listen to others. We meet every other Monday at 7-9pm with refreshments.

Evening Book Group [SISTERHOOD] - Carol Sacerdote

Mondays monthly; coffee 7:30 pm , discussion 8-9:30 pm. Open to all Sisterhood members. 

Games [SISTERHOOD] - Abbe Smerling

Every other Friday at 12:30 pm. Please join Sisterhood members in the Temple library for about an hour and half of games. We play Taboo, Scattergories, Trivial Pursuit, Apples to Apples, Encore, Celebrity, Set, Speed Scrabble, Boggle, to name a few. New members are encouraged and we will teach newcomers. It is lots of laughs and is good to stretch the mind as well!

Knitzvah - Harriet Silverman

Knitting shawls and lap throws for congregants in need of care and support. There is a Monday group and a Sunday group. For more information, see the description here.

Mah Jongg [Beginners and Advanced Beginners, SISTERHOOD] - Randi Levine

Interested in learning to play mahjongg? Know the basics but would like to learn more and play regularly? We have options for this circle, depending on the interest level. We can do a new beginners class, meeting for 3 consecutive weeks to learn the basics and then continuing to practice together for as long as desired. We can also do a review class and then organize a regular game of those interested.

Meditation and Mindfulness – Larry Fuhrman

This group will introduce Temple Isaiah members to a variety of mindfulness and meditative techniques within our Jewish tradition. For the 2018-19 season we will be led by Rabbi Matia Angelou and will meet monthly on Monday evenings from 7-8 PM in the small Chapel. Dates are scheduled for Oct 15, Nov 12, Dec 3, Jan 7, Feb 4, March 4, April 8, and May 6. You do not need previous meditation experience to attend, or to sign up in advance, and all are welcome.

Movie-Goers – Susan Foote

Let’s go to the movies together! We will watch movies that are selected to meet the interests of the group with discussion to follow.

Mussar - Eileen Kern 

Mussar is a spiritual system of Jewish ethics that allows us to look and think deeply about how we live our lives.
If you are interested in joining the next Mussar series, please email Rabbi Amy Hertz.

Playing Music Together – Rob Jacob

A get together of people who enjoy playing music together, more of a jam session than an organized band. If you play an instrument (even at a very modest level), you're invited to join us.

Photography - Scott Wolk

Get to meet and know people who enjoy photography, take photo-shoot walks, learn techniques.

Pot Luck Partiers [SISTERHOOD] - Sally Huebscher

Take part in pot luck suppers from the Jerusalem Cookbook and other Jewish themed books.

Pre-Retirement – Evelyn Silber

Group for people thinking about retirement.

Single Parents in Their 40s and 50s - David Fleischer

A social group for members who are actively parenting and are not part of a couple. Join with other single parents in our Temple community to build community and have fun!

Theater - Pam Awrach

Are you a theater person? If you have interest in any aspect of theater, whether it's seeing plays together, performing, reading aloud scenes, improv, writing a play, or adapting a story for the stage or putting on a Purim Schpiel, join our new group!

Walking Group [SISTERHOOD] - Carol Sacerdote

By arrangement
We enjoy exercise and each other’s conversation, plus scenery and gardens on residential streets, conservation land and the bike path.  This group meets at Peet’s in Lexington center and walks for about an hour, weather permitting, year round.  Walk with us whenever you’re available.

Writing Workshop - Kathryn Prager

A supportive group to share ongoing (new) work and help us hone our craft.

Yiddish Anyone? [SISTERHOOD] - Elly Edelstein

Our Yiddish group meets once a month on various afternoons at 1 pm at members' houses. We share Yiddish stories and try to speak in Yiddish as much as possible. We do not meet during January/February/March.  Exact meeting times will be arranged according to participants’ schedules.