Three Cheers for Learning

Generally the term "open house" implies painfully prolonged walking tours of painfully manicured houses with painfully awkward commentary about the merits of granite countertops.  Is there presence/non-presence a deal-breaker? Stay tuned!

On that note, I am happy to announce that this Sunday's Beit Sefer Open House at Beth Am Israel in Penn Valley offers none of the above. The good folks at BAI simply wish to offer you, the public, a chance to ask questions about their religious school programming. I am told there will be "noshing" and "schmoozing" (the Yiddish two-step!). Festivities begin at 10 AM. Contact Donna Kirschner with your questions/impending RSVP. Email: anthro_donna@yahoo.com.

Want your learning to take on a more international flavor?

Rabbi Yehoshua Gunstein from Halifax, Nova Scotia will be spending the weekend at Lower Merion Synagogue. The Rabbi sounds like an interesting guy. Apparently he serves as reserve soldier in Rabbinate of the Israeli Defense Force...which makes him the M*A*S*H equivalent of this guy. The schedule of events and topics should be available shortly at http://www.lmsonline.org/weekly.htm. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for hockey lessons. My slapshot needs work.

And if you are STILL thirsty for knowledge, head over to Main Line Chabad for their ANNUAL Shabbaton. There will be "thought provoking lectures" and, this is key, "delicious shabbat meals" over the course of two nights (Friday and Saturday). Each meal costs $36 per adult and $20 per child. Expect to be schooled, in a good way. More info: http://www.chabadmainline.org/templates/events.htm.

Link of the week:  Gotta start with the basics, yo.