"Ma-hi Chanukah?"

Wednesday evenings, December 2, 9 and 16
7:30 p.m. at CBS

What is Chaukah? Explore the history surrounding the events that led up to the Hasmonean rebellion, the rededication of the Temple, and the evolution of this beloved (though minor) holiday with Rabbi Michele Faudem. It's not exactly the holiday you remember from your childhood.

"How Green is My Torah?"

Sunday mornings, January 24 and 31, February 7
11 a.m. at CBS

Since the sixth day of Creation, humans have inhabited the earth and used it, protected it, and sometimes, abused it. In this class Rabbi Teller and other  presenters will examine the intersection of ecology and Judaism, using Jewish texts of the last 4,000 years.

Brith Shalom Film Festival

Sunday evenings, January 10, 17 and 24
7 p.m. at private residences

January 10: God on Trial. Where was God during the Holocaust? For theologians, believers, and humanists, there are many difficulties in reconciling our views of God with the extreme evil that happened. In this PBS film set in an Auschwitz prisoners' barracks, a group of Jewish prisoners put God on trial for breaking His part of the covenant.

January 17: Children of the Sun. The kibbutz was one of the great modern experiments in social engineering. In hindsight, what can we make of the attempts to create new social and gender relations during the kibbutz era? Using amazing archival footage, this Israeli documentary explores the classical utopian kibbutz community.

January 24: Defiance. Director Edward Kwick created one of the best--and most inspiring--Holocaust films in 2008. Based on the true story of the Bielski brothers, the film raises central questions about the options that European Jews had in the face of Nazi occupation.

Each film will be followed by a dicussion led by Aaron Howard. If you are interested in attending one or more films, please RSVP to Aaron at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 281-561-6753. Attendance is limited and reservations are taken on a first-come first-served basis.