Community Meetup

As we pilot this program, we require that attendees prepay for dinner will to help us plan accurately. Meals will rotate among local restaurants, and we’ll do our best to keep prices low. The cost is $20 per person, and advance registration is required by Wednesday of the week prior; you are welcome to register for multiple weeks at once. Each buffet will include options for a variety of dietary needs, including vegetarian, gluten-free, and dairy-free selections. Please indicate in the Notes section if you have any dietary needs.

Always wanted to learn how to play Dungeons & Dragons? Here’s your chance! Join Rabbi Young for three short sessions of Dungeons & Dragons. Must commit to the entire series to join. Please contact Rabbi Young to sign up at young@rodefshalom.org. (4–8 players)

Do you want to learn more about Israeli politics and culture, the relationship American Jews and Israelis share (or don’t)? Do you want to dig into a bit of biblical and rabbinic text? The Hartman Learning Group explores these issues, using the Shalom Hartman curriculum under the leadership of Rabbi Fellman. (Contact Dana Block, Executive Assistant to the Clergy, for the pro-rated cost at Dana@RodefShalom.org.)

Sewing Basics is part of our occasional hands-on “adulting” workshop designed to teach practical skills everyone should know but not everyone had the chance to learn. Guided by an expert seamstress, you’ll learn how to sew on buttons, repair split seams, and hem pants—simple fixes that can save time and money. No prior experience is needed, and all materials will be provided. Leave with new confidence, useful skills, and the ability to tackle everyday clothing repairs on your own.

Explore the world one spice blend at a time in this hands-on cooking class celebrating global flavors taught by Mara Kaplan. Each session, you’ll mix your own custom spice blend to take home, then use it to help prepare several dishes that showcase its unique character. Along the way, you’ll learn about the history, uses, and techniques behind the spices while building practical kitchen skills. We’ll finish by sharing the meal together. Classes are $20 per session paid to the instructor. 

Join editor/author Susan Helene Gottfried for a relaxed evening with writing prompts. Fiction or non, poetry or prose; even artists are welcome! We’ll pick a prompt and get busy creating. At the end, we’ll have time to share and be impressed with each other’s creativity. Bring a writing instrument and paper/laptop! 

Horticulturalist Rachel Kudrick's classes will orient students to gardening basics. Each class functions independently, so you can pick and choose the areas you relish. (Full descriptions of classes.) Rachel runs Beit Kulanu’s vegetable garden, where all of the produce gets donated to people in need. All classes are $18 unless otherwise noted and payable to the instructor via cash, check, PayPal, Venmo, Zelle or major credit card. Please reach out to Rachel at (412) 251-9759. (Sliding scale and fee waiver available for those on fixed incomes.)

May 4: "Transplanting" Whether you grew your plants from seed, bought them at a nursery, or just want to move them around your yard, this class is for you! We will cover best practice for getting them from here to there, and then dig in the dirt ourselves to try out our new skills! (Please dress down.)

Join us for a delightful evening of mahjong every Monday! Whether you’re just starting out or have years of experience, you’re sure to enjoy the camaraderie and good times as you make new friends or cherish moments with longtime pals. All are welcome! Sponsored by Your Town Realty. Bring the most recent Mahjong card with you. You can purchase one at nationalmahjonggleague.org. There will be a $5 charge at the door each session, payable by cash or check (made out to Women of Temple Sinai). Winners will be awarded Giant Eagle gift cards. Want more Mahj? Join our game that meets Wednesdays at 1 PM.

Join Kyle Fisher of Rothrock’s Kung Fu & Tai Chi Academy for a six‑week introduction to Tai Chi. This gentle, slow‑motion practice is both a low‑impact exercise and a traditional self‑defense system designed to improve muscle tone, flexibility, and overall well‑being. Tai Chi helps reduce stress, encourages relaxation, and enhances balance, coordination, and cognitive function. Movements are performed slowly, evenly, and rhythmically, creating a calm and meditative experience. Open to all abilities. Chairs may be used for support. Cost: $30 paid to the instructor for the entire six-week class.

Looking for a different way to unwind and connect? Join us for an hour of uplifting communal singing through niggunim — wordless melodies from Jewish tradition that calm the mind and open the heart. We’ll learn melodies together step-by-step, repeating them until they become familiar, then explore a brief teaching on singing as spiritual practice. No musical training, singing experience, or Hebrew knowledge needed — just bring your voice and curiosity. A joyful, accessible path into presence and community.

Grab a drink from our drink bar and hang out with one of our clergy for an hour. A time for casual conversation and getting to know each other. 

Join us for this relaxed, welcoming gathering where you can bring your knitting, crochet, embroidery, or any handwork project and enjoy great company along with a favorite beverage. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced maker, this is a no-pressure space to create, chat, and unwind. Share ideas, pick up new tips, or simply enjoy the calming rhythm of stitching in community. Bring your project and settle in for an evening of creativity, connection, and cozy fun.

Always wanted to learn how to play Dungeons & Dragons? Here’s your chance! Join Rabbi Young for three short sessions of Dungeons & Dragons. Must commit to the entire series to join. Please contact Rabbi Young to sign up at young@rodefshalom.org. (4–8 players)

Join us for a delightful evening of mahjong every Monday! Whether you’re just starting out or have years of experience, you’re sure to enjoy the camaraderie and good times as you make new friends or cherish moments with longtime pals. All are welcome! Sponsored by Your Town Realty. Bring the most recent Mahjong card with you. You can purchase one at nationalmahjonggleague.org. There will be a $5 charge at the door each session, payable by cash or check (made out to Women of Temple Sinai). Winners will be awarded Giant Eagle gift cards. Want more Mahj? Join our game that meets Wednesdays at 1 PM.

Horticulturalist Rachel Kudrick's classes will orient students to gardening basics. Each class functions independently, so you can pick and choose the areas you relish. (Full descriptions of classes.) Rachel runs Beit Kulanu’s vegetable garden, where all of the produce gets donated to people in need. All classes are $18 unless otherwise noted and payable to the instructor via cash, check, PayPal, Venmo, Zelle or major credit card. Please reach out to Rachel at (412) 251-9759. (Sliding scale and fee waiver available for those on fixed incomes.)

May 4: "Transplanting" Whether you grew your plants from seed, bought them at a nursery, or just want to move them around your yard, this class is for you! We will cover best practice for getting them from here to there, and then dig in the dirt ourselves to try out our new skills! (Please dress down.)

Explore the world one spice blend at a time in this hands-on cooking class celebrating global flavors taught by Mara Kaplan. Each session, you’ll mix your own custom spice blend to take home, then use it to help prepare several dishes that showcase its unique character. Along the way, you’ll learn about the history, uses, and techniques behind the spices while building practical kitchen skills. We’ll finish by sharing the meal together. Classes are $20 per session paid to the instructor.

Experience The MELT Method — a gentle, effective self‑care technique that reduces pain, improves mobility and stability, and supports nervous system regulation. In this introductory class, you’ll use soft MELT balls on the hands and/or feet and feel real changes in your body. The class is taught by Anita Amato, Pittsburgh’s only certified MELT instructor, and a Board‑Certified Myofascial Trigger Point Therapist with deep clinical skill and a passion for helping people reconnect to what they love. Cost: $15, payable to the instructor.