Our Tent 2025-26 Third Trimester Class Descriptions

Class Description:

Justice, Justice, Shall You Pursue: A rabbi and a lawyer walked into a classroom…and they began a conversation about the overlap of religion and law.  In the class we will examine American legal issues with religious roots, Jewish legal issues and how modern rabbis use the legal principal of precedence to answer questions the ancient rabbis could have never dreamed of, and how we can use our Jewish values as a guide whenever we have a difficult decision to make or question to answer.

This class is offered on Zoom or in-person, please indicate how you will be taking the class when you register.

Instructors: Rabbi Shana Nyer & Lauren Onkeles-Klein

Rabbi Shana Nyer was ordained from Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion in 2003 and received her Master of Arts in Religious Education from there in 2016. She loves teaching students of all ages and is passionate about advocating for the inclusion of all learners. Rabbi Shana is a gifted storyteller who loves to teach Jewish values through this medium, and also gets excited when her lessons combine her knowledge of and passion for Judaism and her interest in all things pop culture or her love of cooking.

Lauren Onkeles-Klein is a Senior Attorney at the Legal Aid Society of Cleveland focusing on housing law. Previously, she worked in areas of disability rights, civil rights, public benefits, and education as a professor/clinic director at American University’s Washington College of Law and UDC’s David A. Clarke School of Law, and at DC’s Children’s Law Center. Very occasionally, you can find her at play, performing improv and sketch on the West Side.

Class Description:

Tikvah: Putting our Jewish Values into Action Part III: Rabbi Jonathan Sacks teaches “Optimism is the belief that the world is changing for the better; hope is the belief that, together, we can make the world better.” In this class we will learn how we can use our Jewish values and do our part to make our world the place we hope and know it can be.

This class is offered in-person only. YOU DO NOT NEED TO HAVE TAKEN THE PREVIOUS SECTIONS TO SIGN UP FOR THIS CLASS.

Instructor: Linda Wolfe

Linda Wolfe has dedicated over 50 years of her life to teaching at STKA.  She teaches Hebrew in our learning program and to many of our B’nai Mitzvah students. She also loves teaching our youngest learners about Torah and values! It is her true passion and joy!

Class Description:

Not Ready for Prime Time Purim Players: Get ready to laugh, create, and perform! In this class, we'll work together during both sessions of Our Tent to write, rehearse, and bring to life our STKA Purim spiel! Everyone will have a role, either on stage or behind the scenes- as we use creativity, teamwork, and a whole lot of silliness to prepare a performance for the Purim carnival. Come ready to share ideas, sing your hearts out, and celebrate Purim!

This class is offered in-person only, and you must register for BOTH learning sessions. 

Instructors: Noah (Nappel) Appel and Annika Balish

Noah Appel, or Nappel as he is known, is finishing his bachelor’s degree in social work at Cleveland State University, after beginning at Kent State University. He has spent 14 summers at Camp Wise, including this past summer as the  Jewish Life Supervisor. He will bring his knowledge of Jewish values, his leadership experience, and his love for life to any class he teaches!

Annika Balish is STKA's Music Director. She graduated from The College of Wooster with a degree in voice in 2022, and spent the summers of 2022, 2023 and 2025 at Camp Wise as the performing arts supervisor. She found her love of music at her own synagogue growing up, and loves to help instill that love in many others

Class Description:

Tikkun Olam: Judaism and Social Justice Part II: Judaism has always had an emphasis on social justice.  This class will explore how Jews and Judaism in the United States have contributed to social justice in the United States in such areas as the civil rights, labor, and feminist movements. We will particularly profile Jewish individuals who have impacted social justice movements and the core Jewish values that they put into practice in achieving their results. We will conclude with examining Jewish groups across the country who are working for social justice today.

This class is offered on Zoom or in-person, please indicate how you will be taking the class when you register. YOU DO NOT NEED TO HAVE TAKEN THE PREVIOUS SECTION TO SIGN UP FOR THIS CLASS.

Instructor: Larry Bresler

Larry Bresler is a social worker who has been doing community organizing for social justice for over 50 years.  This has included serving as director of a community organizing organization called Organize! Ohio for 25 years. As a Suburban Temple Kol Ami member, he has been active with the Religious Action Center of Ohio (RAC Ohio).  He also  taught graduate and undergraduate courses  on community organizing at Case Western Reserve University for 18 years.

Class Description:

Soaking Up Even More Words of Torah:  The last three words of the blessing for studying Torah are “l’asok b’dvrei Torah,” which can be translated as “to soak up the words of Torah." So, let’s dive into the deep end past the surface meanings and seek out the interpretations to be discovered below the depths. No prior study of Torah is expected or needed to enjoy this class. All that's needed is an open mind and an open heart.

This class is offered in-person and on Zoom.  Please indicate how you will be taking the class when you register. YOU DO NOT NEED TO HAVE TAKEN THE PREVIOUS SECTIONS TO SIGN UP FOR THIS CLASS.

Instructor: Rabbi Ben Sternman

Rabbi Ben recently retired from being the rabbi of Adat Chaverim in Plano, Texas and moved back to Cleveland, his adopted hometown. He is grateful to continue to teach, a passion of his.

Class Description:

Let’s Talk about God: In this class we will discuss what mainstream Judaism teaches about God, what we do or don’t believe, how to discover God’s will and live according to it. We will touch on issues related to the creation of the world, why we should be/do good, the afterlife and reincarnation.

This class is offered on Zoom or in-person, please indicate how you will be taking the class when you register.

Instructor: Rabbi Danny Gottlieb

Suburban Temple Kol Ami’s Transitional Rabbi Danny Gottlieb was born in Toronto, Ontario, and raised in the Canadian Reform Movement. Upon his ordination in 1980 from the Leo Baeck College in London, England, Rabbi Gottlieb returned to Toronto, where he was among the leadership of the Canadian Reform Movement for more than 30 years.

Since his retirement from the full-time congregational rabbinate, Rabbi Gottlieb has been active as a Synagogue Management Consultant, specializing in congregations undergoing or anticipating challenging transitions. Now a resident of Henderson, Nevada, where he lives with his wife Ricki Weintraub and their dog Honi, he continues to serve as the Rabbinic Co-Chair of NOAM and the Berit Milah Board of Reform Judaism, and as Rabbi Emeritus at Congregation Am Tikvah in San Francisco.

Class Description:

Building Jewish Culture One (Lego) Brick at a Time: Throughout Jewish history, we’ve had many traditions, including rituals, architecture, and holidays. In this class, we’ll study and discuss Jewish culture while digging deeper into our understandings of its aspects through Legos.

This class is offered in-person only.

Instructor: Yossi Berkowitz

Yossi Berkowitz graduated from The Ohio State University with degrees in economics and political science. He has worked at Camp Wise, where he supervised both the oldest and youngest campers, and he loves discussing and teaching Jewish history. He’s excited to be teaching about Judaism creatively at STKA!

Class Description:

Torah Tots: This program is for our youngest learners. It will be available all morning and will include childcare and age-appropriate fun Jewish learning. 

Please sign up for each session your child will be in Torah Tots. This class is offered in-person only.

Instructor: Liam Jacobs

Liam has eight years of experience in early childhood education and has been the Torah Tots teacher for Our Tent for five years. This year, he is beginning his graduate studies in Counseling and Art Therapy at Ursuline College to further support children’s growth and creativity. At Our Tent, he enjoys facilitating art activities that introduce his students to Jewish holidays, traditions, and values, nurturing their interest and connection to Judaism. When not working or studying, he enjoys spending time with his dog, a Yorkie-poo named Sheila. Liam is very excited to return as the Torah Tots teacher this year and to connect with the STKA community.