Torah Studies - Adult Education
A Torah Studies course delving into the modern lessons from the ancient themes of the weekly Parsha.
Torah Studies is a series of stimulating text and discussion-based classes that take place on a weekly basis. These classes will engage and challenge you intellectually, spiritually and emotionally. They explore contemporary issues through a Torah perspective as well as tackling timeless questions in the Jewish tradition.
Each class is a standalone unit, so feel free to come along or join virtually when you can!
Instructor: Rabbi Mendy Singer.
Registration is free. The student textbook is available on Amazon here.
The classes are held every Thursday at 7:30 pm, in person at Chabad and virtually (without the chicken soup!). Join us on Zoom at www.jewishbristol.com/zoom or watch live on Facebook @ www.facebook.com/chabadbristol.
Weekly: Thursday, 7:30 - 8:30 pm
Thursday, 16 October
Born This Way? Think Again
Why Your Nature Doesn’t Have the Final Say
Are we stuck with the traits we’re born with, or can we rise above them? This class explores the Torah’s radical view of human nature, showing how connection to something higher empowers real change—no matter your wiring.
Thursday 23 October
Don’t Walk into the Ark Alone
Giving Up on Others Is Never an Option
When someone close to us is drifting from a spiritual or moral life, how far are we expected to go to help them? Through the Torah’s complex portrayal of Noach and a powerful debate in the Zohar, this class challenges us to think differently about responsibility, prayer, and the meaning of never giving up.
Thursday 30 October
Just Do It
Obedience, Not Inspiration, Is the Heart of Judaism
Judaism isn’t a system of values or a path to personal growth—it’s a relationship, and G-d defines the terms. Learn how Avraham’s first step wasn’t about what he believed or felt but about simply doing what G-d said.
Thursday 6 November
Not My Thing? Not the Point.
Stepping Out of Character When the Moment Demands It
Avraham was the embodiment of kindness, so why did he confront G-d with harshness? Because when a soul is on a mission, comfort doesn’t matter. This class challenges us to rethink what real service looks like, and how far we’re willing to go for it.
Thursday 13 November
Buy Local, Reach Global
Judaism Isn’t Just for Jews
Judaism was always meant to be a global force for good, and why even the Torah’s most private miracles were world events.
Thursday 20 November
Make It Yours
Finding Your Voice inside the Tradition
Does following a tradition mean losing yourself? Not at all. This class unpacks how Judaism doesn’t ask you to silence your individuality—it invites you to channel it. Real authenticity isn’t about walking away from what you’ve inherited but about making it unmistakably your own.
Thursday 27 November
Wherever You Go, There You Are
Finding G-d’s Purpose in Your Detours
Life doesn’t always go according to plan—but what if that was the plan? Discover how Yaakov’s journey shows that every twist in the road is Divinely charted, and every challenge holds a spark waiting for you to uncover.
Thursday 4 December
Will the Real You Please Rise?
Wrestling with Your Own Greatness
Yaakov didn’t just fight an angel—he fought the part of himself that was scared to lead, scared to rise. This class explores how growth often means stepping into a version of yourself that feels too big, and why that’s exactly what G-d wants.
Thursday 11 December
Jewish Success Story
It’s Not You, It’s Him
When things go right, we like to think we earned it. But the Torah teaches otherwise. This class reveals how all success is really G-d’s doing—and how recognizing that truth opens the flow for even greater blessing
Thursday 18 December
Loud and Lit
Fighting Back against Fitting In
The Greeks didn’t try to kill us—they tried to make us just like them. This class explores Chanukah as a battle for identity and what it means to be visibly, unapologetically Jewish in a world that prefers you weren’t.
Thursday 25 December
The Man behind the Clothing
How to Stay Whole in a World That [JM1] Won’t Sit Still
Life demands constant reinvention, but your soul doesn’t need to change with your outfit. This class dives into the story of Yosef to uncover the secret to staying grounded and spiritually centered—even as the world pulls you in every direction.
Thursday 1 January
Don’t Get Too Comfortable
Exile Is Never Home
Jacob had everything he needed in Egypt—comfort, family, and freedom to live Jewishly. But he still begged to leave. This class challenges the illusion of exile as a resting place and calls us to yearn for something more.