A new course at B’nai Sholom Reform Congregation will help readers of Hebrew understand better the makeup and nuances of the Hebrew in Jewish prayers.

“On the Path to Understanding: Hebrew Hints in Prayer” will be offered Mondays beginning April 6 from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at B’nai Sholom Reform Congregation, 420 Whitehall Road, Albany, N.Y.

Led by Rabbi Don Cashman, B’nai Sholom’s spiritual leader, the eight-session course will focus on aspects of the Hebrew language that will help increase understanding of Jewish liturgy and aid the fluency of reading (“decoding”) Hebrew texts. Topics will include: roots; prefixes and the differences between prepositions and verb forms; suffixes; word patterns; and related topics of student concern. This is not a Hebrew course, but rather a course about Hebrew.

Registration for this course is required. Cost is $45; for B’nai Sholom members, it is just $30. For more information or to register for this course, contact the B’nai Sholom office at

518-482-5283 or e-mail office@bnaisholom.albany.ny.us.

Founded in 1971, B’nai Sholom Reform Congregation in Albany is a home for contemporary Reform Judaism in the Capital Region, creating a vibrant Jewish present that links ancient traditions with the promise of the future. Nearly 130 diverse households from six counties seek religious, educational and social fulfillment at B’nai Sholom.

#