10/09/2026
Scholar-in-Residence: Rabbi Steven Bob
Friday, October 30 - Saturday, October 31
Rabbi Steven Bob is a good friend of Bet Shalom and we are honored to have him return as a scholar-in-residence. He is a gifted teacher for all ages and this will be a fun weekend for everyone who joins us, including our HaMakom students who will get to learn with him on Sunday morning!
The Books of Ezra and Nehemiah describe return from Babylonian exile and the dynamic decades which follow. During the early Second Temple period new rituals emerge which provide the foundation for our Jewish lives.
Friday, October 30th @ 6pm
The Moment Judaism as We Know it Began
We will meet Ezra, learning who he is and the role he plays in shaping Judaism. In a pivotal moment in the history of the Jewish people, Ezra stood before the people and did something that had never been done before.
Saturday, October 31st
8:30am -- Rabbi Bob will lead Torah Study.
Following the 10am Shabbat Service Rabbi Bob will lead a Lunch & Learn session. We encourage you to RSVP to help us prepare for the lunch. CLICK HERE to RSVP or call the synagogue.
Jewish Holidays and the Hebrew Language Take Shape
Key elements of Judaism emerge after the return from exile in Babylonia. We will explore the real meaning of the Sukkah as it is revealed in the Book of Nehemiah. We will learn why Moses would not be able to read the from a Torah scroll, as we explore the surprising truth about Hebrew letters.
Steven M. Bob was Senior Rabbi of Congregation Etz Chaim in Lombard, IL for 35 years.
Rabbi Bob serves as a guest faculty member at Wheaton College and as an Instructor at theHebrew Seminary for the Hearing and the Deaf. He is a leader of the faculty of Olin-Sang-Ruby Union Institute (OSRUI).
His newest book is When Judaism Began: Exploring the Books of Ezra and Nehemiah (2026). He is also the author of Go to Nineveh (2013) and Jonah and the Meaning of Our Lives (2016).
He grew up in Minnesota: Park High class of 1968 and the “U” class of 1972.
