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ITJ Pittsburgh, a program of the Greater Pittsburgh Jewish Clergy Association, offers three courses annually: Intro to Judaism, Beginning Hebrew, and Intermediate Hebrew.
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Intro to Judaism
25 sessionsCourse takes place over roughly 30 weeks
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24 teachersCantors, Rabbis, Professionals from across Western Pennsylvania
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Since 2019Over 200 students have been enlightened and educated in our flagship program course
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Full Course Offerings for 2025
Aleph isn't Hard / Beginning Hebrew
Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6:00-7:00 pm, May 1-June 3
Learn to read Hebrew! This class is meant for those who do not yet know the letters and vowels of the Alef Bet. We will practice reading using common words from Jewish ritual, holidays, and prayers. Every class will also feature brief exercises in oral language to provide further context for language development. By the end of 10 sessions, students will be able to name, pronounce, and write all the letters and vowels and decode multisyllabic words, as well as speak and understand a few phrases.
This class will meet for 10 sessions on Tuesdays and Thursdays, May 1-June 3, from 6:00-7:00 PM.
Fee: $135 (including text book, L’Shon Ha-Kodesh Adult Hebrew Primer).
Financial assistance is available by contacting Rabbi Mark Goodman at [email protected].
In-person at Congregation Beth Shalom, 5915 Beacon Street, Squirrel Hill, PGH 15217.
Intro to Judaism - In-person
Sundays, 2:00-4:00 pm, begins October 19
Learn about Judaism – its religion, practices, history, and culture – from cantors and rabbis from across Pittsburgh. In this 25 week course, we'll cover the Bible, Jewish Holidays, Israel, Keeping Kosher, Love and Marriage, Jewish History, Commandments, and God. Instructors represent rabbis from every major movement of Judaism: Conservative, Reconstructionist, Jewish Renewal, Orthodox and Reform. Each class is two hours long.
This course is split into three units, Fall, Winter, and Spring, taught on a continuous basis. A student that begins by taking Unit 2 in the Winter will continue to take Unit 3 and then Unit 1. Course fee includes all three units and the book, On One Foot.
ITJ follows the Miller Curriculum of the American Jewish University. This course is often a requirement for conversion to Judaism: consult your rabbi/cantor for further guidance.
This course takes place in-person at either 5915 Beacon Street or 4905 Fifth Avenue in Squirrel Hill, Pittsburgh.
Financial aid is available. For more information about aid or to answer any other questions, email [email protected].
Intermediate Hebrew
Wednesdays, 7:45-8:45 pm June 11-August 20
In Intermediate Hebrew, we offer students the opportunity to take their reading ability and apply it to learning the core Hebrew prayers of the Shabbat morning service. This class will meet for 10 sessions
Class takes place in-person at 5915 Beacon Street, Congregation Beth Shalom.
Fee of $140 includes a copy of the book Hineni: Prayerbook Hebrew for Adults.
If you'd like to take the class but need financial assistance, please email [email protected]
Intro to Judaism - Online
Tuesdays, 7:00-9:00 pm, begins October 21
Learn about Judaism – its religion, practices, history, and culture – from cantors and rabbis from across Pittsburgh. In this 25 week course, we'll cover the Bible, Jewish Holidays, Israel, Keeping Kosher, Love and Marriage, Jewish History, Commandments, and God. Instructors represent rabbis from every major movement of Judaism: Conservative, Reconstructionist, Jewish Renewal, Orthodox and Reform. Each class is two hours long.
This course is split into three units, Fall, Winter, and Spring, taught on a continuous basis. A student that begins by taking Unit 2 in the Winter will continue to take Unit 3 and then Unit 1. Course fee includes all three units and the book, On One Foot.
ITJ follows the Miller Curriculum of the American Jewish University. This course is often a requirement for conversion to Judaism: consult your rabbi/cantor for further guidance.
Financial aid is available. For more information about aid or to answer any other questions, email [email protected].
Donate to ITJ
Donation to ITJ
The Hebrew word for donations is tzedakah, meaning 'justice.'
Intro to Judaism is a project of the GPJCA, a non-profit religious organization serving the community in Pittsburgh PA. A significant number of folks taking our classes are on financial aid.
In order to offset our costs for making ITJ and Hebrew classes available to everyone regardless of ability to pay, consider making a donation.