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JULY 2022 PROGRAMS
CSP
The Walnut Street Synagogue is pleased to be a partner congregation of the Orange County Jewish Community Scholar Program. Please join us at an upcoming program!
From Adam to AI – What Does the Torah Teach Us About Artificial Intelligence?
Sunday, July 31, 3:00 pm EDT
(online in partnership with the Orange County Jewish Community Scholar Program)
They say superintelligence is upon us: Terminator and Westworld are fiction today but might they come to life tomorrow? And what does our age-old faith have to say about the synthetic minds of the future? Should a computer algorithm be allowed to decide on life-saving medical priorities? Would you trust a machine to calculate your political voting preference? Join us as Rabbi Dr. Rafi Zarum presents a Torah-based approach to the ethics and antics of AI, and discuss what computers can do, could do, and can’t do.
Rabbi Dr Raphael Zarum is Dean of the London School of Jewish Studies (LSJS) and holds the Rabbi Sacks Chair in Modern Jewish Thought at the school. He is a rabbinic leader, lecturer and author with a passion for teaching traditional Jewish texts and innovative educational programming for young and old. Rabbi Dr. Zarum earned a PhD in Theoretical Physics from King’s College London, leading to the publication of a number of papers on Quantum Chaos Theory. He also completed an MA in Adult Education, with distinction, at the Institute of Education in London. As well as Dean of LSJS, Rabbi Dr Zarum currently serves as the Scholar-in-Residence at the Central Square Minyan in Hampstead Garden Suburb. He studied at Yeshivat HaKotel in Jerusalem and the Kollel of the Judith Lady Montefiore College in London where he received rabbinic ordination. He is the creator of the Torah L’Am crash course and is the author of the ‘Torat Hadracha’ and ‘Jampacked Bible’ educational study guides.
The Bruria Affair: The Truth Behind the Infamous Talmudic Incident
Session 1 – Thursday, July 7, 1:00 pm EDT
Session 2 – Thursday, July 14, 1:00 pm EDT
Session 3 – Thursday, July 21, 1:00 pm EDT
Session 4 – Thursday, July 28, 1:00 pm EDT
(online in partnership with the Orange County Jewish Community Scholar Program)
She is the poster woman for Jewish feminism and women’s Torah study. Schools have been named for her, responsa has been written against her. She has been hailed as a heroine and denounced as an adulteress, held up as exemplar and as cautionary tale. But who was she, Bruria the Tannaite, the only female sage of the Talmud? How do we come to have such conflicting accounts of her? And why does her story end so tragically? Join us as we explore the truth behind the Bruria affair, through the Tosefta and Talmud, Greek tragedy and medieval commentary, Homer and Shakespeare and Virginia Woolf.
Gila Fine is a teacher of Aggada at the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies, exploring the tales of the Talmud through philosophy, literary criticism, psychoanalysis, and pop-culture. She is also a faculty member of the London School of Jewish Studies, the Nachshon Project, and Amudim Seminary and has taught thousands of students at conferences and communities across the Jewish world. Gila’s dynamic literary method and unique intertextual approach – ranging from folktales to fiction to film – bring the stories of the Talmud to life, revealing their relevance for our time. Haaretz has called her “a young woman on her way to becoming one of the more outstanding Jewish thinkers of the next generation.”
The Music of Zionism
Sunday, July 24, 7:00 pm EDT
(online in partnership with the Orange County Jewish Community Scholar Program)
One hundred years ago, Zionist pioneers created a new repertoire of songs, designed specifically to further their ideological goals. We will examine both lyrics and music of several songs from this period, to see how they reflected this ideology. We will also observe how, in recent years, the popular music of Israel has reflected the changing face of its population and its institutions.
Dr. Joshua R. Jacobson holds a Bachelors degree in Music from Harvard College, a Masters in Choral Conducting from the New England Conservatory, a Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Cincinnati, and a Doctor of Humane Letters honoris causa from Hebrew College. Before retiring in 2018, Dr. Jacobson served 45 years as Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities at Northeastern University, including nine years as Music Department Chairman and six years as the Bernard Stotsky Professor of Jewish Cultural Studies. He is also Visiting Professor and Senior Consultant in the School of Jewish Music at Hebrew College. He is also the founder and director of the Zamir Chorale of Boston, a world-renowned ensemble, specializing in Hebrew music.
Jewish Paris! A Virtual Summer Adventure
Sunday, July 17, 1:00 pm EDT
(online in partnership with the Orange County Jewish Community Scholar Program)
Join us for a fascinating, informative and funny 90-minute virtual walking tour of Jewish Paris! This tour will take us around the Jewish quarter, point out cultural landmarks that would be otherwise overlooked while at the same time sharing insights into what it was like to be a Jew in France during several fraught periods. Explore Le Marais (main Jewish neighborhood), Place de Vosges, Hotel de Sully, Synagogue Hector Guimard, Musee Carnvalet, and so much more in this interactive guided discussion.
Born and raised in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, our guide Karen Rudel grew up with the aspiration to be a comedian, a musician, or both… She groomed these crafts from a young age by making everyone around her laugh and beginning a lifetime romance with the flute at the age of nine. She went on to study drama at Temple University in Philadelphia and played in a series of bands. From the age of 30 until she got married, Karen was back and forth between Paris and Philadelphia, working on musical projects and touring (including being the flautist and singer in a Reggae band in Paris). One day her parents came to visit her and Karen, having learned a lot about Paris, was showing them around when her mother exclaimed, “Karen, you would make a great tour guide!” That was the light bulb moment, and as the French say, voila! Paris has been Karen’s stomping ground for over 20 years, and her company is in a unique position to give you the historical background and underground cultural scoops that most walking tours leave out.
Secret Identities: The Jewish Origins of the Marvel Universe!
Sunday, July 10, 7:00 pm EDT
(online in partnership with the Orange County Jewish Community Scholar Program)
The Marvel Cinematic Universe is the biggest thing in showbiz, with 28 films earning over $25 billion worldwide. But before all the glitz and glamor, comics were a disreputable, mostly Jewish, industry. Almost all of Marvel’s superheroes were co-created by Jews, including Captain America, Fantastic Four, Hulk, Thor, Ant-Man, Iron Man, Avengers, X-Men, Silver Surfer, Black Panther and many others. And they were more than just playful fantasies—they were wish-fulfillment avatars of their creators, drawing on Jewish culture and folklore to fight Nazis, bigotry and intolerance. Join author, journalist and pop culture historian Roy Schwartz for a fascinating journey through comic book lore and Jewish-American history that’ll give you a newfound appreciation for your favorite superheroes!
Roy Schwartz is the Diagram Prize-winning author of Is Superman Circumcised? The Complete Jewish History of the World’s Greatest Hero and The Darkness in Lee’s Closet and the Others Waiting There. He has written for a wide range of publications, including New York Daily News, Jerusalem Post and Philosophy Now. He writes about pop culture for The Forward and CNN.com. He can be found at royschwartz.com and on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook as @RealRoySchwartz.
COMMUNITY PROGRAMS
Heritage Judaica In-Person Pop-Up
Sunday, July 10, 11:00 am to 1:00 pm EDT
(Temple Tifereth Israel, Winthrop)
Heritage Judaica, is holding an event at Temple Tifereth Israel in Winthrop for people to drop off and pick up unwanted Judaica. There is no cost of money involved as all items are hefker.
Please contact rabbiflax@gmail.com for further information.
COMMUNITY PROJECTS
Ukraine Emergency Fund
Combined Jewish Philanthropies (CJP) has launched the Ukraine Emergency Fund to provide humanitarian assistance to the Jewish Community of Ukraine. All funds will go to partners on the ground in Ukraine to help with food, housing, medicine and other basic needs.
Learn more and Donate here
Chelsea Gateway Project
Yad Chessed
Sponsor meals for those in our community who are struggling with economic hardship and isolation and help to support other needs through Yad Chessed. Yad Chessed serves as a safety net for Jewish individuals and families and is rooted in the Jewish values of kindness (chessed) and charity (tzedakah). They are committed to helping those in need navigate a path toward financial stability while preserving their privacy and dignity. Questions can be directed to info@yadchessed.org.
Support Yad Chessed