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APRIL 2024 PROGRAMS
JERUSALEM: THE HOLY CITY’S DEVELOPMENT FROM ANTIQUITY TO TODAY
The Walnut Street Synagogue is pleased to present our Jerusalem: The Holy City’s Development from Antiquity to Today series. Join us in April for our third program, Nachlaot: 1875-1920, on Wednesday, April 17 at 7:00 pm EDT. Please visit our event webpage for more details and to register.
Jerusalem Series details
SPRING SPEAKER SERIES – JEWISH EXPERIENCES IN AMERICA
The Walnut Street Synagogue is pleased to present our Spring Speaker Series – Jewish Experiences in America series. Join us in April for our second program, Becoming American Jews: The Evidence in Art and Architecture, on Wednesday, April 10 at 7:00 pm EDT. Please visit our event webpage for more details and to register.
Speaker Series details
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!
Artifacts of Identity – Exploring Jewish Material Culture Through Time
Part 2 – Fragments of the Temple – Tuesday, April 9, 7:00 pm EDT
Part 3 – Clothes Make the Person – Tuesday, April 16 7:00 pm EDT
Part 4 – At Home in the Jewish World – Tuesday, May 7, 7:00 pm EDT
Part 5 – Erased Synagogues – Tuesday, May 14, 7:00 pm EDT
(online in partnership with the Orange County Jewish Community Scholar Program)
Part 1 – The Lost Ark – Is it in Ethiopia? Hidden under the Vatican? In your Uncle Morris’ attic? A look at the facts and fictions surrounding the fate of this legendary artifact.
Part 2 – Fragments of the Temple – Do we know what the destroyed Jerusalem Temples looked like? How? What archaeological evidence is there that they ever existed, and what are the politics around the promotion or suppression of such evidence?
Part 3 – Clothes Make the Person – What remains of historical Jewish costume in history? How were Jews distinguished from others and how did, (and does) Jewish clothing “mark” Jews?
Part 4 – At Home in the Jewish World – What can we learn about Jewish life from the Jewish home, as depicted in art? Where can we find the “lost treasures” of historical Jewish civilizations now gone?
Part 5 – Erased Synagogues – So many synagogues that were, in former times, the hubs of vibrant communities are no longer extant, for a myriad of reasons. Can we reconstruct these beautiful, vanished buildings?
Winner of the 2015 Jewish Book Award in Visual Arts for Skies of Parchment, Seas of Ink: Jewish Illuminated Manuscripts, Marc Michael Epstein is the product of a mixed marriage between the scions of Slonimer and Lubavitcher Hassidim and Romanian socialists, and grew up, rather confused, but happy, in Brooklyn, New York. He is currently Professor of Religion at Vassar College, where he has been teaching since 1992, and was the first Director of Jewish Studies. At Vassar, he teaches courses on medieval Christianity, religion, arts and politics, and Jewish texts and sources. He is a graduate of Oberlin College, received the PhD at Yale University, and did much of his graduate research at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. During the 1980s, Epstein was Director of the Hebrew Books and Manuscripts division of Sotheby’s Judaica department. He continues to serve as consultant to various libraries, auction houses, museums and private collectors throughout the world.
Part 1 – Program video
Part 2 – Program video
Part 3 – Program video
Jewish Art Restitution Today, A Case Study
Monday, April 25, 1:00 pm EDT
(online in partnership with the Orange County Jewish Community Scholar Program)
During the last two decades there has been a growing determination to restore works of art that were plundered by the Nazis during WWII. This lecture will examine the possible reasons for this shift in awareness, based on Sophia’s personal experience and research in connection with the remarkable case of the restitution of the painting by Jozef Israëls (Dutch, 1824–1911) titled From Darkness to Light.
Since 2016, Sophia Berry has been working as an Assistant Curator at the Tel Aviv Museum of Art (TAMA). Her position at TAMA includes responsibilities of managing exhibitions from the museum’s collections and external loans, researching the museum’s collections, overseeing outgoing loans, writing catalogue texts, and leading restoration projects. Sophia’s latest project was a special exhibition of George Segal’s (1914–2000) sculpture, Sacrifice of Isaac, that was uncovered after a two year restoration process. Sophia has also curated a special display dedicated to Joseph Israel’s From Darkness and Light(1871), which was recently discovered to have been Jewish property before the war. Since her return from a two year sabbatical in Denver, Sophia has been working in the photography department.
Program video
Who Knows One?
Sunday, April 21, 1:00 pm EDT
(online in partnership with the Orange County Jewish Community Scholar Program)
“Echad Mi Yodeya” is so much more than a children’s nursery rhyme. It is a deep meditation on the challenge of Jewish survival and relates to an earlier part of the Haggadah in surprising ways. This class will give you a whole new perspective to explore on Seder night… Join us as we explore the surprising origin of “Echad Mi Yodeya” and the eternal debate about Jewish survival.
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. As well as Dean of LSJS, Rabbi 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.
Program video
Yearning to Breathe Free – Contemporary Jewish Immigrant Stories of inspiration, Resilience and Finding Home
Thursday, April 18, 7:00 pm EDT
(online in partnership with the Orange County Jewish Community Scholar Program)
Too often the Jewish story of coming to America is visualized in sepia tones — European ancestors trudging off the boats at Ellis Island in the 1880s. But as this poetic and captivating new theatre show reveals, the Jewish immigrant story continues into today with fresh and vibrant colors. Weaving together true stories from Jewish immigrants across the globe — Ukraine, China, Iran, Chile, Egypt, Turkey, and Israel — Yearning to Breathe Free takes audiences deeper into the experience of leaving one’s home for a new land. Rooted by their Jewish tradition, the authors of these stories find a resilience to face an uncertain future. Their words have much to teach us.
The Braid moves hearts and challenges minds with mostly true contemporary stories performed on stage and online. Since 2008, the Braid has been recognized for its unique theatrical art form, Salon Theatre, that sits at the intersection of theatre and storytelling. These stories are pulled from a vast collection of over 75 original “Salon Theatre” shows spotlighting diverse Jewish experiences in America today. Written by over 350 professional and lay writers ages 13-98, and performed by professional actors, these inspiring Jewish stories deliver heart, humor, chutzpah and leave you laughing or crying, or both, while celebrating the truths that connect us all.
What did Abraham have to do with the Abraham Accords?
Sunday, April 14, 1:00 pm EDT
(online in partnership with the Orange County Jewish Community Scholar Program)
While the political motivations for Arab states to normalize relations with Israel are well known, this session looks at the religious-cultural language around the Abraham Accords. Was this just branding, or a real attempt to rewrite the script of Arab-Jewish relations? And what will be the fate of all this following the Israel-Hamas war?
Dr. Toby Greene is visiting fellow in the Middle East Centre at the London School of Economics and a lecturer in the Department for Political Studies at Bar Ilan University. He is a former Marie Curie Fellow at Queen Mary University of London and has held research and teaching positions at Hebrew University and Tel Aviv University. He earned his PhD from UCL for his thesis on British foreign policy in the Israeli-Palestinian arena. Toby’s research and teaching focuses on foreign policy, with a focus on civilizational identity politics in the Middle East and Europe. He publishes and lectures widely for scholarly, professional and general audiences
Lines of Resonance – Unveiling the Poetic Tapestry of Contemporary Israel
Sunday, April 7, 2:30 pm EDT
(online in partnership with the Orange County Jewish Community Scholar Program)
The calamity of October 7th had left Israel and the Jewish world in shock and despair. The unimaginable became our reality. As more details of the horror unfold, we find ourselves less and less able to talk about it. The expression most commonly used is מילים אין ein milim – No Words! A nd yet – there are those who struggle and find words to express pain and anger, despair and abandonment. In our session we will read and discuss poetry written these very days. The poems are often raw and painful, while at the same time also full of love and even hope.
Dr. Rachel Korazim is a powerful speaker and a freelance Jewish education consultant specializing in curriculum development for Israel and Holocaust education. She is involved with Jewish education worldwide; creating and implementing in-service training programs for educators, writing educational materials, counseling and teaching. As one of the founders and directors of a special program for Israeli soldiers from disadvantaged backgrounds, she was responsible for creating the educational framework and training teachers for the implementation of the program. Born in Israel, she served in the I.D.F. as an officer in the central training base for women and was later a member of the I.D.F. delegation to Niger (West Africa). She is a graduate of Haifa University with a PhD in Jewish education.
Program video
Questioning Belief – Torah and Tradition in an Age of Doubt
Thursday, April 4, 1:00 pm EDT
(online in partnership with the Orange County Jewish Community Scholar Program)
Do you firmly believe in God? Are all the stories in the Torah true? And are its laws still ethical today? If you are not sure, you are not alone… Join us for an enlightening online book launch event featuring Rabbi Dr. Raphael Zarum in conversation with Dr. Tanya White. In his groundbreaking new work, Questioning Belief, Rabbi Zarum tackles twelve challenging questions that confront the Torah today, delving into its narratives, laws, and beliefs with depth and nuance. Drawing upon historical, scientific, and philosophical research alongside classical Jewish sources, Rabbi Zarum offers surprising and stimulating insights that invite readers to engage with their faith in profound ways. Renowned for his acclaimed lectures worldwide, Rabbi Zarum fearlessly confronts uncomfortable questions while maintaining a tradition-rooted and intellectually rigorous approach. Joining him is Dr. Tanya White, whose expertise in Tanach and Jewish Philosophy adds a unique and inspiring dimension to the conversation. Don’t miss this opportunity to delve into thought-provoking dialogue and deepen your understanding of Torah narratives and beliefs.
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. As well as Dean of LSJS, Rabbi 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.
Dr. Tanya White is a sought-after international lecturer and writer who specializes in Tanach and Contemporary Jewish Thought. She is a Senior lecturer at Matan Women’s Institute for Torah Studies and LSJS as well as teaching in Pardes, Bar Ilan and other institutions. Tanya acts as scholar in residence to diverse communities in the United States, Switzerland and the UK. She holds a doctorate in Jewish Philosophy from Bar Ilan University, and was elected as a “Sacks Scholar” in the inaugural cohort program of Rabbi Sacks Scholars 2023-2024. Tanya lives with her husband and family on a Moshav in central Israel.
Program video
COMMUNITY PROGRAMS
Stand Up for Jewish Students Rally
Sunday, April 28, 1:30 pm EDT
(in person program sponsored by Combined Jewish Philanthropies outside Temple Israel of Boston, 477 Longwood Avenue)
Throughout this Passover — a time to celebrate Jewish liberation from oppression — horrific scenes of antisemitic rhetoric, harassment, glorification of terrorism and violence, and protests have been unfolding on campuses across the U.S., including MIT and Emerson College. Our Jewish students are being targeted and they are terrified. Join CJP’s Center for Combating Antisemitism and community partners this Sunday for a rally to both support our students and reaffirm our commitment to eradicating hatred and violence toward Jews.
CJP Community Briefing on Antisemitism in America
Wednesday, April 17, 4:00 pm EDT
(online program presented by Combined Jewish Philanthropies)
The Anti-Defamation League’s (ADL’s) 2023 Audit of Antisemitic Incidents will be released on April 16 and CJP is holding a virtual community briefing the very next day to discuss (what’s expected to be) the record-breaking findings, both nationally and locally. We invite you to join CJP and the ADL for a timely and necessary conversation on the state of antisemitism across the country and how the number of incidents have been affected since the terror attacks in Israel on October 7.
Israel Update with Col. (Ret.) Miri Eisin
Tuesday, April 16, 8:00 am EDT
(online program presented by Combined Jewish Philanthropies)
Join Combined Jewish Philanthropies (CJP) for a briefing from Col. (Ret.) Miri Eisen following Iran’s launch of more than 300 drones and projectiles in its first-ever direct attack on Israel. Col Eisen is the Director of the International Institute for Counter-Terrorism at Reichman University in Herzliya, and a great friend of the Boston community. She will join us for on-the-ground insights and to discuss what we might expect in the upcoming days and weeks ahead.
Antisemitism & Anti-Zionism Worldwide
Monday, April 8, 7:00 pm EDT
(online program presented by the Lappin Foundation)
Join the Lappin Foundation for Antisemitism and Anti-Zionism Worldwide. Ido Aharoni Aronoff will explain how Anti-Zionism became the new antisemitism and will discuss the rise of Jew-hatred in the age of information overload. Aharoni was Israel’s Consul General to New York, serving from 2010 through 2016, and he has been a member of the Tel Aviv University Board of Governors.
Spring 2024 Conference – Democracy and its Alternatives: The Origins of Israel’s Current Crises
Sunday – Monday, April 7 – April 8
(in person program presented by the Schusterman Center for Israel Studies at Brandeis University)
Join the Schusterman Center’s conference for a scholarly understanding of a country and a region in crisis, and places these pivotal events in their larger historical, regional, and political contexts.
Voices From the Past…Lessons for the Future
Sunday, April 7, 2:30 pm EDT
(online program presented by New England Friends of March of the Living)
Join New England Friends of March of the Living (NEFMOTL) for their annual virtual event. NEFMOTL is part of the International MOTL, which brings teens from around the world to Poland and Israel to study the history of the Holocaust, examine the roots of prejudice, intolerance and hatred. During the program, Janet Stein Calm will receive the fourth annual Stephan Ross Excellence in Holocaust Education Award award. She is the daughter of a Holocaust survivor who has devoted much of her life to honoring survivors, to learning their histories, and ensuring that these eyewitness accounts are part of Holocaust education programs and she serves as President of the American Association of Jewish Holocaust Survivors.
Between the Stone and the Flower
Thursday, April 4, 7:00 pm EDT
(in person program at the West Newton Cinema, 1296 Washington Street, West Newton)
Join Boston Jewish Film for a special screening of the film Between the Stone and the Flower, featuring a discussion with renowned Crypto-Jewish genealogist, author, and film subject Genie Milgrom! Born in Havana, Cuba, and raised in Miami, Genie Milgrom’s education was steeped in Roman Catholicism, from grade school to university. Despite her upbringing, she carried a persistent sense of disconnection within her Spanish Catholic surroundings, ultimately learning she has a lineage of Jewish relatives dating back centuries. Genie’s story is one of twists and turns as she confronts the challenging choice to transition from her traditional Catholic background to embracing Judaism, ultimately opting for an Orthodox path. Her decision sends shockwaves through her family and friends, while her conviction about her family’s Jewish roots in the Iberian Peninsula centuries prior only deepens. The screening is followed by an in person conversation with Film Subject/Producer Genie Milgrom, moderated by Dalia Wassner, PhD, Director of Jews of the Americas at Brandeis University.
YAD CHESSED
Fulfill a Passover Mitzvah with Yad Chessed: “Let all Who are Hungry Come and Eat”
As Passover approaches, we all have the opportunity to fulfill the beautiful mitzvah of Maot Chittim (“wheat money”) by making a donation to Yad Chessed to ensure that every member of our community can afford food and joyfully celebrate this cherished holiday.
Maot Chittim is a mitzvah which dates to ancient times when individuals would contribute funds so that everyone in their community could afford the necessary provisions for the Passover holiday. Yad Chessed, an organization focused solely on assisting Jews in our community currently struggling with financial hardship and food insecurity, is committed to upholding this tradition by helping families purchase food on Passover. Your generous donation will contribute to ensuring that no one is left behind during this special time of year.
By giving to Yad Chessed, you are not only fulfilling a fundamental mitzvah but also spreading hope, joy, and unity throughout our community. And, if you know of someone in our community who is struggling with financial challenges, please encourage them to reach out to Yad Chessed (www.yadchessed.org/intake-form/) for assistance.
Support Yad Chessed