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JULY 2024 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!
Making Sense of Israel
Part 1 – Tuesday, July 16, 1:00 pm EDT
Part 2 – Tuesday, July 23, 1:00 pm EDT
Part 3 – Tuesday, July 30, 1:00 pm EDT
(online in partnership with the Orange County Jewish Community Scholar Program)
In this three-part series, Clive Lawton will start by asking where the very word ‘Israel’ comes from. Is it a person, a people, a place or a country? Is the State of Israel the same as the Holy Land? What are the boundaries of the ‘Promised Land’? How is it that back in the days of our grandparents, most Jews were not Zionists? In the early days of the State of Israel, she found herself confronted by ‘the Arabs’, best represented by Egypt. Then her avowed enemy was ‘The Palestinians’, best represented by the PLO. Now the enemy appears to be “Islamists,” best represented by Hamas. Over three weeks, we will cover the history, politics and current situation and consider what options exist for Israel. Has it been built over a fault line that is now pulling it apart or can the famed creativity of the Jews in general and Israelis in particular find a way through the many dilemmas that beset the State?
Honored by the Queen in 2016 for services to ‘Education and the Jewish community’, voted no 18 in the UK’s Jewish ‘Power 100’ list and awarded the Max Fisher International Prize for Jewish Education by the Jewish Agency in Jerusalem, and CSP’s 11th Annual One Month Scholar in January 2012, Clive Lawton is CEO of the Commonwealth Jewish Council and scholar-in-residence at JW3, London’s flagship JCC (of which he was a founding trustee) and an internationally active management and education consultant. He was co-founder of Limmud, the internationally renowned Jewish adult education movement and worked for it in senior roles from 1999 till 2016. He has been a high school principal, Director of Education for the City of Liverpool, a governor of the Metropolitan Police, Chair of a Hospital Trust, a patron of the Jewish AIDS Trust, and on the Editorial Board of Jewish Renaissance.
Part 1 – Program video
Part 2 – Program video
Part 3 – Program video
Theater as Thoughtful Provocation
Sunday, July 28, 1:00 pm EDT
(online in partnership with the Orange County Jewish Community Scholar Program)
We are thrilled to invite you to a captivating discussion featuring Aaron Henne, the founding Artistic Director of theatre dybbuk, and Anne Hromadka Greenwald, Arts Program Curator of the Albert & Rhoda Yvette Weissman Art Endowment. Aaron and Anne will discuss theatre dybbuk’s innovative national programming, its unique approach to Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice, and exciting upcoming productions. Anne will also share insights on curation and the unique opportunities that engaging with Jewish arts presents, especially in today’s world. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain deep insights into the intersection of art, history, and contemporary issues with two distinguished experts in the field.
Aaron Henne leads theatre dybbuk, an arts and education organization that uses Jewish history to explore the complexities of our world. Beyond his impactful work with theatre dybbuk, Aaron teaches storytelling nationwide and has conducted workshops at Lucasfilm, Pixar, and DreamWorks. He has served as faculty for Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion, was the Diane Luboff Scholar at the Cutter Colloquium, and is a member of Beit HaYotzer/The Creativity Braintrust.
Anne Hromadka Greenwald, as Arts Program Curator of the Albert & Rhoda Yvette Weissman Art Endowment and as founding principal of AMH Art Advisory, has consulted with a select group of artists, non-profits, museums, and commercial galleries to develop their goals and increase their exposure in the public sphere and marketplace.
Program video
Bruce Springsteen, Randy Newman, George Michael, Madonna and More: Revealing Jewish Readings of Pop Music
Part 1 – Wednesday, July 3, 3:30 pm EDT
Part 2 – Wednesday, July 10, 3:30 pm EDT
Part 3 – Wednesday, July 17, 3:30 pm EDT
Part 4 – Wednesday, July 24, 3:30 pm EDT
(online in partnership with the Orange County Jewish Community Scholar Program)
We all have our favorite pop songs. Many are just catchy and light, but some delve into meaningful ideas that resonate with our faith. In this innovative four-part course Rabbi Dr. Raphael Zarum will delve into a selection of songs that help us to rethink the Creation, Noah’s Ark, Prayer and God.
Part 1 – We will listen to Bruce Springsteen, Sting and the Divine Comedy as they reflect on the meaning of the Flood today.
Part 2 – Stevie Wonder and Madonna teach us to love and enjoy God’s world.
Part 3 – George Michael and Peter Gabriel inspire us to make all our days on earth count.
Part 4 – Randy Newman and Bob Dylan take on God… This course will send you on a musical journey which provides passionate new perspectives on some of the fundamentals of Judaism.
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.
Part 1 – Program video
Part 3 – Program video
Wild and Mild Stories of the Talmud
Sunday, July 21, 1:00 pm EDT
(online in partnership with the Orange County Jewish Community Scholar Program)
In this session we will explore a Talmudic episode that blends the “wild” and the “mild” – considering how the two blend everyday life with the seemingly extraordinary. Though dealing with the needs of daily life informed by the particularities of Jewish practice dominates the majority of pages in the Talmud which are legalistic in nature – every now and then something “wild” interrupts the norm. We will consider the dynamics of the blending of “wild and “mild.”
Rivy Poupko Kletenik, honored with the 2002 Exceptional Jewish Educator Covenant Award, led the Seattle Hebrew Academy for sixteen transformative years until June 2022. Under her stewardship, the institution flourished academically and socially, radiating warmth, significance, and inclusivity. A dedicated scholar with degrees from Michlalah, Touro College, Yeshiva University, and Hebrew University, Rivy’s passion for Jewish education extends beyond academia, as evidenced by her acclaimed lectures, insightful writings, and active involvement in communal initiatives such as Holocaust education and governance training. She continues to enrich Jewish life as a respected educator, writer, and community leader, leaving an indelible mark on all she touches.
Program video
Jewish Heritage Across the Balkans: A Journey Through History and Culture
Part 3 – Slovenia and Serbia – Sunday, July 14, 1:00 pm EDT
Part 4 – Bulgaria – Sunday, August 11, 1:00 pm EDT
(online in partnership with the Orange County Jewish Community Scholar Program)
Immerse yourself in the captivating history and rich culture of Balkan Jewry with our exclusive series, “Jewish Heritage Across the Balkans: A Journey Through History and Culture.” Starting on May 12th, join us for a virtual exploration through Croatia, Trieste, Slovenia, Serbia, and Bulgaria. Discover the enduring legacy of Jewish communities, from ancient synagogues to modern-day resilience. Witness the unique blend of Sephardic and Ashkenazi traditions, and learn about their significant contributions throughout history.
Part 3 – Slovenia and Serbia – Travel through time in the former Yugoslav territories, discovering the blend of Sephardic and Ashkenazi traditions. Learn about Jewish life from ancient times to the present day, including the heroic stories of Jewish Partisans during WWII.
Part 4 – Bulgaria – We conclude our Balkan journey in Bulgaria, where the majestic Sofia Synagogue and the historic town of Samokov await. Experience the architectural splendor and deep history of the Jewish community from its earliest days to the 21st century.
Evgenia Kempinski, our guide, is a Russian Jew born and raised in St. Petersburg. Her family was originally from the Pale of Settlement – Poland, Ukraine and Belorussia – and endured the suppression of Judaism in the Soviet Union then the rebirth of Jewish culture and religious life in today’s St. Petersburg. She has been an official St. Petersburg tour guide for over 15 years and is the founder and owner of St. Petersburg Jewish Tours – a company offering Jewish travelers a unique experience of showcasing the best of Russia from a Jewish point of view. She currently lives in Haifa, Israel, still keeping close connections with St. Petersburg and its Jewish community.
YAD CHESSED
Yad Chessed helps Jewish individuals and families who struggle with financial hardship pay their bills and buy food. As a social services agency 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. They provide emergency financial assistance, grocery gift cards and compassionate advice for those trying to make ends meet. Hundreds of families and individuals throughout the state rely on Yad Chessed to provide for their essentials, and even at times, a Jewish burial for a loved one. Members of our community, as well as others in the Jewish community, who need assistance may contact Yad Chessed by phone at 781-487-2693 or by Email at intake@yadchessed.org for a confidential conversation. Questions can be directed to info@yadchessed.org.
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