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MARCH 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 March for our second program,  The First Modern Neighborhoods: 1860-1880, on Wednesday, March 13 at 7:00 pm EST.  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 March for our first program,  Jewish Name Changing in America, on Wednesday, March 20 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!

In Real Times: Exploring Arthur Szyk’s Artistic Activism

Join us for an enlightening program featuring Dr. Sharon Keller as she shares insights from her recent visit to the captivating Szyk art exhibit, In Real Times. Arthur Szyk: Artist and Soldier for Human Rights. Displayed at Fairfield University Art Museum’s Bellarmine Hall Galleries, this exhibition marks the largest showcase of Szyk’s work in the Northeast in over 50 years. Dr. Keller will delve into Szyk’s unique approach in bringing attention to the Holocaust through his artistic medium, emphasizing the profound impact of his miniature scale pieces against the backdrop of immense human rights themes. Curated by Francesco Spagnolo, PhD, the exhibition highlights more than 50 original works, organized into sections exploring various aspects of human rights, from resistance movements to the rights of refugees and nationhood. Don’t miss this chance to discover the legacy of Arthur Szyk, an artist whose lifelong commitment to civic engagement continues to resonate in today’s world.
Dr. Sharon Keller, who served as CSP’s 15th Annual One Month Scholar in residence in January 2016 and who earned her doctorate at New York University (NYU) in the Department of Hebrew and Judaic Studies in the area of Bible and the Ancient Near East, is a member of the Classics faculty at Hofstra University. She has been an Assistant Professor of Bible and Ancient Semitic Languages at The Jewish Theological Seminary and at Hebrew Union College; she has also held appointments at NYU, and New York City’s Hunter College—teaching biblical text courses as well as more general courses in biblical literature and history, as well as the courses in the art and archaeology of the lands of the Bible and the ancient Mediterranean world. She has written and edited numerous scholarly articles and academic books, most of which relate to the interplay between biblical Israel and ancient Egypt. Her most popular book, Jews: A Treasury of Art and Literature was awarded the prestigious National Jewish Book Award. Known for the enthusiasm and humor that she brings to all of her talks that make otherwise esoteric subjects easily accessible, Sharon is an in-demand lecturer and adult education course instructor throughout the United States.

Leviticus is Christianity, Deuteronomy is Judaism:  The Disentangling and Development of Biblical Worldviews

From Anger to Activism – The story of 5050
A Partnership for Gender Equality in Israel

Founded in the wake of Israel’s fifth election cycle within four years, Project 5050 emerged from a profound frustration over the underrepresentation of women in Israeli politics. Spearheaded by Yael Yechieli, the initiative aims to achieve an equal 50/50 representation of women and men in all decision-making bodies, from the Knesset to local authorities and public NGOs. In this talk, Yael will share the journey of 5050 from its inception, highlighting its grassroots strategy, the transformative impact on municipal elections, and its vision for a more equitable political future.
Yael Yechiely, a dedicated Israeli social entrepreneur, has been at the forefront of significant Israeli social movements in the realms of religious freedom, human rights, and equality for over a decade. She established Project 5050 after extensive research and on-the-ground insights, launching it publicly the day after Israel’s national elections in November 2022. Quickly gaining traction, the project saw hundreds, then thousands, joining its cause, leading to the formation of over 40 municipal groups in its first year. Despite challenges like the postponement of elections due to the “Iron Swords” war, Yael and her team remained committed, contributing to initiatives like “The Anchor for Military Families” while steadfastly advocating for equal gender representation in all decision-making spheres.
Program video

Green Commemorations – Towards New Strategies of Public Memory

In her presentation, Aleksandra (Ola) Janus will explore innovative strategies for commemorating Holocaust sites, focusing on integrating green spaces and ecological sustainability. Addressing the challenge of caring for forgotten graves of Holocaust victims in Polish cities and villages, the nonprofit “Zapomniane” (meaning “forgotten”) plays a key role in rediscovering and respectfully commemorating these sites in collaboration with local communities. Janus’ approach emphasizes environmental sustainability through the use of local materials and technology, artistic and architectural quality, and a strong scientific foundation. This new method of remembrance advocates for community-based processes that incorporate diverse voices and stakeholders, blending cultural and artistic mediation into both urban and rural landscapes. rural environments that include various stakeholders and a variety of voices into the process.
Aleksandra (Ola) Janus, with a PhD in Anthropology from Jagiellonian University, is a dynamic figure at the convergence of academia, art, and activism. As President of the Zapomniane Foundation, she focuses on commemorating forgotten Holocaust burial sites in Poland and co-founded the Engaged Memory Consortium to promote remembrance with a focus on social justice. She has also co-curated educational and critical programs like ‘Exercising modernity’ and ‘Museum Lab,’ and advocates for environmental awareness in heritage institutions through initiatives like Museums for the Climate and Culture for Climate. In addition to her practical work, Ola is an active academic, lecturing at SWPS University and collaborating with the Research Center for Memory Cultures and the “Thinking Through The Museum” global network.
Program video

Israeli Society and Economy in the Shadow of the October 7 War

This overview presentation focuses on the impact of the October 7, 2023 War, delves into the current situation and outlines actions crucial both during the ongoing conflict and post-war. It focuses on key social policy issues in Israel in numerous socioeconomic areas, including education, welfare, labor markets, healthcare, and macroeconomics.
Professor Avi Weiss is an authority on the Israeli economy and the array of social issues facing Israel today. He received his PhD from the University of Chicago in 1987, and is the President of the Taub Center of Social Policy Studies in Israel, as well as a Professor of Economics at Bar-Ilan University. Professor Weiss’ fields of interest include Applied Microeconomics, and Behavioral and Experimental Economics. He served as Chair of the Economics Department at Bar-Ilan University, and was the editor of  The Economic Quarterly, the journal of the Israel Economic Association. In December 2019, The Marker, one of Israel’s leading business papers, included Avi, in his role as President of the Taub Center, in their list of the 100 people most likely to influence Israelis in 2020.

“Hamas & I”

Elhanan Miller has been following Hamas for years as a journalist, interviewing senior movement officials as well as families of Hamas assailants. What insights has he gleaned from these interactions? Where did he get it wrong before the massacre of October 7th? This talk will vacillate between an historical and ideological overview and anecdotes from his reporting.
Rabbi Elhanan Miller is the founding editor of People of the Book, an online initiative that teaches Jewish faith and culture to Muslim audiences through educational videos shared on social media. An Arabic specialist, Miller is a research fellow at the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem and a faculty member at Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies. He previously served as the Arab Affairs Reporter for The Times of Israel and as rabbi of the Jewish community in Canberra, Australia. Born and raised in Jerusalem, Miller began studying Arabic at 13, serving as a linguist in the IDF’s Intelligence Unit 8200. He completed his BA (cum laude) and MA degrees in Middle East History and Islamic Studies at Hebrew University. While studying for Orthodox rabbinic ordination at Beit Midrash Harel, he founded People of the Book in July 2017.  Miller completed research on the Palestinian refugee issue as an Atkin Fellow at Kings College, London, and was the Richard Beeston scholar at the foreign desk of the London Times. Miller regularly comments on Israeli politics in Arabic news channels including Al Jazeera, BBC Arabic, Sky News Arabia and Israel’s public broadcaster Kan. His opinion articles have appeared in The New York Times and the Wall Street Journal. He is fluent in English, Hebrew, Arabic, French and Yiddish.

Leonard Bernstein – The Jewish Side

Leonard Bernstein took the musical world by storm with his spectacular last-minute, a-star-is-born conducting turn at the New York Philharmonic in 1943, filling in for the ailing Bruno Walter. Until his passing in 1990, he was astonishingly active as a conductor, composer (in both classical and popular idioms), pianist, and teacher. And Bernstein was a devoted Jew throughout his life. We will explore Bernstein’s Judaism and how it was manifest in his musical output.
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. In 1994 Hebrew College awarded him the Benjamin Shevach Award for Distinguished Achievement in Jewish Educational Leadership and in 2016 Choral Arts New England presented him the Alfred Nash Patterson Lifetime Achievement Award, and in 2018 Chorus America selected him for its Distinguished Service Award.

COMMUNITY PROGRAMS

Stars of the Night

Sunday, March 31, 11:10 am EDT
(in person program at Temple Sinai, 50 Sewall Ave., Brookline)

The award winning team of author Caren Stelson and illustrator Selina Alko will present their recent book Stars of the Night: The Courageous Children of the Czech Kindertransport, a nonfiction picture book for older children and adults.  This powerful story is told from the collective perspective of the children who were rescued from Czechoslovakia on the eve of World War II, as Hitler’s campaign of hatred toward Jews and political dissidents took hold.  Q&A will follow the program, which is aimed at adults and children over the age of eight.

The Abraham Accords Post October 7

Thursday, March 21, 7:00 pm EDT
(online program presented by the Lappin Foundation)

Join the Lappin Foundation for The Abraham Accords Post October 7.  Ido Aharoni Aronoff will explore the history of Israeli-Arab normalization and the latest chapter of the Abraham Accords that includes UAE, Bahrain and Morocco.  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.

The Many Souths of the World: Mizrahi Women and the Transformation of Israeli Society

Tuesday, March 19, 12:00 pm EDT
(online program presented by the Schusterman Center for Israel Studies at Brandeis University)

Join the Schusterman Center to learn about the potential of Mizrahi women’s experiences to create a different political horizon for Israeli society.  Dr. Sigal Nagar-Ron and Adv. Netta Amar-Shiff will discuss the southeast perspective in the context of the current social and political reality.

Challenges of Wartime Investigative Journalism

Monday, March 11, 1:00 pm EDT
(online program presented by the Schusterman Center for Israel Studies at Brandeis University)

Join the Schusterman Center for an insider’s look at how the Israeli media is covering the war with Hamas.  The featured speaker will be veteran Israeli journalist Romy Neumark.

YAD CHESSED

Matanot LaEyonim – Gifts For People in Need 

The Walnut Street Synagogue is pleased to be participating again this year in Yad Chessed’s Purim Campaign.  From now until Purim Day (11:00 am on Sunday, March 24), Yad Chessed will be collecting donations to fulfil the mitzvah of Matanot LaEvyonim. For over 30 years Yad Chessed, an independent Jewish social service agency, has worked to address the needs of Jews in our Boston area community who struggle with financial and food insecurity. With the support of donors, and partner organizations, Yad Chessed’s team of social workers provides swift emergency financial assistance, grocery gift cards, and compassionate care, advice, and referrals to those in need.
The mitzvah of helping those in need is central to the spirit of Purim and reminds us that we are obligated and honored to extend a hand in times of joy and celebration. Funds raised for Matanot LaEvyonim will then be distributed on Purim Day itself so our neighbors in need can purchase food for themselves and their families.
Donate Now to Yad Chessed

Donations of $180 or more entitle you to honor up to 10 friends and family with a festive notification email from Yad Chessed, if you complete the linked form by March 4. 

You may also mail a donation to Yad Chessed at:
440 Totten Pond Road
Suite 401
Waltham, MA 02451

Please include the word “Purim” and “Walnut Street Synagogue” on your check memo.

Questions: Email – Info@yadchessed.org or call: 781-613-3413
More information:  www.yadchessed.org/purim/