Dr. Hal M. Lewis - It Aint the Heat, Its the Humility Jewish Leadership for the 21st Century ELI Talks 2026-09-27 | Dr. Hal M. Lewis - It Aint the Heat, Its the Humility Jewish Leadership for the 21st Century
Overcoming Anxiety: Finding Your Inner Rock Star ELI Talks 2020-02-13 | Anxiety is everywhere and, for students facing academic and social pressures, it can be paralyzing. What is anxiety, and what does it look like? Aviva Wasserman explains what’s behind the crippling anxiety that many students face, demonstrating that with a little help, all students can learn to face their fears and overcome the most insurmountable challenges.Aviva represented her school at the Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest NJ’s Quest for Teaching Excellence Story Slam.
Finding a Home at School ELI Talks 2020-02-13 | Responsive Classroom is an educational approach that emphasizes the important role of positive community in developing students’ academic, social, and emotional skills. Marcy Gorman describes how integrating the values and practices of Responsive Classroom into her classroom has aligned with her personal search for community.Marcy represented her school at the Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest NJ’s Quest for Teaching Excellence Story Slam.
The Song Heard Around the Shul ELI Talks 2020-02-13 | An inspirational song is played in a 5th grade classroom, and hundreds of “one-day-a-year” Jews remain in synagogue on Yom Kippur. Rabbi Yitzchok Cohen shares how teachers’ seemingly simplest actions can make a world of difference for students, their families, and communities.Rabbi Cohen counts himself among the lucky teachers who got to hear about the good results!Rabbi Cohen represented his school at the Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest NJ’s Quest for Teaching Excellence Story Slam.
Compassion in the Classroom ELI Talks 2020-02-13 | Bracha Avraham explores some of the challenges she's faced navigating effective classroom management in a world where students are faced with the constant draw of technology and social media, rising rates of teen depression and anxiety, increased school shootings and the tense environment they create. For Avraham, compassion and empathy have helped to guide her on her journey, as she muses that teaching is more of an art than a science, and that in order to succeed, we must each find a unique road that is true to ourselves.Bracha represented her school at the Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest NJ’s Quest for Teaching Excellence Story Slam.
I Want to Talk to You About God ELI Talks 2018-09-07 | For a community of faith, we tend to avoid THE major tenet of our faith, God. What should we be saying about God? How should we be relating to God? Abi Taylor-Abt wants to talk to you about the God you could believe in.Abi Taylor-Abt is an outstanding Jewish Educator and Curriculum Developer who has worked in the field of Jewish Primary and Secondary Educational Curriculum Development for over twenty years. She is the author of Lessons in Jewish Learning - a grab and go curriculum for communities and Jewish schools. Originally from London, Abi spent time living in Israel, South Africa, England and the United States. After working in Boise, Idaho, Abi spent another 5 years in Israel whilst her children served in the army. She is currently Director of Education for Yachad a combined educational endeavour between the conservative congregation of Beth Shalom and the reform community of Temple Emanu-El in Michigan, USA. A 2018 recipient of the Klein/Grinspoon Award for Excellence in Jewish Education.
Capping Tradition: A Kippah in a Secular World ELI Talks 2018-09-07 | "His kippah is no afterthought. How Dr. Phil's invitation to Paramount Studios led a Hollywood Director towards a life-changing wardrobe decision.Daniel Kaufman is a multiple award-winning Director and Creative Director. With more than 400 commercials with clients like Budweiser, McDonalds, Nestle, Walmart and Comcast, he and his work have garnered numerous accolades and have been profiled in magazines like Creativity, Communication Arts, Ad Age, Shoot and others. Recently he has directed commercials for eHarmony, X-Box, the NFL, Boston Market, ABC, Comedy Central, Toyota, Bayer and Ikea. As an actor, Daniel trained with the Royal Shakespeare Company at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. He has more than fifty professional stage credits as well as numerous film and television appearances. Recently, Danny started a podcast on dating and relationships called: WHY AM I NOT MARRIED. The Podcast can be found as part of the award-winning Jewish Journal podcasts. Danny is a Ba’al Teshuva. He is on the Board of Directors of Manhattan Jewish Experience and he gives inspirational speeches all over the world about being observant in Hollywood."
Sophisticated Literacy: Growing Readers of a Sacred Torah ELI Talks 2018-09-07 | So many of us today have learned the skills and the distress tolerance to struggle with the classics of literature--yet, when we approach the texts of our tradition, our approaches to text are no more sophisticated than when we were in 7th grade. How can we cultivate both freedom and sacredness when adults read Torah?Jeremy is the Executive Director of Lehrhaus Judaica, an organization that builds community through learning and ritual, throughout the Bay Area. Following his ordination in 2001 from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in New York, Jeremy served as Associate Rabbi of Temple Israel of Boston for 15 years. Among other leadership roles at Temple Israel, Jeremy was the founding director of the Riverway Project, a nationally recognized outreach and engagement initiative for adults in their 20s and 30s, and was the synagogue’s Director of Education. He earned a doctorate in Near Eastern and Judaic Studies from Brandeis University, in 2017. Jeremy lives in Berkeley, CA.
Hidden Figures: Finding Meaning in The Closets of Our Tradition ELI Talks 2018-09-07 | Judaism's texts are full of hidden figures--people hiding in plain sight. But what do these figures teach us about the lessons of our lives and our struggles and our closets--those both self-made and societally imposed?Melanie Fine is an invested Hazzan, having received her training from the Cantorial School of the Jewish Theological Seminary. She has served congregations in New York, Rhode Island, Indiana and California, training thousands in chanting Torah, Haftarah, the Megillot and in davening. She earned her B.A. in Chemistry from Cornell University, teaches high school chemistry, advocates for women in science through her website RocketGirls.com and is the author of The Shuttle Story about the Columbia shuttle disaster which took the life of Ilan Ramon and his crewmates, and Fission Girl, about the life of physicist Lise Meitner. Melanie is the single mother of Max.
The Remixed Beit Midrash: Gezundheit Learning ELI Talks 2018-09-07 | Ahchoo! Judaism even has what to say about how to sneeze like a Jew. It certainly has what to say about today's headlines from refugee crises to mass incarceration and gay marriage. Most importantly: How do we break down the barriers that keep adults from self-selecting to participate in Jewish text study? There is only one way to find out. Rabbi Dan Horwitz is the founding director of The Well, a nationally recognized Jewish community-building, education and spirituality outreach initiative in Metro Detroit geared to the needs of young adults. Committed to lifelong learning, Dan holds a BA in Politics from Brandeis University, an MA in Jewish Studies from Gratz College, a JD and an MA in Sport Management from the University of Michigan, and an MA in Jewish Education from Hebrew College. Ordained by the non-denominational Mesifta Adas Wolkowisk, he worked for a number of years as the Rabbi and Director of Immersive Learning for Moishe House, has been designated one of America's Most Inspiring Rabbis by The Forward, is a graduate of the Clergy Leadership Incubator housed at Hazon, and is 1/4 of The Open Dor Project's inaugural cohort of spiritual entrepreneurs. A regular basketball player, Jewish jam session participant and hummus enthusiast, Dan makes his home in suburban Detroit with his spouse Miriam and their kiddos Jonah and Micah.
Rosh Chodesh: A Guide to the Cycles of Our Lives ELI Talks 2018-09-06 | Sarah Michal Waxman is on a mission to get women--all women--to join together in Rosh Chodesh circles. This anciently sanctioned time together creates community, connection, and lifelong impact for participants. On the next new moon, find yourself in circle!Sarah is the passionate Founder of At The Well. She has been a student of sociology and holistic medicine, a national champion athlete, an instructor of yoga and mindfulness, and a passionate member of the Jewish community. All these experiences gave her a deep understanding of the power that comes from being in a supportive community, feeling connected to your spirituality, and have a real understanding of your cycle. At The Well was created out of love; it is a place to be witnessed, and to witness others, to share, to learn, and a place to connect Jewish heritage to everyday life.
The Torah of Bubbiehood ELI Talks 2018-09-06 | We all know that bubbies are brilliant, but this bubbie has universal wisdom that could change your approach to everyday life. Do you really need more of a clickbait? Whether or not you are a bubbie, have a bubbie, met a bubbie or adopted a bubbie, Jane's reflections can impact your perspective if you let them. Dr. Jane Shapiro is a founder of Orot: Center for New Jewish Learning where she teaches a variety of classes and workshops blending text study with other intentional practices. As Associate Director of the Florence Melton School she helped many communities build capacity to start local schools and ran professional development seminars for Melton faculty. Jane is a graduate of Princeton University and studied Jewish History at Columbia University. in 2016 she received her doctorate from the Jewish Theological Seminary researching the experiences of longterm adult learners. She is a graduate of the Mandel Teachers Institute and Vision Projects. She is passionate about all aspects of Jewish teaching and learning.This ELI talk is sponsored by The Covenant Foundation.
Mastering the Pivot: The Art of Jewish Parenting ELI Talks 2018-09-06 | So many parents believe that if they were simply consistent with their children that everything would be perfect. But parenting coach Dana Hirt wants us to contemplate a different idea--one founded in a Judaism that builds compassionate, resilient, good human beings.Dana Hirt is the founder of Dana Hirt Parenting, a parenting education and coaching service that offers parents, both new and experienced, concrete skills and personalized guidance and support. She holds a Master’s Degree in Education in Human Development and Learning from DePaul University and The Institute for Psychoanalysis, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Education and Psychology from Brown University. She brings 28 years of experience in the field of educational psychology in clinical, school and private practice settings, and the wisdom of 24 years of parenting to her parent coaching work. Dana has taught in the classroom, consulted with parents, worked one on one with students in private practice, partnered with therapists and other allied professionals, advocated in schools, and led parent workshops. She writes a parenting blog which you can find on her website, http://danahirtparenting.com, and contributes to Huffington Post online. Dana is actively involved in the Jewish community in Chicago serving as the Partnership Together Chair for The Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago, as a trustee of The Jewish Women’s Foundation, and a member of the Board of Trustees for the Bernard Zell Anshe Emet Day School. She is the grateful and proud mother of three adult children, ages 24, 21 and 19.
Three in My Marriage: Dating, Relationships, and God ELI Talks 2018-09-06 | Spoken from the mouth of a Relationship Expert: "Our relationship wasn't about the two of us. Our relationship was actually about the three of us...together, we could build our lives and navigate those ups and downs."Aleeza Ben Shalom is known as the Marriage Minded Mentor. She is a professional dating coach and the author of Get Real, Get Married, your guide to get over your hurdles and under the chuppah! Aleeza is a passionate speaker and regular contributor to Aish.com and Yated Ne’eman. She works with clients from around the world as well as trains future dating coaches. You may also recognize Aleeza from her appearance in the web series Soon By You. She has been interviewed by BBC World News, and NPR. Aleeza is committed to creating marriages that endure the test of time, starting with her own: she is a dedicated wife and loving mother of five children. To learn more about her and her coaching, which focuses on empowerment and developing successful support networks, visit www.marriagemindedmentor.com.
Getting Ritual: Making Meaningful Jewish Moments ELI Talks 2018-09-06 | "I had begun my marriage under a chuppah, I had begun it in a Jewish way. I needed to end my marriage in a Jewish way too." A rabbi shares her intentional journey towards the creation of a ritual to transition from marriage to divorce, and why you might consider doing the same. Rabbi Lisa Greene is a rabbi and a mother of three. Both roles challenge, inspire, teach and make her laugh. For 19 years, Rabbi Greene has served North Shore Congregation Israel, Glencoe, Illinois where she partners with phenomenal colleagues and members of her community to learn, teach, create experiential learning opportunities, and make sacred time and space happen in new and traditional ways. She was ordained by the Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion in 1995 and has a BS in Economics from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Rabbi Greene is a long-time summer camp faculty member at the URJ Olin-Sang-Ruby Union Institute and brings her finance background to serve the Central Conference of American Rabbis. She's written for the Huffington Post, Wisdom Daily, Reform Judaism blog and her personal blog, Intersections (ordinaryandsacred.com), which reflects on the intersection of sacred and ordinary in daily life.
A Recipe for Torah: Finding Meaningful Judaism in the Kitchen ELI Talks 2018-09-05 | The perfect recipe for Torah must involve food. No sarcasm intended. Intrigued? When it comes to #food and #torah how could you not be?Jonathan Posner is a Chef, a Shochet (a Kosher animal slaughterer/butcher), and currently studies in the Rabbinical School at the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York. Jonathan grew up in Chicagoland, and is proud to call the city his home. In 2015, Jonathan founded the culinary events company Wandering Foods Productions as project to challenge himself as a cook, an entrepreneur, and a Jew. Wandering Foods was founded to breathe some youth and life back into Jewish cuisine, but its mission has grown to focus ever-more on using food and cooking to open doors into a life of meaningful Jewish culture and practice for those who have yet to find their way in. He hopes that the productions Wandering Foods puts on will inspire you, make you feel proud of who you are, and that you leave full and fulfilled.
The Law of the Land: Boundaries, Consent, and Atonement ELI Talks 2018-09-05 | Sex education has been historically delegated to the state for American Jewry, but Judaism has a very rich tradition of teaching about sex, consent, and pleasure that we need today. Merissa Nathan Gerson leads us on an exploration of what it means for all Jewish bodies--cisgender and otherwise--to respect, to honor, and to teach one another about consent and to communally atone for our sins. Filmed at Repair the World: Detroit.Merissa Nathan Gerson is a trained rape prevention worker and sex educator. Her writing on sexuality and Judaism appears in The New York Times, The Atlantic, The New York Observer, Tablet, Playboy, Elle and beyond. She holds an MA in Jewish Studies from The Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, California with a focus on sex and gender as well as inherited trauma. Merissa has studied at the PARDES Institute for Jewish Studies, The Jewish Theological Seminary, The Academy for Jewish Religion, Hebrew College, Naropa University, Middlebury's Hebrew Language School, The Kohenet Hebrew Priestess Institute and with many rabbis across the country including the great Reb Zalman Schachter-Shalomi. Her work focuses on the inheritance of trauma and memory and how this impacts tradition.
The Ground Beneath My Childrens Feet: Refugees and the Jewish Story ELI Talks 2018-09-05 | Home sweet home. Home is safety. Home is comfort. Home is familiar. What happens when you need to flee your home? It's not just the stories of our grandparents that inform a Jewish sensibility about how to treat the refugees and immigrants--our texts and laws have an opinion, too.Melanie Nezer is Senior Vice President for Public Affairs at HIAS, the global Jewish organization for refugees. She has spent her career as an attorney and advocate representing people who are seeking a chance at a productive future for themselves and their children, in a place where they can be safe and free.
The Rod and the Whip: Accountability for Law Enforcement ELI Talks 2018-09-05 | The case of Laquan McDonald, a black teen shot by police officer Jason Van Dyke who was still on the beat despite numerous citizen complaints and investigations, continues to rock Chicago and the country with similar examples. Activist and Torah scholar, Aryeh Bernstein, explores what the Torah has to say about accountability for law enforcement, how the existing police contract is antithetical to it, and why it's so vital according to our tradition that we get this right.Filmed at Repair the World: Detroit.Aryeh Bernstein is a fifth-generation Chicago South Sider with extensive experience in Torah education and organizing progressive Jewish communities. His primary employment is with Avodah, as Director of its Justice Fellowship and Yo'etz Ruach of its Service Corps in Chicago. He is also Educational Consultant for the Jewish Council on Urban Affairs, where he organizes on police accountability, Founding Director of the Hyde Park Teen Beit Midrash, Staff Educator for Farm Forward's Jewish Initiative for Animals, and Coordinator and Teacher of Mishkan Chicago's Social Justice Beit Midrash. He was previously Mechon Hadar's Director of Recruitment and Alumni Affairs and an Editor-Translator for Koren Publishers' English edition of the Steinsaltz Talmud. He has taught at Drisha, the TAKUM social justice beit midrash, and campuses, communities, and organizations around Israel and the U.S., especially Camp Ramah in Wisconsin, where he co-founded and co-directed the Beit Midrash Program and Northwoods Kollel. Aryeh is a Senior Editor of Jewschool.com.
Israelis and Americans: A New Paradigm of Interdependence ELI Talks 2018-09-05 | You thought bridging the gap between Israelis and Americans was difficult? "I thought I was being friendly. It turns out I was being a nudnick. I thought I was building bridges--turns out I was just putting up walls, things got super uncomfortable." Rabbi Amitai Fraiman proposes a way of understanding and reorienting the American-Israeli relationship. What do you think, Achi?Rabbi Amitai Fraiman, born and raised in Jerusalem, currently lives in NYC with his wife, Michal, and two daughters- Mia and Yahli. Spending time with family and friends, hiking, and music are his favorite activities. Before moving to the US, Amitai studied at Yeshivat Ma’ale Gilboa, served as an IDF Tank Commander and completed with honors his BA in Government, Diplomacy, and Strategy at the IDC Herzliya. While at Herzliya, Amitai and Michal were sponsored to live in an underserved community and volunteer with local youth and their families. Since moving to NYC, Amitai received his rabbinic ordination from YCT Rabbinical School as well as his dual Masters in Public Administration and Hebrew and Judaic studies from NYU. Amitai has designed and executed innovative educational curricula, spirituality retreats, ceremonies as well as a unique baby-girl naming ritual. Currently, Amitai is developing שָׁזוּר/Interwoven, a “reverse-Birthright-like” organization aiming to introduce Israelis and Americans to the building blocks and specific contexts of Jewish life in America. שָׁזוּר/Interwoven is an independent initiative fiscally sponsored by the Shalom Hartman Institute of North America, with the ultimate goal of creating the conditions for a more productive relationship between the two epicenters of world Jewry.
CollaboraSTORY: Rabbi Lori Shapiro ELI Talks 2018-05-11 | In Spring 2018, five speakers selected from the Collaboratory Network--Gamal Palmer, Carine Warsawski, Rabbi Lori Shapiro, Dr. Sharon Weiss-Greenberg, and Arya Marvazy--worked with ELI Talks to hone and effectively present their own stories of risk-taking at a storytelling event for the May 2018 gathering. This event set a tone of vulnerability and connected a room full of Jewish innovators to the ways in which all of us live out the gathering's theme of risk-taking in our personal and professional lives.For more information on creating a program like this for your community, please email us at info@elitalks.org.Many thanks to UpStart and the ROI Community for making this event possible, and to Mika Larson (mikalarson.com) for her footage of the evening.The Collaboratory is the largest annual gathering of Jewish community visionaries, activists, and catalyzers of change in North America, led in partnership by UpStart and ROI Community. Leveraging the collective wisdom of philanthropy professionals, high-quality trainers, and seasoned entrepreneurs, the Collaboratory provides a forum for our communities’ best and brightest doers to build relationships, strengthen skills, and connect the right dots to advance their work. For more information, visit http://upstartlab.org/collaboratory/.
CollaboraSTORY: Carine Warsawski ELI Talks 2018-05-11 | In Spring 2018, five speakers selected from the Collaboratory Network--Gamal Palmer, Carine Warsawski, Rabbi Lori Shapiro, Dr. Sharon Weiss-Greenberg, and Arya Marvazy--worked with ELI Talks to hone and effectively present their own stories of risk-taking at a storytelling event for the May 2018 gathering. This event set a tone of vulnerability and connected a room full of Jewish innovators to the ways in which all of us live out the gathering's theme of risk-taking in our personal and professional lives.For more information on creating a program like this for your community, please email us at info@elitalks.org.Many thanks to UpStart and the ROI Community for making this event possible, and to Mika Larson (mikalarson.com) for her footage of the evening.The Collaboratory is the largest annual gathering of Jewish community visionaries, activists, and catalyzers of change in North America, led in partnership by UpStart and ROI Community. Leveraging the collective wisdom of philanthropy professionals, high-quality trainers, and seasoned entrepreneurs, the Collaboratory provides a forum for our communities’ best and brightest doers to build relationships, strengthen skills, and connect the right dots to advance their work. For more information, visit http://upstartlab.org/collaboratory/.
CollaboraSTORY: Dr. Sharon Weiss-Greenberg ELI Talks 2018-05-11 | In Spring 2018, five speakers selected from the Collaboratory Network--Gamal Palmer, Carine Warsawski, Rabbi Lori Shapiro, Dr. Sharon Weiss-Greenberg, and Arya Marvazy--worked with ELI Talks to hone and effectively present their own stories of risk-taking at a storytelling event for the May 2018 gathering. This event set a tone of vulnerability and connected a room full of Jewish innovators to the ways in which all of us live out the gathering's theme of risk-taking in our personal and professional lives.For more information on creating a program like this for your community, please email us at info@elitalks.org.Many thanks to UpStart and the ROI Community for making this event possible, and to Mika Larson (mikalarson.com) for her footage of the evening.The Collaboratory is the largest annual gathering of Jewish community visionaries, activists, and catalyzers of change in North America, led in partnership by UpStart and ROI Community. Leveraging the collective wisdom of philanthropy professionals, high-quality trainers, and seasoned entrepreneurs, the Collaboratory provides a forum for our communities’ best and brightest doers to build relationships, strengthen skills, and connect the right dots to advance their work. For more information, visit http://upstartlab.org/collaboratory/.
CollaboraSTORY: Arya Marvazy ELI Talks 2018-05-11 | In Spring 2018, five speakers selected from the Collaboratory Network--Gamal Palmer, Carine Warsawski, Rabbi Lori Shapiro, Dr. Sharon Weiss-Greenberg, and Arya Marvazy--worked with ELI Talks to hone and effectively present their own stories of risk-taking at a storytelling event for the May 2018 gathering. This event set a tone of vulnerability and connected a room full of Jewish innovators to the ways in which all of us live out the gathering's theme of risk-taking in our personal and professional lives.For more information on creating a program like this for your community, please email us at info@elitalks.org.Many thanks to UpStart and the ROI Community for making this event possible, and to Mika Larson (mikalarson.com) for her footage of the evening.The Collaboratory is the largest annual gathering of Jewish community visionaries, activists, and catalyzers of change in North America, led in partnership by UpStart and ROI Community. Leveraging the collective wisdom of philanthropy professionals, high-quality trainers, and seasoned entrepreneurs, the Collaboratory provides a forum for our communities’ best and brightest doers to build relationships, strengthen skills, and connect the right dots to advance their work. For more information, visit http://upstartlab.org/collaboratory/.
CollaboraSTORY: Gamal Palmer ELI Talks 2018-05-11 | In Spring 2018, five speakers selected from the Collaboratory Network--Gamal Palmer, Carine Warsawski, Rabbi Lori Shapiro, Dr. Sharon Weiss-Greenberg, and Arya Marvazy--worked with ELI Talks to hone and effectively present their own stories of risk-taking at a storytelling event for the May 2018 gathering. This event set a tone of vulnerability and connected a room full of Jewish innovators to the ways in which all of us live out the gathering's theme of risk-taking in our personal and professional lives.For more information on creating a program like this for your community, please email us at info@elitalks.org.Many thanks to UpStart and the ROI Community for making this event possible, and to Mika Larson (mikalarson.com) for her footage of the evening.The Collaboratory is the largest annual gathering of Jewish community visionaries, activists, and catalyzers of change in North America, led in partnership by UpStart and ROI Community. Leveraging the collective wisdom of philanthropy professionals, high-quality trainers, and seasoned entrepreneurs, the Collaboratory provides a forum for our communities’ best and brightest doers to build relationships, strengthen skills, and connect the right dots to advance their work. For more information, visit http://upstartlab.org/collaboratory/.
ELI Talks at Silverstein Base Hillel ELI Talks 2018-03-16 | In Fall 2017, Silverstein Base Hillel partnered with ELI Talks for their first-ever "Voices” program. 'Voices by ELI' is a program that cultivates teen and young adult voices in Jewish communities. Ten speakers selected by Base Hillel worked with ELI Talks to find and hone their inspired Jewish idea. Sixty young adults gathered in the Base Hillel living room for the event which kicked off with Friendsgiving dinner followed by three undergraduate students and seven young adult Basers sharing 5 minutes of Jewish ideas that move them and their community. To learn more about Silverstein Base Hillel and Metro Chicago Hillel visit http://www.metrochicagohillel.org/baseWant to bring Voices to your community?Message us for more information: info (at) elitalks (dot) org.
Find your aleph. ELI Talks 2018-03-12 | Dena Schusterman about ELI Talks.To find Dena's talk "I Will Carry You With My Stories," visit our website: elitalks.org/i-will-carry-you-my-stories.
Why did you bring ELI to your community? Eric Robbins ELI Talks 2018-02-19 | Eric Robbins of the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta talks about why it was "a natural to bring ELI" to Atlanta.
Its a gift. Eric Robbins from The Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta ELI Talks 2018-02-19 | Eric Robbins on his experience with partnership and what ELI brought to his community. (And what his community brought to us!)
On One Foot: Community Storytelling by ELI Talks ELI Talks 2018-01-30 | In Fall 2017, ELI Talks partnered with the Silverstein Base Hillel in Chicago to produce the first-ever 'Voices by ELI' - a program that cultivates teen and young adult voices in Jewish communities.Ten speakers selected by Base Hillel worked with ELI Talks to find and hone their inspired Jewish idea. Sixty young adults gathered in the Base Hillel living room for the event where three undergraduate students and seven young adult Basers shared 5 minutes of Jewish ideas that move them and their community.Want to bring Voices to your community?Message us for more information: info (at) elitalks (dot) org.
Emily Einhorn: A Light Among the Nations ELI Talks 2018-01-24 | In Fall 2017, ELI Talks partnered with the Silverstein Base Hillel in Chicago to produce the first-ever 'Voices by ELI' - a program that cultivates teen and young adult voices in Jewish communities.Ten speakers selected by Base Hillel worked with ELI Talks to find and hone their inspired Jewish idea. Charles Cohen, Executive Director of Metro Chicago Hillel, emceed the event where three undergraduate students and seven young adult Basers shared 5 minutes of wisdom, to over 60 attendees, on topics ranging from "Politics: It's a Mitzvah", Judaism and Magic: My Conflicting Passions, Good Grief: How the Jewish Mourning Process Can Heal the World and Class and Money in Jewish Spaces: My Story of Exclusion (and Eventual Inclusion).Silverstein Base Hillel is a project of Metro Chicago Hillel.Emily Einhorn is an avid Cav's fan from Cleveland Ohio! A Freshmen at Depaul, she is currently studying PR and Advertising but plans to add in a double major at some point to keep it interesting. When asked what she wants to be when she "grows up" all she knows is that she wants to be happy. Her passions include but are not limited to Jewish summer camp--specifically camp Ramah in Canada, Israel, Cleveland, yoga, food, and her family and friends. When she got to DePaul, Emily knew she wanted to be involved at Base because of her experience at Jewish Day School, her temple, and camp. Currently a Jewish learning fellow, she loves Hillel and is looking forward to hopefully getting even more involved next quarter. Today she took two finals, so she wants the audience to know that that's the explanation for the bags under her eyes. She also wants the audience to know that if anyone wants to argue about Lebron James she will be here after the talks are over to discuss the very important matter.Want to bring Voices to your community?Message us for more information: info (at) elitalks (dot) org.
Evan Richter: Judaism as a Circus ELI Talks 2018-01-24 | In Fall 2017, ELI Talks partnered with the Silverstein Base Hillel in Chicago to produce the first-ever 'Voices by ELI' - a program that cultivates teen and young adult voices in Jewish communities.Ten speakers selected by Base Hillel worked with ELI Talks to find and hone their inspired Jewish idea. Charles Cohen, Executive Director of Metro Chicago Hillel, emceed the event where three undergraduate students and seven young adult Basers shared 5 minutes of wisdom, to over 60 attendees, on topics ranging from "Politics: It's a Mitzvah", Judaism and Magic: My Conflicting Passions, Good Grief: How the Jewish Mourning Process Can Heal the World and Class and Money in Jewish Spaces: My Story of Exclusion (and Eventual Inclusion).Silverstein Base Hillel is a project of Metro Chicago Hillel.Evan Richter recently moved to Chicago from Allentown P.A where he graduated from Muhlenberg College with a degree in theatre. He has also been studying circus performance, specifically clowning and juggling, on an off for the past three years. Evan is currently a Jewish life associate at Metro Chicago Hillel and is enjoying every minute of it!Want to bring Voices to your community?Message us for more information: info (at) elitalks (dot) org.
Jamie Greenebaum: Making the Uncomfortable Comfortable ELI Talks 2018-01-24 | In Fall 2017, ELI Talks partnered with the Silverstein Base Hillel in Chicago to produce the first-ever 'Voices by ELI' - a program that cultivates teen and young adult voices in Jewish communities.Ten speakers selected by Base Hillel worked with ELI Talks to find and hone their inspired Jewish idea. Charles Cohen, Executive Director of Metro Chicago Hillel, emceed the event where three undergraduate students and seven young adult Basers shared 5 minutes of wisdom, to over 60 attendees, on topics ranging from "Politics: It's a Mitzvah", Judaism and Magic: My Conflicting Passions, Good Grief: How the Jewish Mourning Process Can Heal the World and Class and Money in Jewish Spaces: My Story of Exclusion (and Eventual Inclusion).Silverstein Base Hillel is a project of Metro Chicago Hillel.Jamie Greenebaum is a funeral director at Weinstein and Piser Funeral Home in Wilmette. She’s not nearly as morbid as you’d expect- she loves comedy, her dog, and a good bagel. She grew up on the North Shore and somehow remains down to earth. She lives in North Center and spends her days working, tap dancing, and watching Project Runway.Want to bring Voices to your community?Message us for more information: info (at) elitalks (dot) org.
Jonathan Coren: Reaching Out for Outreach ELI Talks 2018-01-24 | In Fall 2017, ELI Talks partnered with the Silverstein Base Hillel in Chicago to produce the first-ever 'Voices by ELI' - a program that cultivates teen and young adult voices in Jewish communities.Ten speakers selected by Base Hillel worked with ELI Talks to find and hone their inspired Jewish idea. Charles Cohen, Executive Director of Metro Chicago Hillel, emceed the event where three undergraduate students and seven young adult Basers shared 5 minutes of wisdom, to over 60 attendees, on topics ranging from "Politics: It's a Mitzvah", Judaism and Magic: My Conflicting Passions, Good Grief: How the Jewish Mourning Process Can Heal the World and Class and Money in Jewish Spaces: My Story of Exclusion (and Eventual Inclusion).Silverstein Base Hillel is a project of Metro Chicago Hillel.Want to bring Voices to your community?Message us for more information: info (at) elitalks (dot) org.
Jonathan Horowitz: Good Grief, How the Jewish Mourning Process Can Heal the World ELI Talks 2018-01-24 | In Fall 2017, ELI Talks partnered with the Silverstein Base Hillel in Chicago to produce the first-ever 'Voices by ELI' - a program that cultivates teen and young adult voices in Jewish communities.Ten speakers selected by Base Hillel worked with ELI Talks to find and hone their inspired Jewish idea. Charles Cohen, Executive Director of Metro Chicago Hillel, emceed the event where three undergraduate students and seven young adult Basers shared 5 minutes of wisdom, to over 60 attendees, on topics ranging from "Politics: It's a Mitzvah", Judaism and Magic: My Conflicting Passions, Good Grief: How the Jewish Mourning Process Can Heal the World and Class and Money in Jewish Spaces: My Story of Exclusion (and Eventual Inclusion).Silverstein Base Hillel is a project of Metro Chicago Hillel.Born and raised in Sharon, Massachusetts, Jonathan “Joho” Horowitz knew from a young age that he wanted to be a “professional Jew”. Growing up, he attended Camp JORI in Wakefield, Rhode Island, a pluralistic Jewish overnight camp which showed him that Judaism can be fun. In high school, Jonathan was active in USY (United Synagogue Youth, the youth affiliate of the Conservative Movement), participating on the chapter, regional, and international levels, serving as the 2010-2011 Communications Vice President and 2011-2012 Religion/Education Executive Vice President of New England Region USY (NERUSY), and as the International Religion/Education Vice President in 2012. He went on the Nativ College Leadership Program in Israel between graduating high school and starting his studies at Binghamton University, from where he graduated in May 2016 with Bachelor’s Degrees in Judaic Studies and English/Creative Writing. In January of 2017, Jonathan moved to Chicagoland to become one of the Assistant Directors of Camp Young Judaea Midwest. Now, Jonathan teaches Hebrew School at Anshe Emet Synagogue in Lake View, serves as a youth advisor at North Suburban Synagogue Beth El in Highland Park, and is a 4.93-star rated Uber driver.In his spare time, Jonathan loves to cook, write fiction, and listen to Jewish a cappella. Jonathan is passionate about creating wholesome and vibrant Jewish communities!Want to bring Voices to your community?Message us for more information: info (at) elitalks (dot) org.
Michael Adato: Politics, Its a Mitzvah! ELI Talks 2018-01-24 | In Fall 2017, ELI Talks partnered with the Silverstein Base Hillel in Chicago to produce the first-ever 'Voices by ELI' - a program that cultivates teen and young adult voices in Jewish communities.Ten speakers selected by Base Hillel worked with ELI Talks to find and hone their inspired Jewish idea. Charles Cohen, Executive Director of Metro Chicago Hillel, emceed the event where three undergraduate students and seven young adult Basers shared 5 minutes of wisdom, to over 60 attendees, on topics ranging from "Politics: It's a Mitzvah", Judaism and Magic: My Conflicting Passions, Good Grief: How the Jewish Mourning Process Can Heal the World and Class and Money in Jewish Spaces: My Story of Exclusion (and Eventual Inclusion).Silverstein Base Hillel is a project of Metro Chicago Hillel.Michael Adato is an 18 year old first year at DePaul University, majoring in Political Science and History. He is a fervent activist, supporting causes that are important to him. Michael was the president of the Temple B’nai Jeshurun Youth Group for three years and was awarded the Leadership Award by the Chinese Association of Iowa’s Youth in 2016. After his first volunteer experience for Barack Obama in 2012, Michael has pursued many opportunities in the political arena. Throughout the 2016 campaign season, he volunteered as a precinct captain for the Bernie Sanders campaign as well as the Media Manager of a local supervisor campaign. He is also a member of Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement, with whom he helped organize opposition to the Bakken oil pipeline, the appointment of now Attorney General Jeff Sessions, and the Polk County, Iowa minimum wage exemption. Last year, Michael interned as the Caucus Secretary for the Iowa Senate Democratic Research Staff at the Iowa State Legislature.Want to bring Voices to your community?Message us for more information: info (at) elitalks (dot) org.
Samantha Steiber: Class and Money in Jewish Spaces, A Story of Exclusion ELI Talks 2018-01-24 | In Fall 2017, ELI Talks partnered with the Silverstein Base Hillel in Chicago to produce the first-ever 'Voices by ELI' - a program that cultivates teen and young adult voices in Jewish communities. Ten speakers selected by Base Hillel worked with ELI Talks to find and hone their inspired Jewish idea. Charles Cohen, Executive Director of Metro Chicago Hillel, emceed the event where three undergraduate students and seven young adult Basers shared 5 minutes of wisdom, to over 60 attendees, on topics ranging from "Politics: It's a Mitzvah", Judaism and Magic: My Conflicting Passions, Good Grief: How the Jewish Mourning Process Can Heal the World and Class and Money in Jewish Spaces: My Story of Exclusion (and Eventual Inclusion).Silverstein Base Hillel is a project of Metro Chicago Hillel.Samantha Steiber -- or Sam, for short -- lives in Chicago. She is a social worker with the Exoneration Project, a program at the University of Chicago Legal Clinic that works on wrongful convictions. She's also worked in the fields of community mental health and substance use treatment. She sees herself as a hitchhiker on the road back to Judaism, which she hopes will be explained more in her talk. She is also passionate about the relationship between mental health and poverty and spends her off-hours volunteering locally on issues related to mental health reform legislation. She enjoys serious books almost as much as she enjoys laughter.Want to bring Voices to your community?Message us for more information: info (at) elitalks (dot) org.
Zoe Russek: Listening with Empathy ELI Talks 2018-01-24 | In Fall 2017, ELI Talks partnered with the Silverstein Base Hillel in Chicago to produce the first-ever 'Voices by ELI' - a program that cultivates teen and young adult voices in Jewish communities.Ten speakers selected by Base Hillel worked with ELI Talks to find and hone their inspired Jewish idea. Charles Cohen, Executive Director of Metro Chicago Hillel, emceed the event where three undergraduate students and seven young adult Basers shared 5 minutes of wisdom, to over 60 attendees, on topics ranging from "Politics: It's a Mitzvah", Judaism and Magic: My Conflicting Passions, Good Grief: How the Jewish Mourning Process Can Heal the World and Class and Money in Jewish Spaces: My Story of Exclusion (and Eventual Inclusion).Silverstein Base Hillel is a project of Metro Chicago Hillel.A proud graduate of the University of Wisconsin, Zoe Russek moved to Chicago in 2016 to take her dream job at the University of Chicago Crime Lab. Since then, she has focused on projects related to reducing violent crime on the South and West sides of the city. Zoe is a loyal Packers fan, an avid book club member, and a proponent of meaningful conversation.Want to bring Voices to your community?Message us for more information: info (at) elitalks (dot) org.
Andrew Tamarkin: Responding to Anti Semitism with Open Dialogue ELI Talks 2018-01-24 | In Fall 2017, ELI Talks partnered with the Silverstein Base Hillel in Chicago to produce the first-ever 'Voices by ELI' - a program that cultivates teen and young adult voices in Jewish communities.Ten speakers selected by Base Hillel worked with ELI Talks to find and hone their inspired Jewish idea. Charles Cohen, Executive Director of Metro Chicago Hillel, emceed the event where three undergraduate students and seven young adult Basers shared 5 minutes of wisdom, to over 60 attendees, on topics ranging from "Politics: It's a Mitzvah", Judaism and Magic: My Conflicting Passions, Good Grief: How the Jewish Mourning Process Can Heal the World and Class and Money in Jewish Spaces: My Story of Exclusion (and Eventual Inclusion).Silverstein Base Hillel is a project of Metro Chicago Hillel.Andrew Tamarkin is a senior global and international studies student at Loyola University Chicago. During his four years in college, he has ventured to make social justice a more prominent element of Jewish life on campus. His roots are both in the United States and Europe; growing up listening to his grandparents’ stories urges him to tell the stories of others. Social justice, the way he sees it, begins by sharing and respecting each others’ stories and then trying to open a dialogue about the injustices we see. Aside from organizing for social justice on Loyola’s Hillel organization, he enjoys traveling and playing piano and sometimes both at the same time.Want to bring Voices to your community?Message us for more information: info (at) elitalks (dot) org.
Danny Dubin: Judaism and Magic, My Conflicting Passions ELI Talks 2018-01-24 | In Fall 2017, ELI Talks partnered with the Silverstein Base Hillel in Chicago to produce the first-ever 'Voices by ELI' - a program that cultivates teen and young adult voices in Jewish communities.Ten speakers selected by Base Hillel worked with ELI Talks to find and hone their inspired Jewish idea. Charles Cohen, Executive Director of Metro Chicago Hillel, emceed the event where three undergraduate students and seven young adult Basers shared 5 minutes of wisdom, to over 60 attendees, on topics ranging from "Politics: It's a Mitzvah", Judaism and Magic: My Conflicting Passions, Good Grief: How the Jewish Mourning Process Can Heal the World and Class and Money in Jewish Spaces: My Story of Exclusion (and Eventual Inclusion).Silverstein Base Hillel is a project of Metro Chicago Hillel.Danny Dubin performs magic across Chicago and nationwide, helping create memorable moments for private parties, corporate events, and theaters. He performed magic live on FOX and WGN News. Dubin entertained guests at the Embassy of Australia, the World Bank, the Chicago History Museum and even performed for the Former Queen of Iran. Originally from Deerfield, Danny is so excited to finally live in the city of Chicago. He was highly involved in NFTY and URJ Camp OSRUI while growing up, and Danny received an undergraduate degree from American University in Washington, D.C. When he's not performing magic, he can be found learning Talmud with SVARA or eating lots of sushi.Want to bring Voices to your community?Message us for more information: info (at) elitalks (dot) org.
Knowing the Way: In Appreciation of Halacha ELI Talks 2017-12-08 | Questions play an enormous role in Jewish life and culture, but Bradley Caro Cook, descendent of the compiler of the Shulchan Aruch, argues that sometimes you just have to know what to do. His experience discovering his roots gives us--observant and non-observant Jews alike--a window into the role and the beauty of halacha in our Jewish story today.Filmed at the William Breman Jewish Heritage and Holocaust Museum in Atlanta, Georgia in cooperation with the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta.Bradley Caro Cook, is a social entrepreneur, experiential Jewish educator, and communal professional. He specifically innovates at the intersection of career advancement, Jewish wisdom, and social good. He is a Birthright Israel Fellow, a graduate of Upstart, and serves on the advisory board of YALA an division of the Peres Peace Center. Bradley is also a leader in the City of Beverly Hills, JTech in LA, American Friends of Magen David Adom, and sits on the advisory boards of many organizations.Descending directly from a line of illustrious line of rabbis include Rabbi Nehunia Ben Hakannah and Rabbi Joseph Ben Ephraim Caro, the codifier of the Shulchan Aruch, Bradley is dedicated to keeping the rich history of his lineage alive. Bradley lives in Los Angeles with his wife, and light of his life, Tanya.
Calling Out the Good: Living an Authentic Jewish Life ELI Talks 2017-12-08 | Halacha and our Jewish story usually give us hooks on which to hang our own personal stories. But what happens when the hooks don't seem just right because parts of our story don't fit into neat boxes. Meet Samantha--a frum Jewish woman trying to figure out what her tradition tells her about her non-Jewish father.Filmed at the William Breman Jewish Heritage and Holocaust Museum in Atlanta, Georgia in cooperation with the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta.Samantha Hauptman, a native Angelino, moved to New Jersey two years ago. In her professional life, she is a college guidance counselor and English teacher. She is a wife and mother of five, ranging in ages from 20 to 5. She juggles endless loads of laundry, daily dishes, dinner, children who do not like jelly sandwiches, doctors' appointments, wake-up calls, homework, bath time, story time, and complicated summer plans. Orthodox Judaism is the lens that filters and informs her life decisions and in her not-so-spare-time she happily reads historical fiction.
And From These Words, Torah Increases: Conversations With People You Disagree With ELI Talks 2017-12-08 | Billy Planer, the founder of Etgar 36--a Jewish youth program that personally introduces teens to the different sides of the issues of our day, wants to push all of us to use the Talmud as a model for how we can have conversations with people who disagree with us. He proposes a counter-cultural but very Jewish idea: it is possible no matter what side of the fence you sit on to find something in common and engage with people who are different from you. It is these conversations that will change the world--or at least yours.Filmed at the William Breman Jewish Heritage and Holocaust Museum in Atlanta, Georgia in cooperation with the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta.Billy Planer is the Founder and Director of Etgar 36 (www.etgar.org). He has worked with Jewish youth for 30 years in camps, synagogue youth groups, and schools. Challenged by a friend, Billy interviewed people while on a road trip around America. Halfway through, he realized he should be bringing teens to these historical spots and meet with people who are involved in changing the world and so he created Etgar 36 a nonprofit Jewish educational venture. Etgar 36 is a summer journey that takes Jewish teens on a bus across America to learn history, politics and activism and find their voice and power by meeting with all sides of political issues, understand the unique culture of each city, become empowered to get involved to create change and develop their American and Jewish identities. During the academic year, Etgar 36 takes groups on Civil Rights journeys in the South. Over 18,000 people have been on an Etgar 36 journey in the past 15 years. Billy received his Bachelor's degree from Syracuse University and a Masters in Education and Counseling from Georgia State University.
In Search of Better Questions: Nonprofit Strategy from a Different Millennium ELI Talks 2017-12-08 | We all know that Judaism has a culture of asking questions but nonprofit strategist Susan Horowitz can tell you why that demand for bigger and better questions can help us build better organizations, better employee relationships, and a better Jewish community.Filmed at the William Breman Jewish Heritage and Holocaust Museum in Atlanta, Georgia in cooperation with the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta.Susan Horowitz has over 20 years of experience as a management consultant working with for-profit (including Fortune 500) and non-profit organizations in the areas of organizational effectiveness, strategy development, human and organization performance, leadership, and governance. She has worked at large and mid-size consulting firms including Accenture, KPMG Consulting, and the Hay Group. Her recent work has focused on supporting nonprofits in developing and executing on their strategies, and on strengthening and improving their organization infrastructure. Prior to consulting, Susan was a Vice President at Citibank. Susan received her M.B.A. from Tulane University’s Freeman School of Business and a Bachelor of Science, also from Tulane.
Gods Get Rich Quick Mitzvah ELI Talks 2017-12-08 | We all know that we are supposed to give tzedakah and ma'aser, but so often it seems like a daunting task to make any impact with the few dollars we can afford. Moshe Hecht describes how crowdfunding can inspire people to give more, give people a sense of belonging, and create real change for the people and organizations it benefits. Filmed at the William Breman Jewish Heritage and Holocaust Museum in Atlanta, Georgia in cooperation with the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta.Moshe Hecht, Winner of NonprofitPro’s Technology Professional of the Year Award, dedicates his life to advancing philanthropy through the use of technology and crowdfunding. He has been a critical part of developing and growing Charidy. Hecht believes that through the increased use of crowdfunding, organizations can usher in an era of people-powered fundraising, a world of unified giving, transparency, leverage, and interdependency, which will lead to more people giving more.
The Eleventh Commandment: Thou Must Diet ELI Talks 2017-12-08 | Whether you're shidduch dating or married, a young girl trying to eat a sweet or a woman trying to fit into a dress, the community constantly examines you to make sure it fits into their idea of what a female body should look like. Has it always been like this? More importantly, what's the alternative? How can the Jewish community support the development of strong, confident, and intuitive girls and women today?Filmed at the William Breman Jewish Heritage and Holocaust Museum in Atlanta, Georgia in cooperation with the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta.Sara, Founder of Fit Jewess, is a fitness coach with the mission of connecting Jewish women worldwide and fostering a community united through fitness. Born and raised in the Orthodox community, Sara instantly knew that was the market she wanted to work with, where she could bring her knowledge and experience of functional fitness and Judaism together. Sara takes a body positive, weight-neutral approach to health and this is apparent in her training style. She encourages her clients to see exercise as a way to become empowered and feel more confident by increasing energy, gaining strength and discovering how amazingly capable their bodies are.Tzivie Pill is a certified Eating Psychology Coach pursuing her MSW at the Wurzweiler School of Social Work. Her work focuses on helping women in the Orthodox Jewish community address disordered eating and negative body image, and develop healthier relationships with food and body through intuitive eating and weight-neutral approaches to health and wellness. Tzivie's articles have appeared on Kveller, Fatitude, and in The Jewish Home, and you can follow her on Instagram at nourish_keit. She lives in Atlanta with her husband, Shlomo, and daughters, Arial and Minnie.
Go, Go to Yourself: Personal Story as Spiritual Practice ELI Talks 2017-12-08 | Maggid Jhos Singer explores the intersection and tradition of how our personal stories influence and, indeed, create our collective Jewish story. This moving ELI talk twists and turns and ends up in a place that no one expects--a place that will make you question how you are telling your story today.Filmed at the William Breman Jewish Heritage and Holocaust Museum in Atlanta, Georgia in cooperation with the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta.Jhos Singer is the Maggid (spiritual teacher) for Chochmat HaLev in Berkeley, CA (www.chochmat.org) and the JCC of San Francisco. He follows the watery path of ancient Jewish spirituality, studies talmud at SVARA (www.svara.org) and wrestles with Torah daily. He holds a degree in music from UCLA and a Master's degree in Jewish Studies from the Graduate Theological Union. He is the a proud parent of 3 fabulous kids, the adoring spouse of his Bashert and professional partner, Julie Batz. He is an out trans man, and as such celebrates the spirituality found in the crossroads.
Valuing People Over Statistics: The Secret To Growth ELI Talks 2017-12-08 | How do we measure impact? For those of us who write grants, impact is measured in numbers, in percentages, in statistics. Sharon Weiss-Greenberg argues that measuring impact this way is fundamentally not Jewish and that exclusively measuring success through quantitative measures misses out on the much larger impact our organizations are making. How do we tell that story?Filmed at the William Breman Jewish Heritage and Holocaust Museum in Atlanta, Georgia in cooperation with the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta.Sharon Weiss-Greenberg is the Executive Director of JOFA. She was recently named by the Jewish Forward as a "Forward 50" Jew of influence and by the Jewish Week as a person to watch as a "36 Under 36" honoree. Sharon has served as the Rosh Moshava (Head of Camp) at Camp Stone, as the co-director of the Orthodox Union Jewish Learning Initiative on Campus at Harvard Hillel and as the first Orthodox woman chaplain at Harvard University. She has taught at Yeshiva University High School for Girls, Yavneh Academy in New Jersey, and the Denver Academy of Torah High School. Sharon earned her doctorate at NYU. She is an alumna of the Wexner Fellow/Davidson Scholarship graduate program, and ROI Community Member. She studied at The Drisha Institute for Jewish Education and received her B.A. and M.A. from Yeshiva University.
Why are You Here? Truth, Comfort, and Religious Motivation ELI Talks 2017-12-08 | Looking around synagogue--particularly on Yom Kippur--we see some people who've come searching for God and we see those people who've come because they want to socialize. And we see ourselves judging those people. Dovid Bashevkin looks at why people seek religion, who is right, and what we can do when we're feeling judgey during the Days of Judgement. Filmed at the William Breman Jewish Heritage and Holocaust Museum in Atlanta, Georgia in cooperation with the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta.Dovid Bashevkin, Director of Education for NCSY, studied in Ner Israel and completed his rabbinic ordination at Yeshiva University’s Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary (RIETS). While in Yeshiva University, he completed a Master's degree in Polish Hassidut, focused on the thought of Rav Zadok of Lublin, under the guidance of Dr. Yaakov Elman. He is currently pursuing a doctorate in Public Policy and Management at The New School’s Milano School of International Affairs, focusing on crisis management. He also teaches a course a Yeshiva University about religious crisis. Recently, he published a rabbinic work entitled B’Rogez Rachem Tizkor (trans. In Anger, Remember Mercy), which is a discussion of sin and failure in Jewish thought and law. Dovid has been rejected from several prestigious fellowship and awards.
If All the Seas Were Ink ELI Talks 2017-12-08 | In September 2017 Ilana Kurshan's book of the same name was released to enormous praise. Her beautiful tale of learning Talmud every day is masterful. Her charge to us in this ELI Talk to be open to how our learning can influence our lives and how our lives can influence our learning is nothing but compelling. Filmed at the William Breman Jewish Heritage and Holocaust Museum in Atlanta, Georgia in cooperation with the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta.Ilana Kurshan is the author of If All the Seas Were Ink, published in 2017 by St. Martin’s Press and a finalist for the 2018 Natan Book Award. She has translated books of Jewish interest by Ruth Calderon, Benjamin Lau, and Micah Goodman, as well as novels, short stories, and children’s picture books. She is a regular contributor to Lilith Magazine, where she is the Book Reviews Editor, and her writing has appeared in The Forward, The World Jewish Digest, Hadassah, Nashim, Zeek, Kveller, and Tablet. Kurshan is a graduate of Harvard University (BA, summa cum laude, History of Science) and Cambridge University (M.Phil, English literature). She lives in Jerusalem with her husband and four children. Her writing can be found at www.ilanakurshan.com.
I Will Carry You With My Stories ELI Talks 2017-12-07 | How does Judaism create deeply knowledgeable, empathetic, and resilient human beings? It teaches us to teach our children stories that can last a lifetime. Dena Schusterman shares some of the wisdom of chassidic stories and how they can sustain us in good times and in bad.Filmed at the William Breman Jewish Heritage and Holocaust Museum in Atlanta, Georgia in cooperation with the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta.Dena Schusterman is a founder of Chabad Intown, in Atlanta, a Jewish educator and a founding director of both the Intown Jewish Preschool and the Intown Hebrew School. She teaches women's classes and is dedicated to teaching students of all ages in the Atlanta Jewish community and beyond through her published articles. Dena writes about parenting and applied Torah and Chassidic thought, her articles have appeared on Kveller, Chabad.org, Groknation, Ami magazine and the Atlanta Jewish Times. Dena and her husband Rabbi Eliyahu Schusterman are native Californians and have been living in Atlanta for 20 years. They have 8 children.
