Shakespeare in the Ghetto, the Ghetto in Shakespeare CSP - Community Scholar Program 2021-10-11 | In his talk Shaul Bassi, professor of English literature at Ca’Foscari University of Venice, compares the historical facts of the Ghetto of Venice, the place where a cosmopolitan Jewish community has lived since 1516, with the fiction created by William Shakespeare in The Merchant in Venice. What are the differences and similarities between Shylock and the real Jewish moneylenders who settled in Venice in the early sixteenth century? What can we learn about this famous play by looking at the Ghetto, and what can literary representations (from Shakespeare to the present day) teach us about the place that has contributed the word 'Ghetto' to the global vocabulary?Shaul Bassi is a professor of English and postcolonial literature at Ca’Foscari University of Venice. His research, teaching and publications are divided between Shakespeare, postcolonial studies (India and Africa), and Jewish studies. He has published Le metamorfosi di Otello. Storia di un’etnicità immaginaria (Grafis, 2000) and edited an Italian critical edition of Otello (Marsilio, 2009). Recent publications include Visions of Venice in Shakespeare (with Laura Tosi, Ashgate, 2011), Experiences of Freedom in Postcolonial Literatures and Cultures (with Annalisa Oboe, Routledge, 2011); Shakespeare’s Italy and Italy’s Shakespeare. Place, ‘Race’, and Politics (Palgrave Macmillan, 2016).
The Good News - Rabbi Ed Feinstein CSP - Community Scholar Program 2024-10-11 | As we celebrate the High Holidays, we invite you to join us for an insightful online session exploring our Jewish tradition's unique capacity for facing adversity with creativity and resilience. Can we find that capacity even now? Known for his engaging lectures and deep insights, Rabbi Feinstein will help us harness our historical strengths to navigate contemporary challenges.Rabbi Ed Feinstein serves the Valley Beth Shalom (Encino, California) as a teacher, pastor and visionary leade. He is a faculty member of the Ziegler Rabbinical School of the American Jewish University, the Wexner Heritage Program and the Shalom Hartman Institute and lectures widely across the US and Canada. Raised on the frontier of the West San Fernando Valley, Rabbi Feinstein graduated from the University of California at Santa Cruz,Columbia University Teachers College, and the Jewish Theological Seminary of America, where he was ordained a rabbi and earned his doctorate in education. Rabbi Feinstein was the founding head of the Solomon Schechter Academy of Dallas, Associate Rabbi of Congregation Shearith Israel in Dallas, and Executive Director of Camp Ramah in California. He is the author of several books, including: "Tough Questions Jews Ask – A Young Adult’s Guide to Building a Jewish Life", (Jewish Lights, 2003), which was chosen for the American Library Association’s Top Ten Books on Religion for Young Readers and a finalist for the National Jewish Book Award. "Jews and Judaism in the Twenty-First Century: Human Responsibility, the Presence of God and the Future of the Covenant" (Jewish Lights, 2007) was also a finalist for the National Jewish Book Award. "Capturing the Moon" (Behrman House, 2008) retells the best of classic and modern Jewish folktales. Most recently, he authored "Chutzpah Imperative! - Empowering Today's Jews for a Life that Matters" (Jewish Lights, 2014), in which Rabbi Feinstein urges us to recover the message of Jewish self empowerment, or chutzpah, to reshape the world. An engaging lecturer and storyteller, Rabbi Feinstein unites the ancient Jewish love of ideas with the warmth of Jewish humor.
Part 2 of HISTORY & MEMORY: Key Themes in the Jewish Experience (David Kaufman) CSP - Community Scholar Program 2024-10-09 | This five-part series offers an insightful exploration into the pivotal themes that have shaped Jewish history and identity. Instead of attempting to cover 3,000 years of Jewish existence across the globe, this series focuses on the enduring tension between 'history' and 'memory'—a critical lens through which we will examine the Jewish people’s journey from their ancient origins to the present day. Each session delves into a core theme: the nature of the Jews as a people, the centrality of Torah, the challenges and opportunities of Diaspora life, the impact of sectarianism and the birth of Christianity, and the evolution of Rabbinic Judaism through the Oral Torah. This series is designed for both newcomers to Jewish history and those familiar with its basic narratives, offering a deeper understanding of its significance and relevance for Jews today.Session 1: HISTORY v. MEMORY/PEOPLEHOODOctober 1, 2024In this introductory session, we will explore the tension between history and memory as foundational elements of Jewish identity. We will also delve into the origins of the Jewish people in the ancient Near East, examining how their early history was shaped by both historical events and collective memory.Session 2: TORAH – The Authorship of the Hebrew BibleOctober 8, 2024This session focuses on the Torah, the central text of Jewish life. We will explore the authorship of the Hebrew Bible, discussing its composition, transmission, and the various traditions that have emerged around it. The session will also consider how the Torah has served as both a historical record and a source of ongoing spiritual and legal guidance.Session 3: DIASPORA – Hellenistic Culture & the ‘Blessing’ of AssimilationOctober 15, 2024In this session, we will examine the Jewish experience in the Diaspora, particularly during the Hellenistic period. We’ll discuss how Jewish communities navigated the challenges and opportunities of living in a non-Jewish environment, and how assimilation has been both a threat and a blessing throughout Jewish history.Session 4: SYNAGOGUE – Jewish Sectarianism & the Birth of ChristianityOctober 22, 2024This session explores the rise of Jewish sectarianism during the Second Temple period and its role in the birth of Christianity. We will investigate the diverse religious movements within Judaism at that time and how these divisions contributed to the development of early Christian thought and practice.Session 5: MIDRASH – ‘Oral Torah’ & the Interpretive Tradition of Rabbinic JudaismOctober 29, 2024In our final session, we will focus on the Oral Torah and the rich interpretive tradition of Rabbinic Judaism. We will explore the development of Midrash, the role of the Rabbis in shaping Jewish law and theology, and how these interpretations have kept Judaism dynamic and relevant through the centuries.David E. Kaufman, our presenter for five sessions, was born and bred in Brooklyn, New York, and educated at the Bialik Hebrew Day School and the Yeshiva of Flatbush High School. He holds degrees from Columbia College, the Jewish Theological Seminary of America, and Brandeis University. A PhD in American Jewish History, he has taught at numerous colleges such as CUNY, Brown University, University of Massachusetts/Amherst, Hebrew Union College/Los Angeles and Hofstra University. In addition to numerous articles on the social, religious, and architectural history of the American synagogue, Dr. Kaufman has authored two books: Shul with a Pool: The Synagogue-Center in American Jewish History (Brandeis, 1999) and Jewhooing the Sixties: American Celebrity and Jewish Identity (Brandeis, 2012). David currently lives on the Upper West Side and is engaged in public education, researching, writing, and teaching the history of the New York Jewish community.
Midrash in the Wake of CrisisMarking a Year Since October 7th with Rabbi Avi Strausberg CSP - Community Scholar Program 2024-10-07 | In its time, the destruction of the Temple, habayit (the house), brought with it tremendous violence, loss and suffering. In this session, we'll turn to new midrashim written post-October 7th by Dr. Nurit Hirschfeld-Skupinsky, a professor of Midrash in Israel. Based on traditional midrashim from Eicha Rabbah (lamentations) and the Talmud, Hirschfeld-Skupinsky's midrashim tell the stories of the devastation and loss wrought on Israeli families with a particular focus on the stories of women. Rabbi Avi Strausberg is the Senior Director of National Learning Initiatives at Hadar, and is based in Washington, DC. She received her rabbinic ordination from Hebrew College in Boston and is a Wexner Graduate Fellow. Energized by engaging creatively with Jewish text, she maintains a Daf Yomi haiku blog as well as an Eish Kodesh poetry blog. Avi is most grateful for her wife, Chana, and three children, Ori, Niv, and Amit.
Part 1 of HISTORY & MEMORY: Key Themes in the Jewish Experience (David Kaufman) CSP - Community Scholar Program 2024-10-03 | This five-part series offers an insightful exploration into the pivotal themes that have shaped Jewish history and identity. Instead of attempting to cover 3,000 years of Jewish existence across the globe, this series focuses on the enduring tension between 'history' and 'memory'—a critical lens through which we will examine the Jewish people’s journey from their ancient origins to the present day. Each session delves into a core theme: the nature of the Jews as a people, the centrality of Torah, the challenges and opportunities of Diaspora life, the impact of sectarianism and the birth of Christianity, and the evolution of Rabbinic Judaism through the Oral Torah. This series is designed for both newcomers to Jewish history and those familiar with its basic narratives, offering a deeper understanding of its significance and relevance for Jews today.Session 1: HISTORY v. MEMORY/PEOPLEHOODOctober 1, 2024In this introductory session, we will explore the tension between history and memory as foundational elements of Jewish identity. We will also delve into the origins of the Jewish people in the ancient Near East, examining how their early history was shaped by both historical events and collective memory.Session 2: TORAH – The Authorship of the Hebrew BibleOctober 8, 2024This session focuses on the Torah, the central text of Jewish life. We will explore the authorship of the Hebrew Bible, discussing its composition, transmission, and the various traditions that have emerged around it. The session will also consider how the Torah has served as both a historical record and a source of ongoing spiritual and legal guidance.Session 3: DIASPORA – Hellenistic Culture & the ‘Blessing’ of AssimilationOctober 15, 2024In this session, we will examine the Jewish experience in the Diaspora, particularly during the Hellenistic period. We’ll discuss how Jewish communities navigated the challenges and opportunities of living in a non-Jewish environment, and how assimilation has been both a threat and a blessing throughout Jewish history.Session 4: SYNAGOGUE – Jewish Sectarianism & the Birth of ChristianityOctober 22, 2024This session explores the rise of Jewish sectarianism during the Second Temple period and its role in the birth of Christianity. We will investigate the diverse religious movements within Judaism at that time and how these divisions contributed to the development of early Christian thought and practice.Session 5: MIDRASH – ‘Oral Torah’ & the Interpretive Tradition of Rabbinic JudaismOctober 29, 2024In our final session, we will focus on the Oral Torah and the rich interpretive tradition of Rabbinic Judaism. We will explore the development of Midrash, the role of the Rabbis in shaping Jewish law and theology, and how these interpretations have kept Judaism dynamic and relevant through the centuries.David E. Kaufman, our presenter for five sessions, was born and bred in Brooklyn, New York, and educated at the Bialik Hebrew Day School and the Yeshiva of Flatbush High School. He holds degrees from Columbia College, the Jewish Theological Seminary of America, and Brandeis University. A PhD in American Jewish History, he has taught at numerous colleges such as CUNY, Brown University, University of Massachusetts/Amherst, Hebrew Union College/Los Angeles and Hofstra University. In addition to numerous articles on the social, religious, and architectural history of the American synagogue, Dr. Kaufman has authored two books: Shul with a Pool: The Synagogue-Center in American Jewish History (Brandeis, 1999) and Jewhooing the Sixties: American Celebrity and Jewish Identity (Brandeis, 2012). David currently lives on the Upper West Side and is engaged in public education, researching, writing, and teaching the history of the New York Jewish community.
Hidden Splendors :The Stunning Baroque Synagogues of Piedmont, Italy with Dr Samuel Gruber CSP - Community Scholar Program 2024-09-30 | In Piedmont, Italy the Jewish community built many synagogues over a period of four centuries. The earliest Ghetto synagogues are usually unmarked on the street and occupy residential-type buildings with sanctuaries located on upper floors for greater security and better lighting. Nondescript on the exterior, the sanctuaries are ornately decorated within with richly carved Baroque and Rococo arks and tevahs, and gilded and painted walls and ceiling. The Piedmontese synagogues at Alessandria, Asti, Biella, Carmagnola, Casale Monferato, Cherasco, Cuneo, Ivrea, Mondovi, and Saluzzo, survive as largely unknown architectural treasures, but they are gradually being restored and opened ot the public. In this talk, lavishly illustrated with his all new photos, Dr. Samuel Gruber examines some of the most dazzling synagogues in Europe and relates them to the artistic and religious movements of the time. SAMUEL D. GRUBER, Ph.D, accomplished researcher, author, curator and consultant, is the founder and managing director of Gruber Heritage Global (GHG) - a cultural resources consulting firm. For more than 35 years he has been a leader in the documentation, protection, preservation and presentation of Jewish cultural heritage sites around the world. He was written two books about synagogue architecture; American Synagogues: A Century of Architecture and Jewish Community (2003) and Synagogues (1999), and has contributed numerous chapters, articles and conference papers to other publications. Since 2008 he has written a popular blog "Samuel Gruber's Jewish Art and Monuments." Dr. Gruber has a B.A, in Medieval Studies from Princeton University, and M.A, M.Phil. and Ph.D. Degrees from Columbia University in Art History and Archeology; with a specialization in the history of architecture. He is a Rome Prize winner and Fellow of the American Academy of Rome and has received numerous research grants and has participated in many grant-funded team projects. Dr. Gruber has taught in the Jewish Studies Program at Syracuse University since 1994 and has given courses at Binghamton, Colgate, Columbia, Cornell and Temple Universities and LeMoyne College where he has taught about medieval, Renaissance, Baroque and Jewish art and architecture; Holocaust art and memory; and the history of plastics. Dr. Gruber lives in Syracuse, NY where he is an active member of Temple Concord, is past president of the Preservation Association of Central New York (PACNY) and is active in local art, history, and architecture efforts.
The Hidden Life of J.D. Salinger (Stephen B. Shepard) CSP - Community Scholar Program 2024-09-24 | Join us for an illuminating book talk with distinguished journalist and author Stephen B. Shepard as he discusses his new book, "Salinger's Soul." Discover the hidden life of J.D. Salinger, the renowned author of "The Catcher in the Rye," as Shepard delves into the lesser-known aspects of Salinger's Jewish heritage, his exploration of various religions, and the writings he produced during his years of seclusion. As the literary world eagerly anticipates the release of Salinger's unpublished works, "Salinger's Soul" provides essential context and a deeper understanding of this enigmatic figure. Don't miss this opportunity to explore the untold stories of one of literature's most fascinating characters. Stephen B. Shepard is the Founding Dean Emeritus of the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at the City University of New York. He served as a senior editor at Newsweek, the editor of Saturday Review, and editor-in-chief of Business Week. From 1992 to 1994, he was president of the American Society of Magazine Editors. Before teaching at CUNY, Shepard was a faculty member at the Columbia Journalism School, where he was co-founder and first director of the Knight-Bagehot Fellowships, a mid-career program for working journalists. His book about journalism, Deadlines and Disruption: My Turbulent Path from Print to Digital, was published in 2012. His second book, published in 2018, is A Literary Journey to Jewish Identity: Re-Reading, Bellow, Roth, Malamud, Ozick, and Other Great Jewish Writers. And his most recent book is Second Thoughts, a series of essays published in 2021. A native New Yorker, Shepard graduated from the Bronx High School of Science, then received his bachelor’s degree from the City College of New York and his master’s degree from Columbia University. He is married to Lynn Povich, author of The Good Girls Revolt, published in 2012. They have two children and two grandchildren.
Illuminating the Shem Tov Bible with Shaul Seidler-Feller, CSP - Community Scholar Program 2024-09-24 | Join us for an exclusive one-hour CSP online event exploring the extraordinary Shem Tov Bible, an illuminated manuscript recently on auction at Sotheby’s. This remarkable work of art reflects the confluence of Jewish, Christian, and Muslim aesthetic traditions of medieval Iberia. Created by Rabbi Shem Tov Ibn Gaon, a renowned halakhic and kabbalistic scholar, this manuscript not only preserves the biblical text with unparalleled accuracy but also stands as a monument to Jewish scholarship and artistic virtuosity. Our expert guide, Shaul Seidler-Feller, Judaica specialist at Sotheby’s, will lead us through the rich history and cultural significance of the Shem Tov Bible. Shaul, who studied Jewish history at Yeshiva University and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, has been involved with Sotheby’s Books and Manuscripts Department since 2017 and will share insights into the manuscript’s origins, the artistic techniques behind its illustrations, and its unique place in Jewish history. Don’t miss this opportunity to explore one of the most important surviving Hebrew Bibles from the High Middle Ages and the stories it holds.
Part 3 of A Changing Israel in a changing Middle East with Dr. Toby Greene CSP - Community Scholar Program 2024-09-18 | Join us for the insightful three-part series exploring the evolving dynamics of Israel's relationships amid global and regional shifts. The series examines the impact of domestic polarization in Western states on responses to the Israel-Hamas war, Israel's place in the context of great power competition, and the implications of the war for Israeli-Palestinian relations and broader regional politics. Each session provides a comprehensive analysis of how these factors influence Israel's standing in the world and its internal divisions. Part 1 - Changing Israel and a changing West. The responses within western states, including the US, to the war than began on October 7, are shaped by growing domestic polarization about their values, identities and role in the world. They are also influenced by the changing nature of Israeli politics and society. This session will ask: how are these longer term trends reshaping Israel’s relationship and standing in both the US and Europe, and what will be the legacy of the Israel-Hamas war? It will assess the anti-Zionism of the radical left; why far right political parties that used to be antisemitic now claim to support Israel; and why in the US, support for Israel is no longer bipartisan.Part 2 - Changing Israel and the Great Power Competition. We live in a world where the relative power of the US is declining and we see rising great power competition. This is not just a struggle over material power, but also over the values, ideas and identities that influence our world. States are pulled between universal values of liberal democracy, and demands to preserve local, regional and even civilizational values and identities. This session looks at how deep identity divides within Israel leads to diverging views about Israel’s place in the world, and how that affects policy responses to events like the Russia-Ukraine war, and the growing power of China.Part 3 - Changing Israel in a changing Middle East. The Israel-Hamas war is an irreversible turning point for the Israeli-Palestinian arena and the wider region. Hamas’s actions on October 7 were not just about Gaza but an attempt to reshape the politics of the region, against the backdrop of a trend towards Arab-Israeli normalization. This session takes stock of what has happened and why, what it means going forward for Israel's relations with the Palestinians, Arab states, and the wider world, and how Israel’s response is shaped by its deep internal divisions.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.
Lower East Side Kids Bathing in the Jacob Schiff Fountain in Seward Park in 1903 (Edison Film) CSP - Community Scholar Program 2024-09-16 | "East Side Urchins Bathing in a Fountain"October 30, 1903. Edison Manufacturing Co.Directed by Edwin S. PorterOriginal Edison catalog description:Shows a number of boys bathing in a fountain on the East Side (Jacob H. Schiff Fountain in Seward Park). While they are at the height of their amusement, which consists of splashing the bystanders and swimming around, a policeman suddenly appears. There is immediately a wild scramble from the fountain, the boys seizing their clothing and dashing away, buck naked, through the streets.This is one in a series of films done by Edwin S. Porter for Edison Studios in which he documented the city's ghetto life. Film from the Library of Congress / Reality from 'How the Other Half Lives'
Move On Silent Film of New Yorks Lower East Side, October 27, 1903 CSP - Community Scholar Program 2024-09-13 | Courtesy of Library of Congress, Abadie, Alfred C., "Move On," 27 October 1903Filmed in New York's Lower East Side, the scene is a street where several Jewish and Italian push-cart vendors have gathered to sell their goods. In the foreground are fruit and vegetable carts. An elevated railroad track crosses over the street in the background. As the film progresses, two policemen can be seen heading up the street toward the camera and ordering all of the vendors to move. One of the policemen approaches the camera waving his nightstick, and the cart in the foreground begins moving. The film ends with a closeup of the policeman scolding the vendor.
Part 2 of A Changing Israel in a Changing World with Dr. Toby Greene CSP - Community Scholar Program 2024-09-11 | Join us for the insightful three-part series exploring the evolving dynamics of Israel's relationships amid global and regional shifts. The series examines the impact of domestic polarization in Western states on responses to the Israel-Hamas war, Israel's place in the context of great power competition, and the implications of the war for Israeli-Palestinian relations and broader regional politics. Each session provides a comprehensive analysis of how these factors influence Israel's standing in the world and its internal divisions. Part 1 - Changing Israel and a changing West. The responses within western states, including the US, to the war than began on October 7, are shaped by growing domestic polarization about their values, identities and role in the world. They are also influenced by the changing nature of Israeli politics and society. This session will ask: how are these longer term trends reshaping Israel’s relationship and standing in both the US and Europe, and what will be the legacy of the Israel-Hamas war? It will assess the anti-Zionism of the radical left; why far right political parties that used to be antisemitic now claim to support Israel; and why in the US, support for Israel is no longer bipartisan.Part 2 - Changing Israel and the Great Power Competition. We live in a world where the relative power of the US is declining and we see rising great power competition. This is not just a struggle over material power, but also over the values, ideas and identities that influence our world. States are pulled between universal values of liberal democracy, and demands to preserve local, regional and even civilizational values and identities. This session looks at how deep identity divides within Israel leads to diverging views about Israel’s place in the world, and how that affects policy responses to events like the Russia-Ukraine war, and the growing power of China.Part 3 - Changing Israel in a changing Middle East. The Israel-Hamas war is an irreversible turning point for the Israeli-Palestinian arena and the wider region. Hamas’s actions on October 7 were not just about Gaza but an attempt to reshape the politics of the region, against the backdrop of a trend towards Arab-Israeli normalization. This session takes stock of what has happened and why, what it means going forward for Israel's relations with the Palestinians, Arab states, and the wider world, and how Israel’s response is shaped by its deep internal divisions.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.
Part 1 of A Changing Israel in a Changing World with Dr. Toby Greene CSP - Community Scholar Program 2024-09-04 | Join us for the insightful three-part series exploring the evolving dynamics of Israel's relationships amid global and regional shifts. The series examines the impact of domestic polarization in Western states on responses to the Israel-Hamas war, Israel's place in the context of great power competition, and the implications of the war for Israeli-Palestinian relations and broader regional politics. Each session provides a comprehensive analysis of how these factors influence Israel's standing in the world and its internal divisions. Part 1 - Changing Israel and a changing West. The responses within western states, including the US, to the war than began on October 7, are shaped by growing domestic polarization about their values, identities and role in the world. They are also influenced by the changing nature of Israeli politics and society. This session will ask: how are these longer term trends reshaping Israel’s relationship and standing in both the US and Europe, and what will be the legacy of the Israel-Hamas war? It will assess the anti-Zionism of the radical left; why far right political parties that used to be antisemitic now claim to support Israel; and why in the US, support for Israel is no longer bipartisan.Part 2 - Changing Israel and the Great Power Competition. We live in a world where the relative power of the US is declining and we see rising great power competition. This is not just a struggle over material power, but also over the values, ideas and identities that influence our world. States are pulled between universal values of liberal democracy, and demands to preserve local, regional and even civilizational values and identities. This session looks at how deep identity divides within Israel leads to diverging views about Israel’s place in the world, and how that affects policy responses to events like the Russia-Ukraine war, and the growing power of China.Part 3 - Changing Israel in a changing Middle East. The Israel-Hamas war is an irreversible turning point for the Israeli-Palestinian arena and the wider region. Hamas’s actions on October 7 were not just about Gaza but an attempt to reshape the politics of the region, against the backdrop of a trend towards Arab-Israeli normalization. This session takes stock of what has happened and why, what it means going forward for Israel's relations with the Palestinians, Arab states, and the wider world, and how Israel’s response is shaped by its deep internal divisions.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.
System Ali Walking Tour (CSP ARTventure May 2024) CSP - Community Scholar Program 2024-08-30 | System Ali is a one of a kind Hip-Hop band, composed of nine musicians who have been working together for a decade.System Ali sings in six languages: Hebrew, Arabic, Russian, Yiddish, Amharic and English – the native languages of the nine members of the ensemble.They naturally combine hip-hop and black groove music with elements of Arabic, Gypsy, jazz and rock music. Their music and lyrics are inspired by countless sources such as Fairuz, Egyptian poetry, Biblical texts, military bands and more. Their songs deal with life in the periphery of the center or life under the definition of minorities in Israel; without hesitating to tackle the painful and sensitive issues, in an honest, critical, hard-hitting and uncompromising manner.The ensemble was established in 2007 during the struggle against house demolitions in Jaffa and south Tel Aviv. Since then, the group has been operating the System Ali house in Holon, a local youth cultural center founded to promote, develop and provide a platform for a new generation of Jewish and Arab artists, encouraging creative encounters and collaboration between communities, stories and sources of inspiration.The music of “System Ali” is created and coexists naturally alongside their social activity in the streets of Jaffa – Bat Yam- Holon and south Tel Aviv. “System Ali” are a bright spot and a breath of fresh air for those who live in partnership with their environment and seek a representative voice for a new generation of multicultural, brave and groundbreaking work.System Ali’s last album “Maharajan” was released in the summer of 2019.
Tel Aviv Museum of Art (May 2024) CSP - Community Scholar Program 2024-08-30 | Since its founding, the Tel Aviv Museum of Art’s collection has grown and evolved on two parallel tracks — domestic and international. It comprises extensive collections of modern and contemporary art, from the mid-nineteenth century to the present, including items of the finest art from Israel and the world at large, in a range of fields: painting, sculpture, print, drawing, photography, video, installations, architecture, and design. The Museum holds the world’s largest collection of Israeli art, since its inception to the present day, which it works assiduously to document and preserve. In addition, the collections include rare masterpieces that heralded and established modern art in the world, as well as a unique collection of European art from the sixteenth through the nineteenth centuries.The Museum’s collection is continually enriched — both through purchase (especially in the field of Israeli art) and donations of individual works or collections from artists and philanthropists from Israel and around the world.
Haifa Food Walking Tour (May 2024) CSP - Community Scholar Program 2024-08-30 | Sample the many varied foods that make up the culinary tapestry of Haifa. Along the way you will enjoy, hand crafted savory pastries- hot from the oven, fresh seasonal fruits and vegetables, Israeli home style cooking, Arabic style sweets, the city’s best hummus and much more. Get a behind-the-scenes look in several locations, and finish with ice creams overlooking the Port area.As we walk, you’ll learn about Haifa’s past and present, and view many examples of street art, among other surprises! Come with an empty stomach, eat as much as you like, and take home a goodie bag to enjoy later.
Yiddish Speakeasy hidden in the Tel Aviv New Bus Station CSP - Community Scholar Program 2024-08-30 | Tel Aviv's Central Bus Station has a reputation with Israelis as being ugly and dysfunctional, however, it contains gems hidden within the vast building. One of those gems, tucked away on the fifth floor, is "Yung Yiddish," a library and culture center owned by Mendy Cahan
Part 3 of ESSENTIAL KABBALAH: The Heart of Jewish Mysticism - Shekhina (Prof. Daniel Matt) CSP - Community Scholar Program 2024-08-30 | Join us as we explore teachings from Kabbalah on several themes: The Purpose of Life, the Nature of God, the Feminine Dimension of God (Shekhinah), Mystical Experience, the Essence of Torah, Finding God in the Material World. Recommended Text: The Essential Kabbalah, by Daniel Matt.Daniel C. Matt is a teacher of Jewish spirituality and a leading authority on Kabbalah and the Zohar, featured in Time, Newsweek, National Public Radio, and the History Channel. He has authored over a dozen books, including Becoming Elijah: Prophet of Transformation, The Essential Kabbalah, Zohar: Annotated and Explained, and God and the Big Bang: Discovering Harmony between Science and Spirituality. Prof. Matt completed an 18-year project translating the Zohar, earning him a National Jewish Book Award and a Koret Jewish Book Award; he currently teaches Zohar online.
Highlights from CSPs Recent Israel ArtVenture CSP - Community Scholar Program 2024-08-28 | Join us for an engaging one-hour glimpse into CSP's recent artistic and cultural journey in Israel. From the beauty and challenges of the mixed city of Haifa reflected in art and community, to a surprising journey through the labyrinth of Tel Aviv's "New" Bus Station with Gila Levitan and a private group event with international vocal artist Victoria Hanna in a unique Jerusalem location, Shirel Horovitz, the chief curator of the ArtVenture, will recount the stories and lessons learned during our time in Haifa, Tel Aviv, and Jerusalem. Through sculpting, drawing and sound, Shirel Horovitz’s installations and performances explore the relations between cities and communities. Shirel earned her BFA from Bezalel Academy of Art and Design and her MA from the Interdisciplinary Art Program at Tel Aviv University and has been studying and practicing Zen-Buddhist inquiry meditation since 2007. Her works have been exhibited in museums and galleries across Israel and the US. Shirel was a recipient of the Rabinovich prize for 2018 and served as the first artist in residence of the Weissman Arts program of the Jewish Community Foundation of Orange County in 2023.
Humor in the Holy Land (Daniel Lappin) CSP - Community Scholar Program 2024-08-26 | Join us for an engaging and entertaining online conversation with Daniel Lappin, a celebrated Israeli comedy writer whose work has captivated audiences on television, stage, and in books. As the head writer and producer of Zehu Ze!, Israel's longest-running TV show (akin to Saturday Night Live here in the States, the show stars such famous Israeli actor/comedians as Gidi Gov, Moni Moshonov, Dovale Glickman, and Avi Kushner), Daniel has brought laughter and sharp social commentary to millions. His impressive portfolio includes the creation and production of Ha-Chaim Ze Lo Ha-Kol (Life Isn’t Everything), Israel’s longest-running sitcom, and You Can’t Choose Your Family, the adaptation of Everybody Loves Raymond for Israeli audiences, in collaboration with Emmy Award-winning creator Phil Rosenthal. A successful playwright and musician, Daniel's bilingual prowess allows him to craft humor that resonates deeply in both Hebrew and English. Born in North America and raised in Israel, he uses his unique perspective and humor to highlight the quirks and challenges of Israeli society. Don't miss this opportunity to hear from Daniel as he shares his experiences, insights, and the powerful role of comedy in addressing societal issues.
Part 2 of ESSENTIAL KABBALAH: The Heart of Jewish Mysticism (Prof. Daniel Matt) CSP - Community Scholar Program 2024-08-23 | Join us as we explore teachings from Kabbalah on several themes: The Purpose of Life, the Nature of God, the Feminine Dimension of God (Shekhinah), Mystical Experience, the Essence of Torah, Finding God in the Material World. Recommended Text: The Essential Kabbalah, by Daniel Matt.Daniel C. Matt is a teacher of Jewish spirituality and a leading authority on Kabbalah and the Zohar, featured in Time, Newsweek, National Public Radio, and the History Channel. He has authored over a dozen books, including Becoming Elijah: Prophet of Transformation, The Essential Kabbalah, Zohar: Annotated and Explained, and God and the Big Bang: Discovering Harmony between Science and Spirituality. Prof. Matt completed an 18-year project translating the Zohar, earning him a National Jewish Book Award and a Koret Jewish Book Award; he currently teaches Zohar online.
Jesus for Everyone, Not Just Christians - CSP Author Conversation with Dr. Amy Jill Levine CSP - Community Scholar Program 2024-08-19 | A common thread in discussions of Jesus is what we can learn about him— his life and times. This program is a bit different. Join Prof. Marc Michael Epstein in conversation with Dr. Amy Jill Levine about her new book and what we, as non-Christians, can learn from Jesus on the basis of the existing sources. What do those claiming to speak in the name of Jesus get right, what do they get wrong, and how can a knowledge and understanding of the first century Jewish context in the Land of Israel illuminate Jesus’ views—and ours—on such crucial and relevant topics as economics, slavery, ethnicity and race, not to mention health care, family values, and of course, politics? Two of our favorite CSP Scholars—together at last!Dr. Amy Jill Levine is the Rabbi Stanley M. Kessler Distinguished Professor of New Testament and Jewish Studies at Hartford International University for Religion and Peace and University Professor of New Testament and Jewish Studies Emerita, Mary Jane Werthan Professor of Jewish Studies Emerita, Professor of New Testament Studies Emerita, Vanderbilt University. An acclaimed scholar, she has been awarded grants from the Mellon Foundation, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the American Council of Learned Societies. In addition to receiving three audiences with Pope Francis, in Spring 2019 she was the first Jew to teach New Testament at Rome’s Pontifical Biblical Institute. Dr. Levine has authored numerous books, including The Misunderstood Jew: The Church and the Scandal of the Jewish Jesus; Short Stories by Jesus: The Enigmatic Parables of a Controversial Rabbi; The Meaning of the Bible: What the Jewish Scriptures and the Christian Old Testament Can Teach Us (with Douglas Knight); The New Testament, Methods and Meanings (with Warren Carter); and The Gospel of Luke (with Ben Witherington III; the first full-length biblical commentary co-authored by a Jew and an Evangelical). Her most recent books include The Bible With and Without Jesus, co-authored with Marc Z. Brettler, and The Pharisees (co-edited with Joseph Sievers), to which Pope Francis contributed an essay.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. He has written numerous articles and three books on various topics in visual and material culture produced by, for, and about Jews. His book, The Medieval Haggadah: Art, Narrative, and Religious Imagination (Yale, 2011) was selected by the London Times Literary Supplement as one of the best books of 2011. During the ‘80s, 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, among them, the Herbert C. and Eileen Bernard Museum at Temple Emanu-El in New York City, for which he curated the inaugural exhibition, and the Fowler Museum at UCLA. He is the Director of Beit Venezia, the home for International Jewish Studies in Venice, Italy.
Part 1 of ESSENTIAL KABBALAH: The Heart of Jewish Mysticism Prof. Daniel Matt) CSP - Community Scholar Program 2024-08-17 | Join us as we explore teachings from Kabbalah on several themes: The Purpose of Life, the Nature of God, the Feminine Dimension of God (Shekhinah), Mystical Experience, the Essence of Torah, Finding God in the Material World. Recommended Text: The Essential Kabbalah, by Daniel Matt.Daniel C. Matt is a teacher of Jewish spirituality and a leading authority on Kabbalah and the Zohar, featured in Time, Newsweek, National Public Radio, and the History Channel. He has authored over a dozen books, including Becoming Elijah: Prophet of Transformation, The Essential Kabbalah, Zohar: Annotated and Explained, and God and the Big Bang: Discovering Harmony between Science and Spirituality. Prof. Matt completed an 18-year project translating the Zohar, earning him a National Jewish Book Award and a Koret Jewish Book Award; he currently teaches Zohar online.
Poetry in the Wake of October 7th 2023 in Conversation with our Sacred Sources CSP - Community Scholar Program 2024-08-14 | As we find ourselves often at a loss for words (אין מילים – ein milim) in a post October 7th Israel, with daily losses, the plight of hostages and their families, over 100,000 dispaced Israelis and the devastation in Gaza, some poets are rising to the challenge, expressing pain, anger, despair, and abandonment. Israeli poetry has always engaged with sacred texts such as Torah, Midrash, and Prayer, and contemporary poets continue this tradition, challenging God, rewriting the Akedah, creating new prayers, and offering fresh perspectives on Shabbat and the Holidays. Dr. Korazim will guide us through some of these powerful new works, providing insight into the diverse voices within Israeli society and their profound reflections on recent events.Dr. Rachel Korazim is a Jewish education consultant specializing in curriculum development for Israel and Holocaust education. Over the past four years, in response to the COVID-19 global pandemic, Rachel created an online global community of hundreds of people who meet to study Israeli poetry. Through her teaching, she has opened a window into Israeli society through literature, stories, poems, and songs. Since October 7th, 2023, Rachel has been collecting and sharing poems by Israelis who are grappling with the recent tragedy, offering a profound insight into the nation's collective grief, resilience, and hope.
The Book of Annie: Humor, Heart and Chutzpah from an Accidental Influencer CSP - Community Scholar Program 2024-08-09 | Please join us for a delightful one-hour online session with Annie Korzen as she discusses her new book, "The Book of Annie: Humor, Heart and Chutzpah from an Accidental Influencer.” Annie will be interviewed by Deborah Vankin of the LA Times, and then she will answer questions from the audience. Known for her colorful and unapologetic humor, Annie brings her decades-long career in TV, film, and theater— including the recurring Doris Klompus on Seinfeld— to the forefront. In this session, Annie will share her witty and candid takes on a variety of topics, from the miracle of childbirth to the nuances of religion and motherhood, leaving you laughing out loud. Beyond the humor, Annie's poignant observations on kindness, self-acceptance, and our shared human experience offer inspiration and insight. Don't miss this chance to hear from the grandmother you wish you had and to explore the wisdom and laughter that have garnered her over 400,000 followers on TikTok.Annie Korzen has written humorous essays for the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, and other publications. She has performed solo shows on three continents and toured the US with The Moth Mainstage. Annie has been a guest on Oprah, Access Daily, Inside Edition, the CBS Evening News, and Dr. Phil. Deborah Vankin is an arts and culture writer for the Los Angeles Times. In what’s never a desk job, she has live-blogged her journey across Los Angeles with the L.A. County Museum of Art’s “big rock,” scaled downtown mural scaffolding with street artist Shepard Fairey, navigated the 101 freeway tracking the 1984 Olympic mural restorations and ridden Doug Aitken’s art train through the Barstow desert. Her award-winning interviews and profiles unearth the trends, issues and personalities in L.A.’s arts scene. Her work as a writer and editor has also appeared in Variety, LA Weekly and the New York Times, among other places. Originally from Philadelphia, she’s the author of the graphic novel “Poseurs.”
Off The Beaten Track In Israel - Golan with Gila Levitan CSP - Community Scholar Program 2024-08-07 | Join us for an exciting journey with super guide Gila Levitan as she takes you off the beaten track to discover hidden gems of Israel. Think you know Israel? Think again! Gila will present intriguing locations, inviting you to guess their whereabouts before diving into the rich history and directions on how to explore these sites yourself. This isn't just trivia—it's an invitation to explore Israel like never before. Originally from Sydney, Australia, Gila moved to Israel 20 years ago, transitioning from a career in physiotherapy to becoming a top-rated tour guide, celebrated on TripAdvisor. With her passion for detail and love for teaching, Gila will enrich your knowledge and inspire your next adventure. Don't miss this chance to uncover the lesser-known treasures of Israel with one of the country's most acclaimed guides.
A Culinary Journey - a CSP Online Conversation with Michael Solomonov CSP - Community Scholar Program 2024-08-04 | Join us for a captivating one-hour online conversation with Michael Solomonov, the celebrated chef renowned for his dedication to showcasing Israel's diverse culinary traditions. As the co-owner of CookNSolo Restaurants with Steve Cook, Solomonov has revolutionized the dining experience in the U.S. with Philadelphia's iconic Zahav, which has earned the prestigious Four Bells: Superior rating from the Philadelphia Inquirer twice. Solomonov's culinary excellence has been recognized with five James Beard Awards, including "Outstanding Chef" and "Outstanding Restaurant." Beyond Zahav, his culinary empire includes beloved establishments like Federal Donuts, Dizengoff, Abe Fisher, and the newly opened Lilah. Don't miss this opportunity to hear from the mastermind behind these acclaimed restaurants and cookbooks as he shares his journey and insights into the vibrant world of Israeli cuisine. CSP Partners: Beth Israel (San Diego), Brotherhood Synagogue (New York), Congregation Adath Jeshurun (Elkins Park, Pennsylvania), Congregation Beth Israel and Center for Small Town Jewish Life (Maine), Congregation Bnai Israel (Tustin, CA), Congregation B'nai Tzedek (Fountain Valley, CA), Heritage Point (Mission Viejo, CA), Jewish Collaborative of Orange County (Newport Beach, CA), Temple Bat Yahm (Newport Beach, CA), Temple Beth David (Westminster, CA), Temple Beth El of South Orange County (Aliso Viejo, CA), Temple Beth Or (La Mirada, CA), Temple Beth Shalom (Needham, MA), Temple Beth Shalom (Santa Ana, CA), Temple Beth Shalom (Hull, MA), Temple Beth Tikvah (Fullerton, CA), Temple Emanuel (Newton, MA), Temple Judea (Laguna Woods, CA), The Boston Synagogue (MA), Town and Village Synagogue (New York), University Synagogue (Irvine, CA), Valley Beth Shalom (Encino, CA), Walnut Street Synagogue (Chelsea, MA).
Making sense of Israel with Clive Lawton - Part 3 CSP - Community Scholar Program 2024-08-01 | In this three part program, Clive 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?Clive Lawton is CEO of the Commonwealth Jewish Council which draws together and represents about 40 communities around the globe. He was co-founder of Limmud – an annual Jewish learning festival attracting thousands of participants - and worked for its global expansion so that there is now a Limmud in about 90 locations world-wide. He has been a High school Principal, Director of Education for the City of Liverpool, Chair of a busy London hospital Board, a Metropolitan Police Governor, and an advisor to the UK government on Race Equality issues. He is currently scholar-in-residence at JW3, the large Jewish Community Centre in London, of which he was a founding trustee, a tribunal Chair for the British Health Service (NHS), a magistrate on the Wiltshire Bench and runs his own international education consultancy. With degrees in Literature, Education, Theatre and Film, Hinduism and Islam, and Management Science, he is considered a leading light in the field of Religious Education. He lectures and has published about a dozen books in the fields of religion, moral and ethical matters, literature, politics, and history.
Theater as Thoughtful Provocation with Aaron Henne in conversation with Anne Anne Hromadka Greenwald CSP - Community Scholar Program 2024-07-29 | 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, Jewish 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. Aaron has mentored at Otis College of Art and Design, taught for the Wexner Heritage and Graduate Programs, and worked with organizations like The Hive at Leichtag Commons, Jewish Federation of North America's Young Leadership Cabinet, and The Bronfman Fellowship. His accolades include LA Weekly and SF Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle Awards for Playwriting. Anne Hromadka Greenwald, as Arts Program Curator of the Albert & Rhoda Yvette Weissman Art Endowmentthe 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. Following her double Masters in Non-Profit Management from HUC and Public Art from USC, she has directed commercially successful galleries, curated exhibitions, and designed large-scale events domestically and internationally. Her curatorial practice is rooted in a love for storytelling – bringing together communities to explore their narratives in the public sphere through interactive design.
Making sense of Israel with Clive Lawton - Part 2 CSP - Community Scholar Program 2024-07-24 | In this three part program, Clive 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?Clive Lawton is CEO of the Commonwealth Jewish Council which draws together and represents about 40 communities around the globe. He was co-founder of Limmud – an annual Jewish learning festival attracting thousands of participants - and worked for its global expansion so that there is now a Limmud in about 90 locations world-wide. He has been a High school Principal, Director of Education for the City of Liverpool, Chair of a busy London hospital Board, a Metropolitan Police Governor, and an advisor to the UK government on Race Equality issues. He is currently scholar-in-residence at JW3, the large Jewish Community Centre in London, of which he was a founding trustee, a tribunal Chair for the British Health Service (NHS), a magistrate on the Wiltshire Bench and runs his own international education consultancy. With degrees in Literature, Education, Theatre and Film, Hinduism and Islam, and Management Science, he is considered a leading light in the field of Religious Education. He lectures and has published about a dozen books in the fields of religion, moral and ethical matters, literature, politics, and history.
Wild and Mild Stories of the Talmud CSP - Community Scholar Program 2024-07-24 | 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. Join us as we explore a Talmudic episode that blends the "wild" and the "mild" - with a focus on how the two blend everyday life with the seemingly extraordinary. 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.
Part 3 of Revealing Jewish Readings of Pop Music: Prayin and Playing for Time {R. Zarum} CSP - Community Scholar Program 2024-07-18 | We all have our favourite pop songs. Many are just catchy and light, but some delve into meaningful ideas that resonate with our faith. In this innovate 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. In part 1, we will listen to Bruce Springsteen, Sting and the Divine Comedy as they reflect on the meaning of the Flood today. In part 2, Stevie Wonder and Madonna teach us to love and enjoy God’s world. In part 3, George Michael and Peter Gabriel inspire us to make all our days on earth count. And in 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. It’s sure to be a hell of a ride!Rabbi Dr Raphael Zarum is Dean of LSJS and holds the Rabbi Sacks Chair in Modern Jewish Thought at the school. He is a rabbinic leader, lecturer and author with a passion for teaching traditional Jewish texts and innovative educational programming for young and old. Rabbi Dr. Zarum earned a PhD in Theoretical Physics from King’s College London, leading to the publication of a number of papers on Quantum Chaos Theory. He also completed an MA in Adult Education, with distinction, at the Institute of Education in London. As well as Dean of LSJS, Rabbi Dr Zarum currently serves as the Scholar-in-Residence at the Central Square Minyan in Hampstead Garden Suburb. He studied at Yeshivat HaKotel in Jerusalem and the Kollel of the Judith Lady Montefiore College in London where he received rabbinic ordination. Rabbi Dr Zarum is a graduate of the prestigious Jerusalem Fellows programme at the Mandel Leadership Institute in Israel. He was the first Head of faculty of the Florence Melton Adult Mini School UK and was Director of Text-Based Jewish Education at the UJIA Centre for Informal Jewish Education. He is the creator of the Torah L’Am crash course and is the author of "Questioning Belief" and the ‘Torat Hadracha’ and ‘Jampacked Bible’ educational study guides.
Making Sense of Israel with Clive Lawton - Part 1 CSP - Community Scholar Program 2024-07-18 | In this three part program, Clive 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?Clive Lawton is CEO of the Commonwealth Jewish Council which draws together and represents about 40 communities around the globe. He was co-founder of Limmud – an annual Jewish learning festival attracting thousands of participants - and worked for its global expansion so that there is now a Limmud in about 90 locations world-wide. He has been a High school Principal, Director of Education for the City of Liverpool, Chair of a busy London hospital Board, a Metropolitan Police Governor, and an advisor to the UK government on Race Equality issues. He is currently scholar-in-residence at JW3, the large Jewish Community Centre in London, of which he was a founding trustee, a tribunal Chair for the British Health Service (NHS), a magistrate on the Wiltshire Bench and runs his own international education consultancy. With degrees in Literature, Education, Theatre and Film, Hinduism and Islam, and Management Science, he is considered a leading light in the field of Religious Education. He lectures and has published about a dozen books in the fields of religion, moral and ethical matters, literature, politics, and history.
Part 1 of Revealing Jewish Readings of Pop Music: The Flood {R. Zarum} CSP - Community Scholar Program 2024-07-05 | We all have our favourite pop songs. Many are just catchy and light, but some delve into meaningful ideas that resonate with our faith. In this innovate 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. In part 1, we will listen to Bruce Springsteen, Sting and the Divine Comedy as they reflect on the meaning of the Flood today. In part 2, Stevie Wonder and Madonna teach us to love and enjoy God’s world. In part 3, George Michael and Peter Gabriel inspire us to make all our days on earth count. And in 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. It’s sure to be a hell of a ride!Rabbi Dr Raphael Zarum is Dean of LSJS and holds the Rabbi Sacks Chair in Modern Jewish Thought at the school. He is a rabbinic leader, lecturer and author with a passion for teaching traditional Jewish texts and innovative educational programming for young and old. Rabbi Dr. Zarum earned a PhD in Theoretical Physics from King’s College London, leading to the publication of a number of papers on Quantum Chaos Theory. He also completed an MA in Adult Education, with distinction, at the Institute of Education in London. As well as Dean of LSJS, Rabbi Dr Zarum currently serves as the Scholar-in-Residence at the Central Square Minyan in Hampstead Garden Suburb. He studied at Yeshivat HaKotel in Jerusalem and the Kollel of the Judith Lady Montefiore College in London where he received rabbinic ordination. Rabbi Dr Zarum is a graduate of the prestigious Jerusalem Fellows programme at the Mandel Leadership Institute in Israel. He was the first Head of faculty of the Florence Melton Adult Mini School UK and was Director of Text-Based Jewish Education at the UJIA Centre for Informal Jewish Education. He is the creator of the Torah L’Am crash course and is the author of "Questioning Belief" and the ‘Torat Hadracha’ and ‘Jampacked Bible’ educational study guides.
CSP Conversation with Prof. Susannah Heschel CSP - Community Scholar Program 2024-07-01 | We are excited to invite you to an engaging conversation with Professor Susannah Heschel, the Eli M. Black Distinguished Professor of Jewish Studies at Dartmouth College. As a leading scholar, Professor Heschel's work spans Jewish and Protestant thought during the 19th and 20th centuries, focusing on areas such as the history of biblical scholarship, Jewish scholarship on Islam, and anti-Semitism. Her notable publications, which include Abraham Geiger and the Jewish Jesus and The Aryan Jesus: Christian Theologians and the Bible in Nazi Germany, have garnered national awards and widespread acclaim. A forthcoming book, The Woman Question in Jewish Studies, co-written with Sarah Imhoff, is eagerly anticipated. Professor Heschel has held prestigious fellowships worldwide, received numerous honors including the Mendelssohn Prize and five honorary doctorates, and is currently a Guggenheim Fellow. This conversation promises deep insights into Prof. Heschel's impressive career and her profound impact on Jewish studies. Rabbi Elie Kaplan Spitz, a spiritual leader and scholar specializing in topics of spirituality and Judaism, teaches, writes and speaks to a wide range of audiences. He served as the rabbi of Congregation B’nai Israel in Tustin, California, for over three decades and served as member of the Rabbinical Assembly Committee on Law and Standards for twenty years. Rabbi Spitz is author of Duets on Psalms: Drawing New Meaning from Ancient Words, co-authored with Rabbi Jack Riemer, Healing from Despair: Choosing Wholeness in a Broken World; Does the Soul Survive? A Jewish Journey to Belief in Afterlife, Past Lives & Living with Purpose and Increasing Wholeness: Jewish Wisdom and Guided Meditations to Strengthen and Calm Body, Heart, Mind and Spirit (all Jewish Lights) and many articles dealing with spirituality and Jewish law. Rabbi Spitz spent the past 17 months teaching the Psalms with half-hour presentations for each Psalm (recently completing all 150 Psalms!).
Sketching Community: Honis Story and Our Circles with Jacqueline Nicholls CSP - Community Scholar Program 2024-06-26 | Taking inspiration from the Talmudic story of "Honi the Circle Maker", this session examines friendships and the role of the individual within the community. What circles do we belong to, and what will remain of us after we have gone? Combining text study and art we'll explore a known story from a new angle and see how it connects to each of us personally. Please have basic drawing materials (pen, pencil, paper) at hand if you want to engage with the optional drawing prompts. No prior drawing experience needed.Jacqueline Nicholls is a London based artist, award-winning visual poet and Jewish educator. She uses her art to engage with traditional Jewish ideas in untraditional ways. Her recent drawing project, Draw Yomi, completed in Jan 2020, Jacqueline drew the Talmud, following the Daf Yomi schedule. She co-ordinates Arts & Culture events at JW3 London, and regularly teaches at the London School of Jewish Studies. Jacqueline’s art has been exhibited in solo shows and significant contemporary Jewish Art group shows in the UK, USA and Israel. Jacqueline has an MA in Fine Art from Central Saint Martins. Art. Recent residencies include ‘Wasted Books’ at The London Library, ’50 Jewish Objects’ Jewish Studies Department, Manchester University, and Beit Venezia, where she was the lead artist for the Deck of Esther project, reimagining Megillat Esther as a pack of playing cards.
Part 3 of Antisemitism, Zionism & ANTI-ZIONISM (Dr. David Kaufman) CSP - Community Scholar Program 2024-06-19 | Both in the past and present, Antisemitism, Zionism, and Anti-Zionism are interrelated and even symbiotic phenomena—and understanding their historical relationship is a critical step toward meeting the challenges they may pose for the Jewish future. To fully understand the current problem of Anti-Zionism, we must first gain a better understanding of both Antisemitism and Zionism, and hence our first lecture, on "Antisemitism," examines the origins and dynamics of modern Jew-hatred; the second, "Zionism," takes a closer look at the dialectic of Antisemitism and Jewish nationalism in the late 19th and early 20th centuries; and the third, "Anti-Zionism," traces the development of Zionism and its antithesis over the past century.David E. Kaufman, our presenter for these 3 sessions, was born and bred in Brooklyn, New York, and educated at the Bialik Hebrew Day School and the Yeshiva of Flatbush High School. He holds degrees from Columbia College, the Jewish Theological Seminary of America, and Brandeis University. A PhD in American Jewish History, he has taught at numerous colleges such as CUNY, Brown University, University of Massachusetts/Amherst, Hebrew Union College/Los Angeles and Hofstra University. In addition to numerous articles on the social, religious, and architectural history of the American synagogue, Dr. Kaufman has authored two books: Shul with a Pool: The Synagogue-Center in American Jewish History (Brandeis, 1999) and Jewhooing the Sixties: American Celebrity and Jewish Identity (Brandeis, 2012). David currently lives on the Upper West Side and is engaged in public education, researching, writing, and teaching the history of the New York Jewish community.
Part 2 of Antisemitism, ZIONISM & Anti-Zionism (Dr. David Kaufman) CSP - Community Scholar Program 2024-06-14 | Both in the past and present, Antisemitism, Zionism, and Anti-Zionism are interrelated and even symbiotic phenomena—and understanding their historical relationship is a critical step toward meeting the challenges they may pose for the Jewish future. To fully understand the current problem of Anti-Zionism, we must first gain a better understanding of both Antisemitism and Zionism, and hence our first lecture, on "Antisemitism," examines the origins and dynamics of modern Jew-hatred; the second, "Zionism," takes a closer look at the dialectic of Antisemitism and Jewish nationalism in the late 19th and early 20th centuries; and the third, "Anti-Zionism," traces the development of Zionism and its antithesis over the past century.David E. Kaufman, our presenter for these 3 sessions, was born and bred in Brooklyn, New York, and educated at the Bialik Hebrew Day School and the Yeshiva of Flatbush High School. He holds degrees from Columbia College, the Jewish Theological Seminary of America, and Brandeis University. A PhD in American Jewish History, he has taught at numerous colleges such as CUNY, Brown University, University of Massachusetts/Amherst, Hebrew Union College/Los Angeles and Hofstra University. In addition to numerous articles on the social, religious, and architectural history of the American synagogue, Dr. Kaufman has authored two books: Shul with a Pool: The Synagogue-Center in American Jewish History (Brandeis, 1999) and Jewhooing the Sixties: American Celebrity and Jewish Identity (Brandeis, 2012). David currently lives on the Upper West Side and is engaged in public education, researching, writing, and teaching the history of the New York Jewish community.
Part 1 of ANTISEMITISM, Zionism & Anti-Zionism (Dr. David Kaufman) CSP - Community Scholar Program 2024-06-12 | Both in the past and present, Antisemitism, Zionism, and Anti-Zionism are interrelated and even symbiotic phenomena—and understanding their historical relationship is a critical step toward meeting the challenges they may pose for the Jewish future. To fully understand the current problem of Anti-Zionism, we must first gain a better understanding of both Antisemitism and Zionism, and hence our first lecture, on "Antisemitism," examines the origins and dynamics of modern Jew-hatred; the second, "Zionism," takes a closer look at the dialectic of Antisemitism and Jewish nationalism in the late 19th and early 20th centuries; and the third, "Anti-Zionism," traces the development of Zionism and its antithesis over the past century.David E. Kaufman, our presenter for these 3 sessions, was born and bred in Brooklyn, New York, and educated at the Bialik Hebrew Day School and the Yeshiva of Flatbush High School. He holds degrees from Columbia College, the Jewish Theological Seminary of America, and Brandeis University. A PhD in American Jewish History, he has taught at numerous colleges such as CUNY, Brown University, University of Massachusetts/Amherst, Hebrew Union College/Los Angeles and Hofstra University. In addition to numerous articles on the social, religious, and architectural history of the American synagogue, Dr. Kaufman has authored two books: Shul with a Pool: The Synagogue-Center in American Jewish History (Brandeis, 1999) and Jewhooing the Sixties: American Celebrity and Jewish Identity (Brandeis, 2012). David currently lives on the Upper West Side and is engaged in public education, researching, writing, and teaching the history of the New York Jewish community.
The Madwoman in the Rabbi’s Attic: Rereading the Women of the Talmud (Gila Fine) CSP - Community Scholar Program 2024-05-28 | How does the Talmud portray its heroines? Why are they never as they first seem? And what does this tell us about the rabbis' views of marriage, sex, childbirth, and what it means to be a woman in the world? In this first international launch of her new book, Gila Fine sits down with Rabbi Dr. Shai Cherry to discuss the stories of six talmudic heroines, how to read them, and why she came to write about them. Join us for this exclusive CSP event. Gila Fine is a lecturer of rabbinic literature at the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies, exploring the tales of the Talmud through philosophy, literary criticism, psychoanalysis, and pop-culture. She serves on the faculties of the Nachshon Project, Amudim Seminary, the Tikvah Scholars Program, the London School of Jewish Studies, the Community Scholar Program, and WebYeshiva, and has taught thousands of students at conferences, campuses, and communities across the Jewish world. As editor in chief of Maggid Books, Gila worked closely with such leading scholars as Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz and Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, publishing over a hundred titles of contemporary Jewish thought, including several bestsellers and eight National Jewish Book Award winners. She is also the former editor of Azure: Ideas for the Jewish Nation. Her work has been featured in the BBC, Haaretz, The Jerusalem Post, The Jerusalem Report, Tradition Journal, Jewish News, and The Jewish Chronicle (which selected her as one of the ten most influential Brits in Israel). Haaretz has called her “a young woman on her way to becoming one of the more outstanding Jewish thinkers of the next generation.”Rabbi Dr. Shai Cherry serves as rabbi and Creative Educational Officer of Congregation Adath Jeshurun in Elkins Park, Pennsylvania. After eighteen years in academics, Cherry shifted from university teaching to the pulpit in 2019. Rav Shai’s first book,Torah through Time: Understanding Bible Commentary from the Rabbinic Period to Modern Times, redirected his focus from creation to revelation—how is God’s word and will understood in changing circumstances? Finally, how do we respond to what we understand to be God’s will? His latest work, Coherent Judaism: Constructive Theology, Creation, and Halakhah brings these threads together to offer a vision of 21st-century Judaism. Formerly on the faculties of Vanderbilt University and the University of San Diego, he is the featured lecturer for The Great Courses’ “Introduction to Judaism”.
Intersections of Art, Conflict, and Memory: George Segal’s The Sacrifice of Isaac CSP - Community Scholar Program 2024-05-22 | It’s been 51 years since American pop artist George Segal’s sculpture “Sacrifice of Isaac” was first installed outside Tel Aviv’s Mann Auditorium. The modernist artist, raised in New York by his Eastern European immigrant parents, chose the story of the sacrifice of Isaac as an homage to his father and his own affinity with the biblical story. The sculpture was first exhibited in May 1973 at the outdoor plaza of Tel Aviv’s Mann auditorium. Five months following the sculpture’s installation, the Yom Kippur War broke out, and the events of those weeks of war charged the sculpture with a new range of political and social meanings. For the casting of the characters, Segal invited Israeli sculptor Menashe Kadishman and his son to model Abraham and Isaac. The collaboration between the American artist and a prominent Israeli artist regarding a politically charged subject resulted in a significant work on an international scale. Years later, Kadishman ended up creating his own take on the "Sacrifice of Isaac" story, with a connection to his own son’s beginning his service in the Israeli army (his sculpture is on permanent display outisde the Tel Aviv Art Musuem in "Hostgages Square". In our session with Sophia, we will examine art works by Segal, focusing on this remarkable sculpture, and explore it's relevance today.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 Col. Sophia has been working in the photography department.
At Home in the Jewish World (Marc Michael Epstein) CSP - Community Scholar Program 2024-05-09 | When we think about archaeology, we think, of course, about antiquity. But Jews in all times in places lived in communities surrounded by the material culture – the architecture, the furnishings, the clothing, and the artifacts– of their time. Join Professor Marc Michael Epstein for a deep dive into Jewish spaces places, clothing, and the material remains of daily and synagogue life— of Jewish “stuff“ throughout the ages. How should we go about digging for clues in this vast array of material? And how can we use what we discover about how Jewish “stuff” in times gone by to understand Jewish “stuff” and Jewish lives today?April 2, 2024SESSION 1: The Lost ArkIs 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.April 9, 2024SESSION 2: Fragments of the TempleDo 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?April 16, 2024SESSION 3: Clothes Make the PersonWhat remains of historical Jewish costume in history? How were Jews distinguished from others and how did, (and does) Jewish clothing “mark” Jews?May 7, 2024SESSION 4: At Home in the Jewish WorldWhat 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?May 14, 2024SESSION 5: Erased SynagoguesSo 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. He has written numerous articles and three books on various topics in visual and material culture produced by, for, and about Jews. His book, The Medieval Haggadah: Art, Narrative, and Religious Imagination (Yale, 2011) was selected by the London Times Literary Supplement as one of the best books of 2011. During the ‘80s, 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, among them, the Herbert C. and Eileen Bernard Museum at Temple Emanu-El in New York City, for which he curated the inaugural exhibition, and the Fowler Museum at UCLA. He is the Director of Beit Venezia, the home for International Jewish Studies in Venice, Italy.
Navigating the Spring 2024 NYC Art Scene A BONUS Virtual Gallery Tour with Artist Tobi Kahn CSP - Community Scholar Program 2024-05-06 | Join artist Tobi Kahn as he takes us on a BONUS virtual Spring 2024 tour of multiple galleries in New York City. Throughout the tour we will view exhibitions, virtually meet artists, curators and art historians and hear about their perspectives on the works viewed. Participants will be introduced to what is new and important in the art world. The goal of the tour is for participants to view art critically. Tobi Kahn’s gallery tours were ranked #1 in New York Magazine’s “Best Bets”. Tobi Kahn is a painter and sculptor whose art has been shown in over 70 solo museum exhibitions. Works by Kahn are in major museum collections, including the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, NYC; the Houston Museum of Fine Arts, TX; The Phillips Collection, DC; Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo, NY; Minneapolis Institute of Art, MN; Yale University Art Gallery, CT; Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA; and The Jewish Museum, NYC. In 2022, The Phillips Collection in Washington, D.C. installed a unit of 7 paintings that are part of the museum’s permanent collection with works from 1977-2020. The exhibition was on view from February-July 2022 and received media coverage in Forbes, The Brooklyn Rail and Hyperallergic to name a few. Kahn also communicates his vision through his passion for teaching. For over 30 years, he has taught fine arts at the School of Visual Arts, NYC and lectures extensively at universities and public forums internationally on the importance of visual language and on art as healing. Kahn received his BA in Photography and Printmaking from Hunter and an MFA in Painting and Sculpture from Pratt Institute.
Jewish Art Restitution Today, A Case Study with Sophia Berry Lifshitz CSP - Community Scholar Program 2024-04-26 | 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. see article.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 Col. Sophia has been working in the photography department.
The origin of Echad Mi Yodeya and eternal debate about Jewish survival with Rabbi Dr. Raphael Zarum CSP - Community Scholar Program 2024-04-22 | "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 LSJS and holds the Rabbi Sacks Chair in Modern Jewish Thought at the school. He is a rabbinic leader, lecturer and author with a passion for teaching traditional Jewish texts and innovative educational programming for young and old. Rabbi Dr. Zarum earned a PhD in Theoretical Physics from King’s College London, leading to the publication of a number of papers on Quantum Chaos Theory. He also completed an MA in Adult Education, with distinction, at the Institute of Education in London. As well as Dean of LSJS, Rabbi Dr Zarum currently serves as the Scholar-in-Residence at the Central Square Minyan in Hampstead Garden Suburb. He studied at Yeshivat HaKotel in Jerusalem and the Kollel of the Judith Lady Montefiore College in London where he received rabbinic ordination. Rabbi Dr Zarum is a graduate of the prestigious Jerusalem Fellows programme at the Mandel Leadership Institute in Israel. He was the first Head of faculty of the Florence Melton Adult Mini School UK and was Director of Text-Based Jewish Education at the UJIA Centre for Informal Jewish Education. He is the creator of the Torah L’Am crash course and is the author of the ‘Torat Hadracha’ and ‘Jampacked Bible’ educational study guides.
The Clothes Make the Person (Prof. Marc Michael Epstein) CSP - Community Scholar Program 2024-04-17 | When we think about archaeology, we think, of course, about antiquity. But Jews in all times in places lived in communities surrounded by the material culture – the architecture, the furnishings, the clothing, and the artifacts– of their time. Join Professor Marc Michael Epstein for a deep dive into Jewish spaces places, clothing, and the material remains of daily and synagogue life— of Jewish “stuff“ throughout the ages. How should we go about digging for clues in this vast array of material? And how can we use what we discover about how Jewish “stuff” in times gone by to understand Jewish “stuff” and Jewish lives today?April 2, 2024SESSION 1: The Lost ArkIs 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.April 9, 2024SESSION 2: Fragments of the TempleDo 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?April 16, 2024SESSION 3: Clothes Make the PersonWhat remains of historical Jewish costume in history? How were Jews distinguished from others and how did, (and does) Jewish clothing “mark” Jews?May 7, 2024SESSION 4: At Home in the Jewish WorldWhat 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?May 14, 2024SESSION 5: Erased SynagoguesSo 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. He has written numerous articles and three books on various topics in visual and material culture produced by, for, and about Jews. His book, The Medieval Haggadah: Art, Narrative, and Religious Imagination (Yale, 2011) was selected by the London Times Literary Supplement as one of the best books of 2011. During the ‘80s, 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, among them, the Herbert C. and Eileen Bernard Museum at Temple Emanu-El in New York City, for which he curated the inaugural exhibition, and the Fowler Museum at UCLA. He is the Director of Beit Venezia, the home for International Jewish Studies in Venice, Italy.
Navigating the Spring 2024 NYC Art SceneA Virtual Gallery Tour with Artist Tobi Kahn CSP - Community Scholar Program 2024-04-12 | Join artist Tobi Kahn as he takes us on an exhilarating virtual Spring 2024 tour of multiple galleries in New York City. Throughout the tour we will view exhibitions, virtually meet artists, curators and art historians and hear about their perspectives on the works viewed. Participants will be introduced to what is new and important in the art world. The goal of the tour is for participants to view art critically. Tobi Kahn’s gallery tours were ranked #1 in New York Magazine’s “Best Bets”. Tobi Kahn is a painter and sculptor whose art has been shown in over 70 solo museum exhibitions. Works by Kahn are in major museum collections, including the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, NYC; the Houston Museum of Fine Arts, TX; The Phillips Collection, DC; Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo, NY; Minneapolis Institute of Art, MN; Yale University Art Gallery, CT; Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA; and The Jewish Museum, NYC. In 2022, The Phillips Collection in Washington, D.C. installed a unit of 7 paintings that are part of the museum’s permanent collection with works from 1977-2020. The exhibition was on view from February-July 2022 and received media coverage in Forbes, The Brooklyn Rail and Hyperallergic to name a few. Kahn also communicates his vision through his passion for teaching. For over 30 years, he has taught fine arts at the School of Visual Arts, NYC and lectures extensively at universities and public forums internationally on the importance of visual language and on art as healing. Kahn received his BA in Photography and Printmaking from Hunter and an MFA in Painting and Sculpture from Pratt Institute.
Temple Fragments (Prof. Marc Michael Epstein) CSP - Community Scholar Program 2024-04-11 | Artifacts of Identity: Exploring Jewish Material Culture Through TimeWhen we think about archaeology, we think, of course, about antiquity. But Jews in all times in places lived in communities surrounded by the material culture – the architecture, the furnishings, the clothing, and the artifacts– of their time. Join Professor Marc Michael Epstein for a deep dive into Jewish spaces places, clothing, and the material remains of daily and synagogue life— of Jewish “stuff“ throughout the ages. How should we go about digging for clues in this vast array of material? And how can we use what we discover about how Jewish “stuff” in times gone by to understand Jewish “stuff” and Jewish lives today?April 2, 2024SESSION 1: The Lost ArkIs 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.April 9, 2024SESSION 2: Fragments of the TempleDo 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?April 16, 2024SESSION 3: Clothes Make the PersonWhat remains of historical Jewish costume in history? How were Jews distinguished from others and how did, (and does) Jewish clothing “mark” Jews?May 7, 2024SESSION 4: At Home in the Jewish WorldWhat 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?May 14, 2024SESSION 5: Erased SynagoguesSo 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. He has written numerous articles and three books on various topics in visual and material culture produced by, for, and about Jews. His book, The Medieval Haggadah: Art, Narrative, and Religious Imagination (Yale, 2011) was selected by the London Times Literary Supplement as one of the best books of 2011. During the ‘80s, 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, among them, the Herbert C. and Eileen Bernard Museum at Temple Emanu-El in New York City, for which he curated the inaugural exhibition, and the Fowler Museum at UCLA. He is the Director of Beit Venezia, the home for International Jewish Studies in Venice, Italy.
