A virtual event presentation by Melanie Gruenwald

The event was co-sponsored by Temple Israel

About the Event:
Dr. Brené Brown’s teachings on vulnerability, courage, worthiness and shame, will serve as the text, and Kabbalah
will serve as the commentary. We will engage together in this guide to living a whole-hearted life, weaving Dr.
Brown’s research and anecdotes, with the timeless teachings of Kabbalah.

About the Speaker:
Executive Director of Kabbalah Experience, Melanie Gruenwald brings over 25 years of non-profit leadership and community organizing to her position. Engaged with senior citizens, families, college students, and teens, Melanie has extensive professional experience with communal leadership and informal Jewish education.

Melanie is energized by building relationships, understanding people’s needs, and finding ways to connect them to one another. She loves the balance of organizational leadership and teaching which she engages in on a daily basis at Kabbalah Experience.

She earned her B.S. in Psychology from Binghamton University (S.U.N.Y), and her Master in Social Work and Certificate in Jewish Communal Service from the Wurzweiler School of Social Work at Yeshiva University. Melanie has pursued additional Judaic and spiritual studies at the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies, the Conservative Yeshiva, and most recently, the Kabbalah Experience.

Melanie is married to Rabbi Salomon Gruenwald, Associate Rabbi at the Hebrew Educational Alliance, and is a mom to three children, Koby (z”l), Hannah, and Micah.

A virtual event presented by Martha Anne Toll

The event was co-sponsored by Congregation Or Tzion

About the Event:
How does a novelist approach a historical subject as overwhelming as the Holocaust? What decisions go into jettisoning history, or the reverse, hewing closely to it, when writing a historical novel? Join our conversation with a debut novelist, Martha Anne Toll, to discuss how these considerations and more went into writing THREE MUSES.

About the Speaker:

Martha Anne Toll‘s debut novel, THREE MUSES, was shortlisted for the Gotham Book Prize and won the Petrichor Prize for Finely Crafted Fiction. Toll writes fiction, essays, and book reviews, and reads anything that’s not nailed down. She brings a long career in social justice to her work covering authors of color and women writers as a critic and author interviewer at NPR Books, the Washington Post, Pointe Magazine, The Millions, and elsewhere. Toll serves on the Board of Directors of the PEN/Faulkner Foundation. Her second novel, DUET FOR ONE, will be published in early 2025.

A virtual event presentation by Eliyahu Freedman

About the Event: 

In this session, we will discover the plurality of Jewish groups that lived in Babylonia during the 8th to 10th centuries. Meet important personalities such as Anan Ben David, Mīshawayh al-ʿUkbarī, Saadya Gaon, and Jacob al-Qirqisani. Independent scholar Eliyahu Freeman, gets to the heart of the main issues that concerned Medieval Jews, leading to heated disagreement and conflict between them.

About the Speaker: 

Eliyahu Freedman is an independent scholar and former Ph.D. student at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He studied Judeo-Arabic and is currently a freelance correspondent for Al Jazeera English and the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Born and raised in Toronto, Canada, he has lived in Jaffa, Israel for four years since making Aliyah. While not working on research or writing research, Eliyahu is an avid practitioner of mindfulness meditation and enjoys playing guitar and watching the sunset at the beach.

A virtual event presentation by David Lieberman

The event was co-hosted by Temple Solel and BMH-BJ

About the Event: 

This class is about Jewish spirituality…making a palpable connection with God. Judaism teaches that we connect with God by performing the commandments, the mitzvot. Our tradition also teaches that we interpret the Torah and the mitzvot at multiple levels. The focus of this class is on the mystical level called sod. Connecting at this level may be more accessible to a wide range of Jews who might view themselves as “spiritual, but not religious.” Many of us look outside our religion for spirituality. In fact, spirituality can be found right in our own backyard. Over the millennia, there has been an evolution in how Jews connect with God. In an era we call biblical Judaism, we felt a deep connection with God through the practice of animal sacrifices. Now, in the era we call rabbinic Judaism, we make connections through prayer, acts of charity, repentance, and study.

The next era may become characterized as transcendental Judaism. Through the meditative quieting of the mind, we can directly experience the “still small voice” that Elijah sensed on that mountaintop. This is not mindfulness. It’s an expansive experience of complete calm, oneness, and a sense of connection with everything around us. Many of us have fallen into that transcendental experience: while watching a sunset or holding a newborn baby. What if we were able to enter into that transcendental experience at will? This class describes how those repeated experiences heal us and influence our actions toward repairing the world.

About the Speaker: 

David Lieberman was raised in a Reform Jewish household and began to immerse himself in the Torah in 2003. He has been an elementary school teacher, management consultant, and spiritual director, and has served on the Board of Directors of VBM. He lives in Phoenix with his wife. They have two daughters.

Visit www.TranscendentalJudaism.com for links to order the book and to contact David with questions or to speak at your book club, study group or adult education class.

A virtual event presentation by Dr. James Baskind

The event was co-sponsored by Congregation Or Tzion

About the Event:

Although the Jewish history in Japan is relatively recent and there have never been significant numbers settled in the country, Jews loom large in the Japanese imagination, and popular books that peddle everything from fascination to fear are perennial best-sellers. An avid student of Western culture and technology since the Meiji Restoration (1868-1912), much of this Japanese interest stems from European propaganda regarding the Jews; however, not steeped in millennia of European antisemitism, the Japanese reaction, on the whole, was one more of fascination and awe. Although allies with Nazi Germany during World War II, Japan refused to turn over its Jews to the Nazis and even entertained the idea of bringing Jews to Japan in the hopes of bringing about national flourishing. This talk will examine the historical factors that have contributed to this multifaceted and unique perspective toward Jews and their culture.

About the Speaker:

Dr. Baskind received his Ph.D. from Yale University in 2006. His area of academic research is Japanese Buddhism and culture, with a focus on how Chinese models—represented by the Obaku School—were received in Edo-period Japan. Other areas of research and writing include Buddhist-Christian interaction in early modern Japan, as well as the Zen/Pure Land dialectic as it pertains to Japanese Buddhist discourse. His current project critically examines tea culture in East Asia, and how it became widely perceived as inextricably linked with Zen and its associated arts. Most recently he held the position of Associate Professor of Japanese Thought at Nagoya City University in Nagoya, Japan. While in Japan his research was supported by numerous grants from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science. Apart from his academic pursuits he has also studied and practiced the tea ceremony (both sencha and matcha) as well as Brazilian jiu-jitsu, which he currently teaches. In addition, he has nearly completed a book on the cultural history of jiu-jitsu, entitled, Jiu-jitsu: A History of Soft Power.

A virtual presentation by Dr. Amy-Jill Levine and Dr. Marc Brettler

The event was co-sponsored by Beth El Phoenix

About the Event:

The Gospel of Matthew is often considered the most Jewish of the Gospels. We will explore its Jewishness by looking at how it builds upon various passages from the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible) and how it relates to later rabbinic texts.

About the Speakers:

Amy-Jill Levine is the Rabbi Stanley M. Kessler Distinguished Professor of New Testament and Jewish Studies, Hartford International University for Religion and Peace;  University Professor of New Testament and Jewish Studies Emerita and Mary Jane Werthan Professor of Jewish Studies Emerita, Professor of New Testament Studies Emerita, Vanderbilt University.

Marc Zvi Brettler is the Bernice and Morton Lerner Distinguished Professor of Jewish Studies in the Dept. of Religious Studies at Duke University, and the Dora Golding Professor of Biblical Literature Emeritus at Brandeis University.

Together they have edited The Jewish Annotated New Testament, and have written The Bible With and Without Jesus: How Jews and Christians Read the Same Book Differently.

A hybrid event (in-person and virtual) by Rabbi Ian Pear

About the Event:

Since Israel’s founding – continuing until today – the relationship between the state’s Jewish majority and its non-Jewish minority has been fraught with challenges. Liberal Democracies, of course, have something to say about such relationships, but Israel is unique in a variety of ways, not the least of which is it was established to be the world’s lone Jewish state. Protecting that reality, while simultaneously protecting the rights of minorities, has not always been easy. A surprising source for guidance and wisdom in this field – a source that can simultaneously promote both of these seemingly conflicting values — is Jewish law itself. This class will survey more than 2000 years of global Jewish thought on the matter, comparing and contrasting Diaspora and Israeli thought, and conclude with an inspiring view of modern-day Rabbinic advice on the topic.

About the Speaker:

Rabbi Chaim (Ian) Pear, a Rabbi, lawyer, and social activist living in Jerusalem, is the founder of Shir Hadash, a popular Jerusalem based Synagogue, Educational Institute, and Community Center, as well as an expert in Israeli and Jewish environmental law – he worked at Israel’s premier environmental law firm, Laster and Goldman – and a leader in the Spiritual Diplomacy efforts made on behalf of Israel. A one-time aspiring standup comedian, Rabbi Pear received his ordination from Yeshiva University and holds law degrees from Hebrew University (LLM, with a focus on Mishpat Ivri) and NYU School of Law (JD, with a concentration in international law), and a degree in International Law, Politics and Security from Georgetown University’s School for Foreign Service. The author of three books, he is married to Dr. Rachel Pear and is the father of five children.

A virtual event presentation by Rabbi Barbara Symons

The event was co-sponsored by Temple Emanuel 

About The Event:

For many Jews, the prophets’ voices are only heard during worship if even there, and then only in Hebrew.  Even in English, their words are a challenge. After studying the job qualifications and tasks of a prophet and learning when and why Judaism says that prophecy ended, we will use contemporary interpretations to better hear their ancient words which often feel challenging in both form and content. Reaching beyond, we will look at alternative prophet-like voices that can inspire us to realize the words of the haftarah blessing: toward holiness, rest, honor, and glory.

About The Speaker:

Rabbi Barbara AB Symons graduated from the University of Michigan and was ordained by Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in 1994.  Since 2006, she has been serving Temple David in Monroeville, Pennsylvania just outside of Pittsburgh. She is thrilled to have even a small part in raising up prophetic voices through the many diverse voices included in her book Prophetic Voices: Renewing and Reimagining Haftarah (CCAR Press 2023).

A virtual event presentation by Dr. Jonnie Schnytzer

The event was co-sponsored by Temple Emanuel

About The Class:

Our journey to come close to God is often sought out alone. Even when praying in a congregational quorum, each individual ties the words of prayer to their own private thoughts. In this class, we will learn of unique teachings which advocated genuine friendship as a prerequisite for God’s presence and ask about God’s role in a social get-together. For those wanting to discover new and perhaps unexpected ways that lead to the path of God, let’s go visit some of the most innovative and socially sensitive minds of early twentieth-century Poland.

About The Speaker:

Jonnie Schnytzer is probably the only Ph.D. in Jewish Philosophy, focusing on medieval kabbalah, who can say that he once beat the head of Israeli Naval Commandos in a swimming race? His dissertation focused on the scientific kabbalah of Rabbi Joseph ben Shalom Ashkenazi. Jonnie’s forthcoming book is about Ashkenazi’s Kabbalah as well as a critical edition of the Kabbalist’s majestic commentary on Sefer Yesira. Jonnie’s also the author of Mossad's thriller, The Way Back, which paints a picture of contemporary Israel. Jonnie also orchestrated the publishing of an English edition of ‘The Hitler Haggadah’, an important piece of Moroccan Jewish history from the Holocaust. Jonnie has also taken on several leadership roles in the Jewish world, including advisor to the CEO of Birthright and executive manager with StandWithUs. He lectures on a wide variety of topics relating to Judaism and Israel, especially about the untold stories and unspoken heroes of Jewish history. Jonnie is happily married, with four gorgeous little kids, lives in Israel, and thinks that Australian Rules Football is the greatest sport ever invented.

A virtual event presentation by Rabbi Leila Gal Berner

The event was Co-Sponsored by Rodef Shalom

About The Event:

Having pioneered a new gateway into Torah learning called "kriat hakodesh,” (reading the holy), Rabbi Dr. Leila Gal Berner will lead us through a deep, contemplative journey through the heart of the Parsha, Vayera, helping participants to discover the profound personal meaning of the Torah text. Silence, learning about the text through midrashim, chant, deep personal questions (contemplated privately) and conversation will all be part of the experience. This approach stems from Rabbi Berner’s book, Listening to the Heart of Genesis: A Contemplative Path. 

About The Speaker:

Rabbi Leila Gal Berner was ordained at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College and holds a second ordination from Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi (of blessed memory). She received her doctorate in medieval Jewish history from UCLA, with expertise in the history of Jews in medieval Spain. Her dissertation, “On the Western Shores: The Jews of Barcelona during the Reign of Jaume I, ‘el Conqueridor 1213-1276” has been widely cited and she has taught about the Spanish Reconquista in many Jewish communities. She has also taught in many communities about the “Golden Age of Spanish Jewry under Muslim Rule.”

Rabbi Gal-Berner served as Dean of Students of the ALEPH: Alliance for Jewish Renewal Ordination and continues to teach biblical and medieval history, feminist thought, and midrash.  She has recently published Listening to the Heart of Genesis: A Contemplative Path. Dr. Gal Berner has taught in the Departments of Philosophy and Religion at American University and George Washington and Emory Universities, and in the Departments of Religion at Swarthmore and Reed Colleges.