Dear Friends,

The past year of learning has been an outstanding experience and I would just like to recap some of the great educational experiences you may have enjoyed this year. Gideon Amir, at the Bible Study Center gave a wonderful in-depth look at the Book of Genesis, our Lunch and Learn classes featured such scholars as Rabbi Toby Manewith and “The Politics of Sexuality in the Bible”, Rabbi Brett Isserow “Exploring the Different Meanings Given to Faith and Belief in Judaism”, Rabbi Jack Luxemburg “From Golem to Genome: Jewish Ethics and Artificial Life”, Rabbi Jack Bieler “Complex Figures in the Book of Judges”.

Our Study Retreats were hosted in the beautiful, relaxing, peaceful Pearlstone retreat center, a place conducive to learning, and getting together with like-minded people to have a good time. We had Dr. Edward Kaplan lecture on Abraham Joshua Heschel “As Guide of the Perplexed”, and Dr. Charles Butterworth on “Understanding and Interacting with Islam”.

The Distinguished Scholar Series featured such renowned scholars as Dr. Antony Polonsky on “Facts and Myths About the Jews of Poland and Russia”, Dr. Herschel Shanks on “What the Dead Sea Scrolls Really Say”, Dr. Steven Lowenstein on “How Assimilated Were German Jews Prior to the Holocaust?”, and Dr. Robert Alter on “The Challenge of Translating the Bible”.

We also presented a wonderful concert on “The Legacy of Jewish Composers of Austria and Germany”, featuring two classical stars, Cellist Amit Peled and Violinist Netanel Draiblate. This concert was the beginning of our German Jewish Heritage Series, which is made possible through the generosity of K. Peter and Yvonne Wagner.

If this last year wasn’t a veritable cornucopia of knowledge, education, and enjoyment, we are starting another year of informative learning and enjoyment.

Once again Gideon Amir will be teaching at the Bible Study Center. This year he will give us an in-depth look at the Book of Joshua, and the trials and tribulations of a leader having to pick up the mantle of his predecessor and prepare a nation for both military campaigns and a future of freedom. Our Lunch and Learns will feature a plethora of choice topics, including Rabbi Bruce Aft on “Why G-d Does What he Does”, Rabbi Rosalind Gold’s “The Best Part of Waking Up: The Morning Blessings”, Rabbi David Kalendar “What Happens Next? Jewish Perspectives on the Afterlife”, Norman Shore on “Jewish Time”, Cantor Abraham Lubin on “Jewish Music History”, Erica Brown “From Strength to Strength: Samson”, and Rabbi Joel Tessler on “The Power of Amen”.

Our line-up for the Distinguished Scholar Series is “top-notch”. We will be presenting the renowned scholar Dr. Walter Laqueuer “in conversation with Rabbi Joshua Haberman”, Rabbi Barbara Aiello on the history of Italian Jewry, Dr. Menachem Kellner on “How Twentieth Century Rabbinic Figures Use and Misuse Maimonides”, Dr. Marsha Rozenblit on “The Place of Austro-German Jewry in Central Europe”, and Dr. Vanessa Ochs on Women in the Bible.

We have our upcoming Labor Day Study Retreat featuring Dr. Raphael Jospe on “Baruch Spinoza, The Radicalism of his Philosophy and his Excommunication: Toleration, Then and Now. We are still in the process of creating all these programs and more, so please check back to the website from time to time to see what’s new and of interest to further inform and educate you. While you’re here, why not take a look at what we currently have available on our Bible Study Center and Distinguished Scholar Series pages. Just click on the available links.

We look forward to a wonderful new year of learning and friendship, and we look forward to seeing you at these upcoming events.

All the very best,

Martin Goldman
Director