The Jewish Community Scholars Program began in 2001 in Orange County California to provide high level adult Jewish education. Technology has given CSP a global reach with partner synagogues in Israel, Europe and all of North America. As a partner synagogue, Temple Israel members have access to CJP’s vast array of live presentations from top notch scholars. CSP also has an extensive archive of past programs on You Tube.
Thursday, October 9th, 23rd, & 30th from 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. (PT) and 3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. (ET) live on Zoom from London
“Ben Sira, Enoch, and Jubilees: Jewish Texts at the Edge of the Canon” led by with Rabba Dr. Lindsey Taylor – Guthartz
In this three-part series, we’ll explore three ancient Jewish works that stood just outside the biblical canon yet shaped Jewish imagination for centuries.
Part 1 – Ben Sira: A 1,900-year-old book that almost, but didn’t quite, make it into the Bible, the Book of Ben Sira (also known as Ecclesiasticus) is full of moral advice, beautiful psalm-like passages, and some unfashionable views about women. We will look at its fascinating history and sample some of the text.
Part 2 – Enoch: Enoch only has a tiny part in the book of Bereshit, but his apparent failure to die inspired later Jews to fill in the rest of his story. We’re going to take a look at the First Book of Enoch, from the 3rd century BCE, which includes a tour of heaven, a universe bristling with angels, a solar calendar, and lots of apocalyptic stuff.
Part 3 – Jubilees: Back in the second century BCE, an adventurous Jew decided to rewrite the Bible … and produced the Book of Jubilees, a fascinating read with all sorts of secret information on the calendar, the early life of Abraham, and God’s plan for the Jewish people. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER.
Sunday, October 12th from 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. (PT) and 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. (ET) live on Zoom from Jerusalem, Israel
“The Simchat Torah Flag: From Biblical Roots to Modern Israeli Icon” led by Professor Shalom Sabar
Colorful, festive, and deeply symbolic, the Simchat Torah flag has long captured the imagination of Jewish children and communities. Although its material history extends only to the late 19th century, its conceptual roots lie in biblical and rabbinic traditions of the degel (“banner”) and degel Torah. This lecture traces how the flag became a miniature emblem of joy, devotion, and continuity—first in Ashkenazi communities, especially in Eastern Europe, later reshaped by Zionist imagery, and eventually reinterpreted in Israel and America. Its evolving iconography—from the emblems of the 12 Tribes, Torah scrolls, and the Ark flanked by Moses and Aaron, to Zionist leaders such as Herzl and Nordau, and even the victorious generals of the Six Day War—mirrors changing Jewish identities, hopes, and ideals. Today, contemporary designs reflect the diversity of Jewish life, ranging from ultra-Orthodox interpretations to politically correct, modern versions. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER.
Thursday, October 16th from 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. (PT) and 3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. (ET) live on Zoom from Washington, DC
“My Father’s Paradise: A Journey into Jewish Kurdistan” led by Ariel Sabar
Join award-winning journalist and author Ariel Sabar for a conversation about his acclaimed book My Father’s Paradise: A Son’s Search for His Jewish Past in Kurdish Iraq. Part memoir, part history, the book traces Sabar’s journey alongside his father, a Jewish scholar born in a remote Kurdish village, as he uncovers the extraordinary story of one of the world’s oldest and most isolated Jewish communities. Through personal narrative, cultural history, and themes of identity, exile, and belonging, Sabar invites us into a moving exploration of heritage and the bonds between generations. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER.
Sunday, October 19th from 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. (PT) and 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. (ET) live on Zoom from NYC
“Lines of Identity: A Conversation with Cartoonist Liana Finck” led by Liana Finck
Acclaimed cartoonist Liana Finck draws with humor, honesty, and heart on everything from the awkwardness of daily life to the weight of cultural memory. A regular contributor to The New Yorker and author of graphic works such as Passing for Human and Let There Be Light, Finck reimagines biblical stories, wrestles with questions of faith and doubt, and explores motherhood, Jewish identity and being human in general in both personal and universal ways. In this interview, she will reflect on her creative process, the intersection of art and Judaism, and the power of cartoons to capture what is both timeless and deeply contemporary. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER.
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