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.
Tuesday, December 9th from from 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. (PT) and 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. (ET) live on Zoom from Warsaw, Poland
“A House with a Secret: Rediscovering the Będzin Ghetto Hideout” led by Dr. Aleksandra Janush
Join Dr. Aleksandra (Ola) Janus for the remarkable story of one very modest house in the former Będzin Ghetto—and the extraordinary history it’s been hiding. Once a secret hideout of the Jewish Combat Organization, this unassuming building was recently rediscovered by two activists in Poland who purchased it and, together with Dr. Janus, are transforming it into a living center for art, research, education, and a community garden. Part detective tale, part “Indiana Jones” adventure, this talk traces the house’s many twists and turns as ongoing archaeological work continues to reveal new layers of its past. Along the way, we’ll explore how art, public history, and community engagement are being used to activate this powerful legacy for audiences today—while the excavation itself is still unfolding in real time. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER.
Thursdays, December 4th, 11th, 18th & 25 from 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. (PT) and 3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. (ET) live on Zoom from NYC
“Four Jewish Revolutionaries” led by Professor Howard Lupovitch
Join us as we delve into the lives and legacies of four influential Jewish revolutionaries who played pivotal roles in shaping modern history. In these sessions, we will explore their backgrounds, beliefs, and the impact they had on their respective movements and societies. Through engaging narratives and insightful analysis, we will gain a deeper understanding of how these figures—each driven by their unique interpretations of justice and freedom—helped to shape the revolutionary fervor of their times. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER.
Sundays, December 7th, 14th & 21st, 2025 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
“Made in Heaven: The Joyous Art of the Ketubah Through the Ages” led by Professor Shalom Sabar
The ketubah, the Jewish marriage contract, is one of the most fascinating and beautiful expressions of Jewish life and art. Far more than a legal document, it opens a vivid window onto centuries of Jewish history, telling the stories of couples, families, and communities across the world. Often adorned with colorful decorations and rich symbolism, ketubot celebrate love, family, and faith while reflecting the artistic styles of their time and place. From the elegant masterpieces of seventeenth- and eighteenth-century Italy to the vibrant designs of Iran, North Africa, and India, each ketubah reveals a unique blend of devotion and creativity. This lecture series will follow the ketubah’s journey from its biblical and Talmudic origins—created to protect women’s rights—to its flourishing as a cherished work of art and a mirror of Jewish identity through the ages. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER.
Tuesday, October 28th, November 25th & December 30 from 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. (PT) and 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. (ET) live on Zoom from New York (members only series)
“Survival and Renewal: The Modern Jewish Story of Rome” led by Dr. Samuel Gruber
Following our recent three-part exploration of the Jews of Rome from antiquity through the era of the Ghetto, Dr. Gruber returns to guide us into the next, equally dramatic chapter of this community’s story. In our new three-part series, we will trace the journey of Roman Jewry from the 19th century to the present, a period marked by seismic change and reinvention. From the fall of the Ghetto walls in 1870 and the opportunities and challenges of emancipation, through the rise of Fascism and the devastating impact of the Holocaust, to the difficult but determined postwar efforts at renewal, remembrance, and cultural preservation, we will explore how one of the world’s oldest Jewish communities adapted, endured, and reshaped its identity in the face of modern upheaval. Along the way, we will encounter voices of resilience, creativity, and leadership that illuminate not only the history of Rome’s Jews, but also broader questions of Jewish belonging, survival, and continuity in the modern world. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE UPCOMING SESSIONS IN DECEMBER
