BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//wp-events-plugin.com//7.4.0.1//EN TZID:America/New_York X-WR-TIMEZONE:America/New_York BEGIN:VEVENT UID:1299@tign.org DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250429T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250429T140000 DTSTAMP:20250424T181758Z URL:https://www.tign.org/events/jewish-community-scholars-program-82/ SUMMARY:Jewish Community Scholars Program DESCRIPTION:The Jewish Community Scholars Program began in 2001 in Orange C ounty California to provide high level adult Jewish education. Technology has given CSP a global reach with partner synagogues in Israel\, Europe an d all of North America. As a partner synagogue\, Temple Israel members hav e 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.\n\nTuesd ay\, April 29th from 10:00-11:00 a.m. (PT) and 1:00-2:00 p.m. (ET) live on Zoom from Tel Aviv\, Israel\n"My Great (and Short) Great Grandfather: Eli ezer Ben Yehuda\, and the Revival of the Hebrew Language" led by with Gil Hovav\nJoin us for a fascinating online session with Gil Hovav\, renowned Israeli author and publisher\, as he shares a personal perspective on the revival of the Hebrew language. Once nearly extinct for 2\,000 years\, Heb rew was brought back to life almost single-handedly by Eliezer Ben-Yehuda\ , a visionary and one of the founding fathers of Zionism. As Ben-Yehuda’ s great-grandson\, Hovav will unveil family secrets and hidden stories pas sed down for over a century\, offering a unique glimpse into this unpreced ented linguistic miracle. Don't miss this captivating journey into history \, heritage\, and the power of language. \; \;CLICK HERE TO REGIST ER.\n\n \;\n\nThursday\, May 1st \; from 12:30 p.m.-1:30 p.m. (PT) and 3:30p.m.-4:30p.m. (ET) live on zoom from Toronto\, Canada\n"Collectin g the Dream: Theodor Herzl\, Zionism\, and One Man’s Passion for a Visio nary’s Legacy" led by \;David Matlow \;\nIn celebration of Israe l’s 77th birthday\, join us for a special one-hour program featuring Dav id Matlow\, the world’s foremost collector of Theodor Herzl memorabilia and author of Collecting the Dream. Drawing from the largest private Herzl collection in the world\, David will share some of the most remarkable an d meaningful items he has gathered—each one offering a window into the l ife\, vision\, and enduring legacy of the father of modern Zionism. Throug h these rare artifacts and personal stories\, Matlow invites us to reflect on Herzl’s timeless message of human rights\, equality\, and Jewish nat ionhood\, and to be inspired by the dream that helped shape the State of I srael and continues to guide its future. \;CLICK HERE TO REGISTER.\n\n  \;\n\nSunday\, May 4th from 10:00-11:00 a.m. (PT) and 1:00-2:00 p.m. (ET) live on zoom from San Francisco\n"Laundering Antisemitism: Ethnic Stu dies\, Identity Politics and the University" led by \;Dr. Marc Dolinge r \;\nJoin us for a thought-provoking online CSP event with Dr. Marc D ollinger\, as he shares insights from his forthcoming academic memoir expl oring the complexities of campus antisemitism across the political spectru m. Once labeled a “self-hating leftist Jew” at a conservative college and later criticized as a “right-wing Zionist imperialist colonizer” a t a progressive university\, Dr. Dollinger draws from personal experience to examine how antisemitism manifests in higher education today. Through t he lens of identity politics\, ethnic studies\, and shifting campus climat es\, this conversation will unpack the challenges Jewish students and facu lty face—and what it means to navigate academic spaces as a proudly Jewi sh and Zionist scholar in a polarized world. \; \;CLICK HERE TO RE GISTER.\n\n \;\n\nTuesdays\, May 6th\, 13th\, 20th &\; 27th from 10 :00-11:00 a.m. (PT) and 1:00-2:00 p.m. (ET) live on zoom from London\, Eng land\n"Creation\, Retaliation\, Choseness and Faith: Four Challenges to th e Bible" led by Rabbi Dr. Raphael Zarum\nJoin us for a compelling four-par t series with Rabbi Dr. Rafi Zarum\, based on his recent award-winning boo k\, Questioning Belief. In this thought-provoking series\, Rabbi Zarum tac kles some of the most pressing and challenging questions at the intersecti on of tradition\, ethics\, and contemporary thought. Drawing deeply from c lassical Jewish sources while engaging with modern sensibilities\, he offe rs surprising\, provocative\, and energizing insights that speak to today ’s Jewish experience. Over four sessions\, we’ll explore: what the Cre ation story teaches us if it’s not taken literally\; the ethical dilemma s raised by King David’s actions and their relevance to modern warfare a nd shared responsibility\; the complex and often misunderstood notion of t he Jewish people as "chosen"\; and what belief means in a Jewish context —even for those who question or reject the idea of God. Whether you're a seeker\, a skeptic\, or a committed believer\, this series will invite yo u into a rich and honest conversation about faith\, identity\, and meaning in the modern world. \;CLICK HERE TO REGISTER.\n\n \;\n\nThursday s - May 8th\, 15th\, 22nd &\; 29th from 10:00-11:00 a.m. (PT) and 1:00- 2:00 p.m. (ET) live on zoom from Barcelona\, Spain\nThe Jewish Legacy of B ulgaria and Greece led by Evgenia Kempinski\nJoin us for a captivating fou r-part series with Jewish heritage educator Evgenia Kempinski as we explor e over two thousand years of Jewish history in Bulgaria and Greece—lands where Jewish communities have contributed richly to cultural and spiritua l life for centuries. From ancient settlements to vibrant Sephardic center s\, this journey will trace a powerful legacy of resilience and creativity . On May 8\, we’ll uncover the deep historical roots of Jewish life in t hese regions\, from antiquity through the Ottoman era. On May 15\, we’ll explore traditions\, daily life\, and the unique Sephardic heritage that flourished there. On May 22\, we’ll turn to the 20th century to examine the rise of modern Jewish communities\, their cultural impact\, and the tr agedy of the Holocaust. Finally\, on May 29\, we’ll reflect on the post- war experience and the state of Jewish life in Bulgaria and Greece today. Don’t miss this opportunity to engage with a rich\, lesser-known chapter of Jewish history and identity. \; \;CLICK HERE TO REGISTER.\n\n& nbsp\;\n\n"Exploring Jewish Cuba: History\, Heritage\, and Personal Encoun ters" featuring Dr Sharon Keller &\; Rabbi Elie Spitz\nSunday\, May 11t h from 4:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. (PT) and 7:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. (ET)\nJoin us for a special CSP online conversation with Dr. Sharon Keller and Rabbi Elie Sp itz\, who recently returned from a powerful weeklong visit to Cuba’s Jew ish community. In a country where time seems to have stood still—Cold Wa r-era slogans still hang alongside vintage American cars and crumbling col onial buildings—Jewish life persists with resilience and hope. Participa nts in the recent Cuba trip met with community leaders\, visited synagogue s in Havana\, and witnessed firsthand how\, after decades of religious rep ression\, Cuban Jews are once again celebrating their heritage openly and joyfully. Alain Bastow\, the man who at age 24 (30 years ago) escaped Cuba in an inner tube will join the conversation to tell his personal story. W ith fewer than 1\,300 Jews remaining in a nation of 11 million—many of t hem elderly\, isolated\, and struggling with severe shortages of food\, me dicine\, and basic supplies—they encountered stories of incredible perse verance\, dignity\, and community spirit. In this program\, we'll learn ab out the rich and often overlooked history of Jewish life in Cuba\, garner insights into the challenges facing the community today\, and explore mean ingful ways we can offer support and solidarity. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to connect with a Jewish story that is both deeply rooted and urgently unfolding. \; \;CLICK HERE TO REGISTER.\n\n \;\n\nSun day\, May 18th from 10:00-11:00 a.m. (PT) and 1:00-2:00 p.m. (ET) live on zoom from Israel\n"The Religious Turn: Israeli Art and Judaism" led by Shi rel Horovitz\nIn recent years\, the Israeli art scene has been buzzing wit h a renewed fascination for Jewish tradition\, spirituality\, and religion . But is this resurgence merely a passing trend\, or does it signal a deep er cultural and social transformation? As artists increasingly engage with religious themes—whether through reverence\, critique\, or reinvention —they are reshaping the visual and conceptual language of contemporary I sraeli art. To unravel the intricate relationship between Jewish and Israe li identity\, we’ll start with a historical backdrop before diving into the key artistic shifts of the past 15 years. Through this journey\, we’ ll uncover the powerful stories these works tell about the evolving soul o f Israeli society today. \; \;CLICK HERE TO REGISTER. ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.tign.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ Jewish-Community-Scholars-Program-2024_25_hero-image.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:America/New_York X-LIC-LOCATION:America/New_York BEGIN:DAYLIGHT DTSTART:20250309T030000 TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT END:DAYLIGHT END:VTIMEZONE END:VCALENDAR