BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//wp-events-plugin.com//7.4.8//EN TZID:America/New_York X-WR-TIMEZONE:America/New_York BEGIN:VEVENT UID:1317@tign.org DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250511T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250511T200000 DTSTAMP:20250508T164647Z URL:https://www.tign.org/events/jewish-community-scholars-program-88/ 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\n"Expl oring Jewish Cuba: History\, Heritage\, and Personal Encounters" featuring Dr Sharon Keller &\; Rabbi Elie Spitz\nSunday\, May 11th 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 o nline conversation with Dr. Sharon Keller and Rabbi Elie Spitz\, who recen tly returned from a powerful weeklong visit to Cuba’s Jewish community. In a country where time seems to have stood still—Cold War-era slogans s till hang alongside vintage American cars and crumbling colonial buildings —Jewish life persists with resilience and hope. Participants in the rece nt Cuba trip met with community leaders\, visited synagogues in Havana\, a nd witnessed firsthand how\, after decades of religious repression\, 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 tu be will join the conversation to tell his personal story. With fewer than 1\,300 Jews remaining in a nation of 11 million—many of them elderly\, i solated\, and struggling with severe shortages of food\, medicine\, and ba sic supplies—they encountered stories of incredible perseverance\, digni ty\, and community spirit. In this program\, we'll learn about the rich an d often overlooked history of Jewish life in Cuba\, garner insights into t he challenges facing the community today\, and explore meaningful 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 unfold ing. \; \;CLICK HERE TO REGISTER.\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\, England\n"Creation\, Retaliation\, Chosenes s and Faith: Four Challenges to the Bible" led by Rabbi Dr. Raphael Zarum\ nJoin us for a compelling four-part series with Rabbi Dr. Rafi Zarum\, bas ed on his recent award-winning book\, Questioning Belief. In this thought- provoking series\, Rabbi Zarum tackles some of the most pressing and chall enging questions at the intersection of tradition\, ethics\, and contempor ary thought. Drawing deeply from classical Jewish sources while engaging w ith modern sensibilities\, he offers surprising\, provocative\, and energi zing insights that speak to today’s Jewish experience. Over four session s\, we’ll explore: what the Creation story teaches us if it’s not take n literally\; the ethical dilemmas raised by King David’s actions and th eir relevance to modern warfare and shared responsibility\; the complex an d often misunderstood notion of the Jewish people as "chosen"\; and what b elief means in a Jewish context—even for those who question or reject th e idea of God. Whether you're a seeker\, a skeptic\, or a committed believ er\, this series will invite you into a rich and honest conversation about faith\, identity\, and meaning in the modern world. \;CLICK HERE TO R EGISTER.\n\n \;\n\nThursdays - 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 Bulgaria and Greece led by Evgenia Kempinski \nJoin us for a captivating four-part series with Jewish heritage educator Evgenia Kempinski as we explore over two thousand years of Jewish history in Bulgaria and Greece—lands where Jewish communities have contributed richly to cultural and spiritual life for centuries. From ancient settleme nts to vibrant Sephardic centers\, this journey will trace a powerful lega cy of resilience and creativity. On May 8\, we’ll uncover the deep histo rical roots of Jewish life in these regions\, from antiquity through the O ttoman 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\, the ir cultural impact\, and the tragedy 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 wit h a rich\, lesser-known chapter of Jewish history and identity. \;&nbs p\;CLICK HERE TO REGISTER.\n\n \;\n\nSunday\, May 18 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 Shirel Horovitz\nIn recent years\, the Israeli art scene has been buzzing with a renewed fascination for Jewi sh tradition\, spirituality\, and religion. But is this resurgence merely a passing trend\, or does it signal a deeper cultural and social transform ation? As artists increasingly engage with religious themes—whether thro ugh reverence\, critique\, or reinvention—they are reshaping the visual and conceptual language of contemporary Israeli art. To unravel the intric ate relationship between Jewish and Israeli identity\, we’ll start with a historical backdrop before diving into the key artistic shifts of the pa st 15 years. Through this journey\, we’ll uncover the powerful stories t hese works tell about the evolving soul of Israeli society today. \;&n bsp\;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