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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20210510T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20210510T140000
DTSTAMP:20260709T195113
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SUMMARY:Yom Yerushalayim: Holidays with Jonty and Julie!
DESCRIPTION:Jonty has led many seminars and missions in Poland and Israel and is a gifted educator and a fascinating storyteller. Jonty has a unique way of connecting his teachings to his audience\, such that their experience of learning leaves a deep and enduring impact on their lives. He weaves together Jewish history with philosophy\, culture with archaeology\, and the tragedy of the Holocaust with probing\, source-based theological questions. His intricate knowledge of Jewish history and the Holocaust\, combined with his analytical and sensitive approach to challenging philosophical questions offers students a profound educational experience.
URL:https://cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net/event/yom-yerushalayim-holidays-with-jonty-and-julie/
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20210506T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20210506T150000
DTSTAMP:20260709T195113
CREATED:20220518T163732Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220518T163732Z
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SUMMARY:Jerusalem of Song: A Festive Lecture to Celebrate Jerusalem Day with Dr. Asnat Goldfarb-Arzuan
DESCRIPTION:Classrooms Without Borders welcomes Israeli musical artist\, Dr. Asnat Goldfarb-Arzaun. A special and exciting lecture about Jerusalem\, the capital of Israel\, to mark the anniversary of its liberation.\nIn this lecture\, we will distinguish between songs about Jerusalem written from the time of the establishment of the State of Israel (1948) until the Six-Day War (1967)\, and those written after the war and the city’s reunification. \nWe will listen to the city’s anthems: Jerusalem of Gold and Rejoice about Jerusalem (Sisu et Yerushalayim) \nWe’ll talk about the city’s holy sites (the Western Wall)\, and we’ll experience through the songs the city’s most influential figures\, for example Sir Moses Montefiore. \nDr. Asnat Goldfarb-Arzaun \nDr. Asnat Goldfarb-Arzaun is a Ph.D. graduate from the Music Department at Bar-Ilan University (BIU)\, Israel. She specializes in Israeli popular music according to the local culture and the Israeli cultural and musical external affects. More specifically\, her dissertation examines Dubi Seltzer’s music\, one of the outstanding Israeli composers.  \nShe holds a M.A in music (Her dissertation was about the reciprocal influences between art and popular music between 1956-1977). She graduated her first degree (B.Ed.) as a summa cum laude from the music department at Levinsky College of Education. \nHer research interests are varied and she has published articles in popular music in several journals in Hebrew. Goldfarb-Arzuan interviewed for in Kan Tarbut (IBA) radio about the piece “Lament for Yitzhak: A Requiem to a Man of piece” by Dubi Seltzer and broadcasted especially for Yitzhak Rabin Memorial Day. She has delivered many academic lectures about these topics in conferences\nand academic institutions in Israel. She lectures about the Israeli popular music in seniors’ college and cultural centers around the country. In addition she lectures around USA for JCC and some other cultural activities. Her audiences are mostly seniors\, but also high-school pupils. Furthermore\, she has an expertise as a music tour-guide\, which leads organized tours to famous music festivals in Europe. \nShe has also published two children’s books in Hebrew. She has developed a special program of studying the recorders (Soprano and Alto) in groups and published two booklets\, one for each recorder.
URL:https://cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net/event/jerusalem-of-song-a-festive-lecture-to-celebrate-jerusalem-day-with-dr-asnat-goldfarb-arzuan/
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20210505T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20210505T160000
DTSTAMP:20260709T195113
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SUMMARY:Uncovering the Secrets of Sobibor -with scientists Dr. Philip Reeder and Yoram Haimi
DESCRIPTION:Classrooms Without Borders is honored to bring these scientists to our global community to learn about the work to uncover the secrets buried underground at the Sobibor Extermination Camp.\nIronically\, the effort to hide the camp inadvertently preserved it. Working with researchers from around the world\, including Dr. Philip Reeder\, this project used ground-penetrating radar\, electrical resistivity tomography and magnetometers to perform high-tech subsurface analysis and mapping\, ensuring that burial sites would not be disturbed. \nSubsequent excavations uncovered artifacts of victims\, including children\, in their original locations along the walkways and buildings used to exterminate nearly 250\,000 Jews. This project is a prime example of how the use of technology\, conventional archaeology\, and the testimonies of survivors uncovered this piece of history that was intended to remain hidden. \nThe trailer from the unfinished Documentary: Deadly Deception at Sobibor\, will be shown. \nDr. Philip Reeder\, dean of Duquesne’s Bayer School of Natural and Environmental Sciences\, and a participant in research at Sobibor\, was part of the research team that used science to uncover some of the secrets of the site. An environmental scientist specializing in paleo-environmental and paleo-climate reconstruction\, he was responsible for all surveying and map production associated with the project. \nYoram Haimi\, Israel Antiquities Authority regional archaeologist and Head Archaeologist for the Sobibor project\, had two uncles perish at the extermination camp. Haimi will provide an illustrated lecture of his quest of a lifetime to uncover what truly happened at Sobibor. \nHaimi’s presentation will chronicle what happened to his family\, and in part the 250\,000 other victims murdered during the Holocaust at Sobibor. An extermination camp on the remote edges of eastern Poland\, it was the site for a successful\, large-scale rebellion and escape on Oct. 14\, 1943. Following the escape of about 300 Jewish prisoners\, approximately 250 of which were subsequently hunted down and killed\, the Nazis destroyed the camp and quickly buried it under tons of dirt\, and then planted trees to stop word of the rebellion and escape from spreading and inspiring others. \nDr. Philip ReederDr. Philip Reeder is currently the Dean of the Bayer School of Natural and Environmental Sciences at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh\, Pennsylvania. His current areas of research broadly focus on using science to write or rewrite history.  He has been doing Holocaust-related research\, as part of an international team of scientists\, archaeologists\, and historians\, for the past ten years\, mostly in Lithuania and Poland. As chief cartographer\, he is responsible for all aspects of mapping and spatial analysis associated with these projects.  \nYoram Haimi \nAfter his release from the army in 1982\, he moved to Kibbutz Nahal Oz and started working in a barn. After two years\, he worked as a farmer. In 1996 he graduated with a BA in Archeology from Ben Gurion University\, and in 2000 an MA in Archeology and Anthropology. \nHe has been working for the Israel Antiquities Authority for over 20 years\, conducting archeological excavations and surveys\, mainly in the southern part of the country in the Negev. For the past two years\, he has been working as a curator at the Israel Antiquities Authority. Since 2007 he has been a partner in archeological research in the Sobibor extermination camp in Poland. The research continues to this day. Additionally\, he hopes this year to submit my doctoral thesis at Tel Aviv University on archaeological research related to the Holocaust.  The research continues to this day. Additionally\, he hopes this year to submit my doctoral thesis at Tel Aviv University on archaeological research related to the Holocaust.  \nThe full inclusion of people of all abilities is a core value of Classrooms Without Borders. For questions or to make requests for special accommodations contact melissa@classroomswithoutborders.org
URL:https://cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net/event/uncovering-the-secrets-of-sobibor-with-scientists-dr-philip-reeder-and-yoram-haimi/
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20210504T163000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20210504T163000
DTSTAMP:20260709T195113
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SUMMARY:Author Talk with Gershom Gorenberg "War of Shadows: Codebreakers\, Spies\, and the Secret Struggle to Drive the Nazis from the Middle East"
DESCRIPTION:War of Shadows Codebreakers\, Spies\, and the Secret Struggle to Drive the Nazis from the Middle East by Gershom Gorenberg\nSummer 1942: Rommel’s army is a day from Cairo\, a week from Tel Aviv. The SS is ready for action. Espionage brought the Nazis this far. And espionage can stop them – if Washington wakes up. \nWar of Shadows is the meticulously constructed and cinematic story of the race for information in the North African theater of World War II. It rewrites the popular narrative of the war—not as an inevitable clash of heroes and villains but as a spiraling series of accidents and desperate triumphs that decided the fate of millions. \n“A masterpiece of scholarship and synthesis…It will remind readers of a cloak-and-dagger tale by John Le Carré with an armature of fascinating historical annotation.” \n— The Washington Post \n“With the pacing of a spy thriller… War of Shadows takes us to the brink of disaster as the Allies and Axis powers vie for control of the Middle East…. Gorenberg belongs to a unique cadre of journalist historians.”\n—Sarah Wildman\, author of Paper Love \n“A dazzling and groundbreaking portrait of a crucial moment in WWII… Gorenberg has produced a vital new account of one of the key episodes of the last century.”\n—Matti Friedman\, author of Spies of No Country \n“The story grips you so much that it’s hard to put aside: the extraordinary spying in both directions\, the vivid characters\, the huge stakes\, and all of this on a World War II front that American readers know surprisingly little about.”\n—Adam Hochschild\, author of King Leopold’s Ghost \nGershom Gorenberg is the author of War of Shadows: Codebreakers\, Spies\, and the Secret Struggle to Drive the Nazis from the Middle East. \nHis previous books include The Unmaking of Israel  and The Accidental Empire: Israel and the Birth of the Settlements\, 1967-1977. He is a columnist for the Washington Post\, and has written for The New York Times Magazine\, Atlantic Monthly and The New York Review of Books and in Hebrew for Haaretz. \nGorenberg lives in Jerusalem\, except during stints teaching a workshop on writing history at the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism. \nPurchase the book HERE from a local seller. \nPurchase the book HERE from Amazon. \nOr\, find a local seller near you.  \nThe full inclusion of people of all abilities is a core value of Classrooms Without Borders. For questions or to make requests for special accommodations contact melissa@classroomswithoutborders.org
URL:https://cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net/event/author-talk-with-gershom-gorenberg-war-of-shadows-codebreakers-spies-and-the-secret-struggle-to-drive-the-nazis-from-the-middle-east/
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20210504T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20210504T140000
DTSTAMP:20260709T195113
CREATED:20220518T163715Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220518T163715Z
UID:10000578-1620136800-1620136800@cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net
SUMMARY:Argentina #1 - Jewish Heritage Around the World Part II series with CWB scholar Avi Ben-Hur and guest speakers
DESCRIPTION:“This series is co-sponsored by Rodef Shalom Congregation.\nJewish Heritage Around the World: \nClassrooms Without Borders is excited to embark on our second Jewish Heritage Series. The communities covered include Britain\, Turkey\, Argentina\, France\, India and more. We will have two sessions per community. The opening session will consist of an historical survey by an expert on the topic. The second session will engage in a dialogue with members of the community. Due to time differences\, it is possible that some of the timing for the “dialogue” sessions will change\, but generally speaking the series will be running on Tuesdays from 2 PM to 3:15 PM Eastern Time. The sessions will take place on the dates below. \nUpcoming Sessions:\nThe Jews of Argentina– May 4th & June 1st\nThe largest Jewish community of Latin America and the 3rd largest in the Americas\, the population peaked at close to 350\,000 in the late 1970s. Jews have been in Argentina since the 17th century and have been involved in and witness to some of the major historical junctions of this young country. The community suffered the worst post WWII attack of any Jewish community in the world when the main community center in Buenos Aires was bombed by Hezbollah in 1994. Jewish life in Argentina is robustly pluralistic with strong Reform\, Conservative and Orthodox communities including rabbinic seminaries\, schools and camps. And yet\, assimilation is on the rise and the population is decreasing. \nJoining us on May 4 were our esteemed guest speakers\, Dr. Judith Freidenberg and Dr. Emmanuel Kahan. \nEmmanuel Kahan holds a PhD in History from the National University of La Plata. He is a Researcher at the National Scientific and Technical Research Council of Argentina. He is also a Professor with the History Department at the National University of La Plata and teaches postgraduate courses at several other universities in Argentina. He published many books and articles about the Jewish experience in Argentina and is a member of the Latin American Jewish Studies Association \nJudith Freidenberg holds a PhD in Anthropology from City University of New York.  She taught at Mt. Sinai School of Medicine in New York and at the University of Maryland\, where she is now Professor Emerita.  She published extensively on migration and health.  Two books deal with the Jewish experience in rural Argentina\, and appear in Spanish and English.  She is also a member of the Latin American Jewish Studies Association.    \nJoining us on June 1st are our esteemed guest speakers: Dr. Marisa Braylan\, Mirta Kupferminc\, Micaela Bursztein\, Karina Gorenstein and Federico Nemetsky!\nDr. Marisa Braylan \nDr. Marisa Braylan is a lawyer from University of Buenos Aires (UBA)\, specialized in Public International Law (1995). Pedagogical Training of the Teaching Career in that Faculty. Visiting professor at the Faculty of Communication Sciences\, Political Science and Sociology of the UBA. Director of the Center for Social Studies (CES) of the DAIA (Delegation of Argentine Israelite Associations). She led the research group on “Comparative international law. Denial of the Holocaust in Argentina ”\, program of Institutional Accreditation of Research Projects in Law (DeCyT) carried out jointly by DAIA and UBA. Diploma in migration and refugee protection- Faculty of Law-UBA. Diploma in Discrimination and Right to Equality – Faculty of Law-UBA. Invited professor of Special Didactics of Law\, professor of Legal Sciences of the Faculty of Law of the UBA. \nMirta Kupferminc\nPhoto by: Alejandro Meter\nMirta Kupferminc: Lecturer\, mentor of other artists and teacher\, she lives and works in Buenos Aires. Exhibiting since 1977\, she has had more than 100 solo and group shows in Argentina\, Cuba\, Brazil\, Uruguay\, China Switzerland\, Spain\, Taiwan\, Japan\, Hong Kong \, Germany\, Israel\, Poland\, France\, Hungary\, England\, United States. Her works can be found in International Collections and Museums. Received local and international printmaking awards\, Example: Great Honor Prize (2012) in Argentina\, First Prize Sivori Museum\, Argentina (2018) Silver Medal Taiwan Biennale (2006) Honor Mention Taipei Biennale (1999)Third Prize  at 7th Koichi Biennale (2008). \nIn 2013 she was the first international fellow at LABA House of Study: a laboratory for Jewish Art and Culture at the 14th St Y NYC.and is also the founding LABA-BA director in Buenos Aires. And also directs Grafia Insurgente Association. \nMicaela Bursztein \nMicaela is the Manager of Project Evaluation for JDC in Latin America \nMicaela was born and raised in Buenos Aires\, Argentina.  She graduated from the ORT High School and went on to complete her BA in Political Science at Universidad de Buenos Aires.  In 2007 she traveled to Israel with Taglit-Birthright Israel.  The trip was transformative for her\, and solidified her commitment to working in the Jewish community.  Prior to coming to JDC Micaela spent seven years in the Finance and Resource Development department of Chabad Lubavitch Argentina.  She has worked for JDC since 2017\, and is also currently pursuing a master’s degree in Public Policy and Administration at Universidad de San Andrés.  \nKarina Gorenstein \nEducational Training\n• GRADUATE IN EDUCATIONAL MANAGEMENT-­ UNTREF (Licenciada en Gestión\nEducativa. Universidad Nacional de Tres de Febrero)\n• TEACHER FOR ELEMENTARY EDUCATION -­ ISFD 7 CABA. (PROFESORA PARA LA\nENSEÑANZA PRIMARIA. INSTITUTO NACIONAL DE FORMACIÓN DOCENTE N7)\n• SPECIALIZED TEACHER IN ADOLESCENT AND ADULT EDUCATION. PROFESORA\nESPECIALIZADA EN EDUCACIÓN DE ADOLESCENTES Y ADULTOS ISFD N1\nAVELLANEDA\nProfessional Experience\n• GENERAL DIRECTOR in AGNON Y MELAMED –AMIA -­ Teacher Training Institutes\n(since February 2018)\n• PROJECT CORDINATOR in TEACHERS ACCOMPANYING SCHOOL TRAJECTORS.\nDir. Of Elementary Education. MINISTRY OF EDUCATION City of Buenos Aires. (since\nFebruary 2017)\n• DIRECTOR OF ELEMENTARY EDUCATION OF THE NATION. Ministry of Education and\nSports of the Nation. January 2016-­January 2017)\n• Teacher in presencial and distance courses at the National and International level / Teacher\nTraining Programs / Institutional advice / Content writing /\nScholarships and Prizes\n• FULBRIGHT SCHOLARSHIP for School Directors. Held in Columbus-­OHIO USA 2013\n• YAD VASHEM SCHOLARSHIP -­ “The teaching of the Shoah and the dilemmas of its\ntransmission” -­ Held in Jerusalem-­ January 2020\n• TEAMWORK AWARD Ministry of Modernization of the Government of the City of Buenos\nAires year 2013.\n• INNOVATION AWARD Ministry of Modernization of the Government of the City of Buenos\nAires year 2014 \nFederico Nemetsky \nSon of a father from Tucumám\, a small City in the north with a small Jewish Community\, and a mother from Campana\, an even smaller town near Buenos Aires with a tiny Community\, Federico has been living all his life related with Judaism and working with the Jewish Communities around Argentina. \nCurrently\, he is working on his PhD in Cultural Diversity and finishing a master degree with a specialization in Jewish Studies. He is the Director of Studies of the Agnon and Melamed Institutes (Jewish Teachers training institutes) and the Coordinator of the postgraduate course “”Jewish History and its Teaching””. \nHe is a lecturer both for Jewish and non-Jewish audiences and institutions in a wide variety of topics mainly related with Jewish culture and geo-political analysis of the Middle East. \nFederico is and active participant of local Jewish political scene and takes part in different Zionist and Jewish organizations\, like being a member of the Board of the KKL in Argentina. \n Past sessions:\nThe Jews of Britain – January 19th & February 2nd\nFrom the earliest known accusation of “blood libel” (William of Norwich – 1144) to the “falling out” of British Jewry and the Labor Party\, the history of the Jews in Britain has known its ups and downs. In addition to tracing the trajectory of the Jewish presence in the British Isles\, we plan to unpack the key issues facing British Jewry today\, as expressed by the British Jews we shall be meeting. \nOn January 19th: We welcomed Prof. David Mendelsson to our program \nProf. David Mendelsson is a senior lecturer at Hebrew University’s Rothberg International School (RIS)\, teaching History of the Modern State of Israel and The Arab-Israeli Conflict: From Its Origins to the Present. He is also the most recent past director of the Year in Israel program at Hebrew Union College in Jerusalem. Prof. Mendelsson holds doctoral and master’s degrees from the Department of Contemporary Jewry at Hebrew University. \nOn February 2: We welcomed these esteemed guests:  \nMichael Wegier – Board of Deputies of British Jews: Interim Chief Executive  \nMichael Wegier has worked in Jewish Education and Strategic Planning in the UK\, Israel\, and the United States.  Previous positions include Director of Melitz Educational Centers in Jerusalem\, Director of Jewish Education at the Baltimore JCC and Chief Executive of UJIA in the UK. Michael has also provided Strategic Plannng services to the Jewish Agency and World ORT and other global Jewish organisations. Michael has an MA in Contemporary Jewry from the Hebrew University and is a graduate of the Mandel Jerusalem Fellows. In March\, Michael will begin a new role as Interim Chief Executive of the Board of Deputies of British Jews.  \nJoanne Greenaway – London School of Jewish Studies: Chief Executive \nJoanne joined LSJS\, the London School of Jewish Studies\, in January 2019 as Chief Executive.  LSJS delivers inspiring education programmes which transmit a love of learning and achieve excellence in teaching to transform the Jewish community through teacher training degrees and innovative\, accessible adult education.  Joanne was previously at the United Synagogue where she was Get Case Director within the London Beth Din\, focussing on difficult cases of Get refusal\, as well as the Deputy Legal Director of the US. Prior to this she studied languages at Cambridge University before qualifying as a lawyer and working in private practice for 12 years\, in the field of international arbitration and public international law. Joanne is a graduate of the the Chief Rabbi’s Ma’ayan programme\, the JLC Gamechangers Senior Leadership programme and the LSJS Susi Bradfield Educational Leadership programme. She has worked as a consultant for schools and communities across Europe.  \nMark Gardner – Community Security Trust: Chief Executive \nMark is Chief Executive of CST\, having previously been Director of Communications and Research. He joined CST in 1989\, and is a leading commentator and writer on contemporary antisemitism. Mark  has represented British and European Jews in numerous fora\, for example giving the keynote speech at the 2015 European Union Colloquium on antisemitism and anti-Muslim hate; and giving evidence in British\, Israeli and German parliamentary hearings on antisemitism.  \nMark was awarded a Police Commendation for his role in helping lead Scotland Yard’s cross-London response to the 1999 neo-Nazi nail bomb campaign. He also played a prominent role in the April 2018 ill-fated Jewish community leadership meeting with (then) Leader of the Labour Party\, Jeremy Corbyn MP. \nClaudia Mendoza – Jewish Leadership Council: Co-CEO \nClaudia is the Interim Co CEO of the Jewish Leadership Council and manages the External Affairs Team. Claudia sets the strategy and priorities for the team and leads on the JLC’s policy positions. She has worked for various think tanks as a Research Analyst\, focusing on the Middle East with a special interest in Iran and the transitioning Arab states. \nClaudia has a BSc in Biochemistry from University College London and an MA in Middle East Studies from the School of Oriental and African Studies\, University of London. She is an alumna of the Adam Science Foundation Leadership Programme. \nTurkey and its Jews – February 16th & March 2nd\nThere has been a continuous Jewish presence in Asia Minor (Turkey of today) going back at least 2300 years. The past 600 years of Jewish life in Turkey has taken place within an Islamic milieu. In the Ottoman empire\, which lasted for more than 400 years\, the Jews were considered to be the “most loyal” subjects and it was that empire that gave Sephardic Jews a “safe harbor” in the wake of the Spanish and Portuguese expulsions. Once a flourishing large community\, Turkish Jewry are on the eve of their disappearance. We aim to illuminate the source of Turkey’s positive engagement with its Jews as well as grappling with the question of community continuity in the 21st century. \nJoining us on February 16 was Professor Louis Fishman: \nLouis Fishman is an associate professor in the history department at Brooklyn College\, City University of New York. He is the author of the book\, Jews and Palestinians in the late Ottoman Era\, 1908-1914: Claiming the Homeland (Edinburgh University Press\, January 2020). His academic work focuses on late Ottoman Palestine\, the Jews of the Ottoman Empire\, modern Turkey\, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In addition to his academic expertise\, he has written tens of newspaper articles and provided political analysis for numerous international media outlets on Turkish\, Israeli\, and Palestinian affairs. Since 2013 he is a regular contributor for the Israeli newspaper Haaretz. He divides his time between New York\, Istanbul and Tel Aviv\, all three cities which he considers home. \nHere is the link to Professor Fishman’s book:\nhttps://edinburghuniversitypress.com/book-jews-and-palestinians-in-the-late-ottoman-era-1908-1914.html \nAlso available on Amazon  \nJoining us on March 2 is Nisya Isman Allovi\, Karen Gerson Şarhon\, Lisya Behar and Nesi Altaras: \nNisya Isman Allovi has been the Director since 2002  and Curator of The Quincentennial Foundation Museum Of Turkish Jews. Born in Istanbul\, graduated from the International Relations Faculty and Cultural Heritage and Tourism\, she has attended advanced curatorial seminars at AEJM (Association of European Jewish Museums) and in the Federal Republic of Germany. She has conducted presentations in various countries about “”Jews Of Turkey””. Married with two children\, Nisya is an active member of the Istanbul Jewish community.\nMuseum link: www.muze500.com \nKaren Gerson Şarhon born in Istanbul in 1958. Has a BA in English Language and Literature\, an MA in Social Psychology and an MA in Applied Linguistics. Wrote both her MA theses on the Judeo-Spanish language.\nAt the end of 2003\, she founded the Sephardic Culture Research Center\, where she has been working as its coordinator ever since. The Sephardic Center of Istanbul continues its work on the preservation and documentation of all aspects of the Sephardic culture. Karen heads many projects in the Center. The Centropa Oral History Project\, the Maftirim Project\, The Ladino Database Project\, the Judeo-Spanish – Turkish – Judeo-Spanish dictionary project are the ones that have been finished. She has edited all the books and CDs the Center has published\, which include a book of caricatures in Judeo-Spanish\, 4 books of anecdotes and stories of Matilda Koen-Sarano\, 16 small novels in Judeo-Spanish called “”Romansikos en Judeo-Espanyol”” from the archives of the Alliance Israelite Universelle\, the Judeo-Spanish – Turkish dictionary and a number of CDs in Sephardic music. She is also the chief editor of the only monthly newspaper in the world that is entirely in Ladino\, El Amaneser and also of the Judeo-Spanish page(s) of the weekly Şalom newspaper. In 2011\, she was awarded the medal of Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres de la République Française by the Ministry of Culture of France for her contribution to the world culture and her efforts in the preservation of Judeo-Spanish\, an endangered language. Karen has many articles on the Sephardic Culture published mainly in 3 languages: Turkish\, English and Ladino. She has also taken part in many TV programs\, documentaries\, etc. on Judeo-Spanish and the Sephardic music and culture. \nShe has Ladino lessons on YouTube and currently at: www.sephardicbrotherhood/ladino 101 \nKaren is also the founder\, singer and presenter of the group Los Pasharos Sefaradis\, the most authentic group in Turkish Sephardic music. Has 9 albums published by this group. \nLisya Behar was born in İstanbul. Volunteering in the Jewish Community since childhood\, Lisya has been president of the local Jewish Youth Team\, helped build a homecare system for the elderly\,  and is one of the co-founders of Limmud Turkey. She is currently the CEO of the Alef Jewish Community Center İstanbul \nNesi Altaras is an MA student in Political Science at McGill University from Istanbul\, Turkey. A member of the shrinking Jewish community of Turkey\, Nesi is a writer and editor for the online Jewish publication Avlaremoz and his current research is on the migration of Jews from Kurdistan in the final years of the Ottoman Empire. His previous work was on the failed peace and reconciliation processes in Turkey on the Kurdish question. His interest is in minorities in both the contemporary Middle East and in late Ottoman history as well as identity in Turkey. \nThe Jews of India – March 16th & 23rd\nWhat? There are Indian Jews? The answer emphatically is yes\, and there is a variety of different types of Indian Jews. One of the questions we will grapple with is when did Jews first arrive in the Indian sub-continent. What kinds of traditions emerged with this community and what kind of relationship did Indian Jews have with their co-religionists around the world\, if any? Another question relates to the fact that historically\, Indian Jews never experienced antisemitism. This being the case\, why did most Indian Jews emigrate to Israel in the 1950s? \nJoining us on March 16 was Dr. Maisie Meyer \nDr. Meyer was born in Calcutta (Kolkata) and grew up in a colonial setting. The subject she chose to research reflects her personal autobiography. It gives her a deeper understanding of Baghdadi Jews\, their emulation of a British lifestyle and their desire to appear as British as possible within the parameters of their faith. She is a double graduate in English and Humanities\, both with honours\, and obtained an MA degree in International History. The British Academy awarded her a scholarship to do a PhD which she was awarded from the London School of Economics in 1994. She pioneered the research of the Baghdadi Jewish Community of Shanghai. Her publications From the Rivers of Babylon to the Whangpoo: A Century of Sephardi Jewish Life in Shanghai (Lanham M.D.2003) and Shanghai’s Baghdadi Jews: A Compilation of Biographical Memories (Hong Kong 2013) have been widely acclaimed. \nJoining us on March 23 was Nissim J. Pingle and Ralphy Jhirad \nNissim J. Pingle works for the JDC\, India office as the Director for the EPJCC (Evelyn Peters Jewish Community Center). As a longtime member and somebody who has benefited immensely from the activities of AJDC and JCC\, he sees this role as an opportunity to give back. He is responsible for the day-to-day operations and growth of the JCC programs as well as developing and implementing programs that help in community building and/or Jewish learning. A Physics graduate from the Mumbai University\, he has worked as an Operations Manager for a Call Center and a General Manager for a chain of Fitness Centers. He lives in Navi Mumbai with his wife\, parents and 2 sons. When he is not glued to a computer or TV screen\, he spends time playing with his kids\, quizzing\, and trying hard not be the worst player in Table Tennis! \nRalphy Jhirad is the Trustees of the Bene Israel Heritage Museum and Genealogical Research Centre. Ralphy is the authority on the Jewish Heritage of India and is faculty on the same subject in the Guides Training Course of the Government of India\, Department of Tourism. He is a member of the Jewish Community in India and is dedicated to the preservation of their culture. He published following books\, BOMBAY : Exploring The Urban Jewish Heritage by Shaul Sapir\, Siyon se Sahyadri Tak by Sheba Jeremiah Nagaokar\, The Jews of Pakistan by Yoel Reuben\, Of Muse and Memories by Rebecca Yehezkielm\, The Demographic and Socio Economic Characteristics of Jews in India by Ralphy Jhirad and Lily Ezekiel. He has curated and organized following Exhibitions: Contribution of David Sassoon and family towards the development of Bombay and Jewish Landmarks in Mumbai. He has developed following itineraries for Tours of Jewish Heritage in India: Tour of Jewish Heritage in Mumbai\, Sassoon Landmarks of Mumbai\, Tour of Jewish  Arrival in Raigad and their original traditions\, India a Jewish Perspective\, Tour of the Jews of Kerala\, Tour of the Jewish Community of Ahmedabad. Ralphy organized the first ever visit of the Chief Rabbi of the United Synagogues. A few photos from this visit are enclosed for reference. He has assisted several Authors\, Full Bright Scholars\, Film Makers and Museum Curators during their research in India. He has travelled to various centers of India where Jewish Heritage is predominant and assisted Thousands of Jewish Travelers to either discover their own Jewish Roots in India or learn about the incredible Jewish Perspective in India. Refer Website visitjewishindia.com for more details on various tour options including incredible India and it’s Jewish Heritage. \nFrench Jewry – April 6th & April 20th\nThe great medieval commentator Rashi\, Baron Rothschild\, Alfred Dreyfuss\, Leon Blum\, Simone Weil\, Emanuel Levinas are just a few famous French (Jewish) names that come to mind when thinking about the contribution of French Jewry. The first Jews in Europe to be offered emancipation\, in recent years French Jewry has found itself facing the worst antisemitic attacks in Europe. How this came to be are just some of the subjects we will engage in with this dynamic community. \nJoining us on April 6 was: \nPhilippe Boukara                Philippe Boukara was born in Paris in 1957. He is an historian\, specialised in Contemporary French Jewry. He is a coordinator of Adult Education in the Shoah Memorial in Paris\, and he has been teaching in various academic institutions. He is involved in Jewish-Christian dialogues ans is the honorary chair of Dorvador\, the Conservative Congregation in Eastern Paris. He publishes regularly in the French Jewish press. \nJoining us on April 20 is:  \n                 Yonathan Arfi is vice-president of CRIF and chairman of CRIF’s commission for international affairs. He has been a member of the Executive Board of the CRIF for the last 14 years and has worked closely with former and current presidents of CRIF\, Richard Prasquier\, Roger Cukierman and Francis Kalifat.\nYonathan Arfi was born in 1980 in Toulouse and raised in Paris\, where he graduated from HEC business school in 2003. He is the CEO of Optimal Gestion\, the financial consulting firm he founded in 2007 in Paris.He is also a member of the Board of Directors of Alliance Israélite Universelle (www.aiu.org – main Jewish organization in the field of education in France) and Oeuvre de Secours aux Enfants (www.ose-france.org – main Jewish social welfare organization in France).\nYonathan Arfi was also the chairman of the French Union of Jewish Students from 2003 to 2005. He founded in 2005 CoExist (www.coexist.fr)\, the leading program in France against racial\, religious andcultural prejudices among French pupils and has been working on the issue of anti-Semitism since 2000. \nMasha Ugryumova is 27 years old and was born and grew up in Tcheliabinsk\, Russia. \nShe moved to France at the age of 18 to study Communication at La Sorbonne University. \nToday she lives in Paris and works for international organisation for Jewish youth Hilel Campus France as the Head of Communication.  \nThanks to her job\, she’s directly concerned by today’s challenges and struggles that Jewish youth of France have to face and looks for the solutions how to deal with that. \n                Elie Touitou\nBorn and raised in Paris\, in a Zionist and traditionalist Jewish Family\, Elie is a Lawyer specialized in Digital and Business Law. In 2016\, during his studies at Sorbonne Law School\, he founded the association Alliance\, in a double reference to Vladimir Jabotinsky’s Beitar and to René Cassin’s Alliance Universelle Israélite (Kol Israel Haverim). \nFirst acting as a local organization inside the University\, the association grew fast and is now a federation of five local association gathering +500 students across the major Parisian campuses. Alliance aims to organize Jewish life on campus\, provide Jewish and Zionist students with the intellectual means necessary to be able to defend their convictions by organizing formation\, lectures\, workshops\, debates and journeys and also to fight antisemitism\, in all its forms\, on French Campuses. \nThe Association developed close bounds with Zionist and/or Israeli organizations with which it works on a daily basis. \nDelphine Gamburg: Director of Communication at the Embassy of Israel in France \nDelphine Gamburg was born in France and emigrated to Israel in 1995. After working for the Israeli Ministry of Integration between 1996-1998\, she joined the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs.  She worked there as a lawyer until 2005\,  then held various positions in the Department of International Development Cooperation\, and to the Department of Strategic Affairs until her departure to the United States in 2015 where she was the cultural attaché at the Embassy of Israel in Washington DC. \nShe is currently in charge of the Public Communication Department at the Embassy of Israel in France. Delphine has a Bachelor of Laws\, a Masters of International Relations\, and a PhD in American foreign policy in the Middle East. She is married and has 3 children \nKAREN REB RUDEL \nBorn and raised in Johnstown\, Pennsylvania\, Karen grew up with the aspiration to be a comedian\, a musician\, or both… She groomed these crafts from a young age by making everyone around her laugh and beginning a lifetime romance with the flute at the age of 9. She went on to study drama at Temple University in Philadelphia and played in a series of bands. \nFrom the age of 30 until she got married\, Karen was back and forth between Paris and Philadelphia\, working on musical projects and touring (including being the flautist and singer in a Reggae band in Paris). One day her parents came to visit her and Karen\, having learned a lot about Paris\, was showing them around when her mother exclaimed\, “Karen\, you would make a great tour guide!” \nThat was the light bulb moment\, and as the French say\, voila! \nParis has been Karen’s stomping ground for over 20 years\, and her company is in a unique position to give you the historical background and underground cultural scoops that most walking tours leave out. \nAvi Ben-Hur \nA Brooklyn native\, Avi moved to Israel in 1983. Currently\, he is on the faculty of the University of Haifa Tourism School\, an examiner for the Israeli Ministry of Tourism\, and the Director of Education of Classrooms Without Borders. \nAn eclectic Israeli educator specializing in Land of Israel studies\, the history of Jerusalem\, the Arab-Israeli conflict and Holocaust studies\, Avi’s expertise is in integrating ideas and knowledge from various disciplines into a comprehensive and coherent narrative.”
URL:https://cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net/event/argentina-1-jewish-heritage-around-the-world-part-ii-series-with-cwb-scholar-avi-ben-hur-and-guest-speakers/
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20210429T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20210429T150000
DTSTAMP:20260709T195113
CREATED:20220518T163715Z
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UID:10000575-1619708400-1619708400@cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net
SUMMARY:"A Lullaby For The Valley" Film and Post Film Discussion with the filmmaker Ben Shani and Eli Shamir in conversation with Avi Ben Hur
DESCRIPTION:Classrooms Without Borders\, in partnership with Rodef Shalom Congregation and Film Pittsburgh’s JFILM Festival\, is excited to offer the opportunity to watch the film “A Lullaby For The Valley” and engage in a post-film discussion with the filmmaker Ben Shani and Eli Shamir in conversation with Avi Ben Hur.\nEli Shamir is an artist\, Born in the Jezreel Valley\, he captures its ever-changing natural scenery and its people. Among esteemed conceptual painters on the art scene\, Shamir has always been considered exceptional\, but despite his lack of recognition in the world of art\, he has never changed course. \nBen Shani fell in love with the artist\, and with his camera\, accompanied Shamir for 10 years\, finding in him a source of inspiration for his own work. \nSix years ago\, the ‘plot-line’ of Shamir’s story reached a turning point when he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s. From that moment on\, Shani’s film began following how the artist coped with the disease through his creations. \nIs it disease or advancing age that carries Eli Shamir to a new burst of creativity? \nGo2Films // A Lullaby to the Valley Trailer from Go2Films on Vimeo. \nBen Shani \nBen Shani is a documentary filmmaker\, and an Israeli journalist. Shani is a senior correspondent and a member of the editorial staff of the most widely watched current affairs tv program in Israel “UVDA” (Hebrew for ‘Fact’). In 2019 Ben Shani won The Israeli Academy of Film and Television Award – for best Documentary Director. His TV series The Kirshenbaum Diaries\, won the Israeli Academy Award for best Documentary series of the Year 2018. Shani is a Sokolov Prize winner for 2005\, the most prestigious journalistic award in Israel. In his films\, he has featured many of the leading Israeli political figures and other prominent personages\, among them President Shimon Peres\, Prime Ministers Ariel Sharon Yitzhak Rabin as well as Warren Buffett and others. \nEli Shamir \nElie Shamir was born in 1953\, in Kfar Yehoshua\, Israel. \nSince graduating from the Bezalel Academy of Art and Design in Jerusalem\, Shamir has participated in many exhibitions in Israel and abroad. After years spent in Jerusalem and Boston\, Shamir returned to Kfar Yehoshua village in 1999 and resettled there\, as the third generation of the place’s founders. \nThe issue of place is present with great force and complexity in Shamir’s work; aspects of this issue pertain\, among others\, to that tangled knot which is tied and unraveled throughout the generations between the Jew and the land\, between the immigrant and the native-born\, between the local Arab and the Hebrew pioneer and his vision\, between the farmer and his field. \nThe clumps of earth in Shamir’s paintings are placed on geological strata charged with biblical past\, with primeval culture\, with Zionist history\, with socio-economic ideology\, with artistic tradition but also with his own personal family story. Kfar Yehoshua is both a personal\, specific case of an agricultural village in the valley of Jezre’el\, and the story of a local ethos and starting point for fundamental questions about place. \nEducation \nMore information about the post screening discussion is coming soon!
URL:https://cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net/event/a-lullaby-for-the-valley-film-and-post-film-discussion-with-the-filmmaker-ben-shani-and-eli-shamir-in-conversation-with-avi-ben-hur/
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20210428T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20210428T140000
DTSTAMP:20260709T195113
CREATED:20220518T163715Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220518T163715Z
UID:10000571-1619618400-1619618400@cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net
SUMMARY:Lag B'Omer: Holidays with Jonty and Julie!
DESCRIPTION:Jonty has led many seminars and missions in Poland and Israel and is a gifted educator and a fascinating storyteller. Jonty has a unique way of connecting his teachings to his audience\, such that their experience of learning leaves a deep and enduring impact on their lives. He weaves together Jewish history with philosophy\, culture with archaeology\, and the tragedy of the Holocaust with probing\, source-based theological questions. His intricate knowledge of Jewish history and the Holocaust\, combined with his analytical and sensitive approach to challenging philosophical questions offers students a profound educational experience.
URL:https://cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net/event/lag-bomer-holidays-with-jonty-and-julie/
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20210428T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20210428T120000
DTSTAMP:20260709T195113
CREATED:20220518T163715Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220518T163715Z
UID:10000574-1619611200-1619611200@cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net
SUMMARY:Life\, Legacy and Love Story: The story of Holocaust survivor and handbag design genius Judith Leiber and modernist artist Gerson Leiber
DESCRIPTION:“If Romeo and Juliet had lived into their 90s\, they would have been Judy and Gerson.” That’s how Jeffrey Sussman described Judith and Gerson Leiber.\nJoin us as we explore a beautiful tribute to their creativity\, their humanity\, their love and their genius. \nJudith Leiber was known for her small crystal-covered handbags called minaudieres\, many of which took the forms of small animals\, flowers or other objects. The bags often were decorated with gems or semi-precious stones and were gold plated. Singers and Hollywood celebrities\, as well as several US first ladies\, have carried her bags\, which are part of several museum collections. \nGerson Leiber\, known as Gus\, was an artist who created abstract landscapes\, prints and sculptures. His work has been featured in several prominent US museums\, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art\, the National Gallery of Art in Washington DC\, and the Whitney Museum of American Art. \nLeiber Collection: The Leiber Collection is a beautiful jewel of a museum that sits majestically in a sublime sculpture garden\, located in the East Hampton\, New York hamlet of Springs. We are dedicated to sharing the life and legacy of Judith and Gerson Leiber through the continuation of their museum and through exhibitions\, talks and presentations showcasing their creative genius across the country and around the globe. \nThe Leiber Collection offers unique insight into the astonishing story of Judith Leiber\, a survivor of Hitler’s Europe who came to America and took the fashion accessory industry by storm\, breaking taboos right and left\, changing fashion history forever. \nWe also chronicle the extraordinary seven decades long career of Gerson Leiber\, exhibiting the stunning paintings\, etchings\, lithographs\, and drawings of this highly accomplished and creative artist. \nThe Leiber Sculpture Garden continues the Leibers’ lifelong commitment to supporting the arts by highlighting sculptors who were friends and neighbors of the Leibers’ as well as contemporary artists creating some of the most exciting work of today. \nIntroduction: Patti Kenner. Patti is an indefatigable advocate for social causes\, including arts education\, women in politics\, Holocaust survivors and history. In addition to serving as a long time Guild Hall trustee\, Patti is board member of the Defiant Requiem Foundation\, the Museum of Jewish Heritage-A Living Memorial to the Holocaust\, Carnegie Mellon University\, and many others. In 2019\, she underwrote the Patti Kenner Fellowship in Arts Education at Guild Hall to help enhance educational programming for youth. \nAnn Stewart at Leiber Collection: Ann Fristoe Stewart is the Director and Curator of The Leiber Museum in East Hampton\, New York. She had the great honor of working side by side with Judith and Gerson Leiber until their deaths in 2018. She is dedicated to keeping their legacy alive through the continuation of their museum\, and through sharing their extraordinary works and the story of their fascinating lives with fans around the globe. Ann received a Masters of Fine Arts degree from Parsons School of Design in New York City\, where she worked at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and for artists such as Jeff Koons\, Rona Pondick and Kara Walker. During the decade that she has worked with the Leibers\, she has curated numerous exhibitions at The Leiber Museum and in the Leiber Sculpture Garden\, and has worked with many curators around the country to mount Leiber exhibitions at their museums and galleries. She is currently working on a 100 year celebration exhibition of Judith and Gerson Leiber\, as well as an outdoor exhibition in the Leiber Sculpture Garden that will open on May 29\, 2021 at The Leiber Museum. \nReflections of a Love Story: Mindelle Pierce: Mindelle has dedicated over fifteen years of her career to studying and teaching the history of the Holocaust. As a child of Holocaust survivors herself\, she has a personal connection and insight into this history. Mindelle continues to contribute her knowledge and research to many renowned organizations\, including the U.S Holocaust Memorial Museum in New York; the Museum of Jewish Heritage; and Manhattan College.  \nThe full inclusion of people of all abilities is a core value of Classrooms Without Borders. For questions or to make requests for special accommodations contact melissa@classroomswithoutborders.org
URL:https://cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net/event/life-legacy-and-love-story-the-story-of-holocaust-survivor-and-handbag-design-genius-judith-leiber-and-modernist-artist-gerson-leiber/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20210427T163000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20210427T163000
DTSTAMP:20260709T195113
CREATED:20220518T163715Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220518T163715Z
UID:10000570-1619541000-1619541000@cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net
SUMMARY:Weekly Book Discussion of "War of Shadows Codebreakers\, Spies\, and the Secret Struggle to Drive the Nazis from the Middle East" by Gershom Gorenberg with Dr. Josh Andy
DESCRIPTION:Click the orange button to see our Eventbrite registration form. Make sure to answer the questions with the red asterisk* .\nThis program will be offered on Zoom. Registrants only need to RSVP once to be registered for the entire series.\nThe book discussions will be offered on the following dates and times:  \nApril 6\, 2021   4:30pm\nApril 13\, 2021 4:30pm\nApril 20\, 2021 4:30pm\nApril 27\, 2021 4:30pm \nThen\, on Tuesday\, May 4th at 4:30  pm ET please join us for a discussion with the author of “War of Shadows Codebreakers\, Spies\, and the Secret Struggle to Drive the Nazis from the Middle East : Gershom Gorenberg \nRead more and RSVP for this discussion event HERE. \nAbout The Author: \nGershom Gorenberg is the author of War of Shadows: Codebreakers\, Spies\, and the Secret Struggle to Drive the Nazis from the Middle East. \nHis previous books include The Unmaking of Israel  and The Accidental Empire: Israel and the Birth of the Settlements\, 1967-1977. He is a columnist for the Washington Post\, and has written for The New York Times Magazine\, Atlantic Monthly and The New York Review of Books and in Hebrew for Haaretz. \nGorenberg lives in Jerusalem\, except during stints teaching a workshop on writing history at the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism. \nAbout the Book: \nWar of Shadows Codebreakers\, Spies\, and the Secret Struggle to Drive the Nazis from the Middle East by Gershom Gorenberg \n“A masterpiece of scholarship and synthesis…It will remind readers of a cloak-and-dagger tale by John Le Carré with an armature of fascinating historical annotation.”\n— The Washington Post \nSummer 1942: Rommel’s army is a day from Cairo\, a week from Tel Aviv. The SS is ready for action. Espionage brought the Nazis this far. And espionage can stop them – if Washington wakes up. \nWar of Shadows is the meticulously constructed and cinematic story of the race for information in the North African theater of World War II. It rewrites the popular narrative of the war—not as an inevitable clash of heroes and villains but as a spiraling series of accidents and desperate triumphs that decided the fate of millions. \n“With the pacing of a spy thriller… War of Shadows takes us to the brink of disaster as the Allies and Axis powers vie for control of the Middle East…. Gorenberg belongs to a unique cadre of journalist historians.”\n—Sarah Wildman\, author of Paper Love \n“A dazzling and groundbreaking portrait of a crucial moment in WWII… Gorenberg has produced a vital new account of one of the key episodes of the last century.”\n—Matti Friedman\, author of Spies of No Country \n“The story grips you so much that it’s hard to put aside: the extraordinary spying in both directions\, the vivid characters\, the huge stakes\, and all of this on a World War II front that American readers know surprisingly little about.”\n—Adam Hochschild\, author of King Leopold’s Ghost \nThe full inclusion of people of all abilities is a core value of Classrooms Without Borders. For questions or to make requests for special accommodations contact melissa@classroomswithoutborders.org
URL:https://cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net/event/weekly-book-discussion-of-war-of-shadows-codebreakers-spies-and-the-secret-struggle-to-drive-the-nazis-from-the-middle-east-by-gershom-gorenberg-with-dr-josh-andy-4/
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20210427T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20210427T140000
DTSTAMP:20260709T195113
CREATED:20220518T163402Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220518T163402Z
UID:10000698-1619532000-1619532000@cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net
SUMMARY:Tsofen: Building High Tech in Arab Society | Bechazit: On The Frontline | Driving Social Change in Israel
DESCRIPTION:Classrooms Without Borders is embarking our newest Israel seminar which we are calling “Bachazit” – On The Frontline. In our upcoming 6 sessions we will highlight challenges facing Israel and the individuals or organizations that are grappling with the issues at hand. We will illuminate subjects such as the integration of minority groups into the high-tech sector\, the struggle for L.G.B.T.Q. rights\, programs that assist Israelis injured during their military service\, the fight against racism in Israeli society and more.\nTuesday\, April 27: Tsofen – Building High-Tech in the Arab Society\nWe will learn about the difficulties facing the Arab citizens of Israel to obtain good employment\, particularly in the flourishing high-tech sector and an N.G.O. created by Jewish and Arab high-tech entrepreneurs and economists to advance this agenda. \nJoining us: \nMs Revital Duek\, Co-CEO  \nRevital joined Tsofen in September\, as a co-CEO alongside Sami Saadi. She brings over 20 years of hi-tech experience in both engineering and managerial positions. Prior to joining Tsofen she was Executive Director of Atid Plus. Duek holds a BSc from the Technion\, an MBA from Bar Ilan University\, and is a PhD Candidate in Gender Studies at Bar Ilan University. She is also a Mandel Institute alumna and an IVLP alumna.   \n“I am committed to promoting under-represented groups in STEM through fostering cross-sector dialogue and partnerships\, with the goal of increasing equal opportunities and freedom of choice”―Revital Duek.  \nMs Naama Nagar\, Director of Development  \nNaama has fifteen years’ experience working in civil society in Israel and the US. Prior to joining Tsofen\, she was a resource development consultant at Minuf Group\, supporting a range of social change organizations dedicated to socio-economic development\, human rights\, and shared society for Jews and Arabs in Israel. Naama holds a BA in Jewish Thought and Philosophy from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem\, an MSc in Political Sociology from the London School of Economics\, and studied towards a PhD degree (ABD) in Sociology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. \nDr Ramzi Halabi―Chairman of the Board \nDr. Halabi\, Brigadier-General (Res) in the IDF\, is a lecturer at Tel Aviv University as well as a strategic consultant\, active in promoting equal economic opportunities for the Israeli Arab. In the past Dr. Halabi served as Mayor of the Regional Council of Daliat-al-Carmel\, Director of the Arab Business Club\, and Head of the IDF Salary and Pensions Department. He holds a PhD in Social Sciences from Tel Aviv University.
URL:https://cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net/event/tsofen-building-high-tech-in-arab-society-bechazit-on-the-frontline-driving-social-change-in-israel/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20210426T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20210426T090000
DTSTAMP:20260709T195113
CREATED:20220518T163402Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220518T163402Z
UID:10000702-1619427600-1619427600@cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net
SUMMARY:Virtual Tour Yad Vashem for Educators and Students
DESCRIPTION:A VIRTUAL TOUR OF THE YAD VASHEM MUSEUM: THROUGH THE EYES OF THE CHILD\nThe Nazis murdered 1.5 million Jewish children during the Holocaust and millions of others had their childhoods destroyed. Their stories are told at Yad Vashem\, the World Holocaust Remembrance Center in Jerusalem\, Israel. In this virtual tour of the Yad Vashem museum we will focus on stories of children and youth in the Holocaust using artifacts and imagery from the exhibits.  Did children in the ghettos hold on to their sense of innocence\, or was it challenged by the conditions in the ghetto?  How was their realities unique and different from adults? What happened to those children at the end of the war; how did they begin to build their lives\, often after they had lost everything.  This tour is guided by Noam Gitin\, Head of Overseas Groups and Young Leadership at Yad Vashem\, and is open to teachers and their students \nA decade in the making\, the Holocaust History Museum combines the best of Yad Vashem’s expertise\, resources and state-of-the-art exhibits to take Holocaust remembrance well into the 21st century. \nThe Holocaust History Museum occupies over 4\,200 square meters\, mainly underground. Both multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary\, it presents the story of the Shoah from a unique Jewish perspective\, emphasizing the experiences of the individual victims through original artifacts\, survivor testimonies and personal possessions. Join CWB and the Museum staff for this fascinating Virtual Tour as we explore the Galleries portraying the complexity of the Jewish situation.  \nThe full inclusion of people of all abilities is a core value of Classrooms Without Borders. For questions or to make requests for special accommodations contact melissa@classroomswithoutborders.org
URL:https://cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net/event/virtual-tour-yad-vashem-for-educators-and-students/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20210425T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20210425T160000
DTSTAMP:20260709T195113
CREATED:20220518T163402Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220518T163402Z
UID:10000701-1619366400-1619366400@cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net
SUMMARY:Rohingya Genocide and the military coup in Myanmar
DESCRIPTION:In recognition of April being Genocide Awareness Month\, Classrooms without Borders\, the JFCS Holocaust Center\, and the USF Jewish Studies and Social Justice program are excited to offer an opportunity for our community members to learn more about the ongoing genocide and social unrest in Myanmar. On Sunday April 25 at 4pm EST join us for a conversation with genocide scholar Alexis Herr and Rohingya survivor U Shwe Maung. .\nShwe Maung Politician\nShwe Maung is a Rohingya rights activist in Myanmar and politician who served as a member of parliament in the House of Representatives for Buthidaung constituency from 2011 to 2016. He serves as the President\, Arakan Institute for Peace and Development (AiPAD). \nDr. Alexis Herr has dedicated her life to combating genocide and atrocity. This passion has motivated her educational and professional pursuits and translates into a strong desire to prevent human rights violations. Ms. Herr received a doctorate in Holocaust History from the Strassler Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies\, Clark University. She teaches at University of California\, Berkeley\, San Francisco State University\, and the University of San Francisco. She is the author of The Holocaust and Compensated Compliance in Italy: Fossoli di Carpi\, 1942 – 1952 (New York: Palgrave Macmillan\, 2016)\, and the editor of Rwanda: The Essential Reference Guide (Santa Barbara\, CA: ABC-CLIO\, 2018) and Sudan: The Essential Reference Guide (Santa Barbara\, CA: ABC-CLIO\, 2020). \nCosponsored by Swig Program in Jewish Studies and Social Justice and The JFCS Holocaust Center \nThe full inclusion of people of all abilities is a core value of Classrooms Without Borders. For questions or to make requests for special accommodations contact melissa@classroomswithoutborders.org
URL:https://cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net/event/rohingya-genocide-and-the-military-coup-in-myanmar/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20210422T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20210422T160000
DTSTAMP:20260709T195113
CREATED:20220518T163402Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220518T163402Z
UID:10000697-1619107200-1619107200@cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net
SUMMARY:Ethical implications of the Holocaust: A lecture series with Dr. Michael Berenbaum
DESCRIPTION:The Holocaust has played an increasingly significant rule in Western culture\, most specially in post-Holocaust ethical discourse.\nThis four parts series will focus on the ethical implications of the Holocaust. \nJanuary 27\, 2021 | Medical Ethics: The Nuremberg Trials held by the Allies in the aftermath of World War II at first focused on the governmental crimes of Nazi leaders. Subsequent trial went into issue of the behavior of specific professional in perpetrating the crimes that we now associate with the Holocaust. Among the most important professions to be brought to the bar of justice were the Nazi physicians and the experiments that were conducted in the various killing centers and concentration camps. Because the previous norms on the Medical Profession were inadequate to deal with these crimes\, the justices charted a new ethics of medical practice in the ten principle they enunciated foremost among them was the principle of “informed consent” and the right of the patient to refuse treatment. In this segment of the course we will consider the medical experiments conducted in the camps\, the T-4 program and the behavior of the psychiatric community In the murder of those deemed life unworthy of living but also the actions of Jewish physicians in the extreme conditions of the ghettos and the camps in an attempt to elucidate the medical ethics that have emerged in response to the Holocaust. \nFebruary 24\, 2021 | Legal Ethics: Among those tried at Nuremberg were Nazi judges who used the instrumentality of the law to deny human rights and to facilitate the murder of  innocent civilians and to confiscate their possessions. Those denied a fair trial were not only Jews but political prisoners and Germans of special needs — to use Nazi terminology mentally retarded\, physically handicapped\, congenitally ill Germans. This segment of the course will also explore the impact of the Holocaust on the Ethics of War\, the Nuremberg principles themselves and its role in international law. It will also explore the defense of “just following orders\,” and the role of individual responsibility. \nJoining us for this session was Professor Michael Bazyler: \nMichael Bazyler is professor of law and the 1939 Law Scholar in Holocaust and Human Rights Studies. He is holder of previous fellowships at Harvard Law School and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington\, D.C. In fall 2006\, he was a Research Fellow at Yad Vashem in Jerusalem (The Holocaust Martyrs’ and Heroes’ Remembrance Authority of Israel) and the holder of the Baron Friedrich Carl von Oppenheim Chair for the Study of Racism\, Antisemitism and the Holocaust. \nProfessor Bazyler is the author of seven books and more than two dozen law review articles\, book chapters and essays on subjects covering Law and the Holocaust\, restitution following genocide and other mass atrocities\, public international law\, international human rights law\, and international trade law and comparative law. His work has been published in such journals as The University of Pennsylvania Law Review\, Kansas Law Review\, Arizona Law Review\, Northwestern Law Review\, University of Richmond Law Review\, Stanford Journal of International Law\, Berkeley Journal of International Law\, Columbia Journal of Transnational Law\, and Fordham Journal of International Law. \nIn spring 2007\, Professor Bazyler held the position of Distinguished Visiting Professor of Law at Pepperdine University School of Law\, teaching Comparative Law and Holocaust\, Genocide and the Law. He is a leading authority on the use of American and European courts to redress genocide and other historical wrongs. Professor Bazyler co-authored Forgotten Trials of the Holocaust (New York University Press\, 2014\, softcover 2015) with Frank M. Tuerkheimer\, reviewed in the New York Review of Books. His book\, Holocaust Justice: The Battle for Restitution in America’s Courts (New York University Press\, 2003\, softcover 2005)\, was cited by the U.S. Supreme Court and reviewed in the Harvard Law Review\, Washington Post\, Los Angeles Times\, Financial Times (London)\, and The Economist. He is a contributor of chapters to various books on genocide and the law\, and the co-editor/author with Roger Alford of Holocaust Restitution: Perspectives on the Litigation and Its Legacy (New York University Press\, 2006; softcover 2007). \nHis book\, Holocaust\, Genocide and the Law: A Quest for Justice in a Post-Holocaust World (Oxford University Press) is a winner of the 2016 National Jewish Book Award.  His writings have been cited by the U.S. Supreme Court\, and he has testified in Congress before the House Reform Committee on the subject of Holocaust restitution. He has also been interviewed by CNN\, 60 Minutes\, CBS Sunday Morning\, Dateline NBC\, ABC News\, Voice of America\, the Australian Broadcasting Company\, National Public Radio and the BBC. Bazyler has also delivered the Austin Owen Annual Lecture at the University of Richmond\, the Feibel Family Annual Lecture at Ohio State University and the Einspruch Annual Lecture at the University of Texas\, Dallas. \nMarch 11\, 2021 | Religious Ethics: Antisemitism is rooted is religious rivalry. Religious antisemitism gave rise to social and economic antisemitism\, laws and customs that fortified the perception of the Jew as the “Other” and kept the Jews from integrating naturally into society\, keeping on the margins of society. In the 19the century another pernicious form of antisemitism came into us\, political antisemitism and the Nazis united all these forms of antisemitism into a racial antisemitism that was regarded as “zoological” to use the terms of one Holocaust scholar and “redemptive.” In the battle for survival the Jew had to be removed from society\, otherwise they would prey on society and weaken the “Master Race.” The elimination of the Jews\, first by forced migration and then by annihilation was deemed essential to the survival and salvation of the German nation. In the aftermath of the Holocaust\, major Christian religions sought to eliminate those aspects of their religious teaching that could lead to antisemitism\, using traditional means of interpretation to recraft their religious teachings to root out hatred and discrimination. This was one of the major acts of repentance after the Holocaust. The segment of the course will examine those efforts as well as consider the implications of this ethic for Judaism and Islam not just Christianity. \nApril 22\, 2021 | Governmental Ethics: This segment of the course will explore the efforts by national and international organizations and governments to create a post-Holocaust ethic\, including the work of the United Nations in 1948 to fashion the Convention on Genocide and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights\, the efforts of Germany to rejoin the community of nations by reparations and its own political ethics\, the attempt of Israel to project the Jewish people and also the imperfect attempts at justice in terms of restitution. It will also examine why the response to genocide has been so inadequate in the post-Holocaust world. \nDr. Michael Berenbaum\nDr. Michael Berenbaum is a writer\, lecturer\, and teacher consulting in the conceptual development of museums and historical films. He is director of the Sigi Ziering Institute: Exploring the Ethical and Religious Implications of the Holocaust at the American Jewish University\, where he is also a Professor of Jewish Studies. \nHe was the Executive Editor of the Second Edition of the Encyclopedia Judaica that reworked\, transformed\, improved\, broadened and deepened\, the now classic 1972 work and consists of 22 volumes\, sixteen million words with 25\,000 individual contributions to Jewish knowledge. For three years\, he was President and Chief Executive Officer of the Survivors of the Shoah Visual History Foundation. He was the Director of the United States Holocaust Research Institute at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum and the Hymen Goldman Adjunct Professor of Theology at Georgetown University in Washington\, D.C. From 1988–93 he served as Project Director of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum\, overseeing its creation. He also served as Deputy Director of the President’s Commission on the Holocaust\, where he authored its Report to the President. \nBerenbaum is the author and editor of twenty books\, scores of scholarly articles\, and hundreds of journalistic pieces. His most recent books include: Not Your Father’s Antisemitism\, A Promise to Remember: The Holocaust in the Words and Voices of Its Survivors and After the Passion Has Passed: American Religious Consequences\, a collection of essays on Jews\, Judaism and Christianity\, Religious Tolerance and Pluralism occasioned by the controversy that swirled around Mel Gibson’s film\, The Passion. He was the conceptual developer on the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Educational Center and played a similar function as conceptual developer and chief curator of the Belzec Memorial at the site of the Death Camp. He is currently at work on the Memorial Museum to Macedonian Jewry in Skopje\, the Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum\, and the Holocaust and Humanity Center in Cincinnati\, Ohio.
URL:https://cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net/event/ethical-implications-of-the-holocaust-a-lecture-series-with-dr-michael-berenbaum-4/
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SUMMARY:Weekly Book Discussion of "War of Shadows Codebreakers\, Spies\, and the Secret Struggle to Drive the Nazis from the Middle East" by Gershom Gorenberg with Dr. Josh Andy
DESCRIPTION:Click the orange button to see our Eventbrite registration form. Make sure to answer the questions with the red asterisk* .\nThis program will be offered on Zoom. Registrants only need to RSVP once to be registered for the entire series.\nThe book discussions will be offered on the following dates and times:  \nApril 6\, 2021   4:30pm\nApril 13\, 2021 4:30pm\nApril 20\, 2021 4:30pm\nApril 27\, 2021 4:30pm \nThen\, on Tuesday\, May 4th at 4:30  pm ET please join us for a discussion with the author of “War of Shadows Codebreakers\, Spies\, and the Secret Struggle to Drive the Nazis from the Middle East : Gershom Gorenberg \nRead more and RSVP for this discussion event HERE. \nAbout The Author: \nGershom Gorenberg is the author of War of Shadows: Codebreakers\, Spies\, and the Secret Struggle to Drive the Nazis from the Middle East. \nHis previous books include The Unmaking of Israel  and The Accidental Empire: Israel and the Birth of the Settlements\, 1967-1977. He is a columnist for the Washington Post\, and has written for The New York Times Magazine\, Atlantic Monthly and The New York Review of Books and in Hebrew for Haaretz. \nGorenberg lives in Jerusalem\, except during stints teaching a workshop on writing history at the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism. \nAbout the Book: \nWar of Shadows Codebreakers\, Spies\, and the Secret Struggle to Drive the Nazis from the Middle East by Gershom Gorenberg \n“A masterpiece of scholarship and synthesis…It will remind readers of a cloak-and-dagger tale by John Le Carré with an armature of fascinating historical annotation.”\n— The Washington Post \nSummer 1942: Rommel’s army is a day from Cairo\, a week from Tel Aviv. The SS is ready for action. Espionage brought the Nazis this far. And espionage can stop them – if Washington wakes up. \nWar of Shadows is the meticulously constructed and cinematic story of the race for information in the North African theater of World War II. It rewrites the popular narrative of the war—not as an inevitable clash of heroes and villains but as a spiraling series of accidents and desperate triumphs that decided the fate of millions. \n“With the pacing of a spy thriller… War of Shadows takes us to the brink of disaster as the Allies and Axis powers vie for control of the Middle East…. Gorenberg belongs to a unique cadre of journalist historians.”\n—Sarah Wildman\, author of Paper Love \n“A dazzling and groundbreaking portrait of a crucial moment in WWII… Gorenberg has produced a vital new account of one of the key episodes of the last century.”\n—Matti Friedman\, author of Spies of No Country \n“The story grips you so much that it’s hard to put aside: the extraordinary spying in both directions\, the vivid characters\, the huge stakes\, and all of this on a World War II front that American readers know surprisingly little about.”\n—Adam Hochschild\, author of King Leopold’s Ghost \nThe full inclusion of people of all abilities is a core value of Classrooms Without Borders. For questions or to make requests for special accommodations contact melissa@classroomswithoutborders.org
URL:https://cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net/event/weekly-book-discussion-of-war-of-shadows-codebreakers-spies-and-the-secret-struggle-to-drive-the-nazis-from-the-middle-east-by-gershom-gorenberg-with-dr-josh-andy-3/
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UID:10000693-1618927200-1618927200@cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net
SUMMARY:France #2 - Jewish Heritage Around the World Part II series with CWB scholar Avi Ben-Hur and guest speakers
DESCRIPTION:“This series is co-sponsored by Rodef Shalom Congregation.\nJewish Heritage Around the World: \nClassrooms Without Borders is excited to embark on our second Jewish Heritage Series. The communities covered include Britain\, Turkey\, Argentina\, France\, India and more. We will have two sessions per community. The opening session will consist of an historical survey by an expert on the topic. The second session will engage in a dialogue with members of the community. Due to time differences\, it is possible that some of the timing for the “dialogue” sessions will change\, but generally speaking the series will be running on Tuesdays from 2 PM to 3:15 PM Eastern Time. The sessions will take place on the dates below. \nUpcoming Sessions:\nThe Jews of Argentina– May 4th & June 1st\nThe largest Jewish community of Latin America and the 3rd largest in the Americas\, the population peaked at close to 350\,000 in the late 1970s. Jews have been in Argentina since the 17th century and have been involved in and witness to some of the major historical junctions of this young country. The community suffered the worst post WWII attack of any Jewish community in the world when the main community center in Buenos Aires was bombed by Hezbollah in 1994. Jewish life in Argentina is robustly pluralistic with strong Reform\, Conservative and Orthodox communities including rabbinic seminaries\, schools and camps. And yet\, assimilation is on the rise and the population is decreasing. \nJoining us on May 4 were our esteemed guest speakers\, Dr. Judith Freidenberg and Dr. Emmanuel Kahan. \nEmmanuel Kahan holds a PhD in History from the National University of La Plata. He is a Researcher at the National Scientific and Technical Research Council of Argentina. He is also a Professor with the History Department at the National University of La Plata and teaches postgraduate courses at several other universities in Argentina. He published many books and articles about the Jewish experience in Argentina and is a member of the Latin American Jewish Studies Association \nJudith Freidenberg holds a PhD in Anthropology from City University of New York.  She taught at Mt. Sinai School of Medicine in New York and at the University of Maryland\, where she is now Professor Emerita.  She published extensively on migration and health.  Two books deal with the Jewish experience in rural Argentina\, and appear in Spanish and English.  She is also a member of the Latin American Jewish Studies Association.    \nJoining us on June 1st are our esteemed guest speakers: Dr. Marisa Braylan\, Mirta Kupferminc\, Micaela Bursztein\, Karina Gorenstein and Federico Nemetsky!\nDr. Marisa Braylan \nDr. Marisa Braylan is a lawyer from University of Buenos Aires (UBA)\, specialized in Public International Law (1995). Pedagogical Training of the Teaching Career in that Faculty. Visiting professor at the Faculty of Communication Sciences\, Political Science and Sociology of the UBA. Director of the Center for Social Studies (CES) of the DAIA (Delegation of Argentine Israelite Associations). She led the research group on “Comparative international law. Denial of the Holocaust in Argentina ”\, program of Institutional Accreditation of Research Projects in Law (DeCyT) carried out jointly by DAIA and UBA. Diploma in migration and refugee protection- Faculty of Law-UBA. Diploma in Discrimination and Right to Equality – Faculty of Law-UBA. Invited professor of Special Didactics of Law\, professor of Legal Sciences of the Faculty of Law of the UBA. \nMirta Kupferminc\nPhoto by: Alejandro Meter\nMirta Kupferminc: Lecturer\, mentor of other artists and teacher\, she lives and works in Buenos Aires. Exhibiting since 1977\, she has had more than 100 solo and group shows in Argentina\, Cuba\, Brazil\, Uruguay\, China Switzerland\, Spain\, Taiwan\, Japan\, Hong Kong \, Germany\, Israel\, Poland\, France\, Hungary\, England\, United States. Her works can be found in International Collections and Museums. Received local and international printmaking awards\, Example: Great Honor Prize (2012) in Argentina\, First Prize Sivori Museum\, Argentina (2018) Silver Medal Taiwan Biennale (2006) Honor Mention Taipei Biennale (1999)Third Prize  at 7th Koichi Biennale (2008). \nIn 2013 she was the first international fellow at LABA House of Study: a laboratory for Jewish Art and Culture at the 14th St Y NYC.and is also the founding LABA-BA director in Buenos Aires. And also directs Grafia Insurgente Association. \nMicaela Bursztein \nMicaela is the Manager of Project Evaluation for JDC in Latin America \nMicaela was born and raised in Buenos Aires\, Argentina.  She graduated from the ORT High School and went on to complete her BA in Political Science at Universidad de Buenos Aires.  In 2007 she traveled to Israel with Taglit-Birthright Israel.  The trip was transformative for her\, and solidified her commitment to working in the Jewish community.  Prior to coming to JDC Micaela spent seven years in the Finance and Resource Development department of Chabad Lubavitch Argentina.  She has worked for JDC since 2017\, and is also currently pursuing a master’s degree in Public Policy and Administration at Universidad de San Andrés.  \nKarina Gorenstein \nEducational Training\n• GRADUATE IN EDUCATIONAL MANAGEMENT-­ UNTREF (Licenciada en Gestión\nEducativa. Universidad Nacional de Tres de Febrero)\n• TEACHER FOR ELEMENTARY EDUCATION -­ ISFD 7 CABA. (PROFESORA PARA LA\nENSEÑANZA PRIMARIA. INSTITUTO NACIONAL DE FORMACIÓN DOCENTE N7)\n• SPECIALIZED TEACHER IN ADOLESCENT AND ADULT EDUCATION. PROFESORA\nESPECIALIZADA EN EDUCACIÓN DE ADOLESCENTES Y ADULTOS ISFD N1\nAVELLANEDA\nProfessional Experience\n• GENERAL DIRECTOR in AGNON Y MELAMED –AMIA -­ Teacher Training Institutes\n(since February 2018)\n• PROJECT CORDINATOR in TEACHERS ACCOMPANYING SCHOOL TRAJECTORS.\nDir. Of Elementary Education. MINISTRY OF EDUCATION City of Buenos Aires. (since\nFebruary 2017)\n• DIRECTOR OF ELEMENTARY EDUCATION OF THE NATION. Ministry of Education and\nSports of the Nation. January 2016-­January 2017)\n• Teacher in presencial and distance courses at the National and International level / Teacher\nTraining Programs / Institutional advice / Content writing /\nScholarships and Prizes\n• FULBRIGHT SCHOLARSHIP for School Directors. Held in Columbus-­OHIO USA 2013\n• YAD VASHEM SCHOLARSHIP -­ “The teaching of the Shoah and the dilemmas of its\ntransmission” -­ Held in Jerusalem-­ January 2020\n• TEAMWORK AWARD Ministry of Modernization of the Government of the City of Buenos\nAires year 2013.\n• INNOVATION AWARD Ministry of Modernization of the Government of the City of Buenos\nAires year 2014 \nFederico Nemetsky \nSon of a father from Tucumám\, a small City in the north with a small Jewish Community\, and a mother from Campana\, an even smaller town near Buenos Aires with a tiny Community\, Federico has been living all his life related with Judaism and working with the Jewish Communities around Argentina. \nCurrently\, he is working on his PhD in Cultural Diversity and finishing a master degree with a specialization in Jewish Studies. He is the Director of Studies of the Agnon and Melamed Institutes (Jewish Teachers training institutes) and the Coordinator of the postgraduate course “”Jewish History and its Teaching””. \nHe is a lecturer both for Jewish and non-Jewish audiences and institutions in a wide variety of topics mainly related with Jewish culture and geo-political analysis of the Middle East. \nFederico is and active participant of local Jewish political scene and takes part in different Zionist and Jewish organizations\, like being a member of the Board of the KKL in Argentina. \n Past sessions:\nThe Jews of Britain – January 19th & February 2nd\nFrom the earliest known accusation of “blood libel” (William of Norwich – 1144) to the “falling out” of British Jewry and the Labor Party\, the history of the Jews in Britain has known its ups and downs. In addition to tracing the trajectory of the Jewish presence in the British Isles\, we plan to unpack the key issues facing British Jewry today\, as expressed by the British Jews we shall be meeting. \nOn January 19th: We welcomed Prof. David Mendelsson to our program \nProf. David Mendelsson is a senior lecturer at Hebrew University’s Rothberg International School (RIS)\, teaching History of the Modern State of Israel and The Arab-Israeli Conflict: From Its Origins to the Present. He is also the most recent past director of the Year in Israel program at Hebrew Union College in Jerusalem. Prof. Mendelsson holds doctoral and master’s degrees from the Department of Contemporary Jewry at Hebrew University. \nOn February 2: We welcomed these esteemed guests:  \nMichael Wegier – Board of Deputies of British Jews: Interim Chief Executive  \nMichael Wegier has worked in Jewish Education and Strategic Planning in the UK\, Israel\, and the United States.  Previous positions include Director of Melitz Educational Centers in Jerusalem\, Director of Jewish Education at the Baltimore JCC and Chief Executive of UJIA in the UK. Michael has also provided Strategic Plannng services to the Jewish Agency and World ORT and other global Jewish organisations. Michael has an MA in Contemporary Jewry from the Hebrew University and is a graduate of the Mandel Jerusalem Fellows. In March\, Michael will begin a new role as Interim Chief Executive of the Board of Deputies of British Jews.  \nJoanne Greenaway – London School of Jewish Studies: Chief Executive \nJoanne joined LSJS\, the London School of Jewish Studies\, in January 2019 as Chief Executive.  LSJS delivers inspiring education programmes which transmit a love of learning and achieve excellence in teaching to transform the Jewish community through teacher training degrees and innovative\, accessible adult education.  Joanne was previously at the United Synagogue where she was Get Case Director within the London Beth Din\, focussing on difficult cases of Get refusal\, as well as the Deputy Legal Director of the US. Prior to this she studied languages at Cambridge University before qualifying as a lawyer and working in private practice for 12 years\, in the field of international arbitration and public international law. Joanne is a graduate of the the Chief Rabbi’s Ma’ayan programme\, the JLC Gamechangers Senior Leadership programme and the LSJS Susi Bradfield Educational Leadership programme. She has worked as a consultant for schools and communities across Europe.  \nMark Gardner – Community Security Trust: Chief Executive \nMark is Chief Executive of CST\, having previously been Director of Communications and Research. He joined CST in 1989\, and is a leading commentator and writer on contemporary antisemitism. Mark  has represented British and European Jews in numerous fora\, for example giving the keynote speech at the 2015 European Union Colloquium on antisemitism and anti-Muslim hate; and giving evidence in British\, Israeli and German parliamentary hearings on antisemitism.  \nMark was awarded a Police Commendation for his role in helping lead Scotland Yard’s cross-London response to the 1999 neo-Nazi nail bomb campaign. He also played a prominent role in the April 2018 ill-fated Jewish community leadership meeting with (then) Leader of the Labour Party\, Jeremy Corbyn MP. \nClaudia Mendoza – Jewish Leadership Council: Co-CEO \nClaudia is the Interim Co CEO of the Jewish Leadership Council and manages the External Affairs Team. Claudia sets the strategy and priorities for the team and leads on the JLC’s policy positions. She has worked for various think tanks as a Research Analyst\, focusing on the Middle East with a special interest in Iran and the transitioning Arab states. \nClaudia has a BSc in Biochemistry from University College London and an MA in Middle East Studies from the School of Oriental and African Studies\, University of London. She is an alumna of the Adam Science Foundation Leadership Programme. \nTurkey and its Jews – February 16th & March 2nd\nThere has been a continuous Jewish presence in Asia Minor (Turkey of today) going back at least 2300 years. The past 600 years of Jewish life in Turkey has taken place within an Islamic milieu. In the Ottoman empire\, which lasted for more than 400 years\, the Jews were considered to be the “most loyal” subjects and it was that empire that gave Sephardic Jews a “safe harbor” in the wake of the Spanish and Portuguese expulsions. Once a flourishing large community\, Turkish Jewry are on the eve of their disappearance. We aim to illuminate the source of Turkey’s positive engagement with its Jews as well as grappling with the question of community continuity in the 21st century. \nJoining us on February 16 was Professor Louis Fishman: \nLouis Fishman is an associate professor in the history department at Brooklyn College\, City University of New York. He is the author of the book\, Jews and Palestinians in the late Ottoman Era\, 1908-1914: Claiming the Homeland (Edinburgh University Press\, January 2020). His academic work focuses on late Ottoman Palestine\, the Jews of the Ottoman Empire\, modern Turkey\, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In addition to his academic expertise\, he has written tens of newspaper articles and provided political analysis for numerous international media outlets on Turkish\, Israeli\, and Palestinian affairs. Since 2013 he is a regular contributor for the Israeli newspaper Haaretz. He divides his time between New York\, Istanbul and Tel Aviv\, all three cities which he considers home. \nHere is the link to Professor Fishman’s book:\nhttps://edinburghuniversitypress.com/book-jews-and-palestinians-in-the-late-ottoman-era-1908-1914.html \nAlso available on Amazon  \nJoining us on March 2 is Nisya Isman Allovi\, Karen Gerson Şarhon\, Lisya Behar and Nesi Altaras: \nNisya Isman Allovi has been the Director since 2002  and Curator of The Quincentennial Foundation Museum Of Turkish Jews. Born in Istanbul\, graduated from the International Relations Faculty and Cultural Heritage and Tourism\, she has attended advanced curatorial seminars at AEJM (Association of European Jewish Museums) and in the Federal Republic of Germany. She has conducted presentations in various countries about “”Jews Of Turkey””. Married with two children\, Nisya is an active member of the Istanbul Jewish community.\nMuseum link: www.muze500.com \nKaren Gerson Şarhon born in Istanbul in 1958. Has a BA in English Language and Literature\, an MA in Social Psychology and an MA in Applied Linguistics. Wrote both her MA theses on the Judeo-Spanish language.\nAt the end of 2003\, she founded the Sephardic Culture Research Center\, where she has been working as its coordinator ever since. The Sephardic Center of Istanbul continues its work on the preservation and documentation of all aspects of the Sephardic culture. Karen heads many projects in the Center. The Centropa Oral History Project\, the Maftirim Project\, The Ladino Database Project\, the Judeo-Spanish – Turkish – Judeo-Spanish dictionary project are the ones that have been finished. She has edited all the books and CDs the Center has published\, which include a book of caricatures in Judeo-Spanish\, 4 books of anecdotes and stories of Matilda Koen-Sarano\, 16 small novels in Judeo-Spanish called “”Romansikos en Judeo-Espanyol”” from the archives of the Alliance Israelite Universelle\, the Judeo-Spanish – Turkish dictionary and a number of CDs in Sephardic music. She is also the chief editor of the only monthly newspaper in the world that is entirely in Ladino\, El Amaneser and also of the Judeo-Spanish page(s) of the weekly Şalom newspaper. In 2011\, she was awarded the medal of Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres de la République Française by the Ministry of Culture of France for her contribution to the world culture and her efforts in the preservation of Judeo-Spanish\, an endangered language. Karen has many articles on the Sephardic Culture published mainly in 3 languages: Turkish\, English and Ladino. She has also taken part in many TV programs\, documentaries\, etc. on Judeo-Spanish and the Sephardic music and culture. \nShe has Ladino lessons on YouTube and currently at: www.sephardicbrotherhood/ladino 101 \nKaren is also the founder\, singer and presenter of the group Los Pasharos Sefaradis\, the most authentic group in Turkish Sephardic music. Has 9 albums published by this group. \nLisya Behar was born in İstanbul. Volunteering in the Jewish Community since childhood\, Lisya has been president of the local Jewish Youth Team\, helped build a homecare system for the elderly\,  and is one of the co-founders of Limmud Turkey. She is currently the CEO of the Alef Jewish Community Center İstanbul \nNesi Altaras is an MA student in Political Science at McGill University from Istanbul\, Turkey. A member of the shrinking Jewish community of Turkey\, Nesi is a writer and editor for the online Jewish publication Avlaremoz and his current research is on the migration of Jews from Kurdistan in the final years of the Ottoman Empire. His previous work was on the failed peace and reconciliation processes in Turkey on the Kurdish question. His interest is in minorities in both the contemporary Middle East and in late Ottoman history as well as identity in Turkey. \nThe Jews of India – March 16th & 23rd\nWhat? There are Indian Jews? The answer emphatically is yes\, and there is a variety of different types of Indian Jews. One of the questions we will grapple with is when did Jews first arrive in the Indian sub-continent. What kinds of traditions emerged with this community and what kind of relationship did Indian Jews have with their co-religionists around the world\, if any? Another question relates to the fact that historically\, Indian Jews never experienced antisemitism. This being the case\, why did most Indian Jews emigrate to Israel in the 1950s? \nJoining us on March 16 was Dr. Maisie Meyer \nDr. Meyer was born in Calcutta (Kolkata) and grew up in a colonial setting. The subject she chose to research reflects her personal autobiography. It gives her a deeper understanding of Baghdadi Jews\, their emulation of a British lifestyle and their desire to appear as British as possible within the parameters of their faith. She is a double graduate in English and Humanities\, both with honours\, and obtained an MA degree in International History. The British Academy awarded her a scholarship to do a PhD which she was awarded from the London School of Economics in 1994. She pioneered the research of the Baghdadi Jewish Community of Shanghai. Her publications From the Rivers of Babylon to the Whangpoo: A Century of Sephardi Jewish Life in Shanghai (Lanham M.D.2003) and Shanghai’s Baghdadi Jews: A Compilation of Biographical Memories (Hong Kong 2013) have been widely acclaimed. \nJoining us on March 23 was Nissim J. Pingle and Ralphy Jhirad \nNissim J. Pingle works for the JDC\, India office as the Director for the EPJCC (Evelyn Peters Jewish Community Center). As a longtime member and somebody who has benefited immensely from the activities of AJDC and JCC\, he sees this role as an opportunity to give back. He is responsible for the day-to-day operations and growth of the JCC programs as well as developing and implementing programs that help in community building and/or Jewish learning. A Physics graduate from the Mumbai University\, he has worked as an Operations Manager for a Call Center and a General Manager for a chain of Fitness Centers. He lives in Navi Mumbai with his wife\, parents and 2 sons. When he is not glued to a computer or TV screen\, he spends time playing with his kids\, quizzing\, and trying hard not be the worst player in Table Tennis! \nRalphy Jhirad is the Trustees of the Bene Israel Heritage Museum and Genealogical Research Centre. Ralphy is the authority on the Jewish Heritage of India and is faculty on the same subject in the Guides Training Course of the Government of India\, Department of Tourism. He is a member of the Jewish Community in India and is dedicated to the preservation of their culture. He published following books\, BOMBAY : Exploring The Urban Jewish Heritage by Shaul Sapir\, Siyon se Sahyadri Tak by Sheba Jeremiah Nagaokar\, The Jews of Pakistan by Yoel Reuben\, Of Muse and Memories by Rebecca Yehezkielm\, The Demographic and Socio Economic Characteristics of Jews in India by Ralphy Jhirad and Lily Ezekiel. He has curated and organized following Exhibitions: Contribution of David Sassoon and family towards the development of Bombay and Jewish Landmarks in Mumbai. He has developed following itineraries for Tours of Jewish Heritage in India: Tour of Jewish Heritage in Mumbai\, Sassoon Landmarks of Mumbai\, Tour of Jewish  Arrival in Raigad and their original traditions\, India a Jewish Perspective\, Tour of the Jews of Kerala\, Tour of the Jewish Community of Ahmedabad. Ralphy organized the first ever visit of the Chief Rabbi of the United Synagogues. A few photos from this visit are enclosed for reference. He has assisted several Authors\, Full Bright Scholars\, Film Makers and Museum Curators during their research in India. He has travelled to various centers of India where Jewish Heritage is predominant and assisted Thousands of Jewish Travelers to either discover their own Jewish Roots in India or learn about the incredible Jewish Perspective in India. Refer Website visitjewishindia.com for more details on various tour options including incredible India and it’s Jewish Heritage. \nFrench Jewry – April 6th & April 20th\nThe great medieval commentator Rashi\, Baron Rothschild\, Alfred Dreyfuss\, Leon Blum\, Simone Weil\, Emanuel Levinas are just a few famous French (Jewish) names that come to mind when thinking about the contribution of French Jewry. The first Jews in Europe to be offered emancipation\, in recent years French Jewry has found itself facing the worst antisemitic attacks in Europe. How this came to be are just some of the subjects we will engage in with this dynamic community. \nJoining us on April 6 was: \nPhilippe Boukara                Philippe Boukara was born in Paris in 1957. He is an historian\, specialised in Contemporary French Jewry. He is a coordinator of Adult Education in the Shoah Memorial in Paris\, and he has been teaching in various academic institutions. He is involved in Jewish-Christian dialogues ans is the honorary chair of Dorvador\, the Conservative Congregation in Eastern Paris. He publishes regularly in the French Jewish press. \nJoining us on April 20 is:  \n                 Yonathan Arfi is vice-president of CRIF and chairman of CRIF’s commission for international affairs. He has been a member of the Executive Board of the CRIF for the last 14 years and has worked closely with former and current presidents of CRIF\, Richard Prasquier\, Roger Cukierman and Francis Kalifat.\nYonathan Arfi was born in 1980 in Toulouse and raised in Paris\, where he graduated from HEC business school in 2003. He is the CEO of Optimal Gestion\, the financial consulting firm he founded in 2007 in Paris.He is also a member of the Board of Directors of Alliance Israélite Universelle (www.aiu.org – main Jewish organization in the field of education in France) and Oeuvre de Secours aux Enfants (www.ose-france.org – main Jewish social welfare organization in France).\nYonathan Arfi was also the chairman of the French Union of Jewish Students from 2003 to 2005. He founded in 2005 CoExist (www.coexist.fr)\, the leading program in France against racial\, religious andcultural prejudices among French pupils and has been working on the issue of anti-Semitism since 2000. \nMasha Ugryumova is 27 years old and was born and grew up in Tcheliabinsk\, Russia. \nShe moved to France at the age of 18 to study Communication at La Sorbonne University. \nToday she lives in Paris and works for international organisation for Jewish youth Hilel Campus France as the Head of Communication.  \nThanks to her job\, she’s directly concerned by today’s challenges and struggles that Jewish youth of France have to face and looks for the solutions how to deal with that. \n                Elie Touitou\nBorn and raised in Paris\, in a Zionist and traditionalist Jewish Family\, Elie is a Lawyer specialized in Digital and Business Law. In 2016\, during his studies at Sorbonne Law School\, he founded the association Alliance\, in a double reference to Vladimir Jabotinsky’s Beitar and to René Cassin’s Alliance Universelle Israélite (Kol Israel Haverim). \nFirst acting as a local organization inside the University\, the association grew fast and is now a federation of five local association gathering +500 students across the major Parisian campuses. Alliance aims to organize Jewish life on campus\, provide Jewish and Zionist students with the intellectual means necessary to be able to defend their convictions by organizing formation\, lectures\, workshops\, debates and journeys and also to fight antisemitism\, in all its forms\, on French Campuses. \nThe Association developed close bounds with Zionist and/or Israeli organizations with which it works on a daily basis. \nDelphine Gamburg: Director of Communication at the Embassy of Israel in France \nDelphine Gamburg was born in France and emigrated to Israel in 1995. After working for the Israeli Ministry of Integration between 1996-1998\, she joined the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs.  She worked there as a lawyer until 2005\,  then held various positions in the Department of International Development Cooperation\, and to the Department of Strategic Affairs until her departure to the United States in 2015 where she was the cultural attaché at the Embassy of Israel in Washington DC. \nShe is currently in charge of the Public Communication Department at the Embassy of Israel in France. Delphine has a Bachelor of Laws\, a Masters of International Relations\, and a PhD in American foreign policy in the Middle East. She is married and has 3 children \nKAREN REB RUDEL \nBorn and raised in Johnstown\, Pennsylvania\, Karen grew up with the aspiration to be a comedian\, a musician\, or both… She groomed these crafts from a young age by making everyone around her laugh and beginning a lifetime romance with the flute at the age of 9. She went on to study drama at Temple University in Philadelphia and played in a series of bands. \nFrom the age of 30 until she got married\, Karen was back and forth between Paris and Philadelphia\, working on musical projects and touring (including being the flautist and singer in a Reggae band in Paris). One day her parents came to visit her and Karen\, having learned a lot about Paris\, was showing them around when her mother exclaimed\, “Karen\, you would make a great tour guide!” \nThat was the light bulb moment\, and as the French say\, voila! \nParis has been Karen’s stomping ground for over 20 years\, and her company is in a unique position to give you the historical background and underground cultural scoops that most walking tours leave out. \nAvi Ben-Hur \nA Brooklyn native\, Avi moved to Israel in 1983. Currently\, he is on the faculty of the University of Haifa Tourism School\, an examiner for the Israeli Ministry of Tourism\, and the Director of Education of Classrooms Without Borders. \nAn eclectic Israeli educator specializing in Land of Israel studies\, the history of Jerusalem\, the Arab-Israeli conflict and Holocaust studies\, Avi’s expertise is in integrating ideas and knowledge from various disciplines into a comprehensive and coherent narrative.”
URL:https://cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net/event/france-2-jewish-heritage-around-the-world-part-ii-series-with-cwb-scholar-avi-ben-hur-and-guest-speakers/
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20210419T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20210419T183000
DTSTAMP:20260709T195113
CREATED:20220518T162902Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220518T162902Z
UID:10000691-1618857000-1618857000@cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net
SUMMARY:Stages of Genocide: A Toolkit for Educators
DESCRIPTION:April is Genocide Awareness Month\nJoin us as we explore this new instructional unit: Stages of Genocide: A Toolkit for Educators with the The Genocide Education Project and Woven Teaching. \nThe Genocide Education Project\, in partnership with Woven Teaching\, offers a new resource for high school social studies educators: Stages of Genocide: A Toolkit for Educators – an instructional guide and lesson plans for teaching about genocide and its common stages\, using the histories of six case studies:  \n• Armenian\n• Cambodian\n• Guatemalan\n• Holocaust\n• Native American\n• Rwandan  \nStudying genocide is a critical part of a student’s understanding of both history and of current events. Based on the “Ten Stages of Genocide” framework describing how societies engage in genocide\, this interactive lesson plan provides an opportunity to explore multiple instances of mass atrocity\, while recognizing their commonalities and differences\, and encouraging reflection and discussion of personal and institutional responsibility\, connecting these historical events to current events and to students’ lives.  \nStages of Genocide: A Toolkit for Educators guides educators in setting up student groups to carry out team projects related to comparative evaluations of the six genocide case studies. The toolkit includes the readings on genocide and the historical summaries as well as student handouts\, project instructions\, group norms\, roles\, evaluations\, key terms and graphic organizer. \nSara Cohan\, The Genocide Education Project’s Education Director\, will facilitate the workshop. Cohan’s background combines research\, study\, curriculum development and teaching. She has a Master’s degree in Social Science Education and was a high school social studies teacher in Florida.  She was a teacher fellow at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and has received multiple other fellowships and awards\, including those from Fulbright-Hays and the National Endowment of the Humanities. She received the George Washington Medal of Honor from the Freedoms Foundation and served as a research fellow for Teaching Tolerance\, a project of the Southern Poverty Law Center. She has written articles and educational materials for scholarly journals\, magazines and multiple nonprofits. \nNina Simone Grotch\, Executive Director of Woven Teaching is a longtime educator and advocate for social justice\, a public speaker with over 20 years of experience teaching children\, youth\, adults\, law enforcement officers\, and government officials. Her experience includes working with diverse audiences locally\, nationally\, and internationally on examining and interrupting prejudice and discrimination. Ms. Grotch served as the Education Director for the Anti-Defamation League in Northern California where she directed the Holocaust education and anti-bias programs for students\, educators and community members. Ms. Grotch has a bachelor’s degree in Literature from the University of California\, Santa Cruz and master’s degree in English Literature from San Francisco State University. \nThe full inclusion of people of all abilities is a core value of Classrooms Without Borders. For questions or to make requests for special accommodations contact melissa@classroomswithoutborders.org
URL:https://cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net/event/stages-of-genocide-a-toolkit-for-educators/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20210415T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20210415T150000
DTSTAMP:20260709T195113
CREATED:20220518T162902Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220518T162902Z
UID:10000690-1618498800-1618498800@cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net
SUMMARY:"Yerusalem: The Incredible Story of Ethiopian Jewry " Post-Film Discussion with Film Director Levi Zini\, Rubi Viterbo former Israeli Naval Commando and ex-Mossad Agent\, and Rabbi Dr. Sharon Shalom
DESCRIPTION:Classrooms Without Borders\, in partnership with Rodef Shalom Congregation\, is excited to offer the opportunity to watch the film “Yerusalem” and engage in a post-film discussion with the film director\, Levi Zini\, former Israeli Naval Commando and ex-Mossad agent Rubi Viterbo\, and Rabbi Sharon Shalom in conversation with CWB scholar Avi Ben Hur. \n“Yerusalem”\, a brand new feature documentary (based on the Israeli documentary series) brings to life the story of a long\, dramatic and tumultuous journey as the Jewish Ethiopian community\, also known as “Beta-Israel”\, finally find their way back to the heart of the Jewish people after centuries – Jerusalem. “Yerusalem” is the story of an isolated Jewish tribe who kept its faith for thousands of years even though they lived in a hostile Christian environment. This is the story of ancient Jewish traditions\, of heroic actions and daring covert operations. But mainly\, this is the story of a powerful religious yearning that has been passed down from father to son for countless generations. A desire for a “Yerusalem” tied with gold threads. “Exodus of the Black Jews”‘\, “Rescue of the Lost Tribe” cried out international news headlines in January 1985 when the airlift known as “Operation Moses” was revealed. In one of several clandestine operations in the Ethiopian Exodus\, Israeli Mossad\, the US administration and world Jewry collaborated to rescue thousands of Ethiopian Jews from the hellhole refugee camps in Sudan. The London Times wrote: “The airlift was in its way as inspiring a story as the Biblical Exodus”. “Yerusalem” is the complex story of the Ethiopian Jewish community in Israel bringing the stories of the first and second generation of immigrants\, rabbinical cases\, Aliyah activists\, Mossad personnel\, ship commanders and pilots\, decision-makers and many others who risked their lives to bring Ethiopian Jews to their ancestral land. Here they were required to prove their Jewishness and fight for their legitimate place in Israeli society. \nLevi Zini \nLevi Zini is a leading documentary filmmaker in Israel with over 40 years of creating independent films and television documentaries in a variety of genres\, including art films\, docu-activism\, and current affair exposés. In 2009-2013\, Zini served as Chief Commissioner of Israel’s premiere documentary channel – Channel 8. Zini is a recipient of a variety of awards from local and international festivals. He was awarded Israel’s Minister of Education Award for Documentary Filmmaking in 1999 and 2012. Zini is a board member of the Israeli Documentary Forum\, a lecturer and a judge for film funds and festivals. Levi is the founder and Art Director of Doc.Films production house in Tel Aviv. \nRubi Viterbo\nRubi Viterbo is former Israeli Naval Commando and ex-Mossad agent who participated in some of the most secret missions in Israel’s modern history. Rubi is also a scuba-diving instructor and he grew up on Kibbutz Givat Brenner in the center of Israel. \nFrom the Smithsonian Channel Series: Spy Wars with Damian Lewis: Exodus: In the early 1980s\, retired Israeli Navy SEAL Rubi Viterbo was running a dive school in a resort town when he got a call that would change his life – an offer to join a secret mission for the Mossad. \nRabbi Dr. Sharon Shalom\nRabbi Dr. Sharon Shalom (born in Ethiopia\, 1973) is a lecturer and Jewish writer. He is a Rav of one of the Tzohar “Open Communities” in Kiryat Gat. He grew up with the name Zaude Tesfay in a Jewish community in the North of Ethiopia. He works as a Rabbi in Merkaz Shapira Or Meofir special program for Ethiopian emigrants. Rabbi Dr. Sharon is the Head of the International Center for Study of Ethiopian Jewry\, and a Jewish Studies Lecturer at the Faculty of Humanities\, Ono Academic College. \nThank you to our partner:
URL:https://cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net/event/yerusalem-the-incredible-story-of-ethiopian-jewry-post-film-discussion-with-film-director-levi-zini-rubi-viterbo-former-israeli-naval-commando-and-ex-mossad-agent-and-rabbi-dr-sharon-shalom/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20210414T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20210414T160000
DTSTAMP:20260709T195113
CREATED:20220518T162902Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220518T162902Z
UID:10000689-1618416000-1618416000@cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net
SUMMARY:Anti-Asian American Racism and Violence: Then and Now
DESCRIPTION:This program is geared for educators\, but open to all learners.\nPhoto by Ehimetalor Akhere Unuabona on Unsplash \nAnti-Asian American Racism and Violence: Then and Now -with CWB resident teaching artist Susan Stein\nWith violence and racism against Asian-Americans surging\, we will focus on a dark chapter in American history during World War II too often omitted from school curricula. Through close readings in several genres\, including fiction\, graphic novels\, film\, and survivor testimonies\, we’ll explore the roots and relevance of World War II Japanese Internment camps today. Texts include excerpts from When The Emperor Was Divine by Julie Otsuka\, Citizen 13660 by Mine Okubo\, and A Fence Away from Freedom by Ellen Levine as well as the documentary The Cats of Mirikitani. This is an interactive session that combines discussion\, imagination\, and critical thinking. \n	Susan Stein is an actor\, playwright and teaching artist in NYC. Stein has spent the past eight years touring her original play\, Etty\, directed by Austin Pendleton\, to theaters\, universities\, schools and prisons throughout the United States and parts of Europe. Stein has been an Artist/Scholar in residence at Cambridge University\, Duquesne\, Boston College\, Vanderbilt and Chapman University. She leads workshops in writing and acting throughout the US and UK. Susan studied acting at NYU Graduate School and SUNY Purchase and received a Master’s in Writing at Wesleyan University. She was on the faculty of Princeton Day school for 13 years.
URL:https://cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net/event/anti-asian-american-racism-and-violence-then-and-now/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20210413T163000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20210413T163000
DTSTAMP:20260709T195113
CREATED:20220518T162402Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220518T162402Z
UID:10000687-1618331400-1618331400@cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net
SUMMARY:Weekly Book Discussion of "War of Shadows Codebreakers\, Spies\, and the Secret Struggle to Drive the Nazis from the Middle East" by Gershom Gorenberg with Dr. Josh Andy
DESCRIPTION:Click the orange button to see our Eventbrite registration form. Make sure to answer the questions with the red asterisk* .\nThis program will be offered on Zoom. Registrants only need to RSVP once to be registered for the entire series.\nThe book discussions will be offered on the following dates and times:  \nApril 6\, 2021   4:30pm\nApril 13\, 2021 4:30pm\nApril 20\, 2021 4:30pm\nApril 27\, 2021 4:30pm \nThen\, on Tuesday\, May 4th at 4:30  pm ET please join us for a discussion with the author of “War of Shadows Codebreakers\, Spies\, and the Secret Struggle to Drive the Nazis from the Middle East : Gershom Gorenberg \nRead more and RSVP for this discussion event HERE. \nAbout The Author: \nGershom Gorenberg is the author of War of Shadows: Codebreakers\, Spies\, and the Secret Struggle to Drive the Nazis from the Middle East. \nHis previous books include The Unmaking of Israel  and The Accidental Empire: Israel and the Birth of the Settlements\, 1967-1977. He is a columnist for the Washington Post\, and has written for The New York Times Magazine\, Atlantic Monthly and The New York Review of Books and in Hebrew for Haaretz. \nGorenberg lives in Jerusalem\, except during stints teaching a workshop on writing history at the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism. \nAbout the Book: \nWar of Shadows Codebreakers\, Spies\, and the Secret Struggle to Drive the Nazis from the Middle East by Gershom Gorenberg \n“A masterpiece of scholarship and synthesis…It will remind readers of a cloak-and-dagger tale by John Le Carré with an armature of fascinating historical annotation.”\n— The Washington Post \nSummer 1942: Rommel’s army is a day from Cairo\, a week from Tel Aviv. The SS is ready for action. Espionage brought the Nazis this far. And espionage can stop them – if Washington wakes up. \nWar of Shadows is the meticulously constructed and cinematic story of the race for information in the North African theater of World War II. It rewrites the popular narrative of the war—not as an inevitable clash of heroes and villains but as a spiraling series of accidents and desperate triumphs that decided the fate of millions. \n“With the pacing of a spy thriller… War of Shadows takes us to the brink of disaster as the Allies and Axis powers vie for control of the Middle East…. Gorenberg belongs to a unique cadre of journalist historians.”\n—Sarah Wildman\, author of Paper Love \n“A dazzling and groundbreaking portrait of a crucial moment in WWII… Gorenberg has produced a vital new account of one of the key episodes of the last century.”\n—Matti Friedman\, author of Spies of No Country \n“The story grips you so much that it’s hard to put aside: the extraordinary spying in both directions\, the vivid characters\, the huge stakes\, and all of this on a World War II front that American readers know surprisingly little about.”\n—Adam Hochschild\, author of King Leopold’s Ghost \nThe full inclusion of people of all abilities is a core value of Classrooms Without Borders. For questions or to make requests for special accommodations contact melissa@classroomswithoutborders.org
URL:https://cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net/event/weekly-book-discussion-of-war-of-shadows-codebreakers-spies-and-the-secret-struggle-to-drive-the-nazis-from-the-middle-east-by-gershom-gorenberg-with-dr-josh-andy-2/
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20210413T000000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20210413T000000
DTSTAMP:20260709T195113
CREATED:20220518T162902Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220518T162902Z
UID:10000688-1618272000-1618272000@cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net
SUMMARY:CANCELLED | Bechazit: On The Frontline | Driving Social Change in Israel
DESCRIPTION:This program will be offered on Zoom. Registrants only need to RSVP once to be registered for the entire series.Classrooms Without Borders is embarking our newest Israel seminar which we are calling “Bachazit” – On The Frontline. In our upcoming 6 sessions we will highlight challenges facing Israel and the individuals or organizations that are grappling with the issues at hand. We will illuminate subjects such as the integration of minority groups into the high-tech sector\, the struggle for L.G.B.T.Q. rights\, programs that assist Israelis injured during their military service\, the fight against racism in Israeli society and more. \nPAST SESSIONS:\nTuesday\, May 11: Meet the Ethiopians\nIt has been 30 years since the last mass wave of Jews arrived in Israel from Ethiopia. Their ongoing absorption in Israel has had its ups and downs. We will meet members of the community who have main incredible achievements (on any scale) but we will also put a spotlight on what is not working and what needs to be done to make Israel a more accepting\, equitable society. \nJoining us for this program are: Rabbi Sharon Shalom\, Pnina Agenyahu\, Avishai Tzagahon\, and Tuvia Hezkiyahu \nRabbi Dr. Sharon Shalom\nRabbi Dr. Sharon Shalom (born in Ethiopia\, 1973) is a lecturer and Jewish writer. He is a Rav of one of the Tzohar “Open Communities” in Kiryat Gat. He grew up with the name Zaude Tesfay in a Jewish community in the North of Ethiopia. He works as a Rabbi in Merkaz Shapira Or Meofir special program for Ethiopian emigrants. Rabbi Dr. Sharon is the Head of the International Center for Study of Ethiopian Jewry\, and a Jewish Studies Lecturer at the Faculty of Humanities\, Ono Academic College. \nPnina Agenyahu-Director of Partnership Together Network\, Connecting the Jewish People unit at the Jewish agency for Israel. \nPnina served as the Director of Interfaces and Synergy at the Strategic and planning unit of the Jewish agency for Israel after completing four years of Shlichut as Jewish agency senior Shlicha of the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington between 2013-2017. In her previous position\, she served as Director of the Hillel Center at Tel Aviv University\, where she worked to promote a broad and diverse discourse of Jewish-Israeli social culture among students and young adults. Pnina has extensive experience in public speaking and teaching and she was invited to speak in many conferences all over the world. She is an activist involved in several volunteer endeavors in Israel\, aimed at social change\, including as a founding partner of the “Uru” movement\, an international task force for Jewish peoplehood by the New York Federation and the Nadav Foundation\, and one of the leaders in promoting the Sigd- Jewish Ethiopian holiday to become a national holiday.  nina serves as a board member and director in various organizations\, as Nativ organization\, the board of directors of the Hologab Theater\, the Hanan Einur Foundation and was appointed by the Minister of Education of Israel as a public representative on Israel’s Council for Higher Education. In 2012 Pnina was the recipient of The Richard M. Joel Exemplar of Excellence Award by Hillel International. In 2014\, as Israel marked 66 years of independence with a tribute to women\, Pnina was named by Haaretz as one of 66 Israeli influential women you should know. In 2016 Pnina was the recipient of the Ted B. Farber Professional Excellence Award for her work on the Israel Engagement Fellowship for Teens. Pnina holds a BA from Hebrew university in Jewish History and Sociology\, MA in political and public leadership from Tel Aviv University\, and she is a graduate of The Mandel Program for Excellence – a new initiative for the Jewish Agency for Israel and the Mandel Foundation. \nPnina is married to Avi and they have 3 little kids Eitan\, Erez and Ella. \nAvishai Malso Tzagahon \nAvishai made Aliya from Ethiopia to Israel with his family in 1984\, through Sudan in Operation Moses. Avishai is one of 4 siblings\, he grew up in Haifa region and lives today in the city of Ramle-Lod.\nFollowing his military service Avishai began his Academic studies\, completing his bachelor’s degree in Filmmaking from Sapir College in Sderot. In 2011\, he published a book about the History of Ethiopian Jews in Amharic\, he plans to publish the book in additional languages this coming year.\nFrom 2006 to 2012 Avishai worked at SPNI- Israeli Nature Protection Society as a coordinator. During his university studies\, Avishai founded together with a group of friends and fellow social activists\, a Voluntary organization called “VOIC – Voice of Israeli Communities.” This organization is focused on preventing abuse and exploitation of young women at-risk\, by older men. The organization is still running on a voluntary basis and Avishai serves as CEO.\nAvishai joined Friends by Nature (FBN) in 2012. He works as a FBN countrywide communities director\, runs the multi-cultural trainings at the organization and is a member of the growing community Garin in Lod.\nAdditionally\, since 2011 Avishai started a film company “Studio 1” and acts as its director. And\, in 2015\, Avishai  founded the  LSFF- Lod Social Film Festival\,  an international film festival that emphasizes social issues.\nAvishai’s dream is to see the Ethiopian Israeli community take responsibility for itself as equal and productive members of Israeli society. \nTuvia Hezkiyahu \nTuvia Hezkiyahu was born in Gondar\, Ethiopia in 1977 and made Aliyah in 1980 via Sudan. He was raised in Beersheba and studied in a religious boarding school in Ra’anana. Within that framework\, Tuvia participated in a mission to the U.S. through the ADL and is still a member of the organization. \nIn 1996 Tuvia studied film studies in Sapir College and was subsequently conscripted into the I.D.F. serving as a military photographer. From that point until today\, Tuvia has been working as a film director\, editor and cinematographer. In 2003\, Tuvia joined Fasildan Productions\, soon becoming central to this Ethiopian managed company. In 2007 Tuvia was a partner in the establishment of the Israeli Ethiopian TV channel – IETV. Tuvia has edited several documentary films dealing with the Israeli-Ethiopian community and has become one of the outstanding producers in this field. \nTuvia aspires to document the community’s past and history and to pass it on to future generations. \nIn certain areas Israel is a leader in L.G.B.T.Q. rights (e.g. in the I.D.F. – the Israeli Army)\, but in others is trailing most of the rest of the “enlightened” countries (e.g. marriage). We will meet different representatives from the community and learn about what is going on in Israel today and how it compares with the U.S  \nTuesday\, April 27: Tsofen – Building High-Tech in the Arab Society\nWe will learn about the difficulties facing the Arab citizens of Israel to obtain good employment\, particularly in the flourishing high-tech sector and an N.G.O. created by Jewish and Arab high-tech entrepreneurs and economists to advance this agenda. \nJoining us: \nMs Revital Duek\, Co-CEO  \nRevital joined Tsofen in September\, as a co-CEO alongside Sami Saadi. She brings over 20 years of hi-tech experience in both engineering and managerial positions. Prior to joining Tsofen she was Executive Director of Atid Plus. Duek holds a BSc from the Technion\, an MBA from Bar Ilan University\, and is a PhD Candidate in Gender Studies at Bar Ilan University. She is also a Mandel Institute alumna and an IVLP alumna.   \n“I am committed to promoting under-represented groups in STEM through fostering cross-sector dialogue and partnerships\, with the goal of increasing equal opportunities and freedom of choice”―Revital Duek.  \nMs Naama Nagar\, Director of Development  \nNaama has fifteen years’ experience working in civil society in Israel and the US. Prior to joining Tsofen\, she was a resource development consultant at Minuf Group\, supporting a range of social change organizations dedicated to socio-economic development\, human rights\, and shared society for Jews and Arabs in Israel. Naama holds a BA in Jewish Thought and Philosophy from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem\, an MSc in Political Sociology from the London School of Economics\, and studied towards a PhD degree (ABD) in Sociology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. \nDr Ramzi Halabi―Chairman of the Board \nDr. Halabi\, Brigadier-General (Res) in the IDF\, is a lecturer at Tel Aviv University as well as a strategic consultant\, active in promoting equal economic opportunities for the Israeli Arab. In the past Dr. Halabi served as Mayor of the Regional Council of Daliat-al-Carmel\, Director of the Arab Business Club\, and Head of the IDF Salary and Pensions Department. He holds a PhD in Social Sciences from Tel Aviv University. \nSunday\, April 11: Ami Ayalon – From Commander to Peacemaker\nDuring the week of Israel Independence Day\, we will meet with Ami Ayalon\, the former decorated commander of the Naval commandos (the Israeli version of Navy Seals) and subsequently the former commander of the Israeli Navy\, former head of the Shin-Bet (Israel’s Internal Security Service)\, former member of Parliament and former government minister. Ami is also a leading voice for making peace between Israel and the Palestinians. We will learn what lead a man who spent his entire professional life fighting terror to befriend some of his enemies and to promote a genuine peace between the warring peoples. \nAdmiral (Ret.) Ami Ayalon \nAdmiral (ret.) Ayalon is a former director of the Israel Security Agency (the Shin Bet) and a former commander of Israel’s Navy. He has served as a cabinet minister and a member of the Knesset. Along with Sari Nusseibeh\, he has headed the ‘People’s Voice’ peace initiative in 2002.  \nAyalon is one of the founders of ‘Blue White Future’\, a non-partisan political  movement\, committed to securing the future of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state through facilitating an inclusive discourse to promote a two state solution.  \nBetween the years 2011-2016 Ayalon has served as Chairman of the Executive Committee at the university of Haifa and until recently he also served as senior research fellow and Director of the Amnon Lipkin-Shahak Program on National Security and Democracy at the Israel Democracy Institute.   \nCurrently Ayalon serves as the Chairman of AKIM Israel (the National  Association for the Habilitation of Children and Adults with Intellectual  Disabilities). He is also the Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Haifa Research Center for Maritime Policy & Strategy.  \nAvi Ben-Hur \nA Brooklyn native\, Avi moved to Israel in 1983. Currently\, he is on the faculty of the University of Haifa Tourism School\, an examiner for the Israeli Ministry of Tourism\, and the Director of Education of Classrooms Without Borders. \nAn eclectic Israeli educator specializing in Land of Israel studies\, the history of Jerusalem\, the Arab-Israeli conflict and Holocaust studies\, Avi’s expertise is in integrating ideas and knowledge from various disciplines into a comprehensive and coherent narrative.
URL:https://cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net/event/cancelled-bechazit-on-the-frontline-driving-social-change-in-israel/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20210412T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20210412T160000
DTSTAMP:20260709T195113
CREATED:20220518T162402Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220518T162402Z
UID:10000686-1618243200-1618243200@cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net
SUMMARY:Virtual Israel Tours with Rabbi Jonty Blackman: We Hereby Declare
DESCRIPTION:Jonty has led many seminars and missions in Poland and Israel and is a gifted educator and a fascinating storyteller. Jonty has a unique way of connecting his teachings to his audience\, such that their experience of learning leaves a deep and enduring impact on their lives. He weaves together Jewish history with philosophy\, culture with archaeology\, and the tragedy of the Holocaust with probing\, source-based theological questions. His intricate knowledge of Jewish history and the Holocaust\, combined with his analytical and sensitive approach to challenging philosophical questions offers students a profound educational experience.
URL:https://cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net/event/virtual-israel-tours-with-rabbi-jonty-blackman-we-hereby-declare/
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20210411T140000
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UID:10000685-1618149600-1618149600@cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net
SUMMARY:Bechazit: On The Frontline | Driving Social Change in Israel - Ami Ayalon
DESCRIPTION:This program will be offered on Zoom. Registrants only need to RSVP once to be registered for the entire series.Classrooms Without Borders is embarking our newest Israel seminar which we are calling “Bachazit” – On The Frontline. In our upcoming 6 sessions we will highlight challenges facing Israel and the individuals or organizations that are grappling with the issues at hand. We will illuminate subjects such as the integration of minority groups into the high-tech sector\, the struggle for L.G.B.T.Q. rights\, programs that assist Israelis injured during their military service\, the fight against racism in Israeli society and more. \nSunday\, April 11: Ami Ayalon – From Commander to Peacemaker\nDuring the week of Israel Independence Day\, we will meet with Ami Ayalon\, the former decorated commander of the Naval commandos (the Israeli version of Navy Seals) and subsequently the former commander of the Israeli Navy\, former head of the Shin-Bet (Israel’s Internal Security Service)\, former member of Parliament and former government minister. Ami is also a leading voice for making peace between Israel and the Palestinians. We will learn what lead a man who spent his entire professional life fighting terror to befriend some of his enemies and to promote a genuine peace between the warring peoples. \nAdmiral (Ret.) Ami Ayalon \nAdmiral (ret.) Ayalon is a former director of the Israel Security Agency (the Shin Bet) and a former commander of Israel’s Navy. He has served as a cabinet minister and a member of the Knesset. Along with Sari Nusseibeh\, he has headed the ‘People’s Voice’ peace initiative in 2002.  \nAyalon is one of the founders of ‘Blue White Future’\, a non-partisan political  movement\, committed to securing the future of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state through facilitating an inclusive discourse to promote a two state solution.  \nBetween the years 2011-2016 Ayalon has served as Chairman of the Executive Committee at the university of Haifa and until recently he also served as senior research fellow and Director of the Amnon Lipkin-Shahak Program on National Security and Democracy at the Israel Democracy Institute.   \nCurrently Ayalon serves as the Chairman of AKIM Israel (the National  Association for the Habilitation of Children and Adults with Intellectual  Disabilities). He is also the Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Haifa Research Center for Maritime Policy & Strategy.  \nAvi Ben-Hur \nA Brooklyn native\, Avi moved to Israel in 1983. Currently\, he is on the faculty of the University of Haifa Tourism School\, an examiner for the Israeli Ministry of Tourism\, and the Director of Education of Classrooms Without Borders. \nAn eclectic Israeli educator specializing in Land of Israel studies\, the history of Jerusalem\, the Arab-Israeli conflict and Holocaust studies\, Avi’s expertise is in integrating ideas and knowledge from various disciplines into a comprehensive and coherent narrative.
URL:https://cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net/event/bechazit-on-the-frontline-driving-social-change-in-israel-ami-ayalon/
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20210408T160000
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DTSTAMP:20260709T195113
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UID:10000684-1617897600-1617897600@cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net
SUMMARY:"Balm in Gilead: A Story From the War" with author\, Ambassador John L. Withers II and Holocaust survivor Howard Chandler
DESCRIPTION:Classrooms Without Borders\, in partnership with Rodef Shalom Congregation and the Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage\, is honored to welcome Ambassador John L. Withers II and survivor Howard Chandler as they discuss a moving tale of friendships forged between survivors and rescuers in the days after the war. Pee Wee and Salomon were wonderful men. At first\, the wonder of them appeared to be their survival—of Dachau\, I thought\, but of so much else as it turns out. Survival was a testament to courage and endurance of a kind I could barely imagine. But as I grew to know them better\, I realized that the true wonder was the people they were. Sweet-tempered\, kindly\, gentle. How could that be? That was the true wonder. All the hostility\, hatred\, and evil they encountered without letting it deform them or deflect them from becoming the kind of people they wanted to be. They didn’t become hateful or hostile in return. They didn’t become bitter or apathetic. Quite the contrary. That was something I’ve kept with me all my life: that it is possible for someone—me\, anyone—to overcome the obstacles in his path without losing himself\, and face prejudice without becoming prejudiced in return. —John L. Withers\, May 2001 \nIn May 1945\, as World War II ended\, an all-black U.S. Army truck company\, including Lieutenant John L. Withers of Greensboro\, North Carolina\, rushed emergency supplies to an unknown German town. Long victims of harsh racial abuse\, the soldiers were nonetheless shocked at the horrors they witnessed when the “town” turned out to be the Dachau concentration camp. They were further shocked\, days later\, when two destitute young Jews\, former Dachau inmates\, appeared at their encampment and pleaded for help. Housing non-military personnel was strictly forbidden\, but the soldiers\, with their lieutenant’s endorsement\, sheltered the boys nevertheless. \nAfter the war\, as he raised a family and launched a career in government\, Withers always remembered the Jewish boys and told of the year they hid out in his unit\, working alongside and forging close friendships with his soldiers. He himself became their surrogate parent\, guiding them towards understanding that\, however horrid the past\, the future yet held hope. When he went home in 1947\, the boys—fondly nicknamed Pee Wee and Salomon by the troops—were ready to start life anew. Although they eventually lost touch\, Withers’ memory of his friends never faded. What\, he wondered\, had become of them? Would he ever see them again? \nBalm in Gilead traces John L. Withers II’s prolonged search for the roots of his father’s story—a search that one day\, miraculously\, ended with the old friends finding each other again. \nAmbassador John L. Withers II \nBorn on November 1\, 1948\, in High Point\, North Carolina\, Ambassador John L. Withers II spent much of his childhood abroad with his Foreign Service parents.  Their assignments included Laos\, Thailand\, Burma\, Korea\, Ethiopia\, Kenya\, and India.  On returning to America\, he earned a B.A. from Harvard in 1970; a Masters in East Asian Studies at McGill in 1975; and a Ph.D. in the History of Modern China from Yale in 1983.  As part of his doctoral studies\, he conducted dissertation research at Nanjing University in China in 1980-81.  After himself joining the Foreign Service in 1984\, Withers served in the Netherlands\, Nigeria\, Russia (just as communism fell)\, Latvia\, Slovenia\, and Albania (as Ambassador)\, as well as such domestic assignments as Special Assistant to the Deputy Secretary of State and Director of the Operations Center.  For his work in support of Albanian democracy\, the Albanian city of Vlora named him an honorary citizen as it marked the 100th anniverary of the country’s independence in 2012.  Three years later\, Albania’s capital\, Tirana\, awarded him the keys to the city.  Now retired\, Withers  and his wife\, Maryruth Coleman\, also a senior Foreign Service officer\, live in Potomac\, Maryland. \nHoward Chandler \nHoward Chandler was born in December 1928\, in Weirzbnik\, Poland. He was the middle child of four siblings; an older sister\, and two younger brothers. At the onset of the war\, Howard was almost eleven years old\, finishing grade three\, and remembers the rounding up and kidnapping of Jews for forced labor camps and the constant search of houses. Between 1942-1944\, he was a prisoner in Starachowice Labour Camp and then sent to Auschwitz-Birkenau\, Buchenwald and was liberated from Theresienstadt in 1945. Only he and one of his brothers survived. In 1947\, he was able to be included in a group to go to Canada\, where he found his mothers’ two sisters\, and lived with another sister. Howard married Elsa and together they had four children.  Howard\, is an integral member of Classrooms Without Borders’ Poland Personally Travel Study Seminar. He is a mentor and friend of hundreds of CWB teachers and students who had the privilege to travel and learn with him.  \nLearn more about Howard’s testimony and story of survival using our Journey with Howard Chandler mobile app!
URL:https://cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net/event/balm-in-gilead-a-story-from-the-war-with-author-ambassador-john-l-withers-ii-and-holocaust-survivor-howard-chandler/
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20210406T163000
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DTSTAMP:20260709T195113
CREATED:20220518T162402Z
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UID:10000683-1617726600-1617726600@cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net
SUMMARY:Weekly Book Discussion of "War of Shadows Codebreakers\, Spies\, and the Secret Struggle to Drive the Nazis from the Middle East" by Gershom Gorenberg with Dr. Josh Andy
DESCRIPTION:Click the orange button to see our Eventbrite registration form. Make sure to answer the questions with the red asterisk* .\nThis program will be offered on Zoom. Registrants only need to RSVP once to be registered for the entire series.\nThe book discussions will be offered on the following dates and times:  \nApril 6\, 2021   4:30pm\nApril 13\, 2021 4:30pm\nApril 20\, 2021 4:30pm\nApril 27\, 2021 4:30pm \nThen\, on Tuesday\, May 4th at 4:30  pm ET please join us for a discussion with the author of “War of Shadows Codebreakers\, Spies\, and the Secret Struggle to Drive the Nazis from the Middle East : Gershom Gorenberg \nRead more and RSVP for this discussion event HERE. \nAbout The Author: \nGershom Gorenberg is the author of War of Shadows: Codebreakers\, Spies\, and the Secret Struggle to Drive the Nazis from the Middle East. \nHis previous books include The Unmaking of Israel  and The Accidental Empire: Israel and the Birth of the Settlements\, 1967-1977. He is a columnist for the Washington Post\, and has written for The New York Times Magazine\, Atlantic Monthly and The New York Review of Books and in Hebrew for Haaretz. \nGorenberg lives in Jerusalem\, except during stints teaching a workshop on writing history at the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism. \nAbout the Book: \nWar of Shadows Codebreakers\, Spies\, and the Secret Struggle to Drive the Nazis from the Middle East by Gershom Gorenberg \n“A masterpiece of scholarship and synthesis…It will remind readers of a cloak-and-dagger tale by John Le Carré with an armature of fascinating historical annotation.”\n— The Washington Post \nSummer 1942: Rommel’s army is a day from Cairo\, a week from Tel Aviv. The SS is ready for action. Espionage brought the Nazis this far. And espionage can stop them – if Washington wakes up. \nWar of Shadows is the meticulously constructed and cinematic story of the race for information in the North African theater of World War II. It rewrites the popular narrative of the war—not as an inevitable clash of heroes and villains but as a spiraling series of accidents and desperate triumphs that decided the fate of millions. \n“With the pacing of a spy thriller… War of Shadows takes us to the brink of disaster as the Allies and Axis powers vie for control of the Middle East…. Gorenberg belongs to a unique cadre of journalist historians.”\n—Sarah Wildman\, author of Paper Love \n“A dazzling and groundbreaking portrait of a crucial moment in WWII… Gorenberg has produced a vital new account of one of the key episodes of the last century.”\n—Matti Friedman\, author of Spies of No Country \n“The story grips you so much that it’s hard to put aside: the extraordinary spying in both directions\, the vivid characters\, the huge stakes\, and all of this on a World War II front that American readers know surprisingly little about.”\n—Adam Hochschild\, author of King Leopold’s Ghost \nThe full inclusion of people of all abilities is a core value of Classrooms Without Borders. For questions or to make requests for special accommodations contact melissa@classroomswithoutborders.org
URL:https://cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net/event/weekly-book-discussion-of-war-of-shadows-codebreakers-spies-and-the-secret-struggle-to-drive-the-nazis-from-the-middle-east-by-gershom-gorenberg-with-dr-josh-andy/
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20210406T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20210406T140000
DTSTAMP:20260709T195113
CREATED:20220518T161902Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220518T161902Z
UID:10000682-1617717600-1617717600@cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net
SUMMARY:France #1 - Jewish Heritage Around the World Part II series with CWB scholar Avi Ben-Hur and guest speakers
DESCRIPTION:“This series is co-sponsored by Rodef Shalom Congregation.\nJewish Heritage Around the World: \nClassrooms Without Borders is excited to embark on our second Jewish Heritage Series. The communities covered include Britain\, Turkey\, Argentina\, France\, India and more. We will have two sessions per community. The opening session will consist of an historical survey by an expert on the topic. The second session will engage in a dialogue with members of the community. Due to time differences\, it is possible that some of the timing for the “dialogue” sessions will change\, but generally speaking the series will be running on Tuesdays from 2 PM to 3:15 PM Eastern Time. The sessions will take place on the dates below. \nUpcoming Sessions:\nThe Jews of Argentina– May 4th & June 1st\nThe largest Jewish community of Latin America and the 3rd largest in the Americas\, the population peaked at close to 350\,000 in the late 1970s. Jews have been in Argentina since the 17th century and have been involved in and witness to some of the major historical junctions of this young country. The community suffered the worst post WWII attack of any Jewish community in the world when the main community center in Buenos Aires was bombed by Hezbollah in 1994. Jewish life in Argentina is robustly pluralistic with strong Reform\, Conservative and Orthodox communities including rabbinic seminaries\, schools and camps. And yet\, assimilation is on the rise and the population is decreasing. \nJoining us on May 4 were our esteemed guest speakers\, Dr. Judith Freidenberg and Dr. Emmanuel Kahan. \nEmmanuel Kahan holds a PhD in History from the National University of La Plata. He is a Researcher at the National Scientific and Technical Research Council of Argentina. He is also a Professor with the History Department at the National University of La Plata and teaches postgraduate courses at several other universities in Argentina. He published many books and articles about the Jewish experience in Argentina and is a member of the Latin American Jewish Studies Association \nJudith Freidenberg holds a PhD in Anthropology from City University of New York.  She taught at Mt. Sinai School of Medicine in New York and at the University of Maryland\, where she is now Professor Emerita.  She published extensively on migration and health.  Two books deal with the Jewish experience in rural Argentina\, and appear in Spanish and English.  She is also a member of the Latin American Jewish Studies Association.    \nJoining us on June 1st are our esteemed guest speakers: Dr. Marisa Braylan\, Mirta Kupferminc\, Micaela Bursztein\, Karina Gorenstein and Federico Nemetsky!\nDr. Marisa Braylan \nDr. Marisa Braylan is a lawyer from University of Buenos Aires (UBA)\, specialized in Public International Law (1995). Pedagogical Training of the Teaching Career in that Faculty. Visiting professor at the Faculty of Communication Sciences\, Political Science and Sociology of the UBA. Director of the Center for Social Studies (CES) of the DAIA (Delegation of Argentine Israelite Associations). She led the research group on “Comparative international law. Denial of the Holocaust in Argentina ”\, program of Institutional Accreditation of Research Projects in Law (DeCyT) carried out jointly by DAIA and UBA. Diploma in migration and refugee protection- Faculty of Law-UBA. Diploma in Discrimination and Right to Equality – Faculty of Law-UBA. Invited professor of Special Didactics of Law\, professor of Legal Sciences of the Faculty of Law of the UBA. \nMirta Kupferminc\nPhoto by: Alejandro Meter\nMirta Kupferminc: Lecturer\, mentor of other artists and teacher\, she lives and works in Buenos Aires. Exhibiting since 1977\, she has had more than 100 solo and group shows in Argentina\, Cuba\, Brazil\, Uruguay\, China Switzerland\, Spain\, Taiwan\, Japan\, Hong Kong \, Germany\, Israel\, Poland\, France\, Hungary\, England\, United States. Her works can be found in International Collections and Museums. Received local and international printmaking awards\, Example: Great Honor Prize (2012) in Argentina\, First Prize Sivori Museum\, Argentina (2018) Silver Medal Taiwan Biennale (2006) Honor Mention Taipei Biennale (1999)Third Prize  at 7th Koichi Biennale (2008). \nIn 2013 she was the first international fellow at LABA House of Study: a laboratory for Jewish Art and Culture at the 14th St Y NYC.and is also the founding LABA-BA director in Buenos Aires. And also directs Grafia Insurgente Association. \nMicaela Bursztein \nMicaela is the Manager of Project Evaluation for JDC in Latin America \nMicaela was born and raised in Buenos Aires\, Argentina.  She graduated from the ORT High School and went on to complete her BA in Political Science at Universidad de Buenos Aires.  In 2007 she traveled to Israel with Taglit-Birthright Israel.  The trip was transformative for her\, and solidified her commitment to working in the Jewish community.  Prior to coming to JDC Micaela spent seven years in the Finance and Resource Development department of Chabad Lubavitch Argentina.  She has worked for JDC since 2017\, and is also currently pursuing a master’s degree in Public Policy and Administration at Universidad de San Andrés.  \nKarina Gorenstein \nEducational Training\n• GRADUATE IN EDUCATIONAL MANAGEMENT-­ UNTREF (Licenciada en Gestión\nEducativa. Universidad Nacional de Tres de Febrero)\n• TEACHER FOR ELEMENTARY EDUCATION -­ ISFD 7 CABA. (PROFESORA PARA LA\nENSEÑANZA PRIMARIA. INSTITUTO NACIONAL DE FORMACIÓN DOCENTE N7)\n• SPECIALIZED TEACHER IN ADOLESCENT AND ADULT EDUCATION. PROFESORA\nESPECIALIZADA EN EDUCACIÓN DE ADOLESCENTES Y ADULTOS ISFD N1\nAVELLANEDA\nProfessional Experience\n• GENERAL DIRECTOR in AGNON Y MELAMED –AMIA -­ Teacher Training Institutes\n(since February 2018)\n• PROJECT CORDINATOR in TEACHERS ACCOMPANYING SCHOOL TRAJECTORS.\nDir. Of Elementary Education. MINISTRY OF EDUCATION City of Buenos Aires. (since\nFebruary 2017)\n• DIRECTOR OF ELEMENTARY EDUCATION OF THE NATION. Ministry of Education and\nSports of the Nation. January 2016-­January 2017)\n• Teacher in presencial and distance courses at the National and International level / Teacher\nTraining Programs / Institutional advice / Content writing /\nScholarships and Prizes\n• FULBRIGHT SCHOLARSHIP for School Directors. Held in Columbus-­OHIO USA 2013\n• YAD VASHEM SCHOLARSHIP -­ “The teaching of the Shoah and the dilemmas of its\ntransmission” -­ Held in Jerusalem-­ January 2020\n• TEAMWORK AWARD Ministry of Modernization of the Government of the City of Buenos\nAires year 2013.\n• INNOVATION AWARD Ministry of Modernization of the Government of the City of Buenos\nAires year 2014 \nFederico Nemetsky \nSon of a father from Tucumám\, a small City in the north with a small Jewish Community\, and a mother from Campana\, an even smaller town near Buenos Aires with a tiny Community\, Federico has been living all his life related with Judaism and working with the Jewish Communities around Argentina. \nCurrently\, he is working on his PhD in Cultural Diversity and finishing a master degree with a specialization in Jewish Studies. He is the Director of Studies of the Agnon and Melamed Institutes (Jewish Teachers training institutes) and the Coordinator of the postgraduate course “”Jewish History and its Teaching””. \nHe is a lecturer both for Jewish and non-Jewish audiences and institutions in a wide variety of topics mainly related with Jewish culture and geo-political analysis of the Middle East. \nFederico is and active participant of local Jewish political scene and takes part in different Zionist and Jewish organizations\, like being a member of the Board of the KKL in Argentina. \n Past sessions:\nThe Jews of Britain – January 19th & February 2nd\nFrom the earliest known accusation of “blood libel” (William of Norwich – 1144) to the “falling out” of British Jewry and the Labor Party\, the history of the Jews in Britain has known its ups and downs. In addition to tracing the trajectory of the Jewish presence in the British Isles\, we plan to unpack the key issues facing British Jewry today\, as expressed by the British Jews we shall be meeting. \nOn January 19th: We welcomed Prof. David Mendelsson to our program \nProf. David Mendelsson is a senior lecturer at Hebrew University’s Rothberg International School (RIS)\, teaching History of the Modern State of Israel and The Arab-Israeli Conflict: From Its Origins to the Present. He is also the most recent past director of the Year in Israel program at Hebrew Union College in Jerusalem. Prof. Mendelsson holds doctoral and master’s degrees from the Department of Contemporary Jewry at Hebrew University. \nOn February 2: We welcomed these esteemed guests:  \nMichael Wegier – Board of Deputies of British Jews: Interim Chief Executive  \nMichael Wegier has worked in Jewish Education and Strategic Planning in the UK\, Israel\, and the United States.  Previous positions include Director of Melitz Educational Centers in Jerusalem\, Director of Jewish Education at the Baltimore JCC and Chief Executive of UJIA in the UK. Michael has also provided Strategic Plannng services to the Jewish Agency and World ORT and other global Jewish organisations. Michael has an MA in Contemporary Jewry from the Hebrew University and is a graduate of the Mandel Jerusalem Fellows. In March\, Michael will begin a new role as Interim Chief Executive of the Board of Deputies of British Jews.  \nJoanne Greenaway – London School of Jewish Studies: Chief Executive \nJoanne joined LSJS\, the London School of Jewish Studies\, in January 2019 as Chief Executive.  LSJS delivers inspiring education programmes which transmit a love of learning and achieve excellence in teaching to transform the Jewish community through teacher training degrees and innovative\, accessible adult education.  Joanne was previously at the United Synagogue where she was Get Case Director within the London Beth Din\, focussing on difficult cases of Get refusal\, as well as the Deputy Legal Director of the US. Prior to this she studied languages at Cambridge University before qualifying as a lawyer and working in private practice for 12 years\, in the field of international arbitration and public international law. Joanne is a graduate of the the Chief Rabbi’s Ma’ayan programme\, the JLC Gamechangers Senior Leadership programme and the LSJS Susi Bradfield Educational Leadership programme. She has worked as a consultant for schools and communities across Europe.  \nMark Gardner – Community Security Trust: Chief Executive \nMark is Chief Executive of CST\, having previously been Director of Communications and Research. He joined CST in 1989\, and is a leading commentator and writer on contemporary antisemitism. Mark  has represented British and European Jews in numerous fora\, for example giving the keynote speech at the 2015 European Union Colloquium on antisemitism and anti-Muslim hate; and giving evidence in British\, Israeli and German parliamentary hearings on antisemitism.  \nMark was awarded a Police Commendation for his role in helping lead Scotland Yard’s cross-London response to the 1999 neo-Nazi nail bomb campaign. He also played a prominent role in the April 2018 ill-fated Jewish community leadership meeting with (then) Leader of the Labour Party\, Jeremy Corbyn MP. \nClaudia Mendoza – Jewish Leadership Council: Co-CEO \nClaudia is the Interim Co CEO of the Jewish Leadership Council and manages the External Affairs Team. Claudia sets the strategy and priorities for the team and leads on the JLC’s policy positions. She has worked for various think tanks as a Research Analyst\, focusing on the Middle East with a special interest in Iran and the transitioning Arab states. \nClaudia has a BSc in Biochemistry from University College London and an MA in Middle East Studies from the School of Oriental and African Studies\, University of London. She is an alumna of the Adam Science Foundation Leadership Programme. \nTurkey and its Jews – February 16th & March 2nd\nThere has been a continuous Jewish presence in Asia Minor (Turkey of today) going back at least 2300 years. The past 600 years of Jewish life in Turkey has taken place within an Islamic milieu. In the Ottoman empire\, which lasted for more than 400 years\, the Jews were considered to be the “most loyal” subjects and it was that empire that gave Sephardic Jews a “safe harbor” in the wake of the Spanish and Portuguese expulsions. Once a flourishing large community\, Turkish Jewry are on the eve of their disappearance. We aim to illuminate the source of Turkey’s positive engagement with its Jews as well as grappling with the question of community continuity in the 21st century. \nJoining us on February 16 was Professor Louis Fishman: \nLouis Fishman is an associate professor in the history department at Brooklyn College\, City University of New York. He is the author of the book\, Jews and Palestinians in the late Ottoman Era\, 1908-1914: Claiming the Homeland (Edinburgh University Press\, January 2020). His academic work focuses on late Ottoman Palestine\, the Jews of the Ottoman Empire\, modern Turkey\, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In addition to his academic expertise\, he has written tens of newspaper articles and provided political analysis for numerous international media outlets on Turkish\, Israeli\, and Palestinian affairs. Since 2013 he is a regular contributor for the Israeli newspaper Haaretz. He divides his time between New York\, Istanbul and Tel Aviv\, all three cities which he considers home. \nHere is the link to Professor Fishman’s book:\nhttps://edinburghuniversitypress.com/book-jews-and-palestinians-in-the-late-ottoman-era-1908-1914.html \nAlso available on Amazon  \nJoining us on March 2 is Nisya Isman Allovi\, Karen Gerson Şarhon\, Lisya Behar and Nesi Altaras: \nNisya Isman Allovi has been the Director since 2002  and Curator of The Quincentennial Foundation Museum Of Turkish Jews. Born in Istanbul\, graduated from the International Relations Faculty and Cultural Heritage and Tourism\, she has attended advanced curatorial seminars at AEJM (Association of European Jewish Museums) and in the Federal Republic of Germany. She has conducted presentations in various countries about “”Jews Of Turkey””. Married with two children\, Nisya is an active member of the Istanbul Jewish community.\nMuseum link: www.muze500.com \nKaren Gerson Şarhon born in Istanbul in 1958. Has a BA in English Language and Literature\, an MA in Social Psychology and an MA in Applied Linguistics. Wrote both her MA theses on the Judeo-Spanish language.\nAt the end of 2003\, she founded the Sephardic Culture Research Center\, where she has been working as its coordinator ever since. The Sephardic Center of Istanbul continues its work on the preservation and documentation of all aspects of the Sephardic culture. Karen heads many projects in the Center. The Centropa Oral History Project\, the Maftirim Project\, The Ladino Database Project\, the Judeo-Spanish – Turkish – Judeo-Spanish dictionary project are the ones that have been finished. She has edited all the books and CDs the Center has published\, which include a book of caricatures in Judeo-Spanish\, 4 books of anecdotes and stories of Matilda Koen-Sarano\, 16 small novels in Judeo-Spanish called “”Romansikos en Judeo-Espanyol”” from the archives of the Alliance Israelite Universelle\, the Judeo-Spanish – Turkish dictionary and a number of CDs in Sephardic music. She is also the chief editor of the only monthly newspaper in the world that is entirely in Ladino\, El Amaneser and also of the Judeo-Spanish page(s) of the weekly Şalom newspaper. In 2011\, she was awarded the medal of Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres de la République Française by the Ministry of Culture of France for her contribution to the world culture and her efforts in the preservation of Judeo-Spanish\, an endangered language. Karen has many articles on the Sephardic Culture published mainly in 3 languages: Turkish\, English and Ladino. She has also taken part in many TV programs\, documentaries\, etc. on Judeo-Spanish and the Sephardic music and culture. \nShe has Ladino lessons on YouTube and currently at: www.sephardicbrotherhood/ladino 101 \nKaren is also the founder\, singer and presenter of the group Los Pasharos Sefaradis\, the most authentic group in Turkish Sephardic music. Has 9 albums published by this group. \nLisya Behar was born in İstanbul. Volunteering in the Jewish Community since childhood\, Lisya has been president of the local Jewish Youth Team\, helped build a homecare system for the elderly\,  and is one of the co-founders of Limmud Turkey. She is currently the CEO of the Alef Jewish Community Center İstanbul \nNesi Altaras is an MA student in Political Science at McGill University from Istanbul\, Turkey. A member of the shrinking Jewish community of Turkey\, Nesi is a writer and editor for the online Jewish publication Avlaremoz and his current research is on the migration of Jews from Kurdistan in the final years of the Ottoman Empire. His previous work was on the failed peace and reconciliation processes in Turkey on the Kurdish question. His interest is in minorities in both the contemporary Middle East and in late Ottoman history as well as identity in Turkey. \nThe Jews of India – March 16th & 23rd\nWhat? There are Indian Jews? The answer emphatically is yes\, and there is a variety of different types of Indian Jews. One of the questions we will grapple with is when did Jews first arrive in the Indian sub-continent. What kinds of traditions emerged with this community and what kind of relationship did Indian Jews have with their co-religionists around the world\, if any? Another question relates to the fact that historically\, Indian Jews never experienced antisemitism. This being the case\, why did most Indian Jews emigrate to Israel in the 1950s? \nJoining us on March 16 was Dr. Maisie Meyer \nDr. Meyer was born in Calcutta (Kolkata) and grew up in a colonial setting. The subject she chose to research reflects her personal autobiography. It gives her a deeper understanding of Baghdadi Jews\, their emulation of a British lifestyle and their desire to appear as British as possible within the parameters of their faith. She is a double graduate in English and Humanities\, both with honours\, and obtained an MA degree in International History. The British Academy awarded her a scholarship to do a PhD which she was awarded from the London School of Economics in 1994. She pioneered the research of the Baghdadi Jewish Community of Shanghai. Her publications From the Rivers of Babylon to the Whangpoo: A Century of Sephardi Jewish Life in Shanghai (Lanham M.D.2003) and Shanghai’s Baghdadi Jews: A Compilation of Biographical Memories (Hong Kong 2013) have been widely acclaimed. \nJoining us on March 23 was Nissim J. Pingle and Ralphy Jhirad \nNissim J. Pingle works for the JDC\, India office as the Director for the EPJCC (Evelyn Peters Jewish Community Center). As a longtime member and somebody who has benefited immensely from the activities of AJDC and JCC\, he sees this role as an opportunity to give back. He is responsible for the day-to-day operations and growth of the JCC programs as well as developing and implementing programs that help in community building and/or Jewish learning. A Physics graduate from the Mumbai University\, he has worked as an Operations Manager for a Call Center and a General Manager for a chain of Fitness Centers. He lives in Navi Mumbai with his wife\, parents and 2 sons. When he is not glued to a computer or TV screen\, he spends time playing with his kids\, quizzing\, and trying hard not be the worst player in Table Tennis! \nRalphy Jhirad is the Trustees of the Bene Israel Heritage Museum and Genealogical Research Centre. Ralphy is the authority on the Jewish Heritage of India and is faculty on the same subject in the Guides Training Course of the Government of India\, Department of Tourism. He is a member of the Jewish Community in India and is dedicated to the preservation of their culture. He published following books\, BOMBAY : Exploring The Urban Jewish Heritage by Shaul Sapir\, Siyon se Sahyadri Tak by Sheba Jeremiah Nagaokar\, The Jews of Pakistan by Yoel Reuben\, Of Muse and Memories by Rebecca Yehezkielm\, The Demographic and Socio Economic Characteristics of Jews in India by Ralphy Jhirad and Lily Ezekiel. He has curated and organized following Exhibitions: Contribution of David Sassoon and family towards the development of Bombay and Jewish Landmarks in Mumbai. He has developed following itineraries for Tours of Jewish Heritage in India: Tour of Jewish Heritage in Mumbai\, Sassoon Landmarks of Mumbai\, Tour of Jewish  Arrival in Raigad and their original traditions\, India a Jewish Perspective\, Tour of the Jews of Kerala\, Tour of the Jewish Community of Ahmedabad. Ralphy organized the first ever visit of the Chief Rabbi of the United Synagogues. A few photos from this visit are enclosed for reference. He has assisted several Authors\, Full Bright Scholars\, Film Makers and Museum Curators during their research in India. He has travelled to various centers of India where Jewish Heritage is predominant and assisted Thousands of Jewish Travelers to either discover their own Jewish Roots in India or learn about the incredible Jewish Perspective in India. Refer Website visitjewishindia.com for more details on various tour options including incredible India and it’s Jewish Heritage. \nFrench Jewry – April 6th & April 20th\nThe great medieval commentator Rashi\, Baron Rothschild\, Alfred Dreyfuss\, Leon Blum\, Simone Weil\, Emanuel Levinas are just a few famous French (Jewish) names that come to mind when thinking about the contribution of French Jewry. The first Jews in Europe to be offered emancipation\, in recent years French Jewry has found itself facing the worst antisemitic attacks in Europe. How this came to be are just some of the subjects we will engage in with this dynamic community. \nJoining us on April 6 was: \nPhilippe Boukara                Philippe Boukara was born in Paris in 1957. He is an historian\, specialised in Contemporary French Jewry. He is a coordinator of Adult Education in the Shoah Memorial in Paris\, and he has been teaching in various academic institutions. He is involved in Jewish-Christian dialogues ans is the honorary chair of Dorvador\, the Conservative Congregation in Eastern Paris. He publishes regularly in the French Jewish press. \nJoining us on April 20 is:  \n                 Yonathan Arfi is vice-president of CRIF and chairman of CRIF’s commission for international affairs. He has been a member of the Executive Board of the CRIF for the last 14 years and has worked closely with former and current presidents of CRIF\, Richard Prasquier\, Roger Cukierman and Francis Kalifat.\nYonathan Arfi was born in 1980 in Toulouse and raised in Paris\, where he graduated from HEC business school in 2003. He is the CEO of Optimal Gestion\, the financial consulting firm he founded in 2007 in Paris.He is also a member of the Board of Directors of Alliance Israélite Universelle (www.aiu.org – main Jewish organization in the field of education in France) and Oeuvre de Secours aux Enfants (www.ose-france.org – main Jewish social welfare organization in France).\nYonathan Arfi was also the chairman of the French Union of Jewish Students from 2003 to 2005. He founded in 2005 CoExist (www.coexist.fr)\, the leading program in France against racial\, religious andcultural prejudices among French pupils and has been working on the issue of anti-Semitism since 2000. \nMasha Ugryumova is 27 years old and was born and grew up in Tcheliabinsk\, Russia. \nShe moved to France at the age of 18 to study Communication at La Sorbonne University. \nToday she lives in Paris and works for international organisation for Jewish youth Hilel Campus France as the Head of Communication.  \nThanks to her job\, she’s directly concerned by today’s challenges and struggles that Jewish youth of France have to face and looks for the solutions how to deal with that. \n                Elie Touitou\nBorn and raised in Paris\, in a Zionist and traditionalist Jewish Family\, Elie is a Lawyer specialized in Digital and Business Law. In 2016\, during his studies at Sorbonne Law School\, he founded the association Alliance\, in a double reference to Vladimir Jabotinsky’s Beitar and to René Cassin’s Alliance Universelle Israélite (Kol Israel Haverim). \nFirst acting as a local organization inside the University\, the association grew fast and is now a federation of five local association gathering +500 students across the major Parisian campuses. Alliance aims to organize Jewish life on campus\, provide Jewish and Zionist students with the intellectual means necessary to be able to defend their convictions by organizing formation\, lectures\, workshops\, debates and journeys and also to fight antisemitism\, in all its forms\, on French Campuses. \nThe Association developed close bounds with Zionist and/or Israeli organizations with which it works on a daily basis. \nDelphine Gamburg: Director of Communication at the Embassy of Israel in France \nDelphine Gamburg was born in France and emigrated to Israel in 1995. After working for the Israeli Ministry of Integration between 1996-1998\, she joined the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs.  She worked there as a lawyer until 2005\,  then held various positions in the Department of International Development Cooperation\, and to the Department of Strategic Affairs until her departure to the United States in 2015 where she was the cultural attaché at the Embassy of Israel in Washington DC. \nShe is currently in charge of the Public Communication Department at the Embassy of Israel in France. Delphine has a Bachelor of Laws\, a Masters of International Relations\, and a PhD in American foreign policy in the Middle East. She is married and has 3 children \nKAREN REB RUDEL \nBorn and raised in Johnstown\, Pennsylvania\, Karen grew up with the aspiration to be a comedian\, a musician\, or both… She groomed these crafts from a young age by making everyone around her laugh and beginning a lifetime romance with the flute at the age of 9. She went on to study drama at Temple University in Philadelphia and played in a series of bands. \nFrom the age of 30 until she got married\, Karen was back and forth between Paris and Philadelphia\, working on musical projects and touring (including being the flautist and singer in a Reggae band in Paris). One day her parents came to visit her and Karen\, having learned a lot about Paris\, was showing them around when her mother exclaimed\, “Karen\, you would make a great tour guide!” \nThat was the light bulb moment\, and as the French say\, voila! \nParis has been Karen’s stomping ground for over 20 years\, and her company is in a unique position to give you the historical background and underground cultural scoops that most walking tours leave out. \nAvi Ben-Hur \nA Brooklyn native\, Avi moved to Israel in 1983. Currently\, he is on the faculty of the University of Haifa Tourism School\, an examiner for the Israeli Ministry of Tourism\, and the Director of Education of Classrooms Without Borders. \nAn eclectic Israeli educator specializing in Land of Israel studies\, the history of Jerusalem\, the Arab-Israeli conflict and Holocaust studies\, Avi’s expertise is in integrating ideas and knowledge from various disciplines into a comprehensive and coherent narrative.”
URL:https://cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net/event/france-1-jewish-heritage-around-the-world-part-ii-series-with-cwb-scholar-avi-ben-hur-and-guest-speakers/
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20210401T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20210401T150000
DTSTAMP:20260709T195113
CREATED:20220518T161902Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220518T161902Z
UID:10000681-1617289200-1617289200@cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net
SUMMARY:"How the Holocaust Came to TV" Film and Discussion with filmmaker Alice Agneskirchner\, Tovah Feldshuh\, Hannah Lessing and Dr. Michael Berenbaum
DESCRIPTION:Classrooms Without Borders\, in partnership with Rodef Shalom Congregation\, Liberation 75\, the Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage and Germany Close Up\, is honored to welcome filmmaker Alice Agneskirchner\, with award winning actor Tovah Feldshuh and Secretary General Hannah Lessing to convene this post screening discussion moderated by Dr. Michael Berenbaum.At the beginning of 1979\, after more than 30 years of collective repression\, a dramatized and emotional US television miniseries ensured that the German population was suddenly reminded of the terrible Nazi crimes against the Jews. What is now expressed with the hitherto unknown word Holocaust\, hits many millions of people in the heart. The unexpected echo and the audience reactions were fierce. Even before the TV broadcast neo-Nazis blasted in vain transmitting towers in Germany to prevent this. From the creation and the shooting over the broadcast to the tremendous reactions\, documentary filmmaker Alice Agneskirchner tells the story of this emotional television event\, which led to a paradigm shift in the perception of German Nazi crimes. \nTovah Feldshuh\, top left\, Meryl Streep and Hannah Lessing\, bottom\, in ‘Holocaust\,’ the 1978 series that changed how Germany perceived its disturbing history. (Screenshots) \nIn her documentary film “How the Holocaust Came to TV”\, the director Alice Agneskirchner reconstructs the special production conditions and the tremendous social echo of the American family saga “Holocaust”. The four-part original series was screened on German television in 1979 under the title “Holocaust – The History of the Weiss Family”. It heralded a turning point in dealing with National Socialism and sparked a heated controversy. In the run-up to the broadcast in Germany\, there was already passionate debate in the media about the production. Critics feared the trivialization of history. \nThe documentary traces the difficulties that the “Westdeutscher Rundfunk” (WDR) and in particular its head of television at that time\, Günter Rohrbach\, had to get the series on TV in Germany. The film also shows numerous excerpts from the original series as well as the reactions of the audience\, which exceeded all expectations: viewing figures of nearly 40 percent\, tens of thousands of calls during the night and piles of mail from the audience. Director Marvin J. Chomsky and producer Robert Berger\, both of Jewish descent\, talk about the stressful atmosphere during the shooting. The actresses of mother and daughter Weiss\, Rosemary Harris and Blanche Baker\, meet again for the first time after the shooting and they talk about the importance of the work for them. Other actors\, including Michael Moriarty and Erwin Steinhauer\, return to the filming locations\, such as the gas chamber of the former Mauthausen concentration camp. \nThe series portrayed – in a highly emotional way – the fictional stories of two families: that of the assimilated German-Jewish doctor family Weiss\, who lives in Berlin. And parallel to that\, the family story about the lawyer Erik Dorf\, who adapts to the new political conditions and rose to the position of an adjutant to SS leader Reinhard Heydrichs in a short time. Concerning the Weiss family\, the audience witnessed every stage of the initial exclusion and disenfranchisement of a respected family of doctors\, right up to their deportation and murder in the gas chamber. \nNever before\, films or television programs had portrayed the genocide of the Jews so vividly from the perspective of the victims. The American TV series brought the term “Holocaust” to Germany and Europe. With its meaningfulness\, it also entered the debates of the German Bundestag\, which in 1979 finally discussed the statute of limitations for Nazi war crimes. The Society for the German Language elected “Holocaust” 1979 as word of the year. Today it is used as a synonym for the systematic extermination of the Jews in Nazi Germany. \nThe broadcast of the series triggered intense discussions in many families about the responsibility parents and grandparents had during the Nazi era. The film explores the questions\, feelings and effects that still play a role today. The 1970s were characterized by a rigid family and social system\, the post-hippie era\, two oil crises and the left-wing terrorism of the RAF (Rote Armee Fraktion). “Holocaust” hit a sensitive nerve\, led to reflection in all social classes and for the first time – 34 years after the end of the war – enabled a kind of emotional catharsis. \nTo date\, “Holocaust” is one of the most successful TV productions worldwide\, it has won eight Emmy Awards and has been sold in over 50 countries. Media and history studies have dealt with it again and again since then. Now\, it has been over 40 years since the first screening. What significance does the series have for our present time? In what way did the series “Holocaust” and the resulting social debate shape us? \nAlice Agneskirchner \nAlice Agneskirchner was born in 1966 and raised in Munich\, Bavaria. In 1988\, after completing her basic studies at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität in political science\, theater studies\, and German and comparative ethnology\, she went to the Landestheater Salzburg as an assistant director.  In 1989 she was invited to study directing at the “Konrad Wolf” Academy of Film and Television in Potsdam-Babelsberg and graduated in 1995. Since 1995 she has been working successfully and continuously as a writer and director for documentary films and series of various lengths and genres. From 2003 – 2007 she was a lecturer at the Film Academy Ludwigsburg. Since 2012 Alice Agneskirchner is an elected member of the German Film Academy. In 2018 she presented her film „ON HUNTING – WHO OWNS NATURE?“ in more than 150 cinems in Germany. In 2019 her film „KIDS IN THE SPOTLIGHT“ had it’s premier at the BERLINALE – The Berlin Film Festival. In 2020 she received the GRIMME-TV-Award for her documentary film “HOW HOLOCAUST CAME TO TV”. \nTovah Feldshuh \nTOVAH FELDSHUH is a six-time Emmy & Tony nominee and has been awarded three honorary Doctorates of Humane Letters. Additionally\, for her theatre work\, she has won four Drama Desks\, four Outer Critics Circle Awards\, three Dramalogues\, the Obie\, the Theatre World\, and the Helen Hayes and Lucille Lortel Awards for Best Actress. She has just been twice nominated as Best Actress in a Drama in Los Angeles for her work in the play Sisters-in-Law\, in which she originated the role of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.  \nOn the Page: Ms. Feldshuh has just been nominated for the prestigious Audie award for her narration of The Gift by Holocaust-survivor\, Dr. Edith Eger. Tovah’s first memoir\, Lilyville: Mother\, Daughter\, and Other Roles I’ve Played has just been published by Hachette Book Group and can be purchased on Amazon\, Barnes & Noble\, Target\, Indie Bound and more. See www.tovahfeldshuh.com/lilyville for more information and to order. \nGREAT NEWS!  Lilyville\, is making its debut at the fantastic Atlanta Book Festival this April 15th at 8:00 PM EST.  All are invited to join!  Here is the link: https://www.showclix.com/event/tovah-feldshuh-lilyville\nOn the Stage: Broadway: Yentl\, Cyrano\, Rodgers & Hart\, Dreyfus in Rehearsal\, Sarava!\, Lend Me a Tenor\, Golda’s Balcony\, Irena’s Vow\, and the show stopping\, trapeze-swinging Berthe in Pippin. Off-Broadway and around the country: Dozens of productions playing everything from three queens of Henry VIII and Tallulah Bankhead to Yussel “The Muscle” Jacobs\, nine Jews from birth to death in Hello Muddah\, Hello Fadduh! and\, most recently\, Holocaust denier Brenda Goodsen opposite Ed Asner in The Soap Myth. In the pre-COVID summer\, she starred in the world premiere of Wade Dooley’s The Prompter directed by Scott Schwartz\, where she played Irene Young\, a legendary diva making her Broadway comeback after a 40 year absence. Immediately on the heels of The Prompter\, she filmed Clifford for Paramount Pictures\, traveled to the Sing-Sing in New Guinea\, and flew from there to Los Angeles to star as RBG in the LA Premiere of Jonathan Shapiro’s Sisters-In-Law.  \nOn TV: Deanna Monroe on “The Walking Dead”\, Danielle Melnick on “Law & Order”\, POTUS Pauline Mackenzie on “Salvation”\, and Naomi Bunch on “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” where Feldshuh can be seen singing the dignified showstopper: “Where’s the Bathroom!”  In February of 2021\, she completed filming Scenes from a Marriage for HBO playing Oscar Isaac’s mother\, Miryam. \nOn Film: Kissing Jessica Stein\, (Golden Satellite Award)\, A Walk on the Moon\, Brewster’s Millions\, Just My Luck\, Daniel\, The Idolmaker\, and most recently\, Ms. Feldshuh’s award-winning performance as Prime Minister Golda Meir in Golda’s Balcony has been made into a film entitled Golda’s Balcony The Film which has won 20 out of 20 Audience Choice Awards. Before the pandemic\, she completed filming Edith Hagigi’s BLEECKER with Ben Stiller.  \nHer concert\, Tovah: Out of Her Mind!\, was voted Best One Woman Show of the Year by the BOSTON GLOBE. Her other one-woman shows\, “Tovah is LEONA!” and “Aging is Optional”  enjoyed sold-out engagements in New York\, San Francisco\, Boca Raton and Delray. She’s the wife of New York attorney\, Andrew Harris Levy\, the mother of Brandon\, married to Jami\, and Amanda\, married to Joel\, and the grandmother of Rafael\,  Sidney Mei\, and Camille Willa. Follow Tovah’s pre-pandemic travels around the world on Instagram @tovahfeld. www.tovahfeldshuh.com \nHannah Lessing \nHannah Lessing has been Secretary General of the National Fund of the Republic of Austria for Victims of National Socialism since 1995. She has also headed the General Settlement Fund since 2001 and the Fund for the Restoration of the Jewish Cemeteries in Austria since 2010 – three Funds carrying out their work in remembrance of the victims. \nHannah Lessing is Co-Head of the Austrian delegation to the “International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance” (IHRA). Since March 2011\, she has been Austria’s representative on the International Committee of the Auschwitz Foundation and Member of the Board of the Documentation Centre of Austrian Resistance. \nIn 2001\, as a member of the Austrian delegation headed by Ambassador Sucharipa\, Hannah Lessing participated in the negotiations on compensation issues conducted by Under-Secretary of State Stuart Eizenstat\, which led to the signature of the Joint Statement in Washington in 2001. Following this Agreement\, the General Settlement Fund for Victims of National Socialism was established in 2001 in order to achieve a comprehensive resolution to open questions of compensation for victims of National Socialism. \nEstablished in order to express the moral responsibility of the Republic of Austria towards victims of National Socialism\, the National Fund carries out a range of activities related to matters of restitution and compensation and the conveyance of historical awareness.  \nHannah Lessing has lectured extensively on the work of the three Funds\, as well as in connection with national and international commemoration activities regarding the Holocaust. \nDr. Michael Berenbaum \nDr. Michael Berenbaum is a writer\, lecturer\, and teacher consulting in the conceptual development of museums and historical films. He is director of the Sigi Ziering Institute: Exploring the Ethical and Religious Implications of the Holocaust at the American Jewish University\, where he is also a Professor of Jewish Studies. \nHe was the Executive Editor of the Second Edition of the Encyclopedia Judaica that reworked\, transformed\, improved\, broadened and deepened\, the now classic 1972 work and consists of 22 volumes\, sixteen million words with 25\,000 individual contributions to Jewish knowledge. For three years\, he was President and Chief Executive Officer of the Survivors of the Shoah Visual History Foundation. He was the Director of the United States Holocaust Research Institute at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum and the Hymen Goldman Adjunct Professor of Theology at Georgetown University in Washington\, D.C. From 1988–93 he served as Project Director of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum\, overseeing its creation. He also served as Deputy Director of the President’s Commission on the Holocaust\, where he authored its Report to the President. \nBerenbaum is the author and editor of twenty books\, scores of scholarly articles\, and hundreds of journalistic pieces. His most recent books include: Not Your Father’s Antisemitism\, A Promise to Remember: The Holocaust in the Words and Voices of Its Survivors and After the Passion Has Passed: American Religious Consequences\, a collection of essays on Jews\, Judaism and Christianity\, Religious Tolerance and Pluralism occasioned by the controversy that swirled around Mel Gibson’s film\, The Passion. He was the conceptual developer on the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Educational Center and played a similar function as conceptual developer and chief curator of the Belzec Memorial at the site of the Death Camp. He is currently at work on the Memorial Museum to Macedonian Jewry in Skopje\, the Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum\, and the Holocaust and Humanity Center in Cincinnati\, Ohio.
URL:https://cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net/event/how-the-holocaust-came-to-tv-film-and-discussion-with-filmmaker-alice-agneskirchner-tovah-feldshuh-hannah-lessing-and-dr-michael-berenbaum/
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20210330T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20210330T160000
DTSTAMP:20260709T195113
CREATED:20220518T161902Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220518T161902Z
UID:10000680-1617120000-1617120000@cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net
SUMMARY:Author Talk with Dr. Wendy Lower "Hitler’s Furies: German Women in the Nazi Killing Fields"
DESCRIPTION:Classrooms Without Borders in partnership with Rodef Shalom Congregation and the Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage is honored to bring Dr. Wendy Lower author of the book\, “Hitler’s Furies: German Women in the Nazi Killing Fields” to our community of educators and learners. \nDr. Lower’s stunning account of the role of German women on the World War II Nazi eastern front powerfully revises history\, proving that we have ignored the reality of women’s participation in the Holocaust\, including as brutal killers. The long-held picture of German women holding down the home front during the war\, as loyal wives and cheerleaders for the Führer\, pales in comparison to Lower’s incisive case for the massive complicity\, and worse\, of the 500\,000 young German women she places\, for the first time\, directly in the killing fields of the expanding Reich. \nHitler’s Furies builds a fascinating and convincing picture of a morally “lost generation” of young women\, born into a defeated\, tumultuous post–World War I Germany\, and then swept up in the nationalistic fervor of the Nazi movement—a twisted political awakening that turned to genocide. These young women—nurses\, teachers\, secretaries\, wives\, and mistresses—saw the emerging Nazi empire as a kind of “wild east” of career and matrimonial opportunity\, and yet could not have imagined what they would witness and do there. Lower\, drawing on twenty years of archival and field work on the Holocaust\, access to post-Soviet documents\, and interviews with German witnesses\, presents overwhelming evidence that these women were more than “desk murderers” or comforters of murderous German men: that they went on “shopping sprees” for Jewish-owned goods and also brutalized Jews in the ghettos of Poland\, Ukraine\, and Belarus; that they were present at killing-field picnics\, not only providing refreshment but also taking their turn at the mass shooting. And Lower uncovers the stories\, perhaps most horrific\, of SS wives with children of their own\, whose female brutality is as chilling as any in history. \nHitler’s Furies will challenge our deepest beliefs: genocide is women’s business too\, and the evidence can be hidden for seventy years. \nDr. Wendy Lower \nWendy Lower is a Senior Scholar at the MacMillan Center at Yale University. She is the John K. Roth Professor of History and Director of the Mgrublian Center for Human Rights at Claremont McKenna College. Lower chairs the Academic Committee of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and served as Acting Director of the Jack\, Joseph and Morton Mandel Center for Advanced Holocaust Studies of the USHMM (2016-2018).   \nDr. Lower is the author of Nazi Empire-Building and the Holocaust in Ukraine (2005)\, The Diary of Samuel Golfard and the Holocaust in Galicia (2011); and co- editor (with Ray Brandon) of Shoah in Ukraine: History\, Testimony\, Memorialization (2008). Her book\, Hitler’s Furies: German Women in the Nazi Killing Fields (2013) was a finalist for the National Book Award and has been translated into 23 languages. Her next book\, The Ravine: A Family\, A Photograph\, A Holocaust Massacre Revealed\, will be published in February 2021 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. \n Click here for a link to purchase the book\nCWB educators are eligible for a stipend towards reimbursement for the purchase of this book. Contact Melissa Haviv for more information: melissa@classroomswithoutborders.org
URL:https://cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net/event/author-talk-with-dr-wendy-lower-hitlers-furies-german-women-in-the-nazi-killing-fields/
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20210324T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20210324T160000
DTSTAMP:20260709T195113
CREATED:20220518T161902Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220518T161902Z
UID:10000679-1616601600-1616601600@cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net
SUMMARY:Interfaith clergy panel discussion on Freedom & Renewal
DESCRIPTION:Classrooms Without Borders is honored to convene a panel discussion featuring religious leaders from the three major monotheistic faiths: Judaism\, Christianity\, and Islam. This panel features Rabbi Aaron Bisno of Rodef Shalom Congregation\, Rev. David Poecking of Archangel Gabriel Parish\, and Imam Chris Caras of the Islamic Center of Pittsburgh\, moderated by Father Radu Bordeianu of Duquesne University.\nThis discussion is in partnership with Rodef Shalom Congregation\, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh\, and the Islamic Center of Pittsburgh. \nRabbi Aaron Bisno \nRabbi Aaron Bisno holds the Frances F. and David R. Levin Senior Rabbinic Pulpit of Rodef Shalom Congregation in Pittsburgh\, Pennsylvania. He has been the senior rabbi to the community since June 2004. Bisno has been recognized specifically for his work in the areas of interfaith and inclusion. In 2010\, His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI conferred upon Rabbi Bisno a Benemerenti Medal for “outstanding contributions to interfaith relations.” Today\, Bisno continues his work to strengthen interfaith dialogue and partnerships in our community and beyond. \nImam Chris Caras \nImam Chris Caras\, originally of Peoria\, Illinois\, is a convert to Islam who earned degrees in traditional Islamic studies in Saudi Arabia and Malaysia from 2007 to 2016. He was then active in Islamic outreach for several Muslim institutions in St Louis Missouri. In the summer of 2019\, he became the imam and religious director for the Islamic Center of Pittsburgh. Chris is married with three rambunctious children. \nRev. David Poecking \nFr. David Poecking began adult life as a math and physics teacher\, but a childhood encounter with the writings of J.R.R. Tolkien ultimately led him to the Catholic Church and to the priesthood. He has served at several churches in the Pittsburgh region and as the director of continuing education of clergy\, and is currently pastor of Archangel Gabriel Parish in the Diocese of Pittsburgh. \nRev. Radu Bordeianu \nFr. Radu Bordeianu is an Associate Professor at Duquesne University and Assistant Priest at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church\, both in Pittsburgh. His research focuses on ecumenical ecclesiologies. He is the author of Dumitru Staniloae: An Ecumenical Ecclesiology (Continuum\, 2011\, 2013). He served as President of the Orthodox Theological Society of America and is a member of the North American Orthodox-Catholic Theological Consultation. He is a co-convener of the Christian-Jewish Dialogue in Pittsburgh and is involved in local ecumenical dialogues.
URL:https://cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net/event/interfaith-clergy-panel-discussion-on-freedom-renewal/
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20210323T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20210323T160000
DTSTAMP:20260709T195113
CREATED:20220518T161902Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220518T161902Z
UID:10000678-1616515200-1616515200@cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net
SUMMARY:Weekly Book Discussion of "Hitler’s Furies: German Women in the Nazi Killing Fields" and "Nazi Wives: The Women at the Top of Hitler's Germany" with Dr. Josh Andy
DESCRIPTION:The book discussions will be offered on the following dates and times:\nTuesday\, March 9 at 4:00 pm ET\nTuesday\, March 16 at 4:00 pm ET\nTuesday\, March 23 at 4:00 pm ET\nThen\, on Tuesday\, March 30 at 4:00 pm ET please join us for a discussion with the author of “Hitler’s Furies” Dr. Wendy Lower. Read more and RSVP for this discussion event HERE. \nAbout “Hitler’s Furies: German Women in the Nazi Killing Fields” by Dr. Wendy Lower \nDr. Lower’s stunning account of the role of German women on the World War II Nazi eastern front powerfully revises history\, proving that we have ignored the reality of women’s participation in the Holocaust\, including as brutal killers. The long-held picture of German women holding down the home front during the war\, as loyal wives and cheerleaders for the Führer\, pales in comparison to Lower’s incisive case for the massive complicity\, and worse\, of the 500\,000 young German women she places\, for the first time\, directly in the killing fields of the expanding Reich. \nHitler’s Furies builds a fascinating and convincing picture of a morally “lost generation” of young women\, born into a defeated\, tumultuous post–World War I Germany\, and then swept up in the nationalistic fervor of the Nazi movement—a twisted political awakening that turned to genocide. These young women—nurses\, teachers\, secretaries\, wives\, and mistresses—saw the emerging Nazi empire as a kind of “wild east” of career and matrimonial opportunity\, and yet could not have imagined what they would witness and do there. Lower\, drawing on twenty years of archival and field work on the Holocaust\, access to post-Soviet documents\, and interviews with German witnesses\, presents overwhelming evidence that these women were more than “desk murderers” or comforters of murderous German men: that they went on “shopping sprees” for Jewish-owned goods and also brutalized Jews in the ghettos of Poland\, Ukraine\, and Belarus; that they were present at killing-field picnics\, not only providing refreshment but also taking their turn at the mass shooting. And Lower uncovers the stories\, perhaps most horrific\, of SS wives with children of their own\, whose female brutality is as chilling as any in history. \nHitler’s Furies will challenge our deepest beliefs: genocide is women’s business too\, and the evidence can be hidden for seventy years. \nDr. Wendy Lower \nWendy Lower is a Senior Scholar at the MacMillan Center at Yale University. She is the John K. Roth Professor of History and Director of the Mgrublian Center for Human Rights at Claremont McKenna College. Lower chairs the Academic Committee of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and served as Acting Director of the Jack\, Joseph and Morton Mandel Center for Advanced Holocaust Studies of the USHMM (2016-2018).   \nDr. Lower is the author of Nazi Empire-Building and the Holocaust in Ukraine (2005)\, The Diary of Samuel Golfard and the Holocaust in Galicia (2011); and co- editor (with Ray Brandon) of Shoah in Ukraine: History\, Testimony\, Memorialization (2008). Her book\, Hitler’s Furies: German Women in the Nazi Killing Fields (2013) was a finalist for the National Book Award and has been translated into 23 languages. Her next book\, The Ravine: A Family\, A Photograph\, A Holocaust Massacre Revealed\, will be published in February 2021 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.\nSHOW LESS \nClick here for a link to purchase the book\nCWB educators are eligible for a stipend towards reimbursement for the purchase of this book. Contact Melissa Haviv for more information: melissa@classroomswithoutborders.org \nAbout “Nazi Wives: The Women at the Top of Hitler’s Germany” by James Wyllie \nNazi Wives is a fascinating look at the personal lives\, psychological profiles\, and marriages of the wives of officers in Hitler’s inner circle. \nGoering\, Goebbels\, Himmler\, Heydrich\, Hess\, Bormann―names synonymous with power and influence in the Third Reich. Perhaps less familiar are Carin\, Emmy\, Magda\, Margarete\, Lina\, Ilse and Gerda… \nThese are the women behind the infamous men―complex individuals with distinctive personalities who were captivated by Hitler and whose everyday lives were governed by Nazi ideology. Throughout the rise and fall of Nazism these women loved and lost\, raised families and quarreled with their husbands and each other\, all the while jostling for position with the Fuhrer himself. Until now\, they have been treated as minor characters\, their significance ignored\, as if they were unaware of their husbands’ murderous acts\, despite the evidence that was all around them: the stolen art on their walls\, the slave labor in their homes\, and the produce grown in concentration camps on their tables. \nJames Wyllie’s Nazi Wives explores these women in detail for the first time\, skillfully interweaving their stories through years of struggle\, power\, decline and destruction into the post-war twilight of denial and delusion. \nClick here for a link to purchase the book\nCWB educators are eligible for a stipend towards reimbursement for the purchase of this book. Contact Melissa Haviv for more information: melissa@classroomswithoutborders.org
URL:https://cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net/event/weekly-book-discussion-of-hitlers-furies-german-women-in-the-nazi-killing-fields-and-nazi-wives-the-women-at-the-top-of-hitlers-germany-with-dr-josh-andy-3/
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DTSTAMP:20260709T195113
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UID:10000677-1616508000-1616508000@cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net
SUMMARY:India #2 - Jewish Heritage Around the World Part II series with CWB scholar Avi Ben-Hur and guest speakers
DESCRIPTION:“This series is co-sponsored by Rodef Shalom Congregation.\nJewish Heritage Around the World: \nClassrooms Without Borders is excited to embark on our second Jewish Heritage Series. The communities covered include Britain\, Turkey\, Argentina\, France\, India and more. We will have two sessions per community. The opening session will consist of an historical survey by an expert on the topic. The second session will engage in a dialogue with members of the community. Due to time differences\, it is possible that some of the timing for the “dialogue” sessions will change\, but generally speaking the series will be running on Tuesdays from 2 PM to 3:15 PM Eastern Time. The sessions will take place on the dates below. \nUpcoming Sessions:\nThe Jews of Argentina– May 4th & June 1st\nThe largest Jewish community of Latin America and the 3rd largest in the Americas\, the population peaked at close to 350\,000 in the late 1970s. Jews have been in Argentina since the 17th century and have been involved in and witness to some of the major historical junctions of this young country. The community suffered the worst post WWII attack of any Jewish community in the world when the main community center in Buenos Aires was bombed by Hezbollah in 1994. Jewish life in Argentina is robustly pluralistic with strong Reform\, Conservative and Orthodox communities including rabbinic seminaries\, schools and camps. And yet\, assimilation is on the rise and the population is decreasing. \nJoining us on May 4 were our esteemed guest speakers\, Dr. Judith Freidenberg and Dr. Emmanuel Kahan. \nEmmanuel Kahan holds a PhD in History from the National University of La Plata. He is a Researcher at the National Scientific and Technical Research Council of Argentina. He is also a Professor with the History Department at the National University of La Plata and teaches postgraduate courses at several other universities in Argentina. He published many books and articles about the Jewish experience in Argentina and is a member of the Latin American Jewish Studies Association \nJudith Freidenberg holds a PhD in Anthropology from City University of New York.  She taught at Mt. Sinai School of Medicine in New York and at the University of Maryland\, where she is now Professor Emerita.  She published extensively on migration and health.  Two books deal with the Jewish experience in rural Argentina\, and appear in Spanish and English.  She is also a member of the Latin American Jewish Studies Association.    \nJoining us on June 1st are our esteemed guest speakers: Dr. Marisa Braylan\, Mirta Kupferminc\, Micaela Bursztein\, Karina Gorenstein and Federico Nemetsky!\nDr. Marisa Braylan \nDr. Marisa Braylan is a lawyer from University of Buenos Aires (UBA)\, specialized in Public International Law (1995). Pedagogical Training of the Teaching Career in that Faculty. Visiting professor at the Faculty of Communication Sciences\, Political Science and Sociology of the UBA. Director of the Center for Social Studies (CES) of the DAIA (Delegation of Argentine Israelite Associations). She led the research group on “Comparative international law. Denial of the Holocaust in Argentina ”\, program of Institutional Accreditation of Research Projects in Law (DeCyT) carried out jointly by DAIA and UBA. Diploma in migration and refugee protection- Faculty of Law-UBA. Diploma in Discrimination and Right to Equality – Faculty of Law-UBA. Invited professor of Special Didactics of Law\, professor of Legal Sciences of the Faculty of Law of the UBA. \nMirta Kupferminc\nPhoto by: Alejandro Meter\nMirta Kupferminc: Lecturer\, mentor of other artists and teacher\, she lives and works in Buenos Aires. Exhibiting since 1977\, she has had more than 100 solo and group shows in Argentina\, Cuba\, Brazil\, Uruguay\, China Switzerland\, Spain\, Taiwan\, Japan\, Hong Kong \, Germany\, Israel\, Poland\, France\, Hungary\, England\, United States. Her works can be found in International Collections and Museums. Received local and international printmaking awards\, Example: Great Honor Prize (2012) in Argentina\, First Prize Sivori Museum\, Argentina (2018) Silver Medal Taiwan Biennale (2006) Honor Mention Taipei Biennale (1999)Third Prize  at 7th Koichi Biennale (2008). \nIn 2013 she was the first international fellow at LABA House of Study: a laboratory for Jewish Art and Culture at the 14th St Y NYC.and is also the founding LABA-BA director in Buenos Aires. And also directs Grafia Insurgente Association. \nMicaela Bursztein \nMicaela is the Manager of Project Evaluation for JDC in Latin America \nMicaela was born and raised in Buenos Aires\, Argentina.  She graduated from the ORT High School and went on to complete her BA in Political Science at Universidad de Buenos Aires.  In 2007 she traveled to Israel with Taglit-Birthright Israel.  The trip was transformative for her\, and solidified her commitment to working in the Jewish community.  Prior to coming to JDC Micaela spent seven years in the Finance and Resource Development department of Chabad Lubavitch Argentina.  She has worked for JDC since 2017\, and is also currently pursuing a master’s degree in Public Policy and Administration at Universidad de San Andrés.  \nKarina Gorenstein \nEducational Training\n• GRADUATE IN EDUCATIONAL MANAGEMENT-­ UNTREF (Licenciada en Gestión\nEducativa. Universidad Nacional de Tres de Febrero)\n• TEACHER FOR ELEMENTARY EDUCATION -­ ISFD 7 CABA. (PROFESORA PARA LA\nENSEÑANZA PRIMARIA. INSTITUTO NACIONAL DE FORMACIÓN DOCENTE N7)\n• SPECIALIZED TEACHER IN ADOLESCENT AND ADULT EDUCATION. PROFESORA\nESPECIALIZADA EN EDUCACIÓN DE ADOLESCENTES Y ADULTOS ISFD N1\nAVELLANEDA\nProfessional Experience\n• GENERAL DIRECTOR in AGNON Y MELAMED –AMIA -­ Teacher Training Institutes\n(since February 2018)\n• PROJECT CORDINATOR in TEACHERS ACCOMPANYING SCHOOL TRAJECTORS.\nDir. Of Elementary Education. MINISTRY OF EDUCATION City of Buenos Aires. (since\nFebruary 2017)\n• DIRECTOR OF ELEMENTARY EDUCATION OF THE NATION. Ministry of Education and\nSports of the Nation. January 2016-­January 2017)\n• Teacher in presencial and distance courses at the National and International level / Teacher\nTraining Programs / Institutional advice / Content writing /\nScholarships and Prizes\n• FULBRIGHT SCHOLARSHIP for School Directors. Held in Columbus-­OHIO USA 2013\n• YAD VASHEM SCHOLARSHIP -­ “The teaching of the Shoah and the dilemmas of its\ntransmission” -­ Held in Jerusalem-­ January 2020\n• TEAMWORK AWARD Ministry of Modernization of the Government of the City of Buenos\nAires year 2013.\n• INNOVATION AWARD Ministry of Modernization of the Government of the City of Buenos\nAires year 2014 \nFederico Nemetsky \nSon of a father from Tucumám\, a small City in the north with a small Jewish Community\, and a mother from Campana\, an even smaller town near Buenos Aires with a tiny Community\, Federico has been living all his life related with Judaism and working with the Jewish Communities around Argentina. \nCurrently\, he is working on his PhD in Cultural Diversity and finishing a master degree with a specialization in Jewish Studies. He is the Director of Studies of the Agnon and Melamed Institutes (Jewish Teachers training institutes) and the Coordinator of the postgraduate course “”Jewish History and its Teaching””. \nHe is a lecturer both for Jewish and non-Jewish audiences and institutions in a wide variety of topics mainly related with Jewish culture and geo-political analysis of the Middle East. \nFederico is and active participant of local Jewish political scene and takes part in different Zionist and Jewish organizations\, like being a member of the Board of the KKL in Argentina. \n Past sessions:\nThe Jews of Britain – January 19th & February 2nd\nFrom the earliest known accusation of “blood libel” (William of Norwich – 1144) to the “falling out” of British Jewry and the Labor Party\, the history of the Jews in Britain has known its ups and downs. In addition to tracing the trajectory of the Jewish presence in the British Isles\, we plan to unpack the key issues facing British Jewry today\, as expressed by the British Jews we shall be meeting. \nOn January 19th: We welcomed Prof. David Mendelsson to our program \nProf. David Mendelsson is a senior lecturer at Hebrew University’s Rothberg International School (RIS)\, teaching History of the Modern State of Israel and The Arab-Israeli Conflict: From Its Origins to the Present. He is also the most recent past director of the Year in Israel program at Hebrew Union College in Jerusalem. Prof. Mendelsson holds doctoral and master’s degrees from the Department of Contemporary Jewry at Hebrew University. \nOn February 2: We welcomed these esteemed guests:  \nMichael Wegier – Board of Deputies of British Jews: Interim Chief Executive  \nMichael Wegier has worked in Jewish Education and Strategic Planning in the UK\, Israel\, and the United States.  Previous positions include Director of Melitz Educational Centers in Jerusalem\, Director of Jewish Education at the Baltimore JCC and Chief Executive of UJIA in the UK. Michael has also provided Strategic Plannng services to the Jewish Agency and World ORT and other global Jewish organisations. Michael has an MA in Contemporary Jewry from the Hebrew University and is a graduate of the Mandel Jerusalem Fellows. In March\, Michael will begin a new role as Interim Chief Executive of the Board of Deputies of British Jews.  \nJoanne Greenaway – London School of Jewish Studies: Chief Executive \nJoanne joined LSJS\, the London School of Jewish Studies\, in January 2019 as Chief Executive.  LSJS delivers inspiring education programmes which transmit a love of learning and achieve excellence in teaching to transform the Jewish community through teacher training degrees and innovative\, accessible adult education.  Joanne was previously at the United Synagogue where she was Get Case Director within the London Beth Din\, focussing on difficult cases of Get refusal\, as well as the Deputy Legal Director of the US. Prior to this she studied languages at Cambridge University before qualifying as a lawyer and working in private practice for 12 years\, in the field of international arbitration and public international law. Joanne is a graduate of the the Chief Rabbi’s Ma’ayan programme\, the JLC Gamechangers Senior Leadership programme and the LSJS Susi Bradfield Educational Leadership programme. She has worked as a consultant for schools and communities across Europe.  \nMark Gardner – Community Security Trust: Chief Executive \nMark is Chief Executive of CST\, having previously been Director of Communications and Research. He joined CST in 1989\, and is a leading commentator and writer on contemporary antisemitism. Mark  has represented British and European Jews in numerous fora\, for example giving the keynote speech at the 2015 European Union Colloquium on antisemitism and anti-Muslim hate; and giving evidence in British\, Israeli and German parliamentary hearings on antisemitism.  \nMark was awarded a Police Commendation for his role in helping lead Scotland Yard’s cross-London response to the 1999 neo-Nazi nail bomb campaign. He also played a prominent role in the April 2018 ill-fated Jewish community leadership meeting with (then) Leader of the Labour Party\, Jeremy Corbyn MP. \nClaudia Mendoza – Jewish Leadership Council: Co-CEO \nClaudia is the Interim Co CEO of the Jewish Leadership Council and manages the External Affairs Team. Claudia sets the strategy and priorities for the team and leads on the JLC’s policy positions. She has worked for various think tanks as a Research Analyst\, focusing on the Middle East with a special interest in Iran and the transitioning Arab states. \nClaudia has a BSc in Biochemistry from University College London and an MA in Middle East Studies from the School of Oriental and African Studies\, University of London. She is an alumna of the Adam Science Foundation Leadership Programme. \nTurkey and its Jews – February 16th & March 2nd\nThere has been a continuous Jewish presence in Asia Minor (Turkey of today) going back at least 2300 years. The past 600 years of Jewish life in Turkey has taken place within an Islamic milieu. In the Ottoman empire\, which lasted for more than 400 years\, the Jews were considered to be the “most loyal” subjects and it was that empire that gave Sephardic Jews a “safe harbor” in the wake of the Spanish and Portuguese expulsions. Once a flourishing large community\, Turkish Jewry are on the eve of their disappearance. We aim to illuminate the source of Turkey’s positive engagement with its Jews as well as grappling with the question of community continuity in the 21st century. \nJoining us on February 16 was Professor Louis Fishman: \nLouis Fishman is an associate professor in the history department at Brooklyn College\, City University of New York. He is the author of the book\, Jews and Palestinians in the late Ottoman Era\, 1908-1914: Claiming the Homeland (Edinburgh University Press\, January 2020). His academic work focuses on late Ottoman Palestine\, the Jews of the Ottoman Empire\, modern Turkey\, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In addition to his academic expertise\, he has written tens of newspaper articles and provided political analysis for numerous international media outlets on Turkish\, Israeli\, and Palestinian affairs. Since 2013 he is a regular contributor for the Israeli newspaper Haaretz. He divides his time between New York\, Istanbul and Tel Aviv\, all three cities which he considers home. \nHere is the link to Professor Fishman’s book:\nhttps://edinburghuniversitypress.com/book-jews-and-palestinians-in-the-late-ottoman-era-1908-1914.html \nAlso available on Amazon  \nJoining us on March 2 is Nisya Isman Allovi\, Karen Gerson Şarhon\, Lisya Behar and Nesi Altaras: \nNisya Isman Allovi has been the Director since 2002  and Curator of The Quincentennial Foundation Museum Of Turkish Jews. Born in Istanbul\, graduated from the International Relations Faculty and Cultural Heritage and Tourism\, she has attended advanced curatorial seminars at AEJM (Association of European Jewish Museums) and in the Federal Republic of Germany. She has conducted presentations in various countries about “”Jews Of Turkey””. Married with two children\, Nisya is an active member of the Istanbul Jewish community.\nMuseum link: www.muze500.com \nKaren Gerson Şarhon born in Istanbul in 1958. Has a BA in English Language and Literature\, an MA in Social Psychology and an MA in Applied Linguistics. Wrote both her MA theses on the Judeo-Spanish language.\nAt the end of 2003\, she founded the Sephardic Culture Research Center\, where she has been working as its coordinator ever since. The Sephardic Center of Istanbul continues its work on the preservation and documentation of all aspects of the Sephardic culture. Karen heads many projects in the Center. The Centropa Oral History Project\, the Maftirim Project\, The Ladino Database Project\, the Judeo-Spanish – Turkish – Judeo-Spanish dictionary project are the ones that have been finished. She has edited all the books and CDs the Center has published\, which include a book of caricatures in Judeo-Spanish\, 4 books of anecdotes and stories of Matilda Koen-Sarano\, 16 small novels in Judeo-Spanish called “”Romansikos en Judeo-Espanyol”” from the archives of the Alliance Israelite Universelle\, the Judeo-Spanish – Turkish dictionary and a number of CDs in Sephardic music. She is also the chief editor of the only monthly newspaper in the world that is entirely in Ladino\, El Amaneser and also of the Judeo-Spanish page(s) of the weekly Şalom newspaper. In 2011\, she was awarded the medal of Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres de la République Française by the Ministry of Culture of France for her contribution to the world culture and her efforts in the preservation of Judeo-Spanish\, an endangered language. Karen has many articles on the Sephardic Culture published mainly in 3 languages: Turkish\, English and Ladino. She has also taken part in many TV programs\, documentaries\, etc. on Judeo-Spanish and the Sephardic music and culture. \nShe has Ladino lessons on YouTube and currently at: www.sephardicbrotherhood/ladino 101 \nKaren is also the founder\, singer and presenter of the group Los Pasharos Sefaradis\, the most authentic group in Turkish Sephardic music. Has 9 albums published by this group. \nLisya Behar was born in İstanbul. Volunteering in the Jewish Community since childhood\, Lisya has been president of the local Jewish Youth Team\, helped build a homecare system for the elderly\,  and is one of the co-founders of Limmud Turkey. She is currently the CEO of the Alef Jewish Community Center İstanbul \nNesi Altaras is an MA student in Political Science at McGill University from Istanbul\, Turkey. A member of the shrinking Jewish community of Turkey\, Nesi is a writer and editor for the online Jewish publication Avlaremoz and his current research is on the migration of Jews from Kurdistan in the final years of the Ottoman Empire. His previous work was on the failed peace and reconciliation processes in Turkey on the Kurdish question. His interest is in minorities in both the contemporary Middle East and in late Ottoman history as well as identity in Turkey. \nThe Jews of India – March 16th & 23rd\nWhat? There are Indian Jews? The answer emphatically is yes\, and there is a variety of different types of Indian Jews. One of the questions we will grapple with is when did Jews first arrive in the Indian sub-continent. What kinds of traditions emerged with this community and what kind of relationship did Indian Jews have with their co-religionists around the world\, if any? Another question relates to the fact that historically\, Indian Jews never experienced antisemitism. This being the case\, why did most Indian Jews emigrate to Israel in the 1950s? \nJoining us on March 16 was Dr. Maisie Meyer \nDr. Meyer was born in Calcutta (Kolkata) and grew up in a colonial setting. The subject she chose to research reflects her personal autobiography. It gives her a deeper understanding of Baghdadi Jews\, their emulation of a British lifestyle and their desire to appear as British as possible within the parameters of their faith. She is a double graduate in English and Humanities\, both with honours\, and obtained an MA degree in International History. The British Academy awarded her a scholarship to do a PhD which she was awarded from the London School of Economics in 1994. She pioneered the research of the Baghdadi Jewish Community of Shanghai. Her publications From the Rivers of Babylon to the Whangpoo: A Century of Sephardi Jewish Life in Shanghai (Lanham M.D.2003) and Shanghai’s Baghdadi Jews: A Compilation of Biographical Memories (Hong Kong 2013) have been widely acclaimed. \nJoining us on March 23 was Nissim J. Pingle and Ralphy Jhirad \nNissim J. Pingle works for the JDC\, India office as the Director for the EPJCC (Evelyn Peters Jewish Community Center). As a longtime member and somebody who has benefited immensely from the activities of AJDC and JCC\, he sees this role as an opportunity to give back. He is responsible for the day-to-day operations and growth of the JCC programs as well as developing and implementing programs that help in community building and/or Jewish learning. A Physics graduate from the Mumbai University\, he has worked as an Operations Manager for a Call Center and a General Manager for a chain of Fitness Centers. He lives in Navi Mumbai with his wife\, parents and 2 sons. When he is not glued to a computer or TV screen\, he spends time playing with his kids\, quizzing\, and trying hard not be the worst player in Table Tennis! \nRalphy Jhirad is the Trustees of the Bene Israel Heritage Museum and Genealogical Research Centre. Ralphy is the authority on the Jewish Heritage of India and is faculty on the same subject in the Guides Training Course of the Government of India\, Department of Tourism. He is a member of the Jewish Community in India and is dedicated to the preservation of their culture. He published following books\, BOMBAY : Exploring The Urban Jewish Heritage by Shaul Sapir\, Siyon se Sahyadri Tak by Sheba Jeremiah Nagaokar\, The Jews of Pakistan by Yoel Reuben\, Of Muse and Memories by Rebecca Yehezkielm\, The Demographic and Socio Economic Characteristics of Jews in India by Ralphy Jhirad and Lily Ezekiel. He has curated and organized following Exhibitions: Contribution of David Sassoon and family towards the development of Bombay and Jewish Landmarks in Mumbai. He has developed following itineraries for Tours of Jewish Heritage in India: Tour of Jewish Heritage in Mumbai\, Sassoon Landmarks of Mumbai\, Tour of Jewish  Arrival in Raigad and their original traditions\, India a Jewish Perspective\, Tour of the Jews of Kerala\, Tour of the Jewish Community of Ahmedabad. Ralphy organized the first ever visit of the Chief Rabbi of the United Synagogues. A few photos from this visit are enclosed for reference. He has assisted several Authors\, Full Bright Scholars\, Film Makers and Museum Curators during their research in India. He has travelled to various centers of India where Jewish Heritage is predominant and assisted Thousands of Jewish Travelers to either discover their own Jewish Roots in India or learn about the incredible Jewish Perspective in India. Refer Website visitjewishindia.com for more details on various tour options including incredible India and it’s Jewish Heritage. \nFrench Jewry – April 6th & April 20th\nThe great medieval commentator Rashi\, Baron Rothschild\, Alfred Dreyfuss\, Leon Blum\, Simone Weil\, Emanuel Levinas are just a few famous French (Jewish) names that come to mind when thinking about the contribution of French Jewry. The first Jews in Europe to be offered emancipation\, in recent years French Jewry has found itself facing the worst antisemitic attacks in Europe. How this came to be are just some of the subjects we will engage in with this dynamic community. \nJoining us on April 6 was: \nPhilippe Boukara                Philippe Boukara was born in Paris in 1957. He is an historian\, specialised in Contemporary French Jewry. He is a coordinator of Adult Education in the Shoah Memorial in Paris\, and he has been teaching in various academic institutions. He is involved in Jewish-Christian dialogues ans is the honorary chair of Dorvador\, the Conservative Congregation in Eastern Paris. He publishes regularly in the French Jewish press. \nJoining us on April 20 is:  \n                 Yonathan Arfi is vice-president of CRIF and chairman of CRIF’s commission for international affairs. He has been a member of the Executive Board of the CRIF for the last 14 years and has worked closely with former and current presidents of CRIF\, Richard Prasquier\, Roger Cukierman and Francis Kalifat.\nYonathan Arfi was born in 1980 in Toulouse and raised in Paris\, where he graduated from HEC business school in 2003. He is the CEO of Optimal Gestion\, the financial consulting firm he founded in 2007 in Paris.He is also a member of the Board of Directors of Alliance Israélite Universelle (www.aiu.org – main Jewish organization in the field of education in France) and Oeuvre de Secours aux Enfants (www.ose-france.org – main Jewish social welfare organization in France).\nYonathan Arfi was also the chairman of the French Union of Jewish Students from 2003 to 2005. He founded in 2005 CoExist (www.coexist.fr)\, the leading program in France against racial\, religious andcultural prejudices among French pupils and has been working on the issue of anti-Semitism since 2000. \nMasha Ugryumova is 27 years old and was born and grew up in Tcheliabinsk\, Russia. \nShe moved to France at the age of 18 to study Communication at La Sorbonne University. \nToday she lives in Paris and works for international organisation for Jewish youth Hilel Campus France as the Head of Communication.  \nThanks to her job\, she’s directly concerned by today’s challenges and struggles that Jewish youth of France have to face and looks for the solutions how to deal with that. \n                Elie Touitou\nBorn and raised in Paris\, in a Zionist and traditionalist Jewish Family\, Elie is a Lawyer specialized in Digital and Business Law. In 2016\, during his studies at Sorbonne Law School\, he founded the association Alliance\, in a double reference to Vladimir Jabotinsky’s Beitar and to René Cassin’s Alliance Universelle Israélite (Kol Israel Haverim). \nFirst acting as a local organization inside the University\, the association grew fast and is now a federation of five local association gathering +500 students across the major Parisian campuses. Alliance aims to organize Jewish life on campus\, provide Jewish and Zionist students with the intellectual means necessary to be able to defend their convictions by organizing formation\, lectures\, workshops\, debates and journeys and also to fight antisemitism\, in all its forms\, on French Campuses. \nThe Association developed close bounds with Zionist and/or Israeli organizations with which it works on a daily basis. \nDelphine Gamburg: Director of Communication at the Embassy of Israel in France \nDelphine Gamburg was born in France and emigrated to Israel in 1995. After working for the Israeli Ministry of Integration between 1996-1998\, she joined the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs.  She worked there as a lawyer until 2005\,  then held various positions in the Department of International Development Cooperation\, and to the Department of Strategic Affairs until her departure to the United States in 2015 where she was the cultural attaché at the Embassy of Israel in Washington DC. \nShe is currently in charge of the Public Communication Department at the Embassy of Israel in France. Delphine has a Bachelor of Laws\, a Masters of International Relations\, and a PhD in American foreign policy in the Middle East. She is married and has 3 children \nKAREN REB RUDEL \nBorn and raised in Johnstown\, Pennsylvania\, Karen grew up with the aspiration to be a comedian\, a musician\, or both… She groomed these crafts from a young age by making everyone around her laugh and beginning a lifetime romance with the flute at the age of 9. She went on to study drama at Temple University in Philadelphia and played in a series of bands. \nFrom the age of 30 until she got married\, Karen was back and forth between Paris and Philadelphia\, working on musical projects and touring (including being the flautist and singer in a Reggae band in Paris). One day her parents came to visit her and Karen\, having learned a lot about Paris\, was showing them around when her mother exclaimed\, “Karen\, you would make a great tour guide!” \nThat was the light bulb moment\, and as the French say\, voila! \nParis has been Karen’s stomping ground for over 20 years\, and her company is in a unique position to give you the historical background and underground cultural scoops that most walking tours leave out. \nAvi Ben-Hur \nA Brooklyn native\, Avi moved to Israel in 1983. Currently\, he is on the faculty of the University of Haifa Tourism School\, an examiner for the Israeli Ministry of Tourism\, and the Director of Education of Classrooms Without Borders. \nAn eclectic Israeli educator specializing in Land of Israel studies\, the history of Jerusalem\, the Arab-Israeli conflict and Holocaust studies\, Avi’s expertise is in integrating ideas and knowledge from various disciplines into a comprehensive and coherent narrative.”
URL:https://cwb-pgh-org-staging.ehven.net/event/india-2-jewish-heritage-around-the-world-part-ii-series-with-cwb-scholar-avi-ben-hur-and-guest-speakers/
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