History & Thought
Mon 02

- Pacific Time

Jody Hirsh: Bible, Midrash, Art: The Richness of Bible Narratives

Virtual Program

Jody Hirsh: Bible, Midrash, Art: The Richness of Bible Narratives (Virtual on Zoom)

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Instructor

Thu 28

- Pacific Time

Susan Gilson Miller in conversation with David Biale: Years of Glory: Recovering the History of the Holocaust in North Africa (Virtual on Zoom)

In partnership with and a part of The JFCSC Holocaust Center Day of Learning and with the Jewish Studies Program at UC Davis

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Instructor

Tue 10

- Pacific Time

Ron Reissberg: People of the Book, but What Book? The Confrontation Between Torah and Talmud

Virtual Program

3 sessions

Apparently uncomfortable with various portions of the Torah, the rabbis provide interpretations that tend to neutralize the troubling aspects of those texts.  In this class, we will engage in close readings of texts from the Torah and corresponding Talmudic passages.

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Instructor

Thu 05

- Pacific Time

Kiev: Jewish Metropolis (Virtual on Zoom)

Virtual Program

While we follow the Russian invasion of Ukraine with heartbreak and grave anxiety and hold ALL Ukrainians in our hearts and thoughts, we step back in history with Prof. Natan Meir, to the days when Kyiv - Kiev was a flourishing Jewish Metropolis. Populated by urbane Jewish merchants and professionals as well as new arrivals from the shtetl, imperial Kiev was acclaimed for its opportunities for education, culture, employment, and entrepreneurship but cursed for the often pitiless persecution of its Jews.

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Instructor

Sun 26

- Pacific Time

Divinity and Infinity: Exploring the Infinite in Mathematics and Judaism

Virtual Program

Mathematicians, theologians, and even children ponder the inspiring and surprising nature of the infinite. Dr. Lesser will explore—in a lively, interactive way—how math concepts can help illuminate some big ideas in Judaism, including the value of life, the value of commandments, and the coexistence of God's transcendence and immanence. While parts of this realm can get technical, have no fear: our session will maintain a liberal arts, general adult audiences sensibility to keep it accessible to a broad diversity of backgrounds in mathematics and in Judaism.

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Instructor

Sun 15

- Pacific Time

Eddy Portnoy: Am Yisrael High: Jews and Cannabis (Virtual on Zoom)

Virtual Program

In Partnership with Congregation Beth El, Berkeley

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Instructor

Wed 01

- Pacific Time

Abortion through Multiple Lenses (Virtual on Zoom)

Virtual Program

The abortion debate has just reached fever pitch following the leak of the Supreme Court majority opinion suggesting the demise of Roe vs. Wade. If it is overturned, what other personal freedoms are already/will be in danger: transgender health services, gay marriage, contraception?

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Thu 09

- Pacific Time

We Were Here: HIV-AIDS, the Bay Area and the Jewish Community (Virtual on Zoom)

Virtual Program

Program Video: https://youtu.be/FEzwnh37xBY

In partnership with The East Bay International Jewish Film Festival, Congregation Sha’ar Zahav, and A Wider Bridge

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Sun 24

- Pacific Time

Andrew Porwancher: The Jewish World of Alexander Hamilton (Virtual on Zoom)

Virtual Program

In partnership with the Contra Costa JCC

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Instructor

Thu 04

- Pacific Time

Visit Morocco with Rabbi Yoel Kahn: Information Session (In Person or Virtual on Zoom)

Explore culture, history and, of course, great food on an exciting and educational trip to Morocco, March 3-13, 2023. Rabbi Yoel Kahn will lead us on a journey to fabled cities like Casablanca, Fez and Marrakech, as well as the desert and the mountains. Jews have lived in Morocco for over two thousand years and we will engage with both the historical and contemporary Jewish sites and community.

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Location

Congregation Beth El, Berkeley

1301 Oxford St.
Berkeley, CA 94709 + Google Map

Instructor

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