Kol Yisrael Shabbat
Friday, May 10 at 6 p.m. with Deutsch Scholar-in-Residence Dr. Ayala Hendin
A Special Shabbat Evening Marking Yom HaZikaron and Yom HaAtzmaut
Keep reading for more details
Friday, May 10 • 6 p.m. Service • 7:30 p.m. Dinner & Program
Kol Yisrael means ‘All of Israel’ or ‘Voice of Israel’ – We invite all of you to an evening of lifting your voices, listening to the beautiful voices of Shaare Emeth’s choirs, hearing new voices and perspectives on Israel, and sharing a dinner together. We have the pleasure of welcoming Dr. Ayala Hendin as our Deutsch Scholar-in-Residence for this Shabbat, where she will speak on two topics:
You Shall Be Holy: Our Institutional & Communal Roles in the Current War Between Israel & Hamas
During Kabbalat Shabbat Worship
Join our Rabbis, Cantor Seth Warner, Lucy Greenbaum, and the combined Congregation Shaare Emeth Intergenerational Choir, comprised of our Adult Choir and Shir Emeth Youth Choir, at this unique worship service. We’ll mark two Israeli holidays, Yom HaZikaron (Israel Memorial Day) and Yom Ha’atzmaut (Israel Independence Day), hear a sermon from Dr. Hendin, hear Israeli voices, and surround each other in a supportive community.
How to Navigate Where We Stand When It Comes to Israel
During Shabbat Dinner
Join us following services for an Israeli-inspired Shabbat dinner during which Dr. Hendin will lead us in a study and conversation. This interactive session will invite those of all ages to share in learning, in the spirit of Shabbat, about our own views of Israel and those of others.
Dinner is priced at $15 per person aged 13 and older, $12 for children ages 2-13, or free for children under age 2.
This Scholar-in-Residence Program is made possible through the Fred and Elsie Deutsch Endowment Fund. The Congregation would like to thank Roberta and Jim Deutsch, Judy and Larry Deutsch, and their families for their continuous generous support for the Scholar-in-Residence program.
Dr. Ayala Hendin is an Israel fellow at Washington University in St. Louis, teaching Israeli politics, policy, and society. Her research focuses on diversity, equity, and inclusion policies; higher education policy; and activism in Israel. Her current projects analyze the equality trap embedded in higher education policies toward ethnic, national, and religious minorities; and the impact of October 7th and the war to follow on the Israeli higher education internationalization agenda.
Hendin was the founding director of “Israeli Hope in Academia,” a flagship national program of Israel’s 10th President, Reuven Rivlin. She also consulted for the Council for Higher Education and the Ministry of Regional Cooperation. She completed her PhD at Ben-Gurion University (2021) and a postdoctoral fellowship at the Minerva Center for Human Rights at Hebrew University (2021/22), and is passionate about connecting research, policy, and practice.
Unraveling the Psyche of Hate
Psychiatry’s Role in Confronting Anti-Semitism with Dr. H. Steven Moffic
Sunday, May 19 at 7 p.m. with Dessert Reception Following
A Rabbi Jeffrey B. Stiffman Lecture at Congregation Shaare Emeth
Dr. H. Steven Moffic is an award-winning psychiatrist who specialized in the cultural and ethical aspects of psychiatry and is now in retirement as a private pro bono community psychiatrist. A prolific writer, author and speaker, he has done a weekday column titled “Psychiatric Views on the Daily News”and a weekly video, “Psychiatry & Society,” since the COVID-19 pandemic emerged. He is the recipient of the 2024 Abraham Halpern Humanitarian Award from the American Association for Social Psychiatry and countless other awards.
He is an advocate and activist for many mental health issues related to climate instability, physician burnout, and xenophobia. He is now editing the final volume of a 4-volume series on religions, psychiatry, Islamophobia, and Antisemitism and serves on the Editorial Board of Psychiatric Times.
This special lecture is co-sponsored by Shaare Emeth Mental Health Initiative.
Cook & Chat with Naama Herz
Wednesdays, May 15 & 22 at 7 p.m. in the Main Kitchen
Learn Israeli Recipes with Our Shinshinit, Naama Herz!
Join us for one or both sessions to learn three of Naama’s favorite recipes, hear the stories behind them, and taste them, too.
Texting Tuesdays
10–11 a.m. • Tuesdays in the Rubin Library Conference Room
Together we will use the wisdom of sacred Jewish texts and build a kehillah kedoshah that nurtures our minds, hearts, and souls. Join us for as many as you are able – each week features a different topic and teacher. Texting Tuesdays is free.
Tuesday, May 7: Ancient Boundaries – Exploring What Separated Ancient Jews and Christians
With Rabbi Bearman • In the first centuries of the Common Era, the emergence of the Christian movement pushed both the Jewish and new Christian communities to create clear boundaries between the two religions. This class will explore the internal and external pressures behind those boundaries and how these “dividing lines” have shifted, blurred, and sharpened over the past two thousand years.
Tuesday, May 14, 2024: Yom Ha’atzmaut Is Real – Contemporary Reflections on Israel Independence Day
With Naama Herz, our Shinishinit, and Rabbi Bennett • Join us for a special Yom Ha’atzmaut Texting Tuesday as we explore the special meaning of this Israel Independence Day, and discuss the meaning of Israel in our lives.
Tuesday, May 21 and May 28: Israel and Palestine – Doomed to Conflict or Harbingers of Hope?
With Rabbi Jim Bennett • In this two-week course, Rabbi Bennett will lead us on an exploration of the narratives that underlie the conflicts between Israel and Palestine, and invite us to discuss and explore if these narratives must compete, or if there is a possibility that they can coexist and lead to peace. We invite you to join with open minds and hopeful hearts.
Community Programs
"The Yom" Holidays
Yom HaShoah: Never Again is Now
Join the Kaplan Feldman Holocaust Museum as we honor the memory of the six million Jews and millions of others who were murdered during one of the darkest chapters in human history.
Yom HaZikaron Ceremony
The J Staenberg Family Complex
Yom HaZikaron is an Israeli day of remembrance of fallen soldiers and victims of terror attacks. Join us in commemoration of our fallen brothers and sisters, and their families. Free, all ages welcome.
Yom HaAtzmaut: Celebrate Israel @ 76
Chesterfield Amphitheater
An evening of unity, resilience, and hope. The J will host activities for families, sell traditional Israeli foods, bring local vendors, and perform live music, including Israeli artist Yuval Halaf. Free, open to all.
