THE JEWISH CENTER

SPRING ADULT EDUCATION GUIDE 2017/5777

Dr. Erica Brown Ms. Raizi Chechik Dr. Yitzchok Breitowitz Jewish Center Principal, Stella K. Senior Lecturer, Ohr Somayach Community Scholar High School for Girls

Professor Mark Cohen Professor Emeritus of Jewish Rabbi Yona Reiss Rabbi Dr. Akiva Tatz , CRC Director, Medical Civilization in the Near East Studies Rosh , YU-RIETS Ethics Forum at Princeton University

The Modern Orthodox Center for Jewish Life and Learning

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Celebrateand more! Upcoming Events and Programs The Hanno Mott Lecture on Contemporary Dina D’Malchuta Dina FROM THE NEAR-EAST TO THE EAST COAST: THE INTERSECTION OF RABBINIC & CIVIL LAW

Featuring Monday, May 8th Rabbi Yona Reiss is a graduate of Yeshiva University, RIETS 7:00PM Members-only reception with the and Yale Law School. He has served presenters as the director of Beth Din of American 7:45PM Mincha and the dean of the Rabbi 8:00-9:15PM Presentation and Q&A Elchonon Theological Seminary. Currently Rabbi Reiss serves as the Av Beit Din of the Chicago Rabbincal Join us for a spectacular masterclass on legal Council and a at RIETS. ethics featuring a Princeton Professor, Historian Mark Cohen and leading American Beth Din expert Rabbi Yona Reiss as they discuss the Professor Mark Cohen intersection of religious and civil courts, past, is a Professor Emeritus of Jewish present and future. The program will include Civilization in the Near East Studies at Professor Cohen’s research on Princeton University. He is the author of Maimonides and the Merchants: and his formulation of Business Law in Medieval Jewish Law and Society in the Medieval Egypt as well as an insiders look into the civil Islamic World. His research focuses on challenges facing American Batei Din today, the incorporation of Islamic Business law with Rabbi Reiss. Question and Answer session into works like Rambam’s Mishna . with both presenters to follow.

The Jewish Center 131 West 86th St, New York 10024 To register, visit www.jewishcenter.org The Martha Sonnenschein Memorial Lecture Featuring Scholar-In-Residence Ms. Raizi Chechik , May 13

Shabbat Morning Public Lecture: 11:00AM Molten Letters: The Widow Romm and the Printing Press of Vilna The standard Biblical and Talmudic texts used throughout the world today originated in a nineteenth century Lithuanian printing company run by a brave, talented young widow. Learn her story, and the fascinating narrative of how Jewish texts evolved from the earliest printings in fifteenth century Italy to the internet databases of today.

Shabbat Afternoon : 6:30PM Mother, Mystic, and Martyr: A Medieval Story

Seudah Shlishit: 8:00PM Quest for Kingship: Rereading the Books of Ruth and Esther

Ms. Raizi Chechik, is a principal at the Stella K. Abraham High School for Girls in Hewlett, New York. Ms. Chechik holds an MA and has done doctoral work in Jewish History. As a veteran educator, she has developed curricular materials for the Sephardic Studies Institute at the City University of New York, served as a mentor for the Principals Partnership at YU, and is the recipient of numerous awards and honors, including the national Grinspoon Award for Excellence The Jewish Center in . This July Ms. Chechik will become 131 West 86th St, the Head of School at Manhattan Day School. New York 10024 Torah from Jerusalem Ohr Somayach Upper West Side Shabbaton Shabbat, May 6

Young Leadership Rabbi Dr. Akiva Tatz Rabbi Dr. Yitzchok Breitowitz ‘The Journey of Life and The ‘The Two Faces of Sefirat HaOmer’ Journey From Pesach to ’ After a distinguished career as a Originally from , in Silver Spring, Maryland and as a Rabbi Dr. Akiva Tatz world-renowned lecturer and rabbinic studied at the University authority, Rabbi Breitowitz made of Witwatersrand. He founded the aliyah to Eretz Yisrael and joined the Jerusalem Medical Ethics Forum, of which he is Ohr Somayach faculty as a senior lecturer. He was Director, for the purpose of teaching and promoting ordained by the Ner Israel Rabbinical College in knowledge of Jewish medical ethics internationally. 1976 and is a graduate of Johns Hopkins University He has written many highly acclaimed works on the and Harvard Law School (JD, 1979, Magna Cum deeper aspects of , as well as a recent books Laude). In addition to his rabbinical position, he was a on Jewish Medical ethics and Free Will & Destiny. He tenured professor of law at the University of Maryland currently lives in London, where he lectures on Jewish specializing in contracts, commercial law and thought and medical ethics for the Jewish learning medical ethics. exchange of Ohr Somayach.

Israel and the International Community Scholar in Residence Yifa Segal Shabbat Afternoon, June 10

Pre-Mincha Lecture: Seudah Shlishit: The Monopoly on Human The ILF: A Behinds the Rights: How a Shift in Scenes Look at the Struggle Discourse Can Effect Policy, to Defend Israel Justice and Equality in Israel.

Attorney Yifa Segal is the Director of the International Legal Forum (ILF),a global legal coalition initiating and centralizing efforts to battle anti-democratic, anti- Semitic and anti-Israeli operations around the world. Prior to 2013, Segal was a leading member of Shurat Hadin – Israel Law Center’s legal team. She holds a BA in Law from the University of Haifa, and an MA in International Relations from the University of Tel Aviv. UJA-FederAtion oF new York Warriors and veterans society

HONORING OUR FALLEN HEROES honoring our FallenJoin UJA and heroes Jewish communal organizations for a Wednesday, May 24, 2017 pre-Memorial Day program to honor those who fell The Jewish Center in service to our country. Hear from Jewish military 131 West 86th Street • New York City Join UJA leadersand Jewish and communalhelp create organizations care packages for for a those Wednesday, May 24, 2017 pre-Memorialserving Day abroad, program sponsored to honor by those Major who Stuart fell inAdam Doorsthe Jewish open atCenter 6:30 pm service toWolfer our country. Institute Hear (MSAWI). from Jewish military leaders Ceremony starts at 7:00 pm 131 West 86th Street • New York City and helpIf create you have care any packages questions, for pleasethose serving contact abroad, Julianna Hands-on volunteer project opens at 8:00 pm sponsoredDwyer by Major at [email protected] Stuart Adam Wolfer or Institute212.836.1258. (MSAWI).

RegisterDoors open at:at 6:30 ujafedny.org/memorialday-event pm If you have any questions, please contact Julianna Dwyer Ceremony starts at 7:00 pm at [email protected] or 212.836.1258. Hands-on volunteer project opens at 8:00 pm register at: ujafedny.org/memorialday-event

thank you to our coMMunity partners*: 30 Years After • AIPAC • American Friends of Israel Navy SeAlS • American Sephardi Federation • Ansche Chesed SisterhoodBrotherhood Annual • CAMERA Brunch • Central Synagogue • CommunityBook Security Club Service Meeting:• Congregation Emanu-ElLittle of theDigital City of New Lunch York • Congregation & Learn Habonim w/ Sunday,Congregation Kehilath May Jeshurun 21 at • theCongregation home Ohav of Sholom • ConFailure:gregation Or ZaruaA Memoir • Congregation by Ramath Gary Orah •Dr. Congregation Erica ShaareBrown: Zedek The Art & NancyConservative Sklarin Synagogue Adath Israel of Riverdale • Darkhei Noam •Shteyngart Hebrew Institute of Riverdale • The Heschel SchoolText • Hudson of YardsMegillat Synagogue Ruth WhatInternational is it Rabbiniclike to Fellowshipwork for • theJCRC most• Jewish cutting National Fund • Sunday,Jewish War Veterans May – USA 21 Post at 1 7:30PM• JWB Jewish ChaplainsTuesday, Council •May The Kehilah 23rd of Riverdale at edgeKehilat Rayim company, Ahuvim • KinneretGoogle? Day School How • Koldoes HaNeshamah • The Jewish Center • The Jewish Week • Mount Sinai Jewish Center • New York Army National Guard New York Board of • Or Olam • Park Avenue Synagogue • PartyDiscussant: for a Purpose • Project Headstrong Lurie • Riverdale Jewish12:30PM Center • The Riverdale Minyan • Romemu technologySAR Academy & High and School humanity • The Shul meet,of New York and • Society for theAt Advancement the home of Judaism of Maureen • &Schechter DayPowered School of Manhattan by ZOOM, • Sutton join Place our Synagogue howTemple did Israel a of former the City of student New York • ofTemple anthropology Shaaray Tefila • WestchesterLaszlo JewishMarcus Council 645 • YeshivatWest EndChovevei Torah interactive• Yeshivat Maharat learning • Young Israel session, of North Riverdale find herself amidst all of it?" Meet Jewish Avenue. All are welcome to from the comfort of home or Center*In formation member and Sisterhood brunch’s join for our final book club from the office. 30 minutes of featured speaker, Abigail Posner, Head of meeting of the year. inspiration and information The ZOO, Google’s creative think tank. UJA-Federation of New YorkIf you cares forhave everywhere questions, and New Yorkers please of all backgrounds, in preparation for Shavuot. Registration is now open. Forresponds more to crises closeemail to home and Dinah far away, atand shapes our Jewish future. Registration and login information email [email protected] [email protected].@ujafedny information will be available in jewishcenter.org. the bulletin. 1806 Jewish Center Young Leadership SUMMER LECTURE SERIES

Putting G-d Second: How to Save Religion from Itself Featuring noted author Rabbi Donniel Hartman Monday, May 15th @ 8:15PM

Fertility & Halacha Featuring Dr. Bat-sheva Lerner Maslow Wednesday, June 28th @ 8:00PM

The Future of Jewish Education Featuring Rabbi Tully Harcsztark Principal, SAR High School Wednesday, July 12th @ 8:00PM

Young Couples and Families Events Graduation

MJE Young Couples and Families Shabbat Lunch with NY Times Best-Selling Author Beth Kobliner Shabbat, May 20th at1PM Kiddush “Make Your Kid A Money Genius (even if you’re not)” To Register: https://tinyurl.com/Kobliner

Young Couples and Families Annual Summer Picnic Shabbat, June 17th @1:00PM Join our growing YC&F committee for this annual event. We will meet at The Jewish Center following davening and head to Central Park for a potluck Shabbat lunch. Sponsorship and volunteer opportunities are available. Stay tuned for more details or email [email protected]. Keter Torah Awards Shabbat, June 3rd at 11:00AM

In the spirit of Shavuot, which celebrates two great Jewish heroines, Naomi and Ruth, the Keter Torah Award ceremony will follow Shavuot this year. This year we look forward to recognizing two outstanding women in our community:

RUBY NAOMI GOTTLIEB GOLDMAN

Gala Kiddush to Follow Graduation Kiddush

Shabbat, June 17th @ 11:30AM Join us as we celebrate the academic achievements of our community graduates. From preschool to PhD, if you, a family member or a friend flipped a tassel this spring, please let us know by contacting Batsheva at [email protected]. If you would like to sponsor the Graduation Kiddush, please contact Strum at [email protected] The Jewish Center Annual Dinner Monday June 12, 2017 at 6:30 p.m. Museum of Jewish Heritage X Barbara & Deena Ben Guy Reiss Blanchard Cooper GUESTS OF COMMUNITY HONOR & Akiva SERVICE AWARD Novetsky RABBI DR. LEO JUNG MEMORIAL AWARD Savc thc Datc

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The Jewish Center 131 West 86th Street New York, NY 10024 Telephone: 212.724.2700 Fax: 212.724.5629 www.jewishcenter.org