Past Events

The Hardest Conversation

Session 6: BDS, Anti-Zionism, and Anti-Semitism

The Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement is (a) a sincere effort to get Israel to change its policies through non-violent economic pressure; (b) a misguided attempt by naïve activists, many of them Jewish, to bring Palestinian oppression into the light; or (c) thinly veiled anti-Semitism. This workshop will discuss what BDS is, whether it’s working, and who gets to define when anti-Israel sentiment becomes anti-Semitism. From the Bundists to Judith Butler, we will also explore the history – and present state – of Jewish criticism of Zionism and Israel.

Thinking Jewishly: Ancient Jewish Wisdom for the Modern World

Session Three - Jewish Fight Club: The Struggle for Jewish Identity and Authenticity

Through the examination of biblical, rabbinic, and medieval sources, this class will examine how Judaism has been defined as an interlocking set of identities based on peoplehood, culture, language, and belief. Explore how the role of women and LGBTQ Jews has evolved throughout history and where the different denominations stand in relationship to the secular ideal of broader inclusion in modern society.