Jewish Life

Open Space: Israel

Rabbi Aaron facilitates an open space to process and reflect, ask questions, and express the wide spectrum of emotions you may be feeling.

Modern-Day Antisemitism 

What are we talking about when we talk about antisemitism? Discussing this topic can feel fraught and overwhelming, opening up big questions related to Jewish identity, history, and discrimination in the past and the present. With Rabbi Nora, discuss definitions and manifestations of antisemitism and explore how responses, and lack of responses, to the attack on Israel and the ensuing war connect to antisemitism. 

The Intersections of Israel and Judaism

More than 50% of the world’s Jews live outside of Israel, and 20% of Israeli citizens are not Jewish. Yet Israel and Judaism are deeply connected, in confusing and complicated ways. Together with Rabbi Aaron, explore Israel’s role in ancient Jewish history and in our 2000-year-long diasporic imagination and discuss why decoupling Israel and Judaism is so hard.

Listen Up: A Mindful Communication Series

Mindfulness teacher Alison Cohen leads a series designed to help build stronger relationships by developing more compassionate communication skills.

Diaspora and Jewish Peoplehood

How do Jews relate to the notion of peoplehood both historically and today? This class explores relating and connecting to Jews throughout the world through the lens of the experience of Jews living in the diaspora (outside the land of Israel). With Rabbi Nora, discuss what it means to be linked to a people through time and space, especially in a time of crisis. 

What It Takes: How to Talk About Israel-Palestine

It’s never been easy to talk about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but the escalation over the past few weeks has made the topic even more highly charged. Whether you’re feeling overwhelmed by the news or your social media feed, or just don’t know how to approach having these hard conversations with a partner, friend, or colleague, Rabbi Aaron offers tips to help you have more productive discussions across differences and approach this emotional topic with open-mindedness, nuance, and respect.

Arabs and Jews Choosing a Shared Future 

During this critical moment of tension and strife between the Arab and Jewish communities in Israel, hear from voices seeking to build bridges and promote justice and democracy. Sally Abed and Alon-Lee Green, leaders of the grassroots movement Standing Together (Omdim Beyachad) will discuss their community of Jewish and Palestinian citizens of Israel who are working together for change in the shared interest of peace and security

How Are You, Really?

A Creative Processing Space

Through meditation, writing and reflection exercises, and conversation facilitated by Rabbi Nora, take time to connect to yourself and others and process what’s been coming up for us in response to the attack on Israel and the ensuing war in Israel and Gaza. Come with your favorite art supplies, a journal, and an open mind.  

What It Takes: How to Talk About Israel-Palestine

It’s never been easy to talk about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but the escalation over the past few weeks has made the topic even more highly charged. Whether you’re feeling overwhelmed by the news or your social media feed, or just don’t know how to approach having these hard conversations with a partner, friend, or colleague, Rabbi Aaron offers tips to help you have more productive discussions across differences and approach this emotional topic with open-mindedness, nuance, and respect.

Interfaith Couples Workshop

Rabbi Nora facilitates a guided, nonjudgmental space for Jews and their non-Jewish partners to talk, learn, and grow – together and as individuals. The workshop will address timely issues for couples like navigating the holiday season together and how to approach hard conversations around the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and recent escalation.