IJII

Congregation Ezra Bessaroth is celebrating its centennial anniversary with a series of events in August. The congregation was established in Seattle by Sephardic Jews who had come from the Island of Rhodes. Ezra Bessaroth continues to be an active and vibrant Sephardic community, and includes many members of different backgrounds who are attracted to the warmth and beauty of the Judeo-Spanish Sephardic tradition.

On August 12, at 7:30 pm, Professor Aron Rodrigue of Stanford University will be lecturing at Ezra Bessaroth on "The Island of Memory: Jewish Life in Rhodes, 16th to 20th Centuries."

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The American Sephardi Federation is holding a Sephardic Jewish Book Fair on Sunday July 25, 2010, at the Center for Jewish History--15 West 16th Street--in New York City. The event will run from noon to 5:30 pm.

The book fair will bring together authors and book lovers interested in the history and culture of Sephardim and Jews of the Middle Eastern world. Hundreds of books--new and used hard-to-find titles--will be on sale.

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Do you want to reclaim an Orthodox Judaism that is intellectually alive, compassionate, inclusive? Do you believe that Orthodoxy has become increasingly narrow and extreme, and that modern Orthodoxy has been losing its voice and its courage?

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The Institute for Jewish Ideas and Ideals is co-sponsoring a conference in Jerusalem with Neemanei Torah vaAvodah, an activist modern Orthodox organization in Israel. The event will be held at the Begin Center in Jerusalem, April 1, from 8 am until 1 pm. The theme is: "Imagine the Future: Join the Discussion", and the goal is to re-energize the modern Orthodox community in the face of increasing religious extremism. The conference will include presentations by leading thinkers and Torah scholars, as well as programs for children.

If you plan to be in Jerusalem on April 1, Hol haMoed Pessah, you may register by going to www.toravoda.org.il.  

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The Institute for Jewish Ideas and Ideals invites its members and friends to a breakfast meeting with Susan Weiss, Director of the Center for Women's Justice in Jerusalem. The event will be held on Tuesday morning March 16, at Congregation Shearith Israel, 2 West 70th Street, New York City. Services begin at 7:15 am; breakfast at 8:00 am. The program should conclude by 9:15 am.

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Here is an amazing opportunity to study Torah with the Angels!

On Sunday evening March 7, at 7 pm., please join us for a special program to be held at Congregation Shearith Israel, 2 West 70th Street, New York City. This is a book reception for Rabbi Marc D. Angel's recent book, "Maimonides, Spinoza and Us: Toward an Intellectually Vibrant Judaism", and for Rabbi Hayyim Angel's recent book, "Revealed Texts, Hidden Meanings."  Both Rabbis Angel will be giving presentations on the general theme: Faith and Reason.  Rabbi Marc Angel will be discussing issues in Jewish philosophy; Rabbi Hayyim Angel will be discussing issues relating to the study of the Bible.

Copies of both books will be available for purchase.

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The Institute for Jewish Ideas and Ideals invites members to a breakfast program on Monday morning February 1, at Congregation Shearith Israel, 2 West 70th Street, NYC. Services begin at 7:15 am, followed by breakfast (at about 8:00 am). The program will conclude by 9:15 am.

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Maimonides, Spinoza and Us: Toward an Intellectually Vibrant Judaism
by
Rabbi Marc D. Angel

has been selected as a finalist of the

2009 NATIONAL JEWISH BOOK AWARD
in the category of
Scholarship

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Rav David Bigman, Rosh Yeshiva of the Yeshiva Hesder of Maale Gilboa, will be the guest speaker at a breakfast program sponsored by the Institute for Jewish Ideas and Ideals. The event will be held at Congregation Shearith Israel, 2 West 70th Street, in Manhattan, on Wednesday morning December 23. Services are at 7:15 am, followed by the breakfast at about 8:00 am. The program will run until about 9:15 am.

Rav Bigman's topic is: The Paradox of Spiritual Enlightenment.  Rav Bigman is well known as an outstanding scholar, thinker, author and lecturer. The Institute for Jewish Ideas and Ideals is working with Rav Bigman on a series of programs in Israel geared to Israeli teen agers, to give them a deeper insight into the grand teachings of Torah Judaism.

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A program was held at the Hillel of Harvard University on Wedenesday evening December 2. Organized in conjunction with our Institute, the program featured a presentation by Rabbi Marc D. Angel on his new book, "Maimonides, Spinoza and Us: Toward an Intellectually Vibrant Judaism".  The large attendance included Harvard students who are members of the Institute's University Network. The program was arranged through the efforts of Rabbi Benjamin Greenberg at the Harvard Hillel.  Copies of Rabbi Angel's book were given to students through the generous sponsorship of John and Marjory Lewin, in memory of Ellis Somekh.

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