The High Holidays give us a rich assortment of liturgy and stories about God, sometimes imminent and sometimes very far away. Sometimes disconcertingly and/or comfortingly familiar, human, a voice from inside us. And at other times, unfathomable. In this session we will explore how personal or abstract do we wish god to be? with insights from the tradition and Rabbi David Wolpe. David Wolpe is the Max Webb Emeritus Rabbi
Elul and the Yamim HaNoraim encourage us to review our deeds and to seek repair and forgiveness (teshuva), both in our human relationships and in our relationship with God. A less commonly explored angle is the imaginings of the tradition about God’s teshuva — “כגו דלעילא כן לתתא” what happens above, so too below, and possibly visa versa. In this session we will consider sources that explore God’s remorse at
Who Wants to Live Forever? How do we search for longevity and build a meaningful Life? While the High Holidays elicit feelings of spirituality and loftiness, they also hold heavy themes of death and transience. How do oral and written traditions guide our approach to death, and how do we apply the lessons of our ancient stories to fulfill our lives today? Join us as we prepare for the powerful
06
Aug 2025
We Will Dance (and Love) Again: Understanding the Connection Between Tisha B’Av and Tu B’Av
The 15th of Av, a matchmaking holiday described in the Talmud (Taanit 30b), when young women would dance in the vineyards, is often referred to as the Jewish “Valentine’s Day” (even tho of course it came first). Falling less than a week after the 9th of Av, a fast day dedicated to mourning the destruction of the 1st and 2nd Temples, along with some of our other darkest days…Is there
23
Jul 2025
The “Surge” 2 Years In – How Are We Doing?
Join Mimi Kravetz, Chief Impact & Growth Officer, JFNA, as she discusses engagement in Jewish communities. October 7th and concomitant Antisemitism produced an unprecedented surge of interest in Jewish life. 43% of the Jewish community across all levels of previous involvement were seeking to or engaging more in Jewish life. This included those who had been completely unengaged in Jewish life, as well as those deeply embedded in it who
Join Rabbi Elka Abrahamson in conversation with Stephanie Hightower, CEO of the Columbus Urban League and Olympian, and Jason Hall, Columbus Partnership CEO, as they share insights from their Nova visit, exploring ways to forge community partnerships and become the most effective allies in countering antisemitism and all hate.
Gadi Moses, kidnapped on October 7 and was held hostage for 15 months. Two months following his release, Gadi sat down with Dana-Hadar Savoray, our Co-Director in Jerusalem contemplating our Festival of Freedom, Passover. As you prepare for Pesach, we hope you will view this edited message from The Wexner Foundation.
Gadi Moses, kidnapped on October 7 and was held hostage for 15 months. Two months following his release, Gadi sat down with Dana-Hadar Savoray, our Co-Director in Jerusalem contemplating our Festival of Freedom, Passover. As you prepare for Pesach, we hope you will view this edited message from The Wexner Foundation.
What Will We Say This Year? The Unexpected Origins of Seder Rituals The Pesach seder, the oldest continuously practiced religious ritual in the world, is replete with symbols familiar to us all. The matzah, the bitter herbs, the cups of wine are but a few of the objects that make up the evening’s elaborate choreography. Some of these rituals, however, do not mean what we think they mean. Or, more precisely, we have added
The Jewish Case for Talking About Death and Dying We are not only People of the Book, we are people of the Sandwich (Generation), caring for ourselves, our parents and our kids and others dear to us -all at the same time! This interactive session will dive into a selection of Jewish and modern texts designed to support us in thinking deeply about how we might begin or deepen discussions
