Adult Learning on the High Holidays

“Is This the Fast I Desire?” Jewish Values and the Journey from Social Action to Social Justicewith Deedee Jacobsohn
Wednesday, October 5
12:30 PM
Deedee Jacobsohn is a member of B’nai Israel’s Social Action committee, Refugee and Immigrant Aid Committee, and Faith Community Outreach Committee. Yet a 2020 presentation sponsored by B’nai Israel on the inequitable distribution of COVID vaccines became a call to a different kind of action. Deedee joined the Jews United for Justice (JUFJ) Montgomery County Housing Team (which she now co-chairs), and participated in JOIN for Justice’s “Don’t Kvetch, Organize!” training program. She now advocates regularly with JUFJ to fight for affordable, stable, and safe housing in Montgomery County. She is a new member of the JUFJ Montgomery County Leadership Council.

The Gathering of Israel (Kibbutz Galuyot)
with Uriel Lin, Congregational Shlicha
Wednesday, October 5
1:30 PM
Before entering the Land of Israel, Moses was promised a future return of the exiles in Eretz Israel. Later, it became the core idea of the Zionist movement throughout the Jewish world. Our new shlicha Uriel Lin, will share how two families with completely different backgrounds—one young couple from Argentina, and the other a family of pioneers in pre-independence Israel—worked towards making the Zionist dream come true. This is the personal story of Uriel’s grandparents, and how their story has become an integral part of her own.

When Jonah Meets Pharaoh: A Midrashic Tale of Teshuvah 
with Rabbi Mitchell Berkowitz 
Wednesday, October 5
3:00 PM
Jonah might be the Hebrew Bible’s only successful prophet. He managed to convince the entire city of Nineveh to repent and thus move God to withhold punishment. According to the rabbinic tradition, the King of Nineveh is none other than Pharaoh himself. If stubborn, hard-hearted Pharaoh could do teshuvah, so can we. Click here for the source sheet.

Ask the Rabbi 
with Rabbi Michael Safra
Wednesday, October 5
3:45 PM
Rabbi Safra looks forward to responding to your queries at what has become an exciting Yom Kippur tradition. Please submit your question by email by to Susan Grinnan-Long by noon on Friday, September 23. If there is time, questions may also be asked from the floor.