Past Events

The summer months are a sorrowful time, in which Jews mark painful memories, like the sin of the Golden Calf, the failure of the biblical spies, and, of course, the destruction of the Temple. The classical spiritual explanation for our losses is sinnat hinam, or "pointless hatred" among Jews who were unable to respect each other. Can different Jewish communities today take our ideological differences seriously, while still mourning together for our people's losses and caring for each other with ahavat hinnam,…

This summer, in lieu of our popular literary series, "Scribblers on the Roof," we are proud to present our first virtual reading series. AC members will read from and discuss their work in fiction, non-fiction, memoir, and other genres, Monday nights from 8-9pm. Scholar/Author Dr. Nancy Sinkoff, Professor of Jewish Studies and History at Rutgers University, will read from and discuss her well-researched and lively book, From Left to Right: Lucy S. Dawidowicz, the New York Intellectuals and the Politics of…

Martin Buber said that the word "God" was "the most burdened of all human words." For some, the presence of evil and oppression in human history makes it difficult or impossible to say they believe in God. Could we view these moments of despair as the absence of God, and find faith again? Drawing on Buber's image of the eclipse of God, we will discuss how we struggle and strive for faith, hope, and wholeness in the face of evil…

This summer, in lieu of our popular literary series, "Scribblers on the Roof," we are proud to present our first virtual reading series. AC members will read from and discuss their work in fiction, non-fiction, memoir, and other genres, Monday nights from 8-9pm. JEREMY CAPLAN: Entrepreneurial Journalism— A New Landscape for News Journalist Jeremy Caplan, Director of Education for Tow-Knight Center for Entrepreneurial Journalism/Teacher of digital journalism at CUNY, will  bring us up to speed on advances in the brave new…

For many American Jews, Zionism is indispensable to the thriving of the Jewish people, exemplifying the ingathering of the exiles, a revived modern Jewish culture and Hebrew language. For others, the value of those achievements cannot obscure the Israel-Palestine conflict and a 53-year-long occupation over millions of people who lack political rights none of us would forego. Recently the writer Peter Beinart (our neighborhood resident) wrote a lengthy piece on his personal evolution from espousing a "two-state solution" towards a…