Israel ARZA

Representing Israel in International Sports
Sunday, January 12, 10:30 a.m. breakfast; 11:00 a.m. program
Temple Emeth's Israel/ARZA Committee will hold a special event, Representing Israel in International Sports. Elissa Sagoskin, Head Coach of the Israeli Women’s American Football team, and Caroline Tabib, Israeli Paralympian, will share their experiences of representing Israel on the global sports stage. The discussion will cover their personal journeys, the impact of antisemitism, and the challenges facing their sports in the aftermath of the October 7th attacks. They will also touch on the resilience of Israeli athletes. 

Fault Lines: Exploring the Complicated Place
of Progressive American Jewish Zionism
December 13, 2024, 8:00 p.m.
Rabbi Mehachem Creditor is guest speaker at Shabbat Services on Friday, December 13, when he addresses Fault Lines: Exploring the Complicated Place of Progressive American Jewish Zionism. It can be very lonely to stand in the world as an advocate for multiple commitments many consider incompatible. One such hybrid stance is Progressive Zionism, deemed racist by many American Progressives and considered suspect (or naïve) by many American Zionists. Those zero-sum approaches of extremist politics and cancel culture make even less imaginable a better day for Israelis and Palestinians, for Israeli Arabs and Israeli Jews, and for Jewish Republicans and Jewish Democrats. Zionism commits to Theodor Herzl's two-fold vision: securing the right of the Jewish people to a state of our own AND building a national home worthy of Judaism's multi-millennia ethical legacy. Explore the unique and often-lonely experience of American Jews within all the worlds they consider home. 

Rabbi Menachem Creditor is the Pearl and Ira Meyer Scholar in Residence at UJA-Federation of New York and the founder of Rabbis Against Gun Violence. His work has appeared in the Times of Israel, the Huffington Post,  the Jewish Week, the Jewish Daily Forward, the Wall Street Journal, and The New York Times. His most recent book is a collection of essays entitled, “After October 7,” copies of which will be available for loan at the service.

One Community. One Commemoration. One Year
October 7, 2024, 6:30 p.m.
Temple Emeth is a partnering synagogue with the Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey's October 7 community-wide gathering to mark this tragic day in our history. The program will include first-hand accounts from those on the ground. It is recommended for ages 12 and up. Registration required; click here to register. 

Widows of Warriors
September 8, 2024, 7:00 p.m.
The Jewish Community in Teaneck is hosting an IDF border observer who was stationed just yards from Gaza. She will share what she saw and experienced on October 7, and raise funds for the non-profit Widows of Warriors.

Widows of Warriors is a grassroots nonprofit in Israel that provides financial assistance for widows and families of October 7th IDF soldiers and facilitates support groups for them fostering a sense of community and connectedness, and standing with them in their time of need. It is a project of the Global Israel Alliance. Click here to register.

From the Yom Kippur War to October 7: What it Means for Israel and U.S. Colleges
Sunday, April 7, 2024 at 10:30 a.m.
Join us for a Byachad Breakfast and learn about the October 7 war, its impact on Israel today, and the ramifications for US college campuses. Our speaker is Professor S. Abraham (Avri ) Ravid, a finance professor, as well as a veteran officer in the Yom Kippur War and former journalist. Professor Ravid is the Sy Syms Finance Chair at Yeshiva University. He has published dozens of academic papers and been the recipient of many academic awards.

Israel/ARZA Committee Breakfast
Sunday, January 28, 2024 at 10:00 a.m.
Guest speaker Dr. Adam Lee Goldstein will speak on From an American Teenager Immigrating to Israel, to Trauma Surgeon, War, and a Mission for Peace through Surgery. Dr. Goldstein is the head of trauma surgery at Wolfson Medical Center in Holon, Israel, and the co-director of Operating Together: Israeli and Palestinian Surgeons United. Dr. Goldstein aims to optimize trauma care for the community, strengthen access to care for neglected populations, and form bridges of communication and cooperation with Palestinian peers. The current war between Israel and Hamas has created tremendous challenges, but has not diminished his resolve to promote healing on both sides of the border. While registration is closed for the breakfast, you can listen to the talk in person or via Zoom. Check the weekly email for login information. To support Dr. Goldstein and the work of Operating Together, go to the organization’s donation page by clicking here. 

Our New Reality After October 7
A class led by Rabbi Steven Sirbu
Tuesdays, January 9, 16, 23, February 6, 2024, from 8:00 to 9:00 p.m.

The October 7 attack on Israel and the war that followed has upended many of our assumptions about Israel, antisemitism, and American Jewish identity. This class, to be held in the Youth Lounge and on Zoom, will combine history and current events to help understand how we got to this point. We will also discuss the safety of Jews in the current political climate, and how pro-Israel activism has changed. Bring your questions and your opinions, but remember, each class lasts only 60 minutes.