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AUGUST 2025 PROGRAMS
WALKABOUT TEL AVIV: TEL TO TOWERS
Wednesday, August 13, 7:00 pm ET (online)
Perched on a hilltop overlooking the Mediterranean, Jaffa has enchanted conquerors, pilgrims, and poets for millennia. Shai Agnon once
called her “the belle of the seas,” and from the ancient Egyptians to Richard the Lionheart to Napoleon Bonaparte, rulers across time have vied for this coveted port city. As we wander Jaffa’s cobblestone streets, we’ll uncover layers of history etched into stone, alleyway, and arch, from the bustling Flea Market to the hidden courtyards and secret passageways that whisper of centuries past. Yet Jaffa is not only a relic of history, it’s alive with vibrant change. As gentrification reshapes its ancient contours, we’ll explore how the past is woven into the present through modern design, art galleries, and urban renewal projects like the light rail. From the Greek Market to the Maronite churches, Jaffa remains a multicultural crossroads, an ideal launch point for our journey into Tel Aviv’s soul. Let your curiosity lead you through its labyrinthine alleys, where every corner may reveal a treasure or tale you didn’t expect. ancient port to global hotspot. Renowned tour guide Gila Levitan will lead us on an eye-opening virtual journey that will take us far beyond the guidebooks. This series is made possible by a grant from the Congregation Ahabat Shalom Religious Fund and other generous donors.
Learn more about the series here
CSP
The Walnut Street Synagogue is pleased to be a partner congregation of the Orange County Jewish Community Scholar Program. Please join us at an upcoming program!
Jewish Underground Militias in Pre-State Israel
Sunday, August 31, 1:00 pm ET (online)
(online in partnership with the Orange County Jewish Community Scholar Program)
Throughout history, Jews around the world have generally avoided military involvement, especially in contexts where the armed forces showed little concern for their needs or identity as Jews. One of the most fascinating exceptions emerged in pre-State Palestine, where, beginning in 1907, Jews under both Ottoman and British rule began forming their own defense organizations, sometimes against outside enemies, and at times even against one another. This session will explore the evolution and impact of groups such as Hashomer, the Jewish Legion, the Jewish Brigade, the Haganah, Palmach, Irgun, and Lehi. Their legacy continues to shape the Israel Defense Forces to this day.
Prof. Paul Liptz, CSP’s 19th Annual CSP One Month Scholar (2020), is a renowned social historian who served on the faculty of Tel Aviv University for 40 years. Born in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), he arrived in Israel as a volunteer on June 4, 1967, just one day before the outbreak of the Six Day War. He studied and taught at the Hebrew University before joining the Department of Middle East and African Studies at Tel Aviv University, where he lectured on a wide range of topics. Deeply involved in the Reform movement, he taught at Hebrew Union College in Jerusalem for 25 years and worked closely with NFTY in Israel. Over the past five decades, Prof. Liptz has been affiliated with numerous academic and educational institutions, and has traveled extensively, lecturing and leading workshops in more than twenty countries.
Echoes of Olympus – The Enduring Gifts of Ancient Greece
Part 1 – From Agora to Assembly: The Greek Invention of Democracy – Thursday, August 7, 3:30 pm ET (online)
Part 2 – Vases, Statues, and Temples: How the Greeks Celebrated the Mundane and the Divine – Thursday, August 14, 3:30 pm ET (online)
Part 3 – Think Like a Greek: Philosophy as a Way of Life – Thursday, August 21, 3:30 pm ET (online)
Part 4 – The Stage of Humanity: Greek Drama and the Birth of Storytelling – Thursday, August 28, 3:30 pm ET (online)
(online in partnership with the Orange County Jewish Community Scholar Program)
Join Dr David Mendelsohn for this four-part series exploring the profound and lasting influence of ancient Greek civilization on our modern world. From the birth of democracy in Athens to the philosophical insights of Socrates and Aristotle, each session traces the roots of contemporary thought, governance, and aesthetics to their classical origins, while also considering the significant influence and interaction Greece had with other cultures, including Egypt and the Near East. The series delves into the architectural elegance of temples and theaters, the moral and civic dimensions of Greek drama, and the enduring relevance of Greek philosophy as a guide to ethical living. Together, these sessions offer a rich tapestry of how ancient Greece, shaped both from within and through cross-cultural exchange, continues to define our political systems, artistic ideals, and cultural imagination.
Part 1 – From Agora to Assembly: The Greek Invention of Democracy – This series begins with and examination of how Athenian politics shaped ideas of citizenship, debate, and modern governance.
Part 2 – Vases, Statues, and Temples: How the Greeks Celebrated the Mundane and the Divine –The second session brings Greek aesthetics to life through art, architecture, and public spaces.
Part 3 – Think Like a Greek: Philosophy as a Way of Life – The third program delves into the ethical teachings and intellectual revolutions of thinkers from Socrates to the Stoics.
Part 4 – The Stage of Humanity: Greek Drama and the Birth of Storytelling – The series concludes as we trace how epic poetry, tragedy, and comedy helped shape storytelling from Homer to Hollywood.
Dr. David Mendelsohn holds a PhD in Classics/Linguistics, an MA in Archaeology/Linguistics, and an Honors BA in Classical Studies. A recipient of Canada’s prestigious Trudeau Prize, he lives in Jerusalem with his wife, Ronny, and their three children. For over 25 years, Dr. Mendelsohn has researched Jewish communities across the world, including in Germany, Spain, Portugal, Morocco, Eastern Europe, Turkey, Greece, Italy, Bulgaria, Egypt, and India. Combining his expertise as a historian, archaeologist, and sociolinguist, he uncovers the unique influences of local cultures while identifying the shared threads that connect these diverse Jewish communities. A seasoned scholar and educator, Dr. Mendelsohn has previously led Greece trips and specializes in Islamic Studies, Arab-Israeli culture, Bedouin law, and the intersection of language and culture in Arabic and Hebrew.
Part 1 – Program video
Part 2 – Program video
Part 3 – Program video
Echoes by the Lake – Jewish Heritage of Ohrid Macedonia
Tuesday, August 26, 1:00 pm ET (online)
(online in partnership with the Orange County Jewish Community Scholar Program)
Step into the stunning lakeside city of Ohrid, North Macedonia, on this live-stream walking tour that blends natural beauty, ancient history, and rich Jewish heritage. As we explore its cobbled streets, medieval churches, and Ottoman-era architecture, we’ll also uncover the little-known story of Ohrid’s historic Jewish community. From hidden landmarks to stories of resilience, discover how Jewish life once thrived in this Balkan crossroads, and how its legacy still echoes through the city today.
Since the age of 20, our guide, Apostolis Karajanis has been driven by a passion to share the beauty of Ohrid with the world. After earning his Bachelor’s degree in Tourism in Greece, he returned to his hometown in 2012 to pursue his dream of becoming a professional tour guide. That dream soon led him to open his own tour agency. Today, after many years of experience, guiding remains Apostolis’s greatest passion, a calling he continues to fulfill with enthusiasm and pride.
From Memory and Diaspora to “ANU” – The Evolution of the Museum of the Jewish People
Sunday, August 24, 1:00 pm ET (online)
(online in partnership with the Orange County Jewish Community Scholar Program)
In 1959, Nahum Goldmann first envisioned a museum dedicated to the Jewish people, a memorial to vanished Jewish communities. Over the past sixty years, that vision has evolved through multiple transformations, both physical and conceptual, ultimately culminating in today’s ANU – Museum of the Jewish People. Each iteration of the museum has reflected central questions and challenges facing Israeli society and the global Jewish community. This talk will trace the museum’s evolution from its origins as a memorial, through Abba Kovner’s groundbreaking vision in the 1970s that led to Beit Hatfutsot (The Diaspora Museum), to its current incarnation as ANU. Along the way, we’ll explore how shifting ideas of culture, identity, and belonging, both in Israel and the wider Jewish world, have shaped and been shaped by this unique institution.
Dr. Liron Biran-Nisenholz serves as Director of Educational Research and Development at ANU – Museum of the Jewish People and lectures on Jewish culture at Bar-Ilan University. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Theater and Education from Kibbutzim College, and both Master’s and Doctoral degrees in Rabbinic Literature from the Department of Hebrew Literature at Ben-Gurion University. Additionally, Dr. Biran-Nisenholtz is a co-researcher analyzing editorial trends in Bialik and Ravnitzky’s “Book of Legends” (Sefer Ha’Aggadah), a project conducted at Ben-Gurion University with funding from the Israel Science Foundation. As a music lover, she also plays the drums with an amateur band.
Highlights of the Louvre – Mysteries and Masterpieces
Tuesday, August 12, 1:00 pm ET (online)
(online in partnership with the Orange County Jewish Community Scholar Program)
Join us for an unforgettable one-hour virtual journey through the mysteries and masterpieces of the Louvre in Paris — without the crowds, the heat, the sore feet, or the occasionally aloof Parisian! Guided by beloved CSP guide and virtual travel expert Evgenia Kempinski, we’ll explore some of the world’s most iconic artworks and hidden gems housed in this legendary museum. From ancient treasures to Renaissance wonders, Evgenia will unpack the stories, secrets, and historical layers behind the art, making it all come alive from the comfort of your own home. Whether you’re an art lover, history buff, or just curious to peek behind the velvet ropes, this is your backstage pass to the Louvre, CSP-style!
Evgenia Kempinski is a professional Jewish tour guide, born and raised in St. Petersburg, Russia. With over fifteen years of experience guiding Jewish heritage tours in her hometown, she has developed a deep passion for uncovering and sharing the stories of the Jewish Diaspora. With her family she spent six enriching years living in Israel and now resides in Barcelona, continuing her mission to connect people with Jewish history and culture around the world. She is the founder of the Online Jewish Travel Club, a vibrant community that brings together Jews from different countries through a shared love of travel, art, and Jewish heritage.
Dracula – Antisemitism and British Gothic Literature
Sunday, August 10, 1:00 pm ET (online)
(online in partnership with the Orange County Jewish Community Scholar Program)
Join us for a fascinating one-hour online conversation facilitated by Aaron Henne, Artistic Director of theatre dybbuk, with scholar and author Dr. Carol Margaret Davison, exploring some of the history and insights which are brought to life in her book, Anti-Semitism and British Gothic Literature. In that work, Davison interprets the changing significance of the trans-national Wandering Jew in classic Gothic fiction who later migrates into Victorian realism, and reveals how the specters of Jewish difference and Jewish assimilation haunt British literature. The discussion will especially focus on Bram Stoker’s Dracula, exploring the ways in which the societal concerns present at the time of its publication intersect with the prejudices and beliefs that are embedded in the text. This event will be in dialogue with the upcoming world premiere of theatre dybbuk’s Dracula (Annotated), in which the company uses a unique blend of scholarly investigation and heightened theatricality to weave together the plot and characters of Dracula with references to Victorian England and Jewish history.
Dr. Carol Margaret Davison is an internationally recognized scholar specializing in Gothic and Victorian literature, women’s writing, and cultural teratology. A former Canada-U.S. Fulbright scholar and Series Editor for Anthem Studies in Gothic Literature, she has published award-winning books including The Gothic & Death and Anti-Semitism and British Gothic Literature, and serves as Director of The Sickly Taper, the world’s largest Gothic bibliography site. Dr. Davison has edited multiple influential collections and special journal issues, and her work continues to shape the field of Gothic literary studies.
Aaron Henne is the founding artistic director of theatre dybbuk, an organization that uses Jewish history to explore complex contemporary issues through the arts. He is also a nationally recognized educator and facilitator, having led storytelling and character workshops at institutions like Lucasfilm, Pixar, and DreamWorks, and taught for programs at Hebrew Union College, Georgetown, and Wexner. A recipient of multiple playwriting awards, Aaron is a Wexner Field Fellow and member of the ROI community, known for his dynamic contributions to Jewish education and creative engagement.
Program video
Frozen in Time – The Rockefeller Museum Reawakens
Tuesday, August 5, 1:00 pm ET (online)
(online in partnership with the Orange County Jewish Community Scholar Program)
Experience the architectural beauty and rich history of the Rockefeller Museum on this exclusive virtual tour led by Nachliel Selavan. Located in East Jerusalem, this iconic building, frozen in its original 1930s design, is a rare time capsule of both the British Mandate era and the ancient civilizations it preserves. Explore the museum’s unique architecture, mosaics, and layout, which reflect a fusion of European, Middle Eastern, and classical influences. Along the way, we’ll delve into a curated selection of remarkable artifacts, from prehistoric tools to Roman sarcophagi and Islamic art, each one telling a story of the Land of Israel and its layered past. Whether you’re a lover of archaeology, history, or architecture, this tour offers a unique opportunity to connect with one of Jerusalem’s most intriguing and often-overlooked treasures, now briefly reawakened after years of quiet.
Nachliel Selavan, an expert in Tanakh, Jewish history, and museum education, holds double majors in Tanakh and Mass Media, an MA from the Hebrew University’s Melton School of Jewish Education, and a second MA in Ancient Jewish History from Yeshiva University. With extensive experience teaching in Israel and the U.S., Nachliel has captivated thousands of students through formal and informal educational
settings. His unique approach, combines hands-on learning with museum tours, making history and art come alive.
Program video
YAD CHESSED
Yad Chessed helps Jewish individuals and families who struggle with financial hardship pay their bills and buy food. As a social services agency rooted in the Jewish values of kindness (chessed) and charity (tzedakah), they are committed to helping those in need navigate a path toward financial stability while preserving their privacy and dignity. They provide emergency financial assistance, grocery gift cards and compassionate advice for those trying to make ends meet. Hundreds of families and individuals throughout the state rely on Yad Chessed to provide for their essentials, and even at times, a Jewish burial for a loved one. Members of our community, as well as others in the Jewish community, who need assistance may contact Yad Chessed by phone at 781-487-2693 or by Email at intake@yadchessed.org for a confidential conversation. Questions can be directed to info@yadchessed.org.
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