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OCTOBER 2026 PROGRAMS

 

SHEMINI ATZERET

Shemini Atzeret Services – Saturday, October 3, 9:30 am ET   (in-person at Temple Tifereth Israel, 93 Veterans Road, Winthrop)

The community is invited to attend Shabbat morning and Shemini Atzeret services at Temple Tifereth Israel in Winthrop.

CHELSEA’S TRANSITION FROM LITTLE JERUSALEM TO A MULTICULTURAL MELTING POT

 

Sunday, October 18, 2:00 pm ET (in person at the Walnut Street Synagogue, 145 Walnut Street, Chelsea)

Explore Chelsea’s rich history and evolving immigrant heritage with photographer Arnie Jarmak and writer Joshua Resnek. Through historic photographs and personal insights, they will trace Chelsea’s history from the early 20th century to today—from its years as “Little Jerusalem,” when Jewish and other immigrant communities shaped the city, to the diverse immigrant communities that call Chelsea home today.

Tour our historic synagogue, built in 1909 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1993. See our remarkable 1,109-seat sanctuary, with its painted ceiling, wall frescoes and murals, and beautifully carved wooden Aron Kodesh.  Explore our collection of Judaica, artwork, photographs, documents, books, posters, and plaques from our synagogue, Chelsea synagogues that have closed, and fraternal, social, and educational organizations from Chelsea and elsewhere in Greater Boston.

This program is funded in part by a Creative Experiences Grant from the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.

Register here

Complete event details 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!

What happened to the “Jews of Silence” once the Soviet Union itself fell silent? More than three decades after the collapse of the USSR, Jewish life across the former Soviet world has followed dramatically different paths. In this fascinating three-part series, we’ll travel from Russia, Ukraine and Belarus to Moldova, the Baltic states, the Caucasus and Central Asia, exploring what happened to the millions of Jews who suddenly found themselves free to leave, free to stay, and free to rediscover an identity that Soviet rule had suppressed for generations.
Part 1 – The Great Transition: From Soviet to Post-Soviet – follows the collapse of the USSR, the enormous choices it created, and the Jewish communities transformed by migration.
Part 2 – Rebuilding the Heart: Religion and Tradition – explores the remarkable revival of synagogues, schools, Hebrew, Shabbat and Jewish communal life after decades of suppression.
Part 3 – Rebuilding the Heart: Religion and Tradition – takes us across the diverse Jewish communities of the former Soviet republics to discover how Jewish identity, culture and community are being reinvented in the 21st century. Who left? Who stayed? What was lost, what was recovered, and what does it mean to build a Jewish future after generations of enforced silence?
Evgenia Kempinski is a professional Jewish tour guide, born and raised in St. Petersburg, Russia. With over 15 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.
Register here

 

 

The Jewish Voter in 2026: Politics, Polarization, and the Path to Action

Friday, October 16, 8:00 am ET
(online program presented by Combined Jewish Philanthropies)

Please join Rabbi Marc Baker, President & CEO, CJP and Eitan Hersh, Professor of Political Science at Tufts University and Director of the Center for Expanding Viewpoints in Higher Education, for a one-on-one conversation. A leading scholar of American politics and civic engagement, Hersh is the author of Politics Is for Power and has written extensively on political participation and antisemitism. Together, they will explore how polarization, antisemitism, Israel, and shifting party identities are shaping the midterms and they will invite us to consider the power each of us has to meaningfully engage.
Register here

 

Young Adult Israel Trip for Greater Boston

Combined Jewish Philanthropies (CJP) is partnering with Repair the World, Yahel, and Birthright Israel on a service-learning experience in Israel from December 27, 2026–January 5, 2027. The trip is open to 30 young adults ages 22-40 and combines hands-on volunteering, real relationship-building with Israelis, and meaningful time across the country – including service in Haifa and New Year’s Eve in Tel Aviv. There are also leadership development and Israel engagement sessions before and after the trip. The total cost is $375 including flights.  The deadline to apply is October 19 or until spots are full.
Registration is open here

 

Jewish Heritage Center Free Open House:  Celebrating New England Jewish Businesses

Tuesday, October 20, 6:00 – 7:30 pm ET
(in-person program at the Wyner Family Jewish Jewish Heritage Center (JHC) at American Ancestors, 97 Newbury Street, Boston)

The JHC is hosting an open house focused on the history of Jewish businesses in Boston and beyond, featuring a talk from Dr. Hasia Diner.  The event is an opportunity to explore materials from the JHC archives of the New England Jewish community (photos, scrapbooks, objects, historical documents, and more!) and to join other community members in learning about the history and legacy of local Jewish businesses in our area and the United States more broadly.
Register here

 

“The Samaritans:  A Biblical People” Film Screening

Monday, October 26, 7:00 pm ET
(in-person program at Temple Emanu-El, 393 Atlantic Avenue, Marblehead)

The community is invited to a screening of “The Samaritans: A Biblical People” at Temple Emanu-El in Marblehead.  The program is co-sponsored by the Temple Emanu-El Sisterhood and the Jewish Community Center of the North Shore.
More information and register here

 

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.
Support Yad Chessed