Whose Seder is it? Is Passover a Holiday for all Mankind or just for Jews?

The dynamic tensions in our most universally observed holiday.

Is the Seder a drama aimed at children or is it an adult passion play? Is Passover a parochial commemoration of the emergence of the Jewish people or is it a celebration of the universal experience of the redemption from slavery for all peoples? Is Pesach about the search for freedom or about the victory over oppressors? And what might the two unanswered questions of the Haggadah be telling us about how to answer these questions?

The Renaissance of Jewish Life in the New Millennium

The more things change... The ways in which we understand ourselves as human beings, the ways in which we communicate, the ways in which we choose to govern or be governed, and the ways in which we define our families, are undergoing changes which will influence the world in the future. We have begun to re-engineer our existing institutions but this in not enough. We need to reconceptualize what they should be. The Jewish community is focused on Continuity, but, given these transformational changes, there is a need for Renaissance.

The New Jewish Century

The 20th Century was the most remarkable century in Jewish history. Never before have Jewish issues, experiences, and people been so central to world concerns. As the 21st Century unfolds, anti-Semitism has resurfaced and Jews are feeling threatened in ways we thought were behind us. Are we simply responding to the challenges of the last century, or confronting new and untested realities of this one. This presentation examines the extraordinary and unique 20th century and explores whether normalcy lies ahead.

The New Vision of Jewish Philanthropy

In the past, our most generous and affluent leaders viewed themselves as pillars of the "establishment". A growing number of important and visible philanthropists now view themselves as change agents. They are leading the way in efforts to build a stronger and better community. This presentation examines their motives and approaches, and the implications for the future of the Jewish community.

Starbucks and the Jewish Question

The common wisdom is that a problem of contemporary Jewish life is the loss of community, and that most Jews are in search of meaningful and transcendent communities. The presentation challenges that assumption, based on the behavior patterns and observed preferences. For better or worse, it appears that the most successful institutions are those which provide connection and not community.

Re-imagining the Synagogue

There are times in Jewish history when the very structures and institutions that define us have been re-invented to respond to radically changed realities. This presentation posits that this is just such a time and focuses on the changing role of one of the most central institutions and significant gateways in Jewish life, the synagogue.

Sin, Guilt, and the Human Condition

For: High Holiday Seminar

The paradoxes abound: Our most individualistic holidays have the highest synagogue attendance. Our most judgmental days are the ones filled with greatest hope for the future. The days which underscore our existential loneliness and angst are the days which celebrate our ability to make noble and positive choices. The Days of Awe help us confront our own limits and affirm our human potential. In the Jewish calendar, they are unique in what they say about our relationship to our Creator, our fellow human beings, our spiritual search, and own lives.