Monday, 31 May
No Lunch and Learn: Memorial Day observance

Thursday, 3 June
Israel in Crisis: The View From Those Living It
An Important Lunch and Learn Discussion

Lunch and Learn has just secured three guests with first-hand knowledge and personal insights on the conflict in Israel and Gaza. Zoom at noon on Thursday, June 3, for “Israel: A Shul Family View,” portrait of a nation in crisis.

Featured speakers are Saura Weiner Naim, shul president Judith Weiner’s daughter, who lived in Israel and was visiting family there when the sirens sounded; Judith’s granddaughter, Matan Naim, who lives and works in Tel Aviv; and Efrat Derry, Rabbi Gadi’s sister, who lives with her family in Ashdod. Their witness reports can run counter to the mainstream media and social media versions we hear in this country — often skewed to the politics of the news organizations.

A cease fire is in place. Yet, it seems tenuous at best. We heard about continuing civil unrest from Israelis who joined us on our earlier Lunch and Learn session devoted to the recent strife. What’s more, the focus on Israel has served as a catalyst for extremist views and a terrifying uptick in antisemitic activity throughout this country and abroad. How do we respond to these threats?

Be sure to Zoom at noon next Thursday, June 3, for an important and compelling Lunch and Learn.

Monday, May 24

Be sure to join Lunch and Learn on Monday for an opportunity to understand the current escalation of violence and unrest in Israel from one who has lived it. Rabbi Gadi, who was born and raised in Israel, offers an insider’s perspective on the situation there — the ongoing conflict and the way forward.   

Thursday, May 27

Rabbi Gadi will return to his usual Lunch and Learn timeslot on Thursday to continue his series on the history of the Jews.

Monday, May 31

Memorial Day observance. No Lunch and Learn.

Monday, May 10

Years ago, Andrea Strongwater embarked on a labor-of-love project to research the synagogues destroyed during the Nazi regime in the Third Reich. She sought to resurrect the memory of those historic structures by painting their images, and her artwork has been shown in galleries, museums and shops worldwide. 

In fact, our shul’s Gift Shop offered the artist’s work on tiles that were popular gift items among our members.

And now, Andrea Strongwater is coming to Lunch and Learn to talk about her research, the images she has painted, her award-winning book for young adults, and the fuller version depicting 80 lost synagogues, currently in progress.

Andrea Strongwater is an artist, writer, researcher and lecturer. Zoom at noon for this fascinating illustrated talk that defines one woman’s quest to restore a facet of Judaic history all but lost.

Monday, May 3

What is so great about Facebook and why should you care? For one thing, Facebook may be responsible for 17 new members of our shul this year. Facebook could account for virtual visitors to our shul from here to Israel. And the virtual presence of our programming is largely why our little shul is the envy of big shuls throughout Long Island, now looking to us for guidance. No kidding! 

Throughout the Covid crisis and the closing of our shul building, our own tech experts have led the way to virtual services, holiday events and celebrations, meetings and, yes, Lunch and Learn, too. Zoom in to learn how we can do even more to enhance our offerings and raise our visibility in the Jewish community. 

Shul office assistant/tech wizard Andrea Blaga will join shul president Judith Weiner on Lunch and Learn this Monday to talk about the ins and outs of social media sites like Facebook and Instagram and how, with a little savvy from us, we can reap the benefits.

Zoom at noon for a tutorial and a fun demonstration on how to make the most of social media — for ourselves and for our shul. Navigating Facebook takes real know-how. Andrea and Judy know how. 

Thursday, May 6

Rabbi Gadi returns to Lunch and Learn.