Events

Meet Eden Ezra: Thursday, January 8th at 8:00 PM

A Family’s Journey from Yemen to Israel

Sisterhood invites you to meet our Shlicha, Eden Ezra, and hear her family’s story.

This is an in-person event. Please register in advance.

Shabbaton from Home and Shul: Saturday, January 10th

David Snyder will discuss “Let us go three days into the wilderness”: A strategic ask or bad faith negotiation?

Much has been made about God hardening Pharoah’s heart over the course of the 10 plagues, but that is not the only problematic aspect of the run-up to the exodus from Egypt. Moses and Aaron did not initially ask Pharaoh to free the Israelites but merely to furlough them for a three-day trip into the wilderness for a religious observance. Was asking for a mere three day furlough rather than freedom strategic or an example of a bad faith negotiation?

Please join us after kiddush.

David Snyder has been a member of the FHJC community (which knows him as Diana Walcott’s husband or Faith’s dad) for 20-some-odd years now. He is the recording secretary for Men’s Club and the chair of the Yom Hashoah Yellow Candle committee. David Snyder is a professor at William Paterson University of NJ, where he specializes in biophysical and computational chemistry and is the faculty co-advisor for the campus chapter of Hillel.

No reservations are required. To participate, either come to FHJC for Shabbat Services and stay after Kiddush for the presentation or join services on the Zoom link (click Zoom) and stay on the link for the program.

Hebrew Literature Group: Thursday, January 15th at 5:00 PM

The Messianic Idea in Hebrew Writings: From the Bible to Kabbalah

Our year’s theme is hope in Hebrew writings as exemplified by the Messianic idea. In the upcoming, third, meeting of 5786, the Hebrew Literature Group will move on from the first twelve chapters of Isaiah. in them, we encountered some of the best known prophecies of a utopian end of days, all in context of the political events of the day. We now go to the later chapters in which we find Isaiah comforting his people and prophesying a hopeful future.

In the Hebrew Literature Group texts are read in Hebrew with English translation and discussion is in English. We meet on Zoom about once every other month.

Click HERE for the Zoom link. If you have questions about the Hebrew Literature Group and this year’s topic, email Mitchell Frank.

Shabbaton from Home: Tuesday, January 20th at 8:00 PM

Jonathan Kastin will discuss the Consequences of Artificial Intelligence for Judaism

We all read in the news that AI is changing work, education, the arts, and many other fields of human endeavor. Over the next decade, what will be the impact of advanced AI on Judaism, and specifically on Conservative Jewish thought and practice? When an AI can analyze every piece of rabbinic literature ever produced, how does that change the role of rabbis? Can an AI be Jewish, and should an AI robot count in a minyan? Can a robot or an AI agent work for you on Shabbat? We will explore as many such questions as time allows.

Please join us after kiddush.

Jonathan Kastin is a former philosophy professor, who has spent the past 19 years working in technology. He currently leads a team building an AI system for corporate credit analysis at a major global bank.

No reservations are required. To participate, join the Zoom link (click Zoom) at 8:00 PM.

Coffee House: Saturday, January 24th at 7:30 PM

Huzzah! It’s Coffee House, presented by Men’s Club!

Join us at our annual evening of fun as FHJC members perform just for you! Admission includes coffee and tea, soft drinks, snacks, and sweets. And it’s BYOB!

Ticket prices are as follows:

RSVP in advance online to secure your tickets!

For more information, contact Stephen Markowitz.

Breakfast with Dr. Judith Beizer: Sunday, February 1st at 10:30 AM

How to Talk to Your Pharmacist

Dr. Beizer is a tenured professor at the St. John’s University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, and Clinical Pharmacist at the Stern Family Center for Rehabilitation. Dr. Beizer has published numerous articles and regularly speaks on medication use among the elderly.

Please RSVP online by Tuesday, January 27. All are welcome.

The cost is $15 per person. Breakfast includes bagels, lox, waffles, and fresh fruit. Questions? Contact Keith Chernin.

World Wide Wrap: Sunday, February 8th

The Men’s Club is proud to host the annual World Wide Wrap!

Please join us for a discussion on tefillin with our own Rabbi Graber and Hazzan Levin. This event is open to all FHJC members at no cost. Bagels, lox and coffee will be served.

Volunteers will be on hand by 8:30 AM in the Little Synagogue to help first-time wrappers. Davening starts at 9 AM, followed by a talk by our very own Rabbi Graber.

If you have any questions, please contact Dan Korb. … and yes, there will be plenty of time to catch the Super Bowl. (It starts at 6:30!)