Dear Friends,

Our Center for Jewish Life proudly offers an esteemed and innovative lecture series. We strive to illuminate important and thought-provoking issues, presented by carefully selected thinkers and compelling speakers who offer insights into these topics and, we trust, will inspire your desire to explore further.

We look forward to having you with us.

Sincerely,
Rabbi David Woznica
Isaiah Zeldin Rabbinic Chair

Learn about upcoming Center for Jewish Life and Stephen Wise Temple events: join our email list for the lastest news!

Lectures and Dialogue

Judgement and Mercy: The Turbulent Life and Times of the Judge Who Condemned the Rosenbergs

Martin J. Siegel
Monday, March 11, 2024 at 7:30 p.m.

This is the first biography of Irving Kaufman, the judge who presided at the  espionage trial of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg and sentenced them to death. This year marks the 70th anniversary of their executions. To many, the case permanently stained American justice.

The Rosenberg controversy – which particularly divided American Jews – never disappeared. Protestors dogged Judge Kaufman while tragedy and death stalked his family – attributed in part to the long ordeal. The case haunted him to the end.

Tonight, Martin Siegel brings to life a complex man at turns tyrannical and warm, paranoid and altruistic, while revealing Jewish internal battles over assimilation, class and patriotism.

Martin J. Siegel has a unique perspective in which to observe Judge Kaufman, having clerked for him after graduating Harvard Law School. He later served as Assistant U.S. Attorney in New York and Staffer on the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee. He now practices and teaches law in Houston.

$15 Stephen Wise Temple Members
$20 General Public

In the Garden of the Righteous:
The Heroes Who Risked Their Lives to Save Jews During the Holocaust

Richard Hurowitz
Tuesday, May 7, 2024 at 7:30 p.m.

Over 50 million people died in the Second World War. Six million of them, Jews, systematically murdered through crimes of such enormity that a new name to describe the horror was coined: the Holocaust. Even during these dire times, however, there were glimmers of light in the form of courageous individuals who rose above the darkness and risked their lives to save those hunted by the Nazis.

The bravery they exhibited is uniquely inspiring, an extreme altruism that miraculously occurred in opposition to the inaction and indifference to the several hundred million who did nothing and to the evil of those who active supported the Nazis and collaborators.

Their stories are among the most remarkable that history has to offer. This evening, we will hear some of them.

Richard Hurowitz is founder and publisher of Octavian Report. His writings have appeared in The New York Times, Financial Times, Wall Street Journal, The Times of London, and The Jerusalem Post. A graduate of Yale University and Columbia Law School. He lives in New York City.
 
$15 Stephen Wise Temple Members
$20 General Public

Courses and Seminars with your Clergy

There is no charge for these classes. 

With great subjects, inspiring teachers, and committed learners, our classes make for truly meaningful experiences. You are invited to deepen your Jewish knowledge and practice in classes. Longtime students and newcomers alike are invited to join these classes at any time.

Rabbi Sari Laufer headshot

Weekly Talmud with Rabbi Sari
Beyond Apples and Honey: Judaism’s Fall Festivals in the Talmud

Wednesdays, 12-1pm PST
Online
Fall Session: August 30-December 20 (drop in invited!)

Blowing the shofar on Rosh Hashanah, fasting on Yom Kippur, lighting candles on Hanukkah. Sure, we know what they are, but do we know why they are? Fall is chock full of Jewish holidays, and the Babylonian Talmud is chock full of the stories and meanings behind them. Whether you’re brand new to text or a rabbinic expert, join Rabbi Sari and other learners for a weekly dive into ancient texts, modern questions, and everything in between. No Hebrew or experience is necessary, but questions are always welcomed.

This class is held online with occasional in-person hybrid sessions. There is no charge. Registration is required, but drop-ins are welcome!

Favorite Moments in the Torah
with Rabbi David Woznica

Alternate Mondays: 10:15–11 a.m.

Uncover Jewish insights into some of the most interesting issues facing contemporary Jews. This year we will explore Jewish teachings about faith (including Maimonides’ 13 Principles of Faith), dealing with aging parents, raising good and decent children, and how to reconcile the concept of an inherently good God with the existence of suffering. We will also learn Jewish insights into a happy marriage and about inner peace, and we will contemplate topical issues when they arise. We are entering our fourth year of study and welcome newcomers to join an enthusiastic group of learners.

This class meets virtually. There is no charge. Registration is required.

Spirit of Shabbat with Rabbi Yoshi
A fresh new way to study Torah

This year, Rabbi Yoshi kicks off a new and uniquely Wise approach to Shabbat mornings with Spirit of Shabbat Torah study. We’ll begin each weekly session with a few moments of reflection and contemplation, including a brief selection of the most beautiful songs and prayers for Shabbat. This will set the tone for an hour of deep and engaging Torah study where we’ll work together to uncover the timeless wisdom embedded in our ancient tradition. We will enjoy evocative and provocative conversations about a variety of topics, as we apply that wisdom to issues relevant to our  present historical moment.

We will conclude with a special kaddish that gives thanks for our learning together and also provides an opportunity to memorialize our loved ones. Rabbi Yoshi will be our primary teacher and leader with the participation of other clergy, outside experts, and of course, you!

These sessions will occur weekly, rain or shine, each Saturday at 8:45 a.m. online and in the Chapel Study. 

Monday Morning Bible Study
Rabbi Ron Stern

Mondays: 9–10 a.m.

Join us for a deep dive into the origins of the Torah and a contextual and contemporary understanding of how our sacred text came to be. We’re continuing our journey with the Joseph story in the Book of Genesis. We’re happy to welcome back our ongoing students as well as new learners! This is an ongoing class that investigates the Biblical text verse by verse.

This class meets virtually. There is no charge. Registration is required.

Parashat HaShavuah: Weekly Torah Portion Study
Rabbi Ron Stern

Alternate Thursdays: 12 p.m.

Just as archeologists have uncovered the mysteries of Jewish origins in the Land of Israel, Biblical scholars have used the tools of their profession to “unearth” the contextual meaning of the Torah. How does the Torah compare to other ancient literature? What do generations of interpreters reveal about how the Torah shaped Judaism today? How does a modern understanding of our ancient text provide us with deeper insights and great meaning? Each class stands alone, join us any time! Alternate Thursdays at 12:00 p.m. via Zoom only.

This class meets virtually. There is no charge. Registration is required.

The Melton School of Adult Jewish Learning

Stephen Wise Temple Center for Jewish Life Melton School is one of the largest synagogue-based Melton schools in the United States. We take pride in our distinguished faculty and that the overwhelming majority of our students continue beyond the core curriculum into graduate classes (at an unprecedented rate among Melton programs). Classes often create close and supportive communities. 

At an International Directors Conference, our school received the Melton Award in tribute to the outstanding model of our program, an exemplar for Melton schools throughout the world.

For a complete list of class offerings, click here.

To register or to learn more about Melton please contact our Melton School Director Karen Goldenstein at [email protected] or 310.889.2291

ALL MELTON CLASSES ARE PRESENTED ON ZOOM

Center for Jewish Life Online Archive

Wise’s Center for Jewish Life has been programming intellectually stimulating evenings with movers, shakers, and thought-leaders for well over a decade. Rabbi David Woznica has brought an impressive and diverse array of speakers together for lectures, dialogues, and panel discussions.

Watch this page for future updates as we share more enlightening programs from our archives.

Ambassador Michael Oren in Dialogue with Rabbi David Woznica

Recorded on Monday, October 31, 2022

Our 2022-2023 slate of Center for Jewish Life events kicked off with a compelling dialogue between Rabbi David Woznica and Michael Oren, the former Israeli Ambassador to the United States.

Ambassador Martin Indyk with Rabbi David Woznica.

Recorded on Monday, April 3, 2023

On the evening of April 3, 2023, Ambassador Martin Indyk, the former United States Ambassador to Israel, joined Rabbi David Woznica and the Stephen Wise Temple Center for Jewish Life for a webinar on Middle East diplomacy, Henry Kissinger, and the current situation in Israel.

Liel Leibovitz in Dialogue with Rabbi David Woznica

Recorded on Monday, January 11, 2021

Author, journalist, and Unorthodox podcast host Liel Leibovitz joins Rabbi David Woznica for a thought-provoking dialogue. Together they cover a wide variety of topics related to contemporary Judaism and Jewish issues, using some of Leibovitz’s well-known Tablet magazine articles as a jumping-off point.

Dr. Deborah Lipstadt in Dialogue
with Rabbi David Woznica

Recorded on July 1, 2020

Celebrated historian (and author of many books) Dr. Deborah Lipstadt joins Rabbi David Woznica for a dialogue on the state of Jewish life, antisemitism, and race relations in the United States. Dr. Lipstadt made international headlines during her libel defense in London against David Irving, who sued her for calling him a Holocaust denier and right wing extremist. A feature film was later made of the trial.

Dr. Lipstadt is Dorot Professor of Modern Jewish History and Holocaust Studies at Emory University in Atlanta.

Jonathan Kaufman in Dialogue
with Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback

Recorded on October 26, 2020

Jonathan Kaufman tells the remarkable story of how two families participated in an economic boom that opened China to the world. His book, The Last Kings of Shanghai, lays bare the moral compromises of these families—and their exceptional foresight and generosity. At the height of World War II, they joined together to rescue and protect 18,000 Jewish refugees fleeing Nazism. As the United States confronts China’s rise, this book holds a key to understanding the present moment.

Jonathan Kaufman is a Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter who has reported on China for thirty years. He is Director of the School of Journalism at Northeastern University in Boston.

Yousef Bashir in Dialogue with Rabbi David Woznica

February 18, 2020

“[The Words of My Father] is captivating. Full of youthful exuberance, unlikely adventures, and raw discovery.” — The New Yorker

Yousef Bashir is a Palestinian-American from the Gaza Strip, the son of Khalil Bashir, a highly respected educator. Still suffering the effects of a near catastrophic injury at the hands of an anonymous IDF soldier, Yousef made his way to the United States where he became an accomplished author, a vigorous advocate of Israeli-Palestinian peace, and much sought-after public speaker. Learn his truly remarkable life story as he speaks with Rabbi David Woznica.

Obama White House Speechwriter Sarah Hurwitz in Dialogue with Rabbi David Woznica

December 2, 2019

From 2009 to 2017 Sarah Hurwitz served as a White House speechwriter, first for President Barack Obama and then as the chief speechwriter for First Lady Michelle Obama. At the age of 36, Sarah took an introductory class on Judaism, attending on a whim. On the road, she found beauty in the rituals, guidance on living an ethical life, a deeper understanding of God—well beyond anything she had learned in Hebrew school. This initiated a multi-year journey meeting with rabbis, attending meditation retreats, sitting at Shabbat tables of Orthodox families, and the reading of many books on Judaism.

Rabbi Harold Kushner in Dialogue with Rabbi David Woznica

February 2, 2016

As part of Stephen Wise Temple Center for Jewish Life’s Forum on Critical Values, Rabbi David Woznica hosts a dialogue with legendary thinker, teacher, and renowned author Rabbi Harold Kushner. This engaging evening yielded timeless answers to thoughtful questions that apply to our daily lives as well as big-picture values introspections.

Elie Wiesel and Governor Mario Cuomo in Dialogue with Rabbi David Woznica

“God: Personal Thoughts” | April 18, 2002

In 2002 Rabbi David Woznica was invited to return to his former organization, the 92nd St. Y in New York City, for this memorable evening. In addition to a filled concert hall, It was broadcast by satellite around the United States. “While these extraordinary men are no longer with us,” reflects Rabbi Woznica, “their insights, candor and depth remain with me to this day.”

The Supreme Court: Crucial Cases of the Past, Present, and Future

Monday, November 4, 2019

with Dean Erwin Chemerinsky and Professor Laurie Levenson