By Caroline Nathans, Director of FLI-Ypsilanti Schools Program The COVID pandemic disrupted the education of millions of American children, and children from economically disadvantaged families and communities lost even more ground. Education policy makers have advocated for high-quality tutoring, but one of the biggest challenges is finding enough tutors for the many children who need…
Mira Sussman, special to the WJN For the first time since its inaugural event in March 2016, Limmud Michigan returns to Ann Arbor. The next Limmud Michigan celebration of learning will be on Sunday, October 29, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. at the Morris Lawrence building at Washtenaw Community College. Limmud Michigan brings together people from all…
Marina Mayorski, PhD Candidate and GSI, Frankel Center for Judaic Studies This year’s Padnos Public Engagement on Jewish Learning Event takes place on October 17 at 7 p.m. and features Dr. Rebecca Scharbach Wollenberg, Assistant Professor of Judaic Studies at the University of Michigan. Wollenberg will present a lecture entitled “Abrahamic Vernaculars: Rivals Thinking Together”…
By Robert Erlewine, Director EMU Center for Jewish Studies Just in time for Halloween, University of Michigan Professor of Hebrew Literature and Jewish Culture Maya Barzilai will deliver the Second Annual Martin B. Shichtman Lecture for the Eastern Michigan University Center for Jewish Studies, titled “Our Golems, Ourselves: What the Golem Narrative Teaches about the…
by Barbara McAnelly for Beth Israel Congregation Anthony Russell will join Beth Israel as our fall musician-in-residence on October 13 and 14. He will co-lead Friday services and give d’var on Saturday, as well as an adult education class on Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. entitled “Written in Breath: Yiddish Song as Commentary.” Mr. Russell…
By Ruth Kraut, special to the WJN Imagine: An eighth grader walks into school and sees a swastika drawn in permanent marker on a desk. You’re a 10th grader, and a friend of a friend says, “You’re Jewish? That’s why you have a big nose.” You’re an 11th grader, and a new friend tells you…
By Drew Coel, Marketing and Program Associate at the Jewish Community Center of Greater Ann Arbor Starting on July 24, the Jewish Community Center of Greater Ann Arbor will showcase the beautiful paintings of Ann Arbor artist David H. Frankel. Join us at the JCC for Meet the Artist on Thursday, August 3, from 6–8…
Garrett’s Space, (https://www.garrettsspace.org/) a suicide prevention nonprofit, is hosting Go4GarrettsSpace, a fundraiser on August 25 that will feature moving speeches from individuals touched by suicide and recorded testimonials from well-known figures in the entertainment space including actress Lucy Liu; J. Smooth-Cameron, who played the role of Gerri on the hit television show Succession; and Phillipa Soo, who played the role of Eliza opposite Lin-Manuel Miranda in Hamilton. There will also be live performances from a variety of musicians, singing groups, and Broadway performers as well as a variety of fitness classes.
Mollie Meadow, a member of the Ann Arbor Reconstructionist Congregation, recently had her artwork selected in a juried art contest through Embracing Our Differences Michigan, a non-profit organization that celebrates diversity. Mollie’s drawing and art and other selected 2023 entries are currently displayed on billboard-sized banners at installations at Gallup Park in Ann Arbor and Riverside Park in Ypsilanti.
Daryl Hafter and Ellen Schwartz became close friends while team-teaching a humanities course at Eastern Michigan University. In the late 1980s, Ellen proposed having a joint adult bat mitzvah. “Oh, no,” Daryl said, “I’m really busy with an article, two conference papers, and a review.” Ellen was relieved! But then, this fall, Daryl called her up. “Remember your proposal about a bat mitzvah?” she asked. “Let’s do it!” Lily Ladin had been helping Daryl learn to read Hebrew since she never learned it as a child, and a good goal seemed to be an adult bat mitzvah. So, we began to plan.