Join us for an evening of learning and choose from a variety of classes related to Yom HaShoah, Yom HaZikaron, and Yom HaAtzmaut! You will be able to choose one class from 6-6:45 PM and one class from 7-7:45 PM, offered by our wonderful community clergy and educators.

REGISTER HERE

6-6:45 PM

The Flag of Israel: Religious, Nationalist, or Historical?
Rabbi Dan Millner | Congregation Tiferet Israel
In this class, we will focus on the symbolic significance of the flag of Israel. With its iconic two blue stripes and blue Jewish Star, the flag of Israel has become a uniquely Jewish symbol. Why is the design the way it is? Why are blue and white considered “Jewish colors”? Is there something deeper to its meaning, and what does it mean that a national symbol can become a religious signifier? We will answer these questions and more in what promises to be a fun, educational and compelling class. No previous background is required, and all are welcome! Rabbi Millner is the Rabbi at Congregation Tiferet Israel.

The Road to Excellence
Lior Koriat | Israeli American Council
We will discuss the importance of core values and how such values can shape us as leaders in the community, and explain the principles of Excellence & Wingmanship and their significance in the forming of the State of Israel. Lior is a former IDF combat pilot.

What to Know About Rising Antisemitism
Jackie Nirenberg | Anti-Defamation League
Antisemitism is on the rise. But what does it mean? This class will delve into what’s behind this alarming trend and what we can learn from history to understand it. Jackie is the Regional Director of the Anti-Defamation League.

Stories and Perspectives from the Second and Third Generations of Holocaust Survivors
Descendants of Holocaust Survivors in Central Texas | Shalom AustinV
Very few survivors of the Holocaust are still living. Who will continue to tell their stories to make sure the world never forgets the horrors of the Holocaust? Children and grandchildren of Holocaust survivors want to continue to provide testimony about what our families experienced less than 85 years ago, to make sure they are not forgotten.

Two members of Descendants of Holocaust Survivors in Central Texas – Simon Wellner, representing Second Generation and Marissa Bortenstein, representing Third Generation – will be interviewed by fellow member, Linda Aronovsky Cox, about their family’s miraculous stories of survival and the effect it has had on their lives, followed by questions and a general discussion of issues involved in being descendants of Holocaust survivors.

Click here to learn more about Simon and Marissa.

7-7:45 PM

“I Almost Got Ill”: How Two Influential Christians Fought Antisemitism After the Holocaust (And What We Can Learn from Their Efforts)
Dr. J.E. Wolfson | Texas Holocaust, Genocide, and Antisemitism Advisory Commission
As the world has struggled to reckon with the Shoah, interfaith relations between Jews and certain religious communities have undergone dramatic transformations. Among the most pioneering and radical voices to confront the daunting theme of Christian complicity in the Holocaust were two believers in the United States. This session will discuss how a fiery Catholic nun, Sister Rose Thering, and a cerebral Protestant theologian, Franklin H. Littell, shook the pulpits and helped change the perspectives of their respective faith communities regarding the Holocaust, Judaism, and even where Jews belong in the world. With antisemitism rising to alarming levels in our time, the stories, legacies, and lessons of Thering and Littell deserve our attention. Dr. Wolfson is State Coordinator of Education for the Texas Holocaust, Genocide, and Antisemitism Advisory Commission.

War and Peace in Israeli Music
Elior Amar | Israeli American Council
Like any form of art, music offers a unique glimpse into our culture. In a country like Israel, the yearning for peace – and the price our nation has had to pay – are expressed in countless songs that have become part of the soundtrack of life in Israel. This session invites an engaging conversation on how those ideas have evolved over multiple generations.
Elior is a former Jewish Agency Israel Fellow, musician & works as a Project Manager at a tech company.

Democracy at 75
Isaac Heger & Gadi Ilan | Jewish National Fund
Have you ever wanted to know more about Israel’s election process, but just didn’t know where to start? Join us for this session to hear from two Israeli-Americans about the three branches of Israel’s government, the election process, how a government is formed, and more. Our speakers will lay a foundation to help us understand the democratic principles of Israel, and will also share some updates on the current proposed legal changes and the social response from Israeli citizens. Isaac and Gadi are both Israeli-American JNF-USA Austin Board Members.