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

Yom HaShoah

Stories and Perspectives from the Second and Third Generations of Holocaust Survivors
Descendants of Holocaust Survivors in Central Texas | Shalom Austin
Very few survivors of the Holocaust are still living. Who will keep their stories alive, to make sure the world never forgets the horrors of the Holocaust? Here in Austin, children and grandchildren of Holocaust survivors have formed a group called Descendants of Holocaust Survivors. Affiliated with Shalom Austin, we want to continue to provide testimony about what our families experienced less than 85 years ago, to make sure they are not forgotten.

This program features two speakers. Steve Fintel, representing second generation, and Rachel Schlesinger, representing third generation, will share their families’ miraculous stories of survival and how it influenced their lives. Following their presentation, we will have an open discussion on issues involved in growing up in families of survivors.

How to Talk to Your Kids About Antisemitism
Jillian Bontke | Anti-Defamation League (ADL)
Come explore ways to talk about Antisemitism with your children and leave with ADL resources to help challenge biased attitudes and help interrupt the escalation of hate.

Yom HaAtzmaut

Israeli Wines, Ancient and Today: A Tale of Four Wineries
Dr. Harvey Raben | Congregation Agudas Achim
With a new archeological discovery near Yavneh tells us that “big” wine has a long-standing history in Israel. Today whether big or boutique we will look at the growth of Golan Heights Winery, Flam, Gush Etzion and Recanati. Pour a glass and share your experience with Israeli wines.

Yom HaZikaron

War Trauma Through the Lens of Israeli Films
Michaela Jacobsberg-Reiss | Israeli-American Council (IAC)
Violent conflict and cross-border attacks from southern Lebanon into Israel date as far back as 1968, and followed the Six-Day War. On the background of the Lebanese Civil War (1975–1990), the northern border with Lebanon continued to be a conflict zone from the 1982 Operation Peace for Galilee, also known as the First Lebanon War, until the 2006 Israel–Hezbollah War and beyond. Through the lens of films depicting Israeli soldiers’ stories on the northern border, we will learn about the nuances of war and trauma.
Offered in English

7-7:45 PM

Yom HaShoah

“In Spite of Everything”: How the Popular Focus on Anne Frank Obscures Holocaust Remembrance and Foments Distortions
Dr. J.E. Wolfson | Texas Holocaust, Genocide, and Antisemitism Advisory Commission (THGAAC)
Anne Frank’s diary is one of the most widely taught, read, and studied works of literature, and the diarist has been deemed the most famous child of the twentieth century. In many American classrooms, the diary and its adaptations to stage and cinema comprise the introductory curriculum for learning about the Holocaust. Why is this so? And is it a good thing that so many people form their first and lasting impressions of the Holocaust based on these works? This session will look at the limitations of the diary in Holocaust instruction; the evolution of how Frank’s story has been told, retold, and promoted by people other than herself; and what we should make of how audiences have received the various versions. As we shall see, while there is to be no denying Frank’s literary talents, other more dangerously insidious and even antisemitic factors have largely contributed to popularizing a mystique around Frank, which her lived experiences and own words have had only a minimal role in shaping.

Yom HaAtzmaut

The Ideal of Israel in Our Prayers
Rachel Stern | Shalom Austin
Today we recognize Prayer for the State of Israel (PSI) as a fixture of our prayer service but compared to other ancient prayers, it is actually new prayer that does not have any connection to Jewish law. As a result, the PSI is open to creativity, interpretation and can have variation of versions that express different ideas and ideals. This session will explore a sampling of PSI versions from different denominations, organizations, places in the world and time periods.

Israel at 74: From Vision to Reality
Zohar Vloski | Jewish National Fund (JNF)
King Solomon wrote in the book of Proverbs about the importance of vision to a nation. The Jewish people have been blessed for centuries with leadership possessing a Zionist vision for the land & people of Israel – a vision that led to the establishment of the State of Israel. In this session with Zohar Vloski, Chief Israel Emissary of Education for Jewish National Fund-USA, we will examine the models of this Zionist leadership from our father Abraham through Theodor Herzl and David Ben-Gurion to see how their vision became a reality. We will hone in on the city of Be’er Sheva as an excellent model to understand how the Zionist vision is realized day by day. Please join us for this exciting session in honor of Yom HaAtzmaut!

All Holidays

The Construction of the Yoms
Rabbi Rebecca Reice | Congregation Shir Ami
Every spring, the Jewish calendar marks three days to commemorate events in modern Jewish history – Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day), Yom HaZikaron (Israel’s Memorial Day), and Yom HaAtzmaut (Israel’s Independence Day). Come learn about the construction of these modern holidays and how they have come to bring great meaning to the Jewish community.

Register here.