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Israel Information

 
  1. Websites for supporting the Israeli economy:  www.israelexport.org and www.shopinisrael.com.

Upcoming community programs and events

(please note: These are community-wide events.
Listing an event does not constitute endorsement of the content of,
or the food served at, that event.)

 

GENERAL - The Jewish Day School of the Lehigh Valley is holding its annual dinner on Saturday night, December 3rd, honoring long-time community members, activists and educators Jeanette and Eduardo Eichenwald. For information on dinner tickets and journal ads please call JDS at 610-437-0721. Please note that the ad deadline is November 11th.

GENERAL - Temple Beth El has an opening for a full time synagogue administrator.  Duties include supervising all administrative activities; synagogue activities; purchasing; office and maintenance personnel and more. Get information on duties and qualifications, or send resume and cover letter with salary requirements, to: President, Temple Beth El, 1255 S. Cedar Crest Blvd., Suite 1700, Allentown, PA 18103 or to President@bethelallentown.org.

  1. 11/2 - On Wednesday November 2nd, at 4:15 PM, Janice Eidus will speak on her new novel, The War of the Rosens, and what it means to be a Jewish American woman writer, at Lehigh University, 480 Maginnes. This program is presented by the Berman Center for Jewish Studies. For more information go to www.lehigh.edu/~inber/programs.html.
  2. 11/5 - Come learn about the man who Sephardic tradition calls "Our Master," a mystic and legalist who authored major works in both fields in the 15th and 16th centuries, in a free class by R' Mordechai Torczyner at Congregation Sons of Israel on Shabbat, November 5th, at Noon. This is part of Congregation Sons of Israel’s “Sephardic Jewry Month.”
  3. 11/6 - The JCC Film Committee has teamed up with the Nineteenth Street Theatre and the JFLV Holocaust Resource Center to offer a panel discussion after the Sunday, November 6th, 1:30pm matinee of the feature film "Everything is Illuminated."  Show your JCC membership card for $5 admission to any screening of this film from November 5th to the 12th.
  4. 11/6 - Chazzan Moshe Tessone is Chazzan of the Syrian synagogue Ahi Ezer, teaches Sephardic Chazzanut at Yeshiva University's Belz School of Jewish Music, and directs Sephardic programming at Yeshiva University. Congregation Sons of Israel is pleased to present Chazan Tessone in concert on Sunday, November 6th, at 7 PM. Wine and cheese served. Tickets are $10; call 610-433-6089 to order tickets. This is part of Congregation Sons of Israel’s “Sephardic Jewry Month.”
  5. 11/7 - The Muhlenberg College basketball team will play a team of Israeli university students on Monday, November 7th, at 7 PM. The game is free and open to the public. There will be half-time games and prizes and a reception following the game. . For questions on this Israel@Heart program please call 484-664-3270.
  6. 11/8 - The Muhlenberg Department of Dance and Muhlenberg College Hillel present "The Stage is Burning: Israeli reality reflected in local theater," with Sinai Peter, former artistic director of the Haifa Municipal Theater, on Tuesday November 8th at 7 PM in the Muhlenberg College Center for the Arts Recital Hall. This program is free and open to the public. For questions on this Israel@Heart program please call 484-664-3270.
  7. 11/9 - On Wednesday November 9th, at 4:00 PM, Barry Wimpfheimer, Associate Professor of Religious Studies at Penn State, will speak on "Jewish Law as Narrative History: The Case of Birth Control," at Lehigh University, 480 Maginnes. This program is presented by the Berman Center for Jewish Studies. For more information go to www.lehigh.edu/~inber/programs.html
  8. 11/13 - On Sunday November 13th, at 9:30 AM, Congregation Keneseth Israel offers a Congregational Brunch sponsored by the KI Brotherhood. Speaker will be Monro Roth, on Philip Roth's novel, "The Plot Against America."
  9. 11/14 - On Monday November 14th, at 4:15 PM, Israeli writer Savyon Liebrecht will speak on her new book, A Good Place for the Night, and her experience as a child of survivors, at Lehigh University, 480 Maginnes. This program is presented by the Berman Center for Jewish Studies. For more information go to www.lehigh.edu/~inber/programs.html.
  10. 11/14 - A Communal Commemoration of Kristallnacht:  A guest speaker involved with the documentary "Paper Clips" will introduce  "Paper Clips," the conclusion of the JCC's Fall Jewish & Israeli Film Series, at 7:30pm on November 14th at the JCC. Co-sponsored by the Lafayette Hillel Society and the Institute for Jewish Christian Understanding.
  11. 11/15 - On Tuesday November 15th, at 7:30 PM, Congregation Brith Sholom offers Dr, George Diamond, Professor of English, Moravian College, speaking on "Saul Bellow: Seizing The Day." This program is free and open to the Jewish community.
  12. 11/16 - Jewish Family Service offers an Over-50 Brunch and Learn, "Making the Most of Your Memory," with Douglas C. Nathanson, M.D. on  Wednesday, November 16 at 9:30 am.  Talk begins at 10:00 am. A donation of $2 to help defray brunch expenses would be appreciated. Please call 610-821-8722 by November 14 to let JFS know you will attend.

Long-Range and General Information

General: Do you know anyone who is just moving to town and could use help getting settled? Email Cheryl Figlin and her Community Welcoming Committee at brennerb@erols.com. All are welcome, regardless of affiliation.

Long-Range

  1. 11/19 - Shmuel haNagid was a scholar and a diplomat, one of the greatest leaders of Spanish Jewry! Come learn more about this amazing figure in a free class by R' Mordechai Torczyner at Congregation Sons of Israel on Shabbat, November 19th, at Noon. This is part of Congregation Sons of Israel’s “Sephardic Jewry Month.”
  2. 11/26 - On Shabbat November 26th, at Noon, Congregation Sons of Israel kicks off a five-week Shabbat-noon class called "Interpreting the Interpreters," examining the lives and approaches of two early biblical commentators, Rabbi Saadya Gaon and Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki (Rashi). This series, taught by R' Mordechai Torczyner, is free and open to the public. For more information email rabbi@att.net.
  3. 12/4 - At 8:30 AM on Sunday December 4th, Congregation Keneseth Israel goes to see "Movin' Out" in New York. The matinee is at 3 PM, tickets for orchestra seats are $140 per person. Box dinner provided for the ride home, which returns approximately 7:30 PM. For information and reservations please contact KI.
  4. 12/4 -  The Sisterhood of Congregation Sons of Israel will be holding a Pre-Chanukah Brunch on Sunday, December 4th at 10:30 am at the synagogue.  A wide array of Chanukah and other giftware and religious items will be on sale and a singing group from Muhlenberg, the AcaFellas, will perform.  All women in the community are invited to attend, but reservations are suggested by calling the synagogue office at 610-433-6089 by November 28th. The event is free, but donations will be gratefully accepted.
     

Local News Opportunities
The Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley provides the JFLV e-Weekly, a weekly electronic newsletter with  links to articles about issues of
concern to the Jewish community, action items, and news of Federation-sponsored events. To subscribe, email: jflveweekly@entermail.net .

For more information on the latest events in the Lehigh Valley Jewish Community, tune in to Cantor Kevin Wartell's "Kol haEmek (Voice of the Valley)" on Fridays 8 - 9:30 AM at 91.7 FM, and Sundays 2 PM - 3 PM at 88.1 & 93.9 FM.

On-going Classes

Sundays:

  • Mornings at KI. Hebrew I and Hebrew II classes. Began October 3. Fee of $180.

Mondays:

  • 10 - 11:30 AM at JCC. Short Story Discussion Group. On summer break until September 12th.
  • 12 PM at Congregation Sons of Israel. "Paths of the Jewish Prophets." Led by R' Mordechai Torczyner. Starts September 19th.
     
  • 6:30 PM. Talmud for Beginners. Call 610-336-6603 for venue information. Taught by R' Yaakov Halperin. On-going. There is no charge.
  • 8-9:30 PM at JCC. Israeli Dance. On-going. but during the summer please call to confirm

Tuesdays:

  • 10:30-Noon at JCC. "Time to Talk" pairs American volunteers with Russian emigres for an hour of conversation.
  • 12:15 PM at Jewish Community Center. Project Yachad’s lunchtime Torah Study Group. Taught by a different leader each week. There is no charge.
  • 1-4 PM at Jewish Community Center. Kalman Miller Opera Club. Listen to opera, and discuss it with others. Led by Charles and Barbara Vengrove. 3rd Tuesday of the month. There is no charge.
  • 7:30 PM at Beth Avraham. Open Beth Medrash Study Night. Led by R' Yitzchak Yagod. On-going. There is no charge.
  • 9 PM at Beth Avraham. The 613 Mitzvot. Led by R' Yitzchak Yagod. On-going. There is no charge.
  • 8:30 PM at an Allentown Home. In-Depth Talmud, Tractate Beitzah. R' Mordechai Torczyner. On-going. No charge; email rabbi@att.net for the address

Wednesdays:

  • 11 AM - 1 PM, 3rd Wednesday of each month, at JCC. Our Yiddish Heritage, with lunch.  Lunch is $4 per session; must RSVP.
  • 6:30 - 9 PM at JCC. Chess Club. By appointment only; call 610-435-3571, ext. 124 for information.
  • 7:00 PM at Korenberg Home. Weekly Torah Portion. R' Asher Korenberg. On-going. There is no charge.
  • 8:00 PM. Parshah class in Hebrew. Call 610-366-6603 for venue information. R' Yaakov Halperin.
  • 8:30 PM at Congregation Sons of Israel. Conversational Hebrew with Ilana Levy. March 2 - June 6. There is no charge.
     

Thursdays:

  • 10:30 AM at Keneseth Israel. Discussion incorporating Torah texts. R' Dan Feder. Begins October 14. No charge.
  • 8:00 PM at Chabad. Tanya: A Tale of Two Souls. R' Yaakov Halperin. On-going. There is no charge

Fridays:

  • 10 - 11:15 AM at JCC. Current Events Discussion Group. On-going.

Shabbat:

  • 8:15 AM at Congregation Sons of Israel. Talmud, Tractate Makkot. Taught by R' Asher Korenberg. Ongoing. There is no charge.
  •  75 minutes before sunset at Congregation Sons of Israel. A Deeper Look at Jewish tradition. Taught by R' Mordechai Torczyner. On-going. There is no charge.

Daily:

  • 7:45 AM at Congregation Sons of Israel (7:30 AM on Sundays). Daily Page of Talmud. Taught by R’ Mordechai Torczyner. Ongoing. There is no charge.
  •  20 minutes after sunset at Congregation Sons of Israel, Sunday-Thursday. Ten Minutes of Mishnah. Taught by R’ Mordechai Torczyner. Ongoing. There is no charge.