Tuesday, April 25, 2023 12:00 pm - 12:45Â pm (PDT)
ZIONISM, AMERICANISM, AND THE MODERN STATE OF ISRAEL On the day before Israel celebrates its 75th anniversary, join AJU Scholar in Residence Rick Richman and AJU Distinguished Professor of Jewish History Michael Berenbaum for a discussion of Richman’s new book, And None Shall Make Them Afraid: Eight Stories of the Modern State of Israel. Dive into the history of how Zionism, supported by Americanism, created a modern miracle – told through the little-known stories of eight individuals who collectively changed Jewish history. This program is delivered in partnership with the UCLA Y&S Nazarian Center for Israel Studies. This online event is presented by Maven.
Yom Ha’atzmaut Film: Never Stop Dreaming (OC Premiere) Film followed by Q&A with director Richard Trank Wednesday, April 26 at 7 P.M.
Merage JCC:Â 1 Federation Way, Irvine, CA 92603
Never Stop Dreaming: The Life and Legacy of Shimon Peres features interviews with Peres family members, friends, close associates, as well as a long list of world leaders. This film biography began shooting in close cooperation with Mr. Peres in early 2016, several months before his death. Fusing optimism with practicality, Peres was both a hawk - credited with building Israel’s military and nuclear programs, and a world respected dove devoted to brokering a lasting Middle East peace.
The Nobel Peace Prize laureate, two-time Prime Minister and ninth President of the State of Israel gave Academy Award® winning writer and director Richard Trank, executive producer of the Simon Wiesenthal Center’s Moriah Films, and his crew more than 50 hours of archival interviews examining his life.
Interviews with Peres and former world leaders, archival footage and photos, and George Clooney’s stately narration complete this stirring profile of an Israeli founding-father and humanist.
Dear Friends,  Today is Rosh Hodesh Iyyar and the beginning of the third week of the omer  - the 49-day period that starts on the 2nd day of Passover leading up to the holiday of Shavuot (May 26 and 27). During the second and third weeks of this seven-week practice of daily counting, we observe Yom HaShoah, Yom HaZikaronand Yom Ha’atzmaut – powerful observances added to the Jewish calendar within the last 80 years.   We invite you to watch this memorable survivor testimony  offered by the indomitable, elegant, and beautifully spoken, Yetta Kane. Her beloved husband, Cantor Rabbi David Kane, of blessed memory, served Temple Beth Shalom in Long Beach for more than 30 years with Yetta by his side.  Her resume as a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, community servant and businesswoman is remarkable, and she continues to inspire audiences of all ages with her incredible tale of love, hope and countless blessings. Members of Temple Beth Emet in Anaheim were privileged to hear her story this past Sunday, April 16.   The Jewish Collaborative is committed to curating and sharing meaningful opportunities - locally, nationally and from around the world – to help our readers and followers experience the fullness of Jewish life, ethical practices, and impactful calendar.  We encourage you to scan the Community Events section at the bottom of our weekly blasts that include worthwhile events, programs, classes and workshops offered by collaborative partner organizations and individuals. Currently we are highlighting a sobering film series running throughout the month of April at the Laguna Beach Cultural Arts Center focused on the crisis of climate change called Make the Earth Cool Again. The next film, The Human Element, will be shown this coming Sunday, April 23, at 3pm. The movie Going Circular will be presented on April 26. Click hereto see a full calendar of films in this series.  On Sunday, April 30 at 2pm, JCoOC is hosting a free, private screening of the new documentary J'Accuse, a film that reveals shocking and little-known truths about the Lithuanian Holocaust. 95% of Lithuanian Jews were exterminated by Lithuanian auxiliaries before the Nazis finished the job, a historical travesty that has been denied for decades by the Lithuanian government.  J’Accuse introduces us to the unlikely partners, CFP Grant Gochin and author Sylvia Foti, who together are dedicated to exposing the truth about the country's internal genocide and ongoing systemic Holocaust denial.Â
The film will be followed by a Q&A talkback with Grant and Sylvia. Thank you to our co-sponsoring synagogues and organizations.   Wishing you a Hodesh Tov and Shabbat Shalom, Rabbi Marcia Tilchin and the Collaborative TeamÂ
THIS WEEK WITH JCoOC
Saturday, April 22 at 2pm PT TWELVE STEPS AND TORAH JCoOC partners with Our Jewish Recovery(OJR) every Shabbat afternoon for Torah study informed by the wisdom of Twelve Step recovery. Join us on Zoom. For more information and to be added to the Twelve Steps & Torah email list, click here. For a full menu of OJR programs and meetings click here.
Sunday, April 23 5-6:30pm PT | 8-9:30pm ET A.L.I. IN THE EVENING Scott Spitzer, Associate Professor of Political Science at California State University, Fullerton, is presenting his course on the Politics of the Arab-Israeli Conflict, exploring the multiple and oftentimes conflicting narratives of major inflection points in Israel’s relationships with her surrounding neighbors and with the Palestinians. March 12 - June 11. All sessions are recorded. Register here. To see recordings of previous classes, click here.
Monday, April 24 at 9:30am PT ADVANCED LEARNING INSTITUTE
THE POP CULTURE OF PRAYER with Cantor Matt Austerklein Experience the sacred nerdiness of the rabbis! Our sages constructed the texts of the siddur almost entirely out of cultural references to scenes from their favorite stories from the Torah! Examining our most well-known prayer texts, we will explore how the stories behind the prayers broaden our opportunity to connect to God and the siddur. Register here.​​​​Â
Sundays through Thursdays at 6:00pm OC EGAL NIGHTLY MINYAN
If you are looking for a place to say Mourner's Kaddish, observe a yahrzeit, or participate in an evening minyan, OC Egal meets online five nights a week. Click here to receive the private Zoom link. All are welcome.
Click here to learn about ongoing support groups led by Chaplain Fran Chalin M.S.W./M.J.C.S. and to express interest in participation. Weekly meetings will address issues associated with specific types of loss.
Co-sponsored by the Jewish Collaborative of OC and House of Ruach. May dates: 4 (spousal loss), 11 (child loss), 18 (parent / sibling loss)
New cohort begins MONDAY, May 15, 2023 This 18-week Pathways Into Judaism course is for anyone looking to explore and/or enrich their knowledge about what Judaism has to offer as a spiritual path, evolving culture, and sacred way of life. Instructors: Rabbis Daniel Levine and Marcia Tilchin
Monday evenings on Zoom. 5:30-7:00pm PT | 8:30-10:00pm ET
The mission of the Make Earth COOL Again Film Festival is to bring together filmmakers and communities to witness powerful stories of climate action and to inspire further action locally and beyond.
Checkout the calendar at www.LBCulturalArtsCenter.org
TheJewish Collaborative of Orange County is a creative, collaborative, and compassionate community mosaic dedicated to innovating and supporting local and national programming that enriches the landscape of Jewish life and encouraging individuals and families to connect their passions and purpose with Judaism.Â
Jewish Collaborative of Orange County 2200 San Joaquin Hills Rd. Newport Beach, CA 92660
Mondays
9:30 am PT | 12:30 am ET
June 30 | July 7, 14, 21 and 28 | August 4, 11, 18 and Register here
Over the past two centuries, the Jewish people have undergone unprecedented change—politically, socially, and spiritually. This 8-week course explores how Jews have confronted the challenges and opportunities of modernity and how leading thinkers have responded with innovation, resistance, reinterpretation, and renewal
Weekly presentations with Jews United for Democracy and Justice
Grounded in the Jewish prophetic value of Pikuach Nefesh, JQ offers free virtual monthly and drop-in support groups for LGBTQ+ Jews and allies. Learn more
ExploringJudaism.org is about embracing the beauty and complexity of Judaism and our personal search for meaning and learning. No matter who you are or your experience in Judaism there is something to learn and explore.
Each challah is an edible work of art, baked fresh and hand-braided especially for you! Choose from raisin, traditional, sesame seed and poppy seed. For more information, visit theblessedbraid.com.
JCoOC is an exempt organization in accordance with Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code EIN: 36-4844121
