We are pleased to present the 2020-21 Chabad Shul Speaker Series.
To highlight Chabad's unique weekly service, over the course of the coming year, twelve intriguing and sought-after speakers covering relevant, diverse, and contemporary topics, from across the spectrum, will share their fascinating stories with the Aspen Hill Jewish community.
Whether it's "An Officer's Quest For Balance and Healing" from a good Jewish cop, to an acclaimed author telling her tale “From Miniskirt to Hijab in Revolutionary Iran", or the story of a woman who went from competing internationally as a figure skater to expand her horizons and deepen her sense of purpose, to an in-depth discussion of cremation vs. burial, there is something for everyone to learn and enjoy.
Scroll down to read up and register for the speaker(s) that interest you!
Mr. Mark Halawa
FROM A KUWAITI MUSLIM TO AN ISRAELI JEW
DATE: Sunday, November 1, 2020, 10:00 AM
Mark Halawa was born and raised in Kuwait to an Arab-Muslim family of Palestinian background.
All along, Mark knew his maternal grandmother was Jewish, but never thought this would make him a Jew.
In 2003, while a university student in London, Ontario Canada, Mark came across Dr Yitzchak Block, a retired professor of philosophy, who informed him that by Jewish law he is actually Jewish, effectively making Mark the very enemy he grew up learning to hate. Mark’s curiosity grew, and an impactful trip to Poland and Israel in 2009 made him fall in love with the Jewish people.
In 2010, Mark started full-time studies at Yeshiva in Jerusalem, then made Israel his home. Today, Mark and his wife live in Jerusalem with their two daughters.
Rabbi Motti Flickshtein
FROM RAPPER TO RABBI, A JOURNEY BACK HOME
DATE: Tuesday, November 17, 7:30 PM
Rabbi Motti shares his inspiring and entertaining story about his transformation from a secular rapper to Chabad rabbi, which began with a hug from another Chabad rabbi.
The story is one which takes any crowd on an emotional rollercoaster. At times, laughing and at times, crying. Throughout the presentation, everyone on the edge of their seats.
The story is interspersed with the rabbi’s rap and touches on the beauty of Shabbat, Ahavat Yisrael, Divine Providence, and how blessed we are to have the Torah, Mitzvot, and a relationship with G-d.
Mr. Daniel Friedmann
TORAH AND SCIENCE; THE GENESIS ONE CODE, TORAH THE BLUEPRINT OF CREATION, AND THE ORIGINS OF HUMANS
DATE: Tuesday, December 8, 7:30 PM
Friedmann is Chairman of Carbon Engineering, a company dedicated to removing co2 from the air to solve climate change.
He was the CEO of "Canada's largest space systems company" and the world's largest commercial communications satellite manufacturer, for 20 years, until May 2016.
He is a professional engineer and holds a master's in engineering physics. Friedmann has published papers on space industry topics and cosmology, as well as, on the correlation between Biblical teachings and scientific theory.
His work on reconciling the biblical account with scientific observation, has been widely reported. He has also spoken on his work to the general public, in schools, at the National Jewish retreat 2017 and many Chabad-Lubavitch Centers.
Rabbi Doron Kornbluth
CREMATION OR BURIAL?
DATE: Tuesday, January 12, 7:30 PM
Rabbi Doron Kornbluth is a bestselling author, internationally renowned speaker, and inspirational licensed Tour Guide in Israel.
His books include Why Be Jewish?, Raising Kids to LOVE Being Jewish, Why Marry Jewish?, Cremation or Burial? A Jewish View, and the recently released Inspirational Israel (all by Mosaica Press).
Doron speaks to all types of audiences on many subjects.
Join us as we explore different perspectives on after life.
Mr. Ernie Gross
NEVER FORGET, NEVER AGAIN
DATE: February
Ernie Gross was born in 1929 in Turt, Romania. His father was a salesman and his mother was a Romanian language tutor. He had five brothers and two sisters.
In April 1944, when Ernie was 15 years old, the Hungarian occupiers deported him and his family to the Sevlus ghetto for several weeks into cramped and near starving conditions. Then they were deported to Auschwitz, arriving in late May of 1944.
After surviving on small pieces of bread and stolen potatoes for several months in
the horrific conditions at Auschwitz, the Nazis forced Ernie and thousands of other inmates who were still alive on a death march to the west towards Dachau and Kaufering, a network of subcamps of Dachau in Germany.
On April 29, 1945 the American army
liberated. Within that one-year internment, Ernie lost 5 members of his immediate family and an unknown number of extended family members. Only two of his brothers and one sister survived.
He spent the next several months in a displaced persons camp and in September 1947 finally immigrated to New York City and then Philadelphia to where his father’s three sisters moved.
Join us to hear Ernie’s firsthand account of his experiences and his powerful message of ‘Never Forget, Never Again’.
Mr. Myron Sugarman
THE LAST JEWISH GANGSTER
DATE: March
The history of the Mob and the history of Jews in America are intertwined.
Meet master storyteller, Myron Sugarma and hear about his connected life with the mob, the shocking story of the mob's impact on the American Nazi Party in the 1930s and the weapons supplied during Israel's fight for independence.
It's a story of Jewish heroism, pride, and patriotism from the perspective of the last Jewish gangster.
Rabbi Pickle
PUTTING YOU IN A (GOOD) PICKLE
DATE: April
Rabbi Pickle is Rabbi Shmuel Marcus, a teacher of kosher pickle-making who travels around teaching kosher dietary laws.
Dubbing his mission the Traveling Kosher Pickle Factory, Marcus realized that people who might not necessarily be receptive to kosher food would become more open to it in the form of a delicious treat. Even older crowds showed up for the pickles. Marcus has gone on to teach thousands how to make their own pickles.
Aside from the fun of making pickles, what Marcus represents is an expansion of Jewish thought through a savory medium.
Rabbi Pickle serves to spread the positive message of Judaism which, in this world, is always welcome. “He’s a very lively, funny type of guy. He captures people’s attentions and feelings”, said one particpant at a recent presetation.
For the Jews in the crowd, the feeling of family and appreciation one’s heritage is brought home even more when one creates an authentically Jewish pickle.
There are health benefits, too, to creating sweet pickles or sour pickles, which don’t have the preservatives of deli pickles, but they’re dare I say it may be secondary to the cultural appreciation. If pickle-making is an art, then Rabbi Shmuel Marcus is a pickle Picasso.
Mrs. Tova Mordechai
THE PERSONAL ODESSEY
DATE: May
Born Tonica Marlow, the youngest daughter of a Sephardic Jewish mother and an evangelical preaching father with his own church, Tova was raised in England without any knowledge whatsoever of her Jewish roots.
She is the author of her autobiography, "To Play With Fire", and has written and illustrated several children's books.
Thirty-five years ago Tova was given a personal blessing from the Lubavitcher Rebbe to spread her story, and since then through her warm and vibrant personality and great humor, Tova has encouraged thousands of Jews throughout the world, of all ages and backgrounds to embrace their Jewish Heritage anew.
Tova Mordechai resides in Israel with her children and grandchildren.
Police Lieutenant Steve Riback
BLACK AND BLUE; ONE COP’S QUEST FOR BALANCE AND HEALING
DATE: June
Steve Riback was born and raised in Southern California.
He relocated to Las Vegas and attended the University of Nevada, Las Vegas to pursue a teaching degree. During his studies, Steve transitioned into law enforcement, joining the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.
With over 22 years on the force, his assignments have included Jail Corrections, Patrol, D.A.R.E., Undercover Vice, Violent Crimes, Quality Assurance, Homicide/Sex Crimes Detail, and currently as a Patrol Lieutenant. Steve, his wife, and three children live in Las Vegas.
Ms. Jacqueline Saper
FROM MINISKIRT TO HIJAB – A GIRL IN REVOLUTINARY IRAN; A PERSONAL JOURNEY THROGH THE IRANIAN REVOLUTION OF 1979 AND ITS AFTERMATH
DATE: July
From Miniskirt to Hijab: A Girl in Revolutionary Iran" - A Personal Journey through the Iranian Revolution of 1979 and its aftermath.
Jacqueline Saper is an acclaimed author, internationally published commentator, speaker, analyst, and translator. Born and raised in Iran in a Jewish family with a Sephardi/Mizrachi Iranian father and Ashkenazi British mother, she grew up as a bridge between the East and the West. Drawing from her diverse heritage and fluent in Farsi, Saper is an expert on issues pertaining to the Iranian revolution and its aftermath, Anti-Semitism, human rights violations towards women and religious minorities, and the history of the Jews of Persia and Jews of Iran today. She is also an analyst on current U.S. – Iran affairs and how they affect America and the broader international community. She immigrated to the United States with her husband and two young children in 1987.
Jewish Indiana Jones,
Rabbi Avraham Stolik
THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL CLAIM TO JERUSALEM; An archaeological refutation of the academic critics, who deny Israel’s historic connection between the Jewish people and their ancient homeland
DATE: August
Rabbi Avraham Stolik is the founder & director of the Jerusalem Uncovered Institute, as well as director of Chabad in Downtown Coral Gables, Florida.
A number of visits to the Holy Land as well as an encounter with a well known archaeologist sparked his interest in archaeology. Combining his extensive knowledge of Jewish History with his new passion, he has been lecturing on the topic of biblical archeology for close to two decades, focusing mainly on Jerusalem.
He has created a unique presentation which has received wide acclaim from his audiences, and has earned him a reputation as a biblical archaeological scholar of note.
Mrs.
Mor Greenberg
FROM FIGURE SKATER TO ALEPH-BET
DATE: September
Mor Greenberg was born in Israel and grew up in Sydney.
From a young age she competed internationally as a figure skater. A chance encounter at a Chabad House led her to expand her horizons and deepen her sense of purpose.
She now authors the popular blog sugarfreecoating.com and regularly gives uplifting candid talks. Most of the time however, she is cleaning up after her four adorable kids!
Chabad Shul is an affiliate of Chabad of Aspen Hill