UNIVERSITY SYNAGOGUE SPEAKERS
Irvine, CA
2016
Jan. 12, 2016
Dr. Sharon Keller on “Women Of The Bible”
2015
Jan. 30, 2015
LA Time Film Critic Kenneth Turan on “Not To Be Missed: 54 Favorites From A
Lifetime of Film”
Feb. 20, 2015
Political Pundit Dr. Norm Ornstein on “American Politics: Now And In The
Future”
Mar. 13, 2015
Archaeologist Aaron Burke on “In Search of Jaffa's ‘Solomonic’ Harbor”
Mar. 27, 2015
Dr. Mohammed Wattad on “Being An Israeli Arab: Everyday Life, Legal Hurdles,
Recent Elections and Possibilities for Peace”
Apr. 17, 2015
Marthe Cohn on Behind Enemy Lines: A Jewish Spy in Nazi Germany” (Yom
HaShoah)
May 29, 2015
Jonathan Shapiro on “Liars, Lawyers and the Art of Storytelling”
Jun. 13, 2015
Rabbi Deborah Waxman, President of the RRC, on “The Future of
Reconstructionism”
July 31, 2015
David Mark on “Dog Whistles, Walk-Backs and Washington Handshakes: Decoding
The Jargon, Slang and Bluster of American Political Speech”
Aug. 28, 2015
Rabbi Sandy Sasso on “Midrash As A Tool For Spiritual Reflection”
Sept. 23, 2015
Sarah Pressman on “Why You Should Take Your Happiness Seriously” (YK)
Oct. 30, 2015
UCI Professor Dr. Jack Miles on "Judaism In The Norton Anthology of World
Religions"
Nov. 20, 2015
Former Los Angeles Dodger Manager Tommy Lasorda on “Bleeding Dodger Blue:
What I’ve Learned About The Power of Motivation Through My Years As A Baseball
Player and Manager”
Dec. 11, 2015
Rabbi David Teutsch will speak on “Words Create Worlds: Jewish Ethics of Speech”
Revised 3/7/2016
1
UNIVERSITY SYNAGOGUE SPEAKERS
Irvine, CA
2014
Feb. 14, 2014
David Solomon on “Women Who Have Changed The Jewish World”
Mar. 7, 2014
Ken Blady on “My Son the Barber-Surgeon: Jews and Medicine”
Apr. 4, 2014
James Schamus, CEO of Focus Features on “My Wife Is A Terrorist: Lessons in
Storytelling from the Department of Homeland Security”
May 2, 2014
Dr. Wendy Lower on “Hitler’s Furies: German Women In The Nazi Killing Fields”
(Yom HaShoah)
Jun. 6, 2014
Israeli choreographer Idan Cohen and dancer Noa Shiloh
Aug. 22, 2014
Chapman University President James L. Doti on “Life Lessons for Leadership”
Sept. 12, 2014
Yale Strom on “Klezmer Music – Its History and Culture”
Sept. 20, 2014
African American Jew By Choice Yiddish singer Anthony Russell
Oct. 4, 2014
Professor Kristen Monroe, YK speaker on “Nurturing Altruism: Lessons For
Ourselves and Our Children From Studying Righteous Holocaust Rescuers”
Oct. 17, 2014
Rabbi Uri Regev on “The Dangers of Jewish Fundamentalism To Israeli
Democracy”
Oct. 24, 2014
Randol Schoenberg on “The Recovery of the Nazi-Looted Klimt Paintings from
Austria”
Nov. 24, 2014
New UCI Chancellor Dr. Howard Gillman will speak
Nov. 25, 2014
Comic Artist Lalo Alcaraz at Pre-TG service with IUCC
Dec. 19, 2014
Dr. Hartley Lachter on “Was Maimonides A Radical?”
2013
Jan. 25, 2013
Professor Marc Michael Epstein on “Mystics”
Feb. 22, 2013
Eric Spitz co-owner of The Orange County Register newspaper
Mar. 1, 2013
Rabbi Sid Schwarz on his book “Jewish Megatrends: Charting the course of the
American Jewish Community”
Apr. 5, 2013
Dr. Miriam Finder Tasini on her book “Where Are We Going” (Yom HaShoah)
May 17, 2013
Elizabeth Bettina on her book “It Happened In Italy: Untold Stories of How the People
of Italy Defied the Horrors of the Holocaust”
Revised 3/7/2016
2
UNIVERSITY SYNAGOGUE SPEAKERS
Irvine, CA
Jun. 7, 2013
Mike and Mitchell Flint on their documentary “Angels In The Sky”
Jun. 7, 2013
Poet Andrew Lustig on “I Am Jewish”
Aug. 23, 2013
Professor Josh Kun on “And You Shall Know Us By The Trail Of Our Vinyl: The
Jewish Past As Told By The Records We’ve Loved And Lost”
Aug. 31, 2013
Dr. Bernd Wollschlaeger on his book “A German Life” (Selichot)
Sept. 14, 2013
Professor Elyn Saks for Yom Kippur afternoon on “The Center Cannot Hold: My
Journey Through Madness: Thoughts on Mental Health Disorders on the Day of
Atonement”
Sept. 20, 2013
Co-CEO of Archie Comics Nancy Silberkleit on “Bullying and What Parents and
Children Can Do About It”
Sept. 29, 2013
Author Faye Kellerman
Nov. 1, 2013
Jonathan Kirsch on his book “The Short, Strange Life of Herschel Grynszpan”
Nov. 13, 2013
Marty Brounstein on his book “Two Among the Righteous Few: A Story of Courage
in the Holocaust”
Dec. 6, 2013
Rabbi Debbie Prinz on her new book about “Jews And Chocolate”
2012
Jan. 27, 2012
British Jewish leader, social activist and educator Clive Lawton on “The Truth About
Europe And The Jews”
Feb. 17, 2012
Former CIA Agent Valerie Plame will speak on her book “Fair Game”
Mar. 16, 2012
Ruthe Gluckson and Jeffrey Briar on “Laughter Yoga”
Mar. 23, 2012
Chapman University Law School Dean Tom Campbell on “Is Progress Possible
Across Ideological Lines?”
Mar. 30, 2012
Fred Kramer, Executive Director the Jewish World Watch on “Conflict Minerals and
Murder in Congo”
Apr. 27, 2012
Author, journalist and attorney Jonathan Kirsch on his recent “The Grand Inquisitor’s
Manual: A History of Terror in the Name of God”
Revised 3/7/2016
3
UNIVERSITY SYNAGOGUE SPEAKERS
Irvine, CA
May 25, 2012
Pitzer College Professor Phil Zuckerman on “Faith No More: How And Why People
Reject Religion”
Jun. 1, 2012
Eli Alony, Director of the Ir David Foundation/City of David on “Biblical Archeology:
Fact or Fantasy?”
Jun. 22, 2012
Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai on “The Centrality of Tel Aviv to Israel’s Future”
July 20, 2012
Jeffrey Briar on “Joys of Piano Music – Jewish Composers’ Contribution to
Lighthearted Sounds”
Aug. 17, 2012
Comedian, author and musician David Zasloff on “Shofar Palooza: A Hysterical,
Historical Musical Celebration of Judaism
Sept. 8, 2012
Veteran actor and playwright Tom Dugan on “The Nazi Hunter – Simon Wiesenthal”
Sept. 14, 2012
Former Los Angeles District Attorney Gil Garcetti on “Therefore, Choose Life: The
Moral And Economic Benefits of Abolishing The Death Penalty”
Sept. 26, 2012
Psychoanalyst Dr. Hedda Bolgar on “What I’ve Learned Over The Past 103 Years”
after Yom Kippur morning services.
Sept. 28, 2012
David Lehrer and Professor Raphael Sonenshein on “Election 2012: What’s At Stake
For Jews, America and Israel”
Oct. 12, 2012
Lawrence Baron on “The Wandering Jew”
Dec. 14, 2012
Pacific Symphony Conductor Carl St. Clair on “The Spirituality of Music”
2011
Jan. 6, 2011
Rabbi Mark Glickman on “Sacred Treasure – The Cairo Genizah: The Amazing
Discoveries of Forgotten Jewish History In An Egyptian Synagogue Attic”
Jan. 21, 2011
Professor Stephen Berk on "Jesus, Masada and Yavneh"
Feb. 18, 2011
UCI Professor Menachem Hofnung in a dialogue with Rabbi Rachlis on "What Do
The Events In Middle East Herald For Israel and The Middle East?"
Feb. 25, 2011
Dr. Norm Ornstein on “American Politics: Now and In The Future”
Mar. 4, 2011
Daniel Siedemann on "Jerusalem: The Key to Peace"
Mar. 11, 2011
Armand Mauss with Rabbi Rachlis on "Everything You That You Ever Wanted To
Know About Mormonism And Its Relationship To Judaism"
Revised 3/7/2016
4
UNIVERSITY SYNAGOGUE SPEAKERS
Irvine, CA
Mar. 25, 2011
Jordan Elgrably and Mariam Atash Nawabi on “Americans and the Middle East:
Bridging Political and Religious Divides – The Art of Cultural Diplomacy”
Apr. 15, 2011
Author Gal Beckerman will speak on his book “When They Come for Us, We’ll Be
Gone: The Epic Struggle to Save Soviet Jewry”
May 6, 2011
Chris Nicola on “The Secret of Priest's Grotto: A Holocaust Survival Story"
May 13, 2011
Professor Eli Berman on “Radical, Religious and Violent: Economics and
Terrorism in the Middle East and Afghanistan”
June 17, 2011
Marshall Kaplan, Shalom Elcott, Shelly Hoss and Kelley Smith on "Tikkun
Olam/Repairing The World In Our Community: Social Entrepreneurs of OC”
July 8, 2011
Rabbis Moshe Halfon and Larry and Linda Seidman on “Breaking In And Out Of
Prison”
Aug. 12, 2011
Mathematician Arthur Benjamin on “Mathemagics” (Renaissance)
Sept. 9, 2011
Danielle Berrin on “Hollywood Jews”
Oct. 8, 2011
Georgetown Law Professor Peter Edelman on “Searching For America's Heart”
(YK afternoon session)
Oct. 21, 2011
Rabbi Barbara Aiello on “The Secret Jews of Italy”
Nov. 18, 2011
Journalist Roger Cohen on "The Arab Spring: Israel In A Transformed Middle East"
Dec. 9, 2011
Peter Goldmark on "Time to Get It Right: Climate, Energy and Security Policy in the
21st Century"
2010
Jan. 29, 2010
Israeli Professor Dr. Alick Isaacs on “And the Wolf Shall Lie With the Lamb:
Jewish Visions of Peace.” Co-sponsored with CSP.
Feb. 12, 2010
Rabbi Capers Funnye on “The Black Jewish History Of America”
Feb. 21, 2010
Professor Erwin Chemerinsky, Former Federal Prosecutor Jonathan
Shapiro and Justice William Bedsworth on “The People vs. Joseph’s Brothers:
A Trial” moderated by Gady Levy with Rabbi Rachlis, Rabbi Brad Artson,
Reverend Paul Tellstrom and others.
Feb. 26, 2010
Dr. Anthony Campolo on “A Citizen’s Guide to Faith and Politics” (Renaissance)
Mar. 19, 2010
Reverend Jim Wallis on his book “Rediscovering Values On Wall Street,
Main Street and Your Street: A Moral Compass For The New Economy”
(Renaissance)
Revised 3/7/2016
5
UNIVERSITY SYNAGOGUE SPEAKERS
Irvine, CA
Apr. 9, 2010
Genocide Scholar Naama Haviv on “The Holocaust to Darfur and Congo... Never
Again?”
Apr. 16, 2010
Professor Raphael Sonenshein on "President Obama, Congress and the Jewish
Agenda”
May 14, 2010
Mathematician Arthur Benjamin on “Mathemagics” (Renaissance)
Jun. 11, 2010
Historian David Epstein on “Jews of the West”
Jun. 18, 2010
Rabbi Arik Ascherman, Executive Director of the Israeli organization Rabbis For
Human Rights
Aug. 13, 2010
Jane Ziegelman on her book "97 Orchard: An Edible History of Five Immigrant
Families In One New York Tenement"
Sept. 4, 2010
Dr. Daniel Siegel, psychiatrist and professor at UCLA, on “Mindsight And The
Biology of Morality”
Sept. 12, 2010
Rabbi Joseph Telushkin on “The Sky Is Not Falling: God, Love And Money In Times
of Crisis”
Oct. 8, 2010
Dr. Rick Hodes on “Saving Lives In Ethiopia One Person At A Time.”
Nov. 12, 2010
Professor Erwin Chemerinsky (JRF Convention)
Nov. 23, 2010
Dr. Jerry D. Campbell, President of Claremont University on “Creating The World’s
First Jewish/Christian/Muslim Seminary”
Dec. 3, 2010
Israeli Educator Lauren Joseph on “Ensuring Equality For Both Jews And Arabs In
Israel”
2009
Jan. 11, 2009
Professor Erwin Chemerinsky, Former Federal Prosecutor Jonathan Shapiro and
Judge Joseph Wapner on “The People vs. Abraham: A Trial of with Dr. Robert
Wexler, Rabbi Stephen Einstein, Rabbi Rachlis, Rabbi Elie Spitzer and Gady Levy
Jan. 30, 2009
Professor Rachel Elior on “Demystifying Jewish Mysticism” A Conversation with
Dan Cedarbaum and Rabbi Jeff Eisenstat "Act Kosher, Think Treyf - Where Is the
Reconstructionist Movement Heading?"
Feb. 20, 2009
CBS Political Analyst and Congress expert, Dr. Norm Ornstein, on “American
Politics in the Age of Obama” (Renaissance)
Mar. 4, 2009
Adam Abakar, Darfurian activist, co-sponsored with Jewish World Watch
Revised 3/7/2016
6
UNIVERSITY SYNAGOGUE SPEAKERS
Irvine, CA
Mar. 6, 2009
Brandeis Institute Professor Leonard Saxe on “Intermarriage: Becoming the
Most Inclusive Community That We Can Be” (Renaissance)
Apr. 17, 2009
Sharon Rennert, granddaughter of Tuvia Bielski, (profiled in film “Defiance”)
Apr. 24, 2009
Leibel Fein on “Now That We Can Be Who We Said We Would Be If Only We Could
Be: Are We?”
Jun. 12, 2009
Johns Hopkins University Medical Professor, Alfredo Quinones-Hinojosa, M.D. on
“What America Means To Me – My Path To Becoming An American and Giving Back”
Jun. 21, 2009
CSP lecture with Rabbi Irving (Yitz) Greenberg on “The Triumph of Life: Judaism’s
Vision”
Sept. 28, 2009
Richard Greene on "E=MC2 And The Definition Of God" - (Yom Kippur afternoon)
(Renaissance)
Oct. 2, 2009
Yaakov Kirschen, Jerusalem Post Editorial Cartoonist on “The Latest News and
Other Jokes: A Stand-Up Analysis Of Israel, Iran and Anti-Semitism”
Oct. 12, 2009
Carl Wilkens on “An Evening With Carl Wilkens” with IUCC
Oct. 16, 2009
Judge Bruce Einhorn on "National Security v. Civil Liberty: The False Choice?"
Nov. 6, 2009
Rabbi Marvin Tokayer on “The Exotic Jews of China, Japan and India”
Nov. 22, 2009
Ambassador Bradley Gordon, Dir. of Policy and Government Affairs at AIPAC,
on “Ancient Affinities: The Historic Jewish Connection to the Land of Israel.”
Dec. 4, 2009
Ambassador Phil Wilcox on “Israel and Palestine: Perpetual Conflict Or Can
Obama Make Peace?”
Dec. 18, 2009
Political Analyst Frank Luntz on “What Americans Really Want… Really.”
(Renaissance)
2008
Jan. 4
UCI Professor of English and Religious Studies, Dr. Jack Miles, on his book “The
Biography Of God”
Feb. 1
Ron Young, Executive Director of the U.S. Interreligious Committee for Peace in the
Middle East, on “Bringing Peace To The Middle East”
Feb. 8
University Synagogue member, Rachel Gandin on “What’s A Nice Jewish Girl Doing
In Dubai?”
Feb. 15
University Synagogue members Dr. Larry and Linda Seidman on "Reconstructing
Kabbalah"
Revised 3/7/2016
7
UNIVERSITY SYNAGOGUE SPEAKERS
Irvine, CA
Feb. 22
Former U.S. Senator Gary Hart on “Are There Any Truly Just People Today?”
Feb. 23
The Piven Family - Jeremy, Shira and Joyce - “An Evening Of Jewish Stories” in
memory of Byrne Piven
Mar. 7
Military Religious Freedom found, Mikey Weinstein on “The Dangers Of Christian
Religious Fundamentalism”
Mar. 28
Artist Laddie John Dill on his Katherine Merage wall art creation
Apr. 4
Dr. Eric Handler on “The Invisible Problem: Orange County Homeless”
May 9
Political Analyst Cliff May on “Terrorism, Totalitarianism And The War Of Ideas”
May 23
Author John Gray on his book “Why Mars and Venus Collide”
Jun. 13
Rabbi Moshe Cotel performing “Chronicles II”
Jun. 27
Israeli strategic thinker Tal Ronen on “The Future of the Jewish People in
Israel and Around the World” in dialogue with Rabbi Rachlis
America,
Aug. 8
Tibor Rubin, Congressional Medal of Honor recipient and Holocaust survivor
Aug. 15
Sports Agent Leigh Steinberg on “Winning with Integrity” (Merage Israeli CEOs)
(Renaissance)
Sept. 5
Former Vermont Governor Madeleine Kunin on her book “Pearls, Politics and Power:
How Women Can Win and Lead”
Sept. 19
Naomi Chazan, New Israel Fund Chair and former Deputy Speaker of the Knesset
Oct. 9
Erwin Chemerinsky at Yom Kippur afternoon session
Nov. 7
Deputy Consul General of Israel Gil Artzyeli on "The Impact and Significance of
the Presidential Election on Israel" (Merage Israeli Fellows)
Dec. 5
Dr. Hedda Bolgar on “Looking Back and Ahead at Age 99”
Dec. 10
Lieutenant Colonel Stephen Abraham – Human Rights Day
Dec. 12
Dr. Yaron Brook on “Liberty and Freedom for All”
2007
Jan. 19
Rabbi Sidney Schwarz on “Judaism and Justice: The Jewish Passion to Repair the
World”
Jan. 31
Hebrew Union College Professor Rabbi Reuven Firestone, on "What Does Islam
Really Say about Judaism and Christianity?"
Revised 3/7/2016
8
UNIVERSITY SYNAGOGUE SPEAKERS
Irvine, CA
Feb. 2
Professor Steven Katz, Director of the Elie Wiesel Center for Judaic Studies at
Boston University, on “The Messianic Idea in Judaism”
Feb. 23
CBS Political Analyst and Congress expert, Dr. Norm Ornstein, on “The Broken
Branch: How Congress Is Failing America and How to Get It Back On Track”
(Renaissance)
Feb. 28
Loyola Marymount University Professor Amir Hussain on “What Does Islam Really
Say About Judaism And Christianity?”
Mar. 11
Rabbi Lee Bycel on “Justice, Justice, You Shall Pursue: The Jewish Mandate to
Transform the World”
Mar. 30
Rabbi Lee Bycel on “From Degradation to Freedom, the Passover Story: Does It
Speak To Us Today?”
Apr. 6
Senator Carl Levin (D-MI), Chair of the Armed Services Committee, on “America’s
Role in the World”
Apr. 13
UCSD Professor Laurence Baron on “Christianities of Compassion and Complicity:
Religious Reasons for Persecuting and Protecting Jews During the Holocaust”
May 9
Rt. Reverend Alexei Smith on“What Does Islam Really Say About Judaism And
Christianity”
May 4
Howard Suber, Film Scholar and UCLA Dean, will speak on “Sacred
Dramas for a Secular Society”
Jun. 1
Educator Barry Smolin on “How to Create a Mentsch: Cultivating the Wide Path
Mind”
Jun. 8
Bennett Greenspan on “Tracing Your Family Tree Through DNA”
July 13
University Synagogue member, Dr. Kevin O’Leary on his book “Saving Democracy: A
Plan For Real Representation in America”
July 27
University Synagogue member, Dr. Richard Lippa on “Mars And Venus: Are Men and
Women Really from Different Planets?”
Aug. 8
“A Visit with Viktor Frankl” with actor Arnold Weiss
Sept. 7
Hebrew Union College Professor David Kaufman on “Jewish Humor In Contemporary
American Culture”
Oct. 5
Dr. Zachary Karabell on his book “Peace Be Upon You: The Story Of Muslim,
Christian and Jewish Co-existence”
Nov. 7
Marvin Sweeney on “The Dead Sea Scrolls”
Revised 3/7/2016
9
UNIVERSITY SYNAGOGUE SPEAKERS
Irvine, CA
Nov. 10
Representative Keith Ellison, the only Muslim in Congress
Nov. 20
Progressive journalist Ezra Klein on “America: Thanksgiving and Change”
Nov. 30
Gal Luft and Anne Korin - two of America’s leading energy security advocates
Dec. 7
Robin Chotzinoff on her book, “Holy Unexpected: My New Life as a Jew”
Dec. 21
Bob Barkin – President of the JRF
2006
Jan. 13
Arie Galles on “Fourteen Stations/Hey Yud Dalet” with poet, Jerome Rothenberg
Jan. 20
Brandeis University Professor Reuven Kimelman on “The Sabbath, Sexuality and
Salvation”
Feb. 3
Holocaust legal experts Professor Michael Bazyler of Whittier Law School and
California Court of Appeals Justice Richard Fybel on “From Legal Barbarism to
Nuremberg”
Apr. 7
Dr. Stephen Morse, Director of Bio-Terrorism for the U.S. Center for Disease Control,
on “Bio-Terrorism: Myth and Reality”
Apr. 28
Schindler’s List survivor Laura Hillman on “I Will Plant You a Lilac Tree”
May 9
Grandson of Holocaust survivors Mark Hanis on “Genocide in Darfur”
May 12
Israeli Consul General Ehud Danoch, senior representative of the State of Israel in the
southwestern United States spoke and answered questions.
May 19
Dr. Yossi Olmert, brother Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and one of the leading
Israeli voices on Middle Eastern affairs.
Jun. 2
Chinese American-Jew, Sociologist and Berkeley Professor Dr. Patricia Y.C.E. Lin on
“Our Family Members from the East”
Aug. 18
Los Angeles Times humor columnist Joel Stein on “Writing Jewish: Why I Feel More
Jewish As A Columnist Than In Real Life”
Sept. 8
UCSD Professor Thomas E. Levy on “Archaeology Illuminates The Bible”
Sept. 16
Selihot: Louis Durra, performing Jewish classical and jazz music, as well as
meditative melodies, to prepare for High Holidays.
Nov. 8
Israeli Gavriel Mairone, founder of the Global Justice Group on “Global Justice,
Following Terrorist Dollars”
Revised 3/7/2016
10
UNIVERSITY SYNAGOGUE SPEAKERS
Irvine, CA
Nov. 22
Dennis Fritz, author of “Journey Toward Justice,” about being found innocent after
10 years in prison by the Innocence Project – “My Journey Toward Justice”
(Thanksgiving/IUCC)
Dec. 8
UCLA Professor Dr. Shai Cherry on “Jesus, Judaism and Christianity: History and
Myth”
2005
Jan. 5
Composer and Pianist, Rabbi Moshe Cotel, performing “Chronicles: A Jewish Life at
the Classical Piano”
Jan. 18
Atheist Sam Harris on his book “The End of Faith: Religion, Terror And The Future
Of Reason”
Feb. 4
Hebrew University Professor Yair Zakovitch on “Life Beyond Life in the Bible” on the
theme of Judaism’s belief in an afterlife
Feb. 18
Ethiopian Jewish singer Alula Tzaddik
Feb. 26
Dr. Yohannes Zeleke on “The Beta Yisrael of Ethiopia: From Exodus to the Holy
Land”
Mar. 29
Professor Wade Clark Roof, an expert on contemporary religion and religious
pluralism. (Renaissance)
Jun. 10
Reverend Jim Wallis, author of the bestseller, “God’s Politics: Why the Right Gets it
Wrong and the Left Doesn’t Get It” (Renaissance)
Jun. 12
Dr. Sidney Golub, UCI Prof. of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics and a member of
the UCI Stem Cell Steering Committee and Dr. Miriam Piven Cotler and Dr. Leonard
Sender, Dir. of Cancer Services at UCI on “Respect For Life, Respect For Death”
Jun. 29
Israeli Interfaith Delegation - Rabbi Ariel Picard, an orthodox rabbi; Father George
Khoury, Chairman of the Israel Interfaith Assoc. (Haifa) and Pres. of the Ecclesiastical
Court in Haifa and Galilee; and Imam Ghassen Manasra, Founder and Dir. of Ansar
Al-Sunnah and, Co-Dir. of the Arab-Jewish Co-existence Program, on “Abrahamic
Voices of Peace from the Holy Land”
Aug. 28
“Concert Under The Stars” with Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul and Mary
Sept. 23
Rabbi Steve Greenberg, the first “out of the closet” gay Orthodox rabbi in history on
“Gayness and God”
Sept. 25
David Zasloff, Shofar demonstration and workshop.
Revised 3/7/2016
11
UNIVERSITY SYNAGOGUE SPEAKERS
Irvine, CA
Oct. 13
Doug Suisman, Rand Corporation architect of a future Palestinian State, on “Day
After Peace”
Oct. 28
Rabbi Marc Dworkin, Executive Director of the American Jewish Committee, on
“Hollywood and the Jews”
Oct. 30
Ari Fleischer, President Bush’s former Press Secretary
Nov. 4
Merage Israeli Executives on “Difficult Issues That Face Israel”
Nov. 11
Vassar College Professor Deborah Dash Moore on “G.I. Jews”
Dec. 2
Dr. Michael Shermer, Scientific American columnist, host of the television series,
“Exploring the Unknown” and author of “The Science of Good and Evil”
2004
Jan. 9
Gidi Grinstein, a member of Prime Minister Barak’s Peace Negotiating Team and
Executive Director of Project Re’ut, a Tel Aviv Think Tank, on “Making Peace
Between Israel and Its Neighbors”
Jan. 30
African Rabbi Gershom Sizomu on “Abayudaya: The Black Jews of Uganda”
Feb. 6
Professor Isaiah Gafni, Professor of Jewish History at Hebrew University in
Jerusalem, on “Is Judaism Really a Religion?”
Feb. 13
David Shneyer, spirituality teacher and composer, on his innovative folk, country and
bluegrass Jewish melodies and spiritual teachings.
Feb. 20
Rabbi Jacob Staub on “Cultivating A Contemplative Approach,” author of “Exploring
Judaism: A Reconstructionist Approach”
Feb. 23
Diocese of Orange Bishop, Tod Brown and Dr. Michael Barenbaum, on “The Passion:
The Death of Jesus and The Jews”
Mar. 5
University Synagogue member Dr. Miriam Cotler, Director of the Center For Health
Ethics and Policy at Cal State, Northridge, on “End of Life Decision Making”
Mar. 19
Rabbi Michael Strassfeld on his book “Embracing Judaism as a Spiritual Practice”
Mar. 26
Professor Norman Cohen on “Hineini: Making the Bible Come Alive As We Confront
Our Own Relationships”
Apr. 2
L.A. Times movie critic, Kenneth Turan, on “The World of Yiddish Film and Culture”
Apr. 23
The Hon. Nabil Fahmy, Egyptian Ambassador to the United States, on “The ArabIsraeli Conflict: Prospects For Peace in the Middle East” (Renaissance)
Revised 3/7/2016
12
UNIVERSITY SYNAGOGUE SPEAKERS
Irvine, CA
May 7
Israeli Reform Rabbi Michael Klein-Katz on “Jerusalem: Holy City to Three Faiths”
Jun. 4
Tal Gozani, Associate Curator at the Skirball Cultural Center, on “Modern Jewish Art”
Sept. 3
Author Jonathan Kirsch on “God Against the Gods: The History of War Between
Monotheism and Polytheism”
Nov. 5
Professor Elizabeth Loftus, Distinguished Professor of Social Ecology at UCI and a
recently elected member of the prestigious National Academy of Sciences, on
“Holocaust Memories: Pain and Truth”
Dec. 3
Jewish Journal Editor Rob Eshman on “Jews Gone Mild” about the challenges and
opportunities facing American Jews today.
Dec. 7
Israeli Rabbi Michael Klein-Katz on “The Binding of Isaac: Our Revolutionary Ethical
Beginnings”
2003
Jan. 17
Dr. Martin Luther King Shabbat with Rev. Mark Whitlock, minister and economic
development officer for the First African Methodist Episcopal (FAME) Church in L.A.
and Pastor of Christ Our Redeemer AME Church in Irvine.
Jan. 21
Rabbi Frank Stern on “Jesus the Jew” at Comparative Religion Adult Education
Jan. 31
Rabbi Shawn Zevit, Outreach Director of the Reconstructionist Movement, on
“Sparks of Holiness: Creativity and Jewish Spirituality”
Feb. 7
Hebrew University Professor of Bible, Dr. Shalom Paul, on “The Garden of Eden:
Myth and Reality”
Mar. 7
Rabbi Sheila Weinberg on “Encountering Buddhism and Judaism: Paths to Spiritual
Renewal”
Mar. 28
Rabbi Mordecai Leibling on “The Torah of Money”
Apr. 1
Ron Young, Executive Director of the U.S. Interreligious Committee for Peace in the
Middle East, on “Religion: Source of Peace or Source of Violence”
Apr. 18
Rabbi Mark Glickman on “Though the Halo May Be Missing: Angels in Judaism—
Past, Present and Future”
May 2
The Honorable Stuart Eizenstat on “Imperfect Justice,” on Jewish assets looted by
the Swiss and others during the Holocaust.
May 9
The Honorable Philip Wilcox, former U.S. Consul General to Jerusalem and a
distinguished American diplomat who has also served as United States Ambassador
Revised 3/7/2016
13
UNIVERSITY SYNAGOGUE SPEAKERS
Irvine, CA
at Large and Coordinator for Counterterrorism on “The Middle East: Is Peace
Possible?”
Jun. 20
Anne Brener, author of “Mourning And Mitzvah”
Jul. 4
Reconstructionist Rabbi Avi Winokur on “Declarations of Independence and
Constitutions: Jewish and American”
Aug. 8
Atheist Dr. Michael Newdow on “Challenging “Under God” in the Pledge of
Allegiance”
Aug. 22
Rabbi Sandy Sasso on “Nurturing the Religious Imagination of Children and Adults”
Sept. 5
An Evening With Actor Martin Landau, star of “Mission Impossible,” “Crimes and
Misdemeanors,” “Ed Wood” on his career.
Oct. 10
Filmmaker Shayna Berkowitz on her new film on the late Senator Paul Wellstone.
Nov. 7
Dr. Judea Pearl, father of slain Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl, on his son’s
life and work and his vision for a more peaceful and tolerant world.
Nov. 14
Rabbi Rami Shapiro on “Shiviti: Living In The Presence of God”
Nov. 17
Rabbi and Jungian therapist Tirzah Firestone, on her new book, “The Receiving:
Reclaiming Jewish Women's Wisdom”
Dec. 12
Reconstructionist Rabbi Shefa Gold on “Ecstatic Chant: Developing The Sacred
Phrase”
2002
Apr. 2
Flory Van Beek on “Flory: Survival In the Valley Of Death”
Apr. 15
Dr. Aviva Zornberg, author of “Genesis: The Beginning of Desire”
Jun. 28
Mark Rotenberg on “Ten Steps to Jewish Recovery”
Aug. 9
New Mexico State Historian Dr. Stanley Hordes on “Secret Jews of the American
Southwest”
Oct. 4
Dr. Sadullah Khan on “Islam In America and The World”
Oct. 11
Rabbi Jacob Staub on “Jewish Spiritual Direction—How Do We Cultivate a Sense of
Holiness in Our Daily Lives?”
Nov. 7
Jonathan Safran Foer on his book “Everything Is Illuminated”
Nov. 8
Dr. Ruth Kluger on “Still Alive: A Holocaust Girlhood Remembered”
Revised 3/7/2016
14
UNIVERSITY SYNAGOGUE SPEAKERS
Irvine, CA
Nov. 27
Author Kay Lindahl, a teacher of spirituality, on “The Power of Listening”
2001
Apr.
Rabbi Sid Schwarz on his book “Finding a Spiritual Home”
Apr. 20
Louis Posner on “Through A Boy’s Eyes” (deceased)
Apr. 20
Herman Leefsma on the Holocaust
Nov. 9
Eugene Pognany on “In My Brother’s Image”
Nov. 30
Wife of United States Senator Paul Wellstone, the Senior Senator from Minnesota and
Chairman of the Sub-Committee on Near Eastern and South Asia Affairs which deals
with all matters related to the Middle East.
Dec. 21
Edward Cohen on “Jews of the South” about his unusual and fascinating
experiences. Author of “The Peddler’s Grandson: Growing Up Jewish in Mississippi”
2000
Mar. 3
Reconstructionist Rabbinical College Professor Dr. Tamar Kamionkowski on
“Masculinity and Femininity In The Bible: What Are Scholars Up To These Days?”
Feb. 4
Dr. David Altman on “Judaism, Biking And Hunger” - Judaism’s approach to
repairing the world (Tikkun Olam).
May 5
Leon Leyson youngest survivor on Shindler’s List
May
Isabelle Sandoval
Nov. 20
Dr. Marilyn Harran, Professor of Holocaust Studies at Chapman on “Shattering The
Silence: Lessons From The Holocaust To a New Generation” (Not a survivor – not
Jewish)
Nov. 22
UCI Professor Dr. Kristen Monroe on “Altruism And Righteous Rescuers”
1999
Jan. 14
Reverend Madison Shockley for Martin Luther King
Jan. 28
Diane Elliott (Registered Movement Therapist) on blending dance and liturgy
Revised 3/7/2016
15
UNIVERSITY SYNAGOGUE SPEAKERS
Irvine, CA
Apr. 16
Joseph Greenblatt, leader in Warsaw ghetto uprising & life-long friend of Prime
Minister Menachem Begin
May 14
The Honorable Deborah Senn, Insurance Commissioner – Holocaust era insurance
claims
Oct. 1
Mark Freeman on his video “The Yidishe Gauchos”
Nov. 5
Irene Opdyke, a Righteous Holocaust Rescuer
Dec. 3
Tom Freudenheim on “Profiles In Courage: Jewish In Berlin”
1998
Feb. 27
The Honorable Victor Comras, State Department, on “Nazi Gold”
Mar. 12
Dr. Nancy Fuchs-Kreimer, (RRC) on her book “Our Share Of Night, Our Share Of
Morning: Parenting As A Spiritual Journey”
Apr. 17
Dr. Edith Eger on “Turning Tragedy Into Triumph”
Nov. 13
The Honorable Thomas Borer, Swiss Ambassador to the United States, on “The
Swiss Role In The Hiding of Jewish Property”
Nov. 25
Dr. Benjamin J. Hubbard on “The Challenge Of Religious Diversity” with IUCC
1997
Feb. 6
Dr. Marcia Albert
Congressman Christopher Cox
Apr.
Dr. Maurice Friedman on Buber and Hasidism
May 9
Trudy Alexy on her book “The Mezuzah In the Madonna’s Foot”
Nov. 7
Erin Gruwell on “Finding Hope In The Holocaust” Ms. Gruwell is an award-winning
English teacher from Long Beach who founded “The Tolerance Education
Foundation” for inner city, at-risk teenagers to learn about the Holocaust.
Dec. 5
Joel Kotkin on “Orange County In The 21st Century: Implication For The Jewish
Community”
Revised 3/7/2016
16
UNIVERSITY SYNAGOGUE SPEAKERS
Irvine, CA
Dec. 12
Professor Edmund Leites on “Judaism And Psychoanalysis”
1996
Mar.
Professor Robert Schwartz
Apr. 12
Professor Cornelius Schnauber of Max Kade Institute at USC, a German, and Leila
Zenderland, a Jew on “A Dialogue Between The Children of German Jews and Nazis”
May 10
Geraldine Winerman – Jewish Genealogy
Oct. 20
Dr. Marcia Falk on her book “The Book of Blessings: Spirituality, Equality and
Contemporary Prayer”
Nov. 1
Joe Peltason
Nov. 8
Dr. Yael Danieli on “Life Long and Intergenerational Effects of the Holocaust”
Dec. 20
Gerda Klein on her book “All But My Life” on the Holocaust, along with her husband,
Kurt Klein, the American G.I. who liberated her.
1995
Jan. 6
Dr. Michael Franzblau, Professor at UCSF on Jewish Medical Ethics
Jan. 22
Dr. Michael Lerner, Editor of Tikkun Magazine on “Jewish Renewal”
Apr. 21
Hans Prager, well-known restaurateur, 1 of 25,000 refugees who fled Germany in 1939
for Shanghai and how the Japanese protected European Jews.
Nov. 3
William J. Popejoy on “The Future Of Orange County”
1994
Jan. 14
Svetlana Yakimenko on “Soviet Jews: Reconnecting For The First Time”
Apr. 8
Thomas Keneally, author of “Schindler’s List”
Aug. 26
Ambassador Sven Alkalaj from Bosnia on Judaism in his life and work
Revised 3/7/2016
17
UNIVERSITY SYNAGOGUE SPEAKERS
Irvine, CA
1993
Apr. 16
“Miracle At Midnight,” a play about Danish resistance by Los Angeles actors Stanley
and Rena Waxman.
1992
?
David Jacobsen – Lebanon Hostage
1991
Apr. 21
Samuel Oliner on “Acts of Courage: The Rescue of Jews During Nazi-Occupied
Europe” by Righteous Rescuers
1989
May 5
Rabbi Steve Berkowitz
Jul. 21
Dr. Frank Eiklor, President of Shalom International, on “Anti-Semitism From A
Christian Perspective”
Sept. 8
Rabbi Mitch Smith on “Arab-Jewish Relations In Israel, A Study In Co-Existence”
Dec. 1
David Dubov, Associate Director of MAZON: A Jewish Response To Hunger on
MAZON.
----------------------------------------Amin David, Latino speaker at IUCC/US Thanksgiving service
Revised 3/7/2016
18