Jewish Thought Leaders

Guggenheim Fellowship recipient Ilya Kaminsky, the Russian-Jewish poet will read selections of his work. The evening will also include a reading by local poet Heather Altfeld.

A vibrant conversation with one of the most visionary thinkers in Israel. As former speaker of the Knesset, Avraham Burg witnessed firsthand many of the most dramatic and critical moments in Israeli history. He offers a deeply personal and unique reflection on his county’s history, Zionism, and Jewish identity in the modern world. His insights came at a particularly poignant moment in time: on the eve of Yom Ha’atzmaut (Israeli Independence Day) and closely following the elections in Israel.

Rabbi David Ingber, founder of the vibrant New York-based Renewal community Romemu sits down with Spirit Rock co-founder and friend Sylvia Boorstein, to explore the meditative mindfulness that lies at the core of their respective practices and teachings.

In honor of Yom Ha'atzmaut and Israel's 70th anniversary, a diverse collection of Marin County’s Jewish community shared personal stories of their experiences in Israel, formatted in the style of The Moth. The program was a collaboration of Congregations Rodef Sholom and Kol Shofar, Brandeis Marin Day School and the Osher Marin JCC.

Dr Daniel Gordis, senior vice president and the Koret Distringuished Fellow at Shalem College in College, writes a regular column for the Jerusalem Post and is a regular contributor to the New York Times. In this episode, he discusses Israel’s Dilemma: “the Occupation”, the Jewish Soul and Security and his most recent book, Israel: A concise history of a nation reborn.

Renowned for his absurdist short stories, Etgar Keret is one of Israel's literary titans and an award-winning filmmaker to boot. Holding a conversation with him surely requires a sharp brain and nerves of steel. That's where Ayelet Waldman comes in. The outspoken Berkeley author and activist will speak with Keret on the Marin JCC stage about "dark and surreal" themes in his work.

Ambassador Dennis Ross on Doomed to Succeed: The U.S.- Israel Relationship from Truman to Obama When it comes to Israel, U.S. policy has always emphasized the unbreakable bond between the two countries and our ironclad commitment to Israel's security. Today our ties to Israel are close—so close that when there are differences, they tend to make the news. But it was not always this way.

Distracted driving is now a leading cause of highway crashes, accounting for over 5,000 traffic fatalities and nearly a half a million serious injuries each year. In this episode, NY Times Pulitzer prize winning journalist Matt Richtel, author of A Deadly Wandering, discusses the dangers of distracted driving and is then joined, for a panel discussion, by Rabbi Chai Levy, Dr. Peg Sandel, and Larry Yermack.

Dr. Yehuda Kurtzer, president of the Shalom Hartman Institute of North America, explores how American Jews and Muslims can talk about Israel, peaceably, with Wajahat Ali, journalist, play write, & talk show host.

The Future of Democracy in Israel is the topic of this presentation and discussion by Yossi Klein HaLevi, senior fellow at the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem and co-director of the Institute’s Muslim Leadership Initiative.