January 8 - 10, 2010

Rabbi Dr. Gary P. Zola, Executive Director of the Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish Archives, was our Scholar-in-Residence. In a series of three presentations, Rabbi Zola helped Temple Jeremiah celebrate its 50th anniversary by enlightening us about 50 years of American Reform Judaism and the 200th anniversary of Reform Judaism world-wide.

The American Jewish Archives is the world's largest free-standing research center dedicated solely to the study of the American Jewish experience. Under Rabbi Zola's leadership, the facility has tripled in size to include electronic classrooms, distance learning centers and public exhibition galleries. In addition, Rabbi Zola has initiated an impressive array of innovative historical programs and projects. He is acknowledged for spearheading the 350th anniversary of Jewish life in America, marking the arrival of New Amsterdam's first Jewish community in 1654. In 2006, Rabbi Zola became the first American Jewish historian and the first American rabbi to receive an appointment to the Academic Advisory Council of the congressionally recognized Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial.

Rabbi Zola is also a Professor of the American Jewish Experience at Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion in Cincinnati.

"Profiles in American Jewish Courage"
Friday, January 8, 2010
8:00 pm Shabbat Service

Rabbi Zola explored the topic of Jewish courage in the context of the American experience. American Jewish history is laden with a colorful array of enthralling personalities. Although a few figures have achieved a high level of renown, Dr. Zola examined the careers of three relatively little known but fascinating figures, who lived lives of Jewish courage. These Jewish stalwarts offered us an inspiring perspective on Jeremiah’s founders as we marked the congregation’s golden anniversary.

"What This Week's Torah Portion Can Teach Us About American Jewish History"
Saturday, January 9, 2010
9:00 am Torah Study

More than a century ago, a remarkably talented satirist and writer named Gershon Rosenzweig (1861-1914) composed Hebrew commentaries on many of the weekly Torah portions as well as topical parodies on Jewish holidays. Rosenzweig’s commentaries and poems shed light not only on the Torah, but also on the trials and tribulations of life as a Jewish immigrant in America during the early years of the twentieth century. Dr. Zola introduced us to this little known material and, in doing so, helped us study the Torah and American Jewish past.

"Great Voices, Civil Rights and American Reform Judaism"
Sunday, January 10, 2010
10:00 am Program & Brunch

Have you ever wondered how some of the leading American rabbis handled pivotal world events from the pulpit? What did American rabbis tell their congregants about topics such as the rise of Adolph Hitler, the outbreak of World War II, the struggle for Civil Rights in the 1950s and 1960s and so forth? Dr. Zola introduced us to some of Reform Judaism's most notable orators. This was a rare opportunity to hear a series of remarkable vocal recordings (digitized with visuals added) of several towering rabbinic voices, all of which came from the AJA's extraordinary historical collection, and to listen to sermonic voices that you may know by reputation - but have never actually heard.

Download the Scholar-in-Residence brochure.

The Scholar-in-Residence Weekend was open to the entire community at no charge and was funded by the Bill and Norma Brown Fund for Lifelong Learning.