JCC Presents - Lecture Series Fall 2024

Join us for an illuminating lecture series at the J.

The J Presents lecture series will introduce members to fresh perspectives on media, entertainment and more with outstanding speakers. Each J Presents Session includes an hour-long lecture from one of our esteemed guest speakers, and opportunity for a question-and-answer period with the lecturer, and the chance to socialize and meet new friends.

• Thursday, Sept 12, from 7:30 pm to 9 pm – Art and History of the Ketubah by Laya Crust
• Thursday, Sept 19, from 7:30 pm to 9 pm – The Lost Army by Jacob Steinberg
• Thursday, Sept 26, from 7:30 pm to 9 pm – Becoming the Jewish Farmers by David Loewith
• Thursday, Oct 10, from 7:30 pm to 9 pm – The power of narrative: Unleashing Empathy and Subverting Denial by Ruth Rakoff
• Thursday, Oct 31, from 7:30 pm to 9 pm – Multi-Ethnic Jewish Voices in Canada by Sara Yacobi-Harris
• Thursday, Nov 7, from 7:30 pm to 9 pm – USA Presidential Election Recap by Renan Levine

Thursday, Sept 12, from 7:30 pm to 9 pm – Art and History of the Ketubah by Laya Crust
We are all used to the idea of a marriage license or marriage contract. Did you know that the Jewish people were the first to create a marriage contract to protect the rights of the bride? The first ketubah we know about is from 440 BCE and was written on papyrus. Since then the text has become formalized and the ketubah became an art form, embellished with lovely designs. The designs themselves are filled with information about the cultures, architecture and traditions of Jewish communities throughout the world.
Come on a tour of Jewish history and culture from 440 BCE to the present, from North Africa, the Middle east and Europe to North America. View the fashions, cultural designs and regional superstitions incorporated into the artwork. This is a great presentation for people interested in history, art, or Jewish culture.
About Laya Crust
Laya Crust is an internationally recognized artist and soferet. Foremost a painter, Laya also creates hand-made artist books, ceremonial objects, presentation pieces for international organizations, and architectural installations. Her work has been presented to British Royalty as well as government dignitaries and major philanthropists.
Laya fascinates audiences with her knowledge of manuscript art, liturgy, and art history. Her presentations offer an awareness of the past while relating it to the present. As an artist Laya has a unique understanding of historical technique and motivation.

Thursday, Sept 19, from 7:30 pm to 9 pm – The Lost Army by Jacob Steinberg
The Lost Army was fighting for 34 years in the remote jungles of Myanmar, Thailand, and Laos.
Who were they? What were they fighting for? And are there any Jews in these jungles?
After graduating from University, Jacob travelled around the world for five years. He climbed mountains, crossed deserts, explored jungles and spent more than a year travelling across Southeast Asia, where his unexpected arrest led to the story he will talk about at his presentation.
It is the personal story of their only surviving prisoner.
About Jacob Steinberg
Jacob spent three decades as a Project Finance executive in Africa, South America, South East Asia and Eastern Europe, where he met small and isolated Jewish communities. He got involved with Kulanu Canada, a non-profit organization that supports such communities.
Jacob is personally involved in supporting the Suriname Jewish Community, the oldest existing Jewish community in the Americas. In 2016 he raised the funds to build a Memorial Monument for the 104 Surinamese Jews who died in the Holocaust.

Thursday, Sept 26, from 7:30 pm to 9 pm – Becoming the Jewish Farmers by David Loewith
This is the story of a group of 39 Jewish refugees that escaped from Sudeten land in Czechoslovakia in November of 1938. Canada was not allowing Jews in, but if you were willing to work on a farm or in a mine for 5 years you could gain entry.
The farm currently milks 450 Holstein cows- all descended from the original 15 cows that started it all in 1947.
This is their story of not only their ability to survive but thrive in their new found vocations.
About David Loewith
The Farm is owned by David Loewith, his brother Carl, and Carl’s son Ben.
David is currently on the Cabinet of UJA Federation of Hamilton and an Executive of Jewish National Fund of Canada and Board member of Jewish National Fund in Hamilton

Thursday, Oct 10, from 7:30 pm to 9 pm – The power of narrative: Unleashing Empathy and Subverting Denial by Ruth Rakoff
What it’s about: To write the novel “Untethered”, Ruth Rakoff listened to the stories of many people and wove together a fictional narrative rooted in real lived experience. In doing so, Rakoff highlights the importance of both telling and listening to stories so we can bear witness to things we may not have experienced personally and share in the responsibility of disseminating truth.
About Ruth Rakoff
Ruth Rakoff is a writer who pays her bills by working as a Director of a non-profit organization. Born in Montreal, to South African immigrant parents, Ruth calls Toronto home. She has lived in Israel which remains her home away from home. Ruth has a BA in English Literature from the University of Toronto. She has worked in education and the non-profit sector for most of her professional life including work in mental health and crisis intervention, as well as literacy education in Toronto’s Ultra Orthodox world. Though from a family of wordsmiths, Ruth came to writing late with her first book, a memoir called ‘When My World Was Very Small’ published in 2010 by Random house Canada. ‘Untethered’ published by Cormorant Books in 2023 is Ruth’s first work of fiction. Ruth loves to travel, spend time with her adult children and friends and is looking forward to taking on her new role as a Safta in September.

Thursday, Oct 31, from 7:30 pm to 9 pm – Multi-Ethnic Jewish Voices in Canada by Sara Yacobi-Harris
No Silence on Race facilitates programs using their content from the Periphery exhibit to create dialogue about ethnic diversity in Jewish communities across Canada, the experience of multi-ethnic Jewish people and the realities of experiencing both racism and antisemitism.
In this session we explore Judaism, Jewish identity, culture and ethnic diversity within Jewish communities in Ontario.
About Sara Yacobi-Harris
Sara Yacobi-Harris is an award-winning multi-disciplinary artist and M.Ed who explores some of the most complex social issues facing our generation with curiosity and care. Her distinct voice and social entrepreneurship has garnered recognition from the prime minister of Canada, CEOs and executives across the film and television industry and funding from educational organizations and community federations across North America.

Thursday, Nov 7, from 7:30 pm to 9 pm – USA Presidential Election Recap by Renan Levine
On Tuesday, November 5, America will vote for President. In this talk we will examine what happened and why before discussing what the implications of the election will be for Canada, Israel, Ukraine, and other dilemmas facing the world.
About Renan Levine
Renan Levine is an Associate Professor, Teaching Stream, Department of Political Science, University of Toronto Scarborough.
Renan Levine teaches US politics at the University of Toronto Scarborough. He has published several academic articles on voting behaviour in the United States, Israel, and other countries. He earned his PhD from Duke University and resides in Thornhill.

Questions? Contact programs@prossermanjcc.com

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