Join us for an epic, multigenerational story of two rival dynasties – the Sassoons and the Kadoories - that flourished in Shanghai and Hong Kong as twentieth-century China surged into the modern era, from the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist. These two Jewish families, both originally from Baghdad, stood astride Chinese business and politics for more than 175 years, profiting from the Opium Wars; surviving Japanese occupation; courting Chiang Kai-shek; and losing nearly everything as the Communists swept into power. In The…

John Ronald Reuel Tolkien was a philologist who borrowed from Biblical Hebrew for many of the character’s names in his famous trilogy. Join us to learn the Hebrew basis of Bilbo, Frodo, Gandalf, Sauron, Saruman, Tom Bombadil and even Tolkien’s own name. There is no better place than Hobbit-country itself to understand how Jewish ideas lie embedded in this epic novel. Rabbi Dr. Raphael Zarum is Dean of the London School of Jewish Studies (LSJS). He has a doctorate in Theoretical Physics,…

Dates: Wed., July 21, 28, and August 4 2021 @ 10:00am-11:30am Has the polarization of American politics impacted your relationships? Do you have relatives or friends you can’t talk to about politics? Have these relationships been strained? Are you frustrated by filibustering and the lack of cooperation and compromise between Democrats and Republicans for the sake of the American people? This class will explore some of the rabbinic wisdom about how to engage in conversations “for the sake of heaven”…

The Zohar is the masterpiece of Kabbalah, a vast mystical commentary on the Torah, composed in 13th-century Spain. In this all new 3-part series, we will explore more of the Zohar’s striking ideas, including passages from the Zohar on the Hidden Light, the meaning of dreams, and meditating on a candle. A recording of our 3-part series with Prof. Matt from last summer as well as other programs on the Zohar can be enjoyed at this LINK. Daniel C. Matt is a teacher of Jewish spirituality…

Synagogue Art in the Ancient World Sunday August 8, 2021 Although 19th century anti-Semites dismissed Jews as "an artless people," there are hundreds of examples of synagogue and funerary art from the period of the Talmud (70-600 CE). We will explore these images to see biblical interpretations in frescos and mosaics, and also see pagan motifs, even pagan gods(!), depicted in ancient synagogues. Together we will "read" the art to learn about our ancestors and their beliefs. Pirke Avot is…

Engaging, knowledgeable and entertaining Rachel Kolsky is a popular prize-winning London Blue Badge Tourist Guide. Focusing on the 'human stories behind the buildings' Rachel's talks are known to be fun and informative filled with anecdotes past and present. From off-the-beaten track London and famous personalities to cinemas and shopping, memories of all aspects of London's rich and varied social history come flooding back. Before embarking on her career as Guide and Lecturer Rachel, a qualified librarian, worked as an information professional in…