By Reporter staff
A variety of Jewish groups are offering online resources – educational and recreational – for those who are not allowed out of the house. Below is a sampling of those. The Reporter will publish additional listings as they become available.
- Israel21c offers a variety of videos about a wide variety of subjects focusing on Israel. These include tikkun olam projects, food, sports, nightspots and more. The videos can be found at www.israel21c.org/21see/.
- The Central Conference of American Rabbis and the Human Rights Campaign are sponsoring “Pride Inside: Where Pride Dwells: An Interfaith Discussion and Celebration of LGBTQ Spirituality with LGBTQ Leaders” on Thursday, June 11, at 8 pm. The event will be an open dialogue about queer spirituality, with Jewish, Muslim and Christian faith leaders and LGBTQ activists about inclusion, compassion, challenges, sacredness, rituals and the lived spiritual experience of the LGBTQ and non-binary communities. Rabbi Denise Eger, editor of the new book “Mishkan Ga’avah: Where Pride Dwells A Celebration of LGBTQ Jewish Life and Ritual,” will also share readings and insights from her book. To register, visit https://ccar.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ZdTQa2iQSXKI7NUk_gFgIQ.
- Hadassah and Hadassah Magazine have launched the initiative One Book, One Hadassah with the program “Live With Jennifer Weiner and ‘Big Summer.’” Best-selling author Jennifer Weiner will be in conversation with Hadassah Magazine’s Lisa Hostein on Wednesday, June 10, at 7:30 pm. Weiner’s just-released novel has been described as a story of female friendship that “mixes a splash of romance, a dash of humor, and a pinch of mystery to create a deliciously bloody poolside cocktail.” For information about how to register for the program, e-mail support@hadassah.org.
- On May 26, a Zoom webinar organized by the Jerusalem-based Shavei Israel organization brought Nigeria’s Igbo Jews together for the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Members of the community participated in the webinar, which showed how Shavei Israel seeks to provide the Igbo communities with training programs for young community leaders, seminars on Jewish belief and practice, religious items and other guidance and support. To view the webinar, visit www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-USRYXgBHg&feature=youtu.be.
- Evolve: Groundbreaking Jewish Conversations offers “Resources for Living at the Time of COVID-19.” The materials and programs are generated and collected by Reconstructing Judaism, the Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association and Ritual Well. For more information or to read the conversations, visit http://evolve.reconstructingjudaism.org/covid19resources.
- The organization RespectAbility offers resources on how to ensuring virtual events are accessible to everyone. A tool kit on how to do this is available at www.respectability.org/accessible-virtual-events/.
- Lab/Shul calls itself “an artist-driven, God-optional, experimental community for sacred Jewish gatherings.” It is offering virtual programs during the pandemic. For more information, visit https://labshul.org/.
- The Center for Jewish History will hold a webinar titled “The Lost Family with Libby Copeland – Live” on Zoom Wednesday, June 24, at 4 pm. In her new book, “The Lost Family: How DNA Testing Is Upending Who We Are,” award-winning journalist Libby Copeland investigates the rapidly evolving phenomenon of home DNA testing, uncovering the story of Alice Collins Plebuch, whose supposed Irish ancestry is overturned by a DNA test that indicates Ashkenazi Jewish heritage. The author will explore how this technology illuminates how people think about family, heritage and themselves. She will also discuss the implications of home DNA testing for Jewish genealogy, as well as the “unique challenges” of genetic genealogy for Ashkenazim. The program is free, although donations are welcome. To register for the program, visit https://lostfamily.bpt.me/.
For additional resources, see previous issues of The Reporter on its website, www.thereportergroup.org.