Beth David Synagogue’s next luncheon will be held on Saturday, January 10, with Binghamton University’s Professor Michael Kelly as the featured speaker. Kelly’s talk is titled “Bitcoin and Jewish History: Preserving the Past and Beyond.” The community is invited to attend. Morning services will begin at 9:30 am, with the luncheon and program following the conclusion of services. The luncheon is free and open to the public.
“We may have heard of Bitcoin, but what exactly is it, and how does it work?” said luncheon organizers. “Professor Michael Kelly will explain everything you wanted to know about Bitcoin and what it has to do with the preservation of  Jewish history and culture.”
An historian by training, Kelly received his doctorate in 2015 from the University of Leeds in England. In 2024-25, he was a senior fellow of the Bitcoin Policy Institute. He is the founder of the Bitcoin Club at Binghamton, co-runs coding and programming hackathons, and co-designs hash rate-heating systems that recycle energy to preserve the past and promote social justice. An interdisciplinary scholar who specializes in  historical theory and the history of the early medieval Mediterranean, he has authored numerous publications dealing with Jewish history.
Kelly is an advocate for the adoption of Bitcoin in higher education and the mathematization of theology. “Bitcoin is, by far, the largest computing network on the planet,” Kelly said. “And yet it is not controlled by any central source: there’s no Bitcoin foundation promoting it, no corporate board or shareholders directing it, and no government or institution controlling it. Bitcoin is for everyone, by everyone: it is a global, decentralized, immutable, timestamped, borderless and cryptographically secure data network.”  
“If you are as intrigued as we are,” organizers added, “we think that Professor Kelly is the best person to help us understand how Bitcoin can do all this. Among the questions that he will address include: How can Jewish communities maintain full control and custody of their historical and cultural data without relying on centralized institutions? What makes Bitcoin’s data structure stronger and more tamper-resistant than traditional archival methods? What ethical and communal issues are raised by the use of a global, borderless network in order to safeguard Jewish memory? In what ways can Bitcoin mining be used to heat homes, synagogues or community spaces while preserving digital archives?”
Organizers added, “Keeping Jewish history, culture and memory alive is of vital importance in today’s world. Join us for a fascinating talk where you will be able to have your questions answered about a brave new world where technology can offer opportunities for keeping Jewish history, culture and memory alive.”
Beth David’s luncheon speaker series takes place the second Saturday of the month after Shabbat morning services, and is open to the community. There is no charge for the luncheon. Since the monthly series’ continuation depends on the generosity of contributors, Beth David welcomes and appreciates donations to the Luncheon Fund in order to keep the program going. Donations can be made in honor of, or in memory of, someone, or to mark a special occasion. Those wishing an acknowledgment to be sent to the person being honored, or to the family of someone being remembered, can indicate that, along with the necessary information. Donations can be sent to Beth David Synagogue, 39 Riverside Dr., Binghamton, NY 13905, Attention: Luncheon Fund.