Kesher: The Connection #2
A community-wide learning series for adults, teens and kids
WHO: Kids, teens, and adults are invited to participate in this educational initiative. One Jewish parent, two Jewish parents. Adoptive, step, single parent, and blended families. Jewish grandparents of any number. Synagogue member or not. Jewish-curious. If you connect in any way with shared Jewish values, THIS EVENT IS FOR YOU!
WHAT: A full morning of thought-provoking discussion, creativity, growth and inspiration with other members of the Jewish community and beyond. Our November Kesher program is presented in conjunction with the Global Day of Jewish Learning, and the theme will be: “Speaking Volumes” - From ancient arguments to modern meanings, from raising our voices to remaining silent, explore how and why words matter.
DATE: Sunday, November 24, 2019
TIME: Registration opens at 9:30 AM; Program begins at 10:00 AM and ends at 12:00 PM; Followed by Lunch!
WHERE: St. Petersburg College - Seminole Campus (9200 113th St, Seminole, FL 33772)
WHY: Connect with the Jewish community, Connect with Jewish ideas and creativity, connect with Jewish values. Kids will meet other Jewish kids from across the area, and adults will learn and reflect together in a fun, casual setting that celebrates all the ways our community chooses to “be” and “do” Jewish.
St. Petersburg College Map
Registration and the opening program will be in the Conference Center (CC).
Our programming will be taking place in the Conference Center (CC), Library building (LI) and Pharmacy (PH) buildings, as well as the Natural Habitat Park Area.
Program Host
Program Partners
Special Guests
Andrew Davies
Andrew is a Jewish Educator, and Improv Teacher who believes in the power of play. Andrew received a BA from Brandeis University, has studied Improv comedy at The Magnet Theater, and has a certificate of Facilitation from Georgetown University. He was honored in 2018 with the Jewish Education Project's Young Pioneer Award.
His new project is “CharacTours", an interactive theatrical walking tour where the past visits you. Currently there are five tours including Lower East Side, Harlem, Ellis Island, New Amsterdam and the newest, Philadelphia "Liberty Bells to Matzah Balls." Andrew lives in Philadelphia with his wife Molly, and tiny dog Ducky.
THE BIBLE PLAYERS
The Bible Players are a Torah Comedy team based in New York City and Philadelphia that are teaching Jewish Values and sweeping the nation! They use theater and improv to infuse comedy and laughs into tales from the Torah and beyond. It all started in 2011 when Aaron Friedman and AndrewDavies were creating rainy day programming at a Jewish Summer Camp, and realized that comedy and Judaism go together like PB and J! Since founding The Bible Players in 2011, they have toured America from NY to Texas to California, bringing their unique show to thousands of people of all backgrounds and ages, from Pre-K through adults. They've performed in 30 states, and do over 100 programs a year, all while remaining good looking and humble.
Alison Ormsby
Alison is currently a Philadelphia-based actor, devisor, and teaching artist. She is a recent graduate from the University of the Arts where she received her BFA in Acting.
She spent a semester at the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center (NTI Fall 2018), and aims to focus on performance collaboration through joy and enthusiasm! Recent credits include: This Is On Record (Applied Mechanics) and Ready Steady Yeti Go (Azuka). She is so grateful and excited to be a part of the team!
Community Performance and Workshop:
“The Chesed Comedy Show” (Improv, Stories, and Hilarity)
Join The Bible Players for this blowout comedy show in their signature style that made them famous. The Bible Players share biblical and rabbinical stories that are fun for the whole family (from babies to Bubbies). Don’t miss their Mitzvah Moments, Mitzvahs in disguise. Everyone will also play improv games focused on how we communicate and the power of our words. You’ll be singing their rap for the rest of the year. The Bible Players, The Bible Players! (Ages 5+)
Student Workshop:
Improv’ing Together (Let’s play some Improv games!)
The Bible Players teach Jewish Values through improv games. Everyone will have fun and appreciate the power of our words to entertain each other, and make each other smile. Don’t miss hilarious games life, Speech, Vacation Slideshow, and much more! (Ages 5+)
Presentations
Improv-ocative for Teens with Kara Goldberg and Molly Healy
Words to Image Self-Portrait Project with Ms. Lisa
Women’s Torah Study Panel: Words That Hurt, Words That Heal
A session presented by women, for women! This text study is in conjunction with the Global Day of Jewish Learning
Rebbetzin Mushky Adler, Chabad of Pinellas County
Rabbinic Pastor/Chaplain Kate Shulamit Fagan
Johanna Bromberg, Congregation Beth Shalom
To Incite or Resist: Propaganda Then and Now
Florida Holocaust Museum
Words to Action: Addressing Anti-Semitism and Other Hate Speech
Eric Ross, Senior Associate Regional Director at ADL
with Erika Hruby
Communicating with Nature
Rebbetzin Mushky Adler was born and raised in England, Mushky Adler attended high school in Leeds receiving her High School and GCSE Diploma as well as certification in counseling. Mushky then advanced her education at Beit Chana Seminary in Tzefat, Israel where she earned her teaching certification and went on to do internships and enrich programming in Alaska, Michigan, and New York. Mushky has a passion for teaching and youth engagement and directs the Grow Jewish Enrichment Club, Camp Gan Israel, the Judaic program at Gan Chaya Preschool, teaches women's Rosh Chodesh classes and co-directs Chabad of Pinellas County together with her husband Rabbi Pinchas. Mushky's mission is to promote Jewish pride, study, and celebration in both children and adults
Johanna Bromberg
Johanna Bromberg of Congregation Beth Shalom was born in Wiesbaden, Germany.
Most of her family was able to leave just prior to the War. She is settled in Tampa. The cornerstone of her growing up years was a deep, constant awareness and appreciation of the freedoms and opportunities offered by these United States of America, and the responsibilities of her precious citizenship while retaining her family’s religious life.
Her father’s mantra was “Education will never be a burden. Learn!” That has become her own weltanschauing: always to expand and extend her learning: ללמוד וללמד to learn and to teach, to share what she considers herself privileged to have received.
Elizabeth Gelman
Elizabeth Gelman has the honor of being the Executive Director of the Florida Holocaust Museum. Prior to arriving in the Tampa Bay area, she held leadership positions in several Chicago nonprofits including Spertus Jewish Museum, The Children’s Museum in Oak Lawn, and Terra Museum of American Art. Elizabeth currently serves on the Florida Dept of Education Commissioner's Task Force on Holocaust Education, the City of St. Petersburg Arts Steering Committee, and the Advisory Council for Tampa Jewish Family Services. A published author and playwright, she is married to composer Tom Sivak and the mother of two exceptionally talented and beautiful daughters.
Kara Goldberg
Molly Healy
Erica Hruby, M.A.
Erica has 25 years of professional experience working directly with teens in community, educational, and residential environments. Erica is the director of a national network for Jewish teen professionals (JTEEN), a business and educational consultant for several nonprofits, a parenting coach and co-creator of parenting teens course, teen educator and youth group director at Ahavat Shalom, and the founder of Organize for Life, LLC.
Michael Igel
Eric Ross
Eric Ross joined the Anti-Defamation League in August of 2015 as an Associate Regional Director, and now holds the title of Senior Associate Regional Director. In this capacity, Eric leads ADL’s Glass Leadership Institute training courses, he is the lead staff for the Florida Region’s Advocacy & Engagement Committee, he coordinates ADL’s Florida Hate Crime Coalition (FHCC), he responds to discrimination complaints that come through ADL’s Florida office, and he expands support for ADL’s mission and initiatives through strategic community outreach efforts and working with volunteers. Additionally, Eric has received certification as an ADL Words to Action facilitator, as an ADL No Place For Hate facilitator, and as an ADL Managing Implicit Bias for Law Enforcement facilitator.
Lisa Schmid
Rabbinic Pastor/Chaplain Kate Shulamit Fagan
Kelli Stickrath, MS
Community Service Project:
Please help Gulf Coast JFCS provide nourishing, non-perishable food to families in need. Your donations directly benefit our clients who are struggling to purchase food for themselves and their families.
What is needed most:
• Canned fruit
• Canned tuna, salmon, sardines
• Hearty soups and mixes
• Peanut butter and jelly
• Pasta and sauces
• Rice, vegetarian beans
• Cereal and powdered milk
• Sugar-free & low-sodium items
• Meals in a can (stew, chili, soup)
• Canned foods with pop-top lids
• 100% fruit juices in single serving
• Individual oatmeal packets
• Boxed milk and juice
• 100% fruit rolls
• Raisins
• Graham crackers
• Unsweetened applesauce
• Cheese and crackers
• Fruit cups
• Pretzels
• Granola bars (without peanuts)
Gift cards & checks are always welcome!
For more information, please contact Gulf Coast JFCS at 727-479-1806 or gail.allen@gcjfcs.org.