Connie Spear Birnbaum Foundation
HOW IT ALL BEGAN
Despite the closing of the Synagogue Council of Massachusetts, the annual Connie Spear Birnbaum Memorial Lecture is alive and well under the auspices of the Connie Spear Birnbaum Foundation. This nonprofit is headed up by Dr. Herbert Birnbaum and Alan Teperow, bringing the tradition of excellence and creativity that distinguished the Birnbaum Lecture for close to 20 years.
OUR MISSION
Here at the Connie Spear Birnbaum Memorial Foundation, we are driven to foster unity within the extended Jewish family - in the splendor of its diversity - through education and the impact of bringing the community together. Through our work, since 2004, we have strived to model for the Jewish community and beyond how much can be gained by embracing what we have in common rather than allowing our differences to divide us. Please join us in our quest to shape the best possible tomorrow through the building blocks of understanding and shared connection, pride and respect.
Pictures by Larry Sandberg, unless stated otherwise.
ABOUT
Connie Spear Birnbaum, z"l
The Connie Spear Birnbaum Memorial Lecture honors the legacy of a woman committed to Jewish unity and the Jewish People. A genuine presence with a magnetic personality, she was a natural at building relationships. Everything she did, she did with sensitivity, composure, and a sense of humor. Connie Spear Birnbaum z”l was a leader with vision and a genuine concern for all people. She showed us all how to live.
The Coordinator of Unity Programming at the Synagogogue Council of Massachusetts for seven years, Connie coordinated educational programs, facilitated dialogue and led an annual two-day Mission to centers of Jewish learning and leadership in New York City.
The annual Connie Spear Birnbaum Memorial Lecture celebrates Connie's commitment to Jewish education and K'lal Yisrael, the Jewish People.
2025 CONNIE SPEAR BIRNBAUM MEMORIAL LECTURE
In Partnership with AJC New England and Temple Beth Shalom of Needham
Tuesday Evening, June 24th
beginning at 7:00 pm at Temple Beth Shalom, Needham
Featuring an evening with Ted Deutch
Ted Deutch, a lifelong Jewish and pro-Israel activist, assumed the role of CEO of American Jewish Committee (AJC) in October 2022, following more than 12 years of distinguished service in the United States House of Representatives. In Congress, Ted was a leading voice in the fight against antisemitism and efforts to advance the U.S.-Israel relationship. He was a founding member of the House Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Antisemitism, and he served as chair of the House Ethics Committee and a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, where he chaired the Middle East, North Africa, and Global Counterterrorism Subcommittee. Ted began his career in public service in the Florida State Senate, where he gained national recognition for passing the nation’s first law mandating that public pension funds not be used to advance Iran’s illicit activities. He served as a lay leader with the Jewish Federations of Cleveland and South Palm Beach County, and as a member of both UJA’s National Young Leadership Cabinet and AIPAC’s National New Leadership Network.
Persuasive Leadership in Divisive Times
What does it mean to lead the American Jewish community during these challenging times? In this episode of the Shalom Hartman Institute's podcast, Identity/Crisis, Ted Deutch joins Dr. Yehuda Kurtzer, President of the Institute, to discuss the challenges of leading effectively and persuasively in the face of antisemitism, deep partisan divides, and a society focused on social media-driven discourse.
Listen here to understand why we are so excited to bring Ted Deutch to Boston for this year's Birnbaum Lecture.
The Connie Spear Birnbaum is free and Open to the Public.
Watch your email for registration details.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM
THE 2024 LECTURE
Navigating Uncharted Waters:
War, Anti-Semitism, and the American Campus
Speaker and panel photos by Larry Sandberg
Connie Spear Birnbaum Memorial Lecture Speakers
2004-2024
PAST SPEAKERS
The richness and diversity of the Jewish people is reflected in the array of distinguished speakers - leading figures from the the United States and Israel; from the right, left and center and from the different streams of Judaism; from positions of leadership in religion, diplomacy, thought, government, academia, journalism, and the battlefields of military conflict and social justice - who have inspired and united us through their actions and words.
2004: Dr. Norman Lamm, z”l
2005: Richard M. Joel
2006: Rabbi Irving “Yitz” Greenberg
2007: Rabbi David Ellenson, z”l
2008: Rabbi Harold Kushner, z”l
2009: Rabbi Joseph Telushkin
2010: Rabbi Steven Weil
2011: Rabbi Steven Wernick
2012: Natan Sharansky
2013: Malcom Hoenlein
2014: Nancy Kaufman
2015: Ofir Shaer & Rabbi Rick Jacobs
2016: Leon Wieseltier
2017: Rabbi Dr. Meir Soleveichik
2018: Ron Dermer
2019: Dr. Dahlia Scheindlin
2020: 55th Anniversary Celebration of the Voting Rights Act
2021: Yossi Klein Halevi
2022: Major General Amos Yadlin
2023: Anita Diamant, Josh Foer, Rabbi Charlie Schwartz, and Rav Hazzan Aliza Berger (moderator)
2024: William Daroff in Conversation with Campus Activists from Harvard and MIT
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DONATE
All gifts $36 and above will be gratefully acknowledged at the event. Please consider a contribution in one of the following categories:
Pillar - $250.00+
Patron - $100.00-$249.00
Sponsor - $54.00-$99.00
Friend - $36.00-$53.00
Selecting PayPal allows you to either use your credit card, or PayPal.
Prefer to pay by check? Please send your gift payable to the Birnbaum Foundation, PO Box 610125, Newton MA 02461.
CONTACT US
We are here to make sure that you are informed about our annual event.