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, CJP, JCRC and ADL
Tuesday Evening, June 24th, beginning at 7:00 pm
Doors to the building open at 6:15 pm for registration.
Sanctuary doors open at 6:30 pm.
Given events of the past few weeks, we are no longer publicizing the lecture’s host venue. That information will be shared in an email prior to the event with those who pre-registered by June 17th. After that, people who try to register will be added to a wait list and will be informed of avaiiability by email as space allows.
Featuring an evening with Ted Deutch
discussing the important and timely topic
"The Fight We Didn't Want: How to Combat Antisemitism in 2025"
Just ten days after the heartbreaking murders of Sarah Milgrim z"l and Yaron Lischinsky z"l—both cherished friends of AJC—a terrorist threw Molotov cocktails at a Run For Their Lives group in Boulder, Colorado. They were gathered to raise awareness about the 58 hostages still imprisoned in Gaza. Instead, they were the next victims in a string of anti-Jewish violence that included the potentially lethal arson attack on the home of Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro. In each case, the goal was to kill or harm Jews.
These attacks are the inevitable result of repeated calls to "Globalize the Intifada." Rhetoric of this kind is opening a new chapter in the history of antisemitism. It is with this in mind that we are gathering to remember and commemorate those who perished, learn about modern manifestations of antisemitism, and resolve to meet this painful challenge with courage, determination, and resilience.
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.
The Halls Are Alive with the Sound of Music
Under the direction of Alan Nelson, close to 40 members of the Zachor Choral Ensemble have been busy preparing beautiful music for this year's lecture.
Please note that all guests must register in advance and bring a government-issued photo ID that matches the name registered. Walk-ins and non-registered guests will not be permitted entry.
Register for in-person
Register for live streaming
Please reach out to newenglandevents@ajc.org with questions.
For security reasons, registration will close at 6:00 pm on June 17. Those who would like to register after the deadline will be redirected to a waitlist sign-up.
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.