2024 LECTURE
Thank you for helping make the 2024 Birnbaum Lecture an evening of learning and hope
Photo by David Stollar
On Sunday, April 14, the 21st annual Connie Spear Birnbaum Memorial Lecture was held at the Newton Jewish Collaborative Campus, in partnership with Temple Reyim and Hebrew College. Entitled, “Navigating Uncharted Waters: War, Anti-Semitism, and the American Campus,” this timely topic helped shine a light on the rise in anti-Semitic incidents at many colleges and across the country, including in Newton, following the October 7 attack on Israel.
Photo by David Stollar
The evening kicked off with a moving chamber group prelude followed by a welcome from Rabbi Dan Berman (pictured with Herbert Birnbaum) who brought greetings on behalf of the "Campus" to the more than 400 people in attendance, both in person and online.
Rabbi Gita Karasov (pictured at the lectern), Hebrew College Director of Admissions, offered "incredibly poignant and touching words that brought Connie in to the room and enabled us all to embrace her and let her know that she is anything but forgotten."
Dr. Herbert Birnbaum, lecture co-founder
Listen to Rabbi Berman's welcoming remarks and Rabbi Karasov's tribute to Connie Birnbaum
“If there was ever a time for us to cherish our heritage and our different ways of living it out, it is now. What a tribute once again to Connie.”
Dawn Ringel
Photo by Larry Sandberg
Jerry Silverman, former President and CEO of the Jewish Federations of North America, introduces his friend and colleague, William Daroff. We are so appreciative that Mr. Daroff came to Boston despite a particularly busy schedule during this challenging time for world Jewry, to speak at this year's Birnbaum Lecture.
“Tonight’s lecture is named for Connie Spear Birnbaum, of blessed memory. From the legacy she left behind I know she poured her heart and soul into her Jewish community. Connie lived a life animated by an ideal - Jewish unity, K’lal Yisrael, which serves as the keystone for all of our communal work, and certainly resonates with me as the Chief Executive Officer of the Conference of Presidents, and as someone who has also dedicated my life and career to build consensus among our vibrant Jewish community.”
William Daroff, CEO of the Conference of Presidents
of Major American Jewish Organizations
Photo by David Stollar
In William Daroff’s forceful address, he asserted that while Jews have lived in relative safety in the U.S. for centuries, recent events have shown that anti-Semitism is increasing, particularly on college campuses. He reported that 25% of American Jews reported experiencing anti-Semitism in 2023.
Noting that there has been a corresponding increase in Jewish pride, Daroff stated that the Jewish community, “will not rest while our students are being persecuted.” He described the need to stand up against Anti-Semitism and ensure consequences for the people involved.
Speaker and panel photos by Larry Sandberg
Navigating Uncharted Waters:
War, Anti-Semitism, and the American Campus
Jonathan Frieden is a graduate student at the Harvard Law School and president of the Alliance for Israel at the Harvard Law School. Frieden described how Jewish events on campus were disrupted by protesters without consequences. When Jewish students argued for positions of unity and consensus during political meetings, other students responded, “We don’t want to be united with people like you.”
Cami Tussie is a student at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine and president of the Maimonides Society of the Harvard Medical and Dental Schools. She described how the current Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) movement on campus has shifted Jews into the category of “oppressors” while Palestinians are regarded as “oppressed.” Cami reported that while she used to have close Muslim friends, they now won’t speak to her because she is Jewish.
Talia Khan is a graduate student in Mechanical Engineering at MIT and the graduate student president of the MIT Israel Alliance. She described how over the last year, she has gone from being on a university campus to feeling like she is on the edge of war, especially with the active promotion of the BDS movement against Israel. She reported that, “Regardless of whether you wanted to be involved, you had no choice.”
“Although we are aware of Anti-Semitism at Harvard and MIT, we were saddened and distressed for the student speakers who endure such neglect and hateful treatment by peers, some faculty and administrators. It is a conundrum for all of us who believe in loving kindness, justice and healing.”
Eileen Berger, author and educational consultant
Photo by David Stollar
Herbert Birnbaum and Alan Teperow, Lecture co-founders, pose for a photo with Alan Nelson (center), conductor of the Zachor Choral Ensemble.
Photo by David Stollar
Dr. David Fisher, Suzanne Hanser Teperow, and Sarah Dinin.
Introducing the Zachor Choral Ensemble, Alan Teperow, Lecture co-founder, quoted Martin Luther King who, speaking to a group in Memphis the night before he was assassinated, emphasized that “the world is all messed up. The nation is sick. Trouble is in the land; confusion all around. But I know, somehow, that only when it is dark enough, can you see the stars.”
Check out Alan's remarks, followed by Zachor's singing of Gesher Tsar Me-od and Hatikvah
Photo by David Stollar
Photo by David Stollar
Lecture co-founders Alan Teperow (left) and Herbert Birnbaum (right) stand proudly immediately following the event with (L to R) Cami Tussie, Talia Khan, William Daroff, and Jonathan Frieden.
Photo by Larry Sandberg
Our thanks to Richard Primack for selected comments and quotes from his article “Birnbaum Lecture Addresses Anti-Semitism“ in the Newton Beacon
Videos courtesy of Larry Sandberg.
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