2011:
A CONVERSATION WITH YOSSI KLEIN HALEVI; Held to a Different Standard: Jews and the Rest of the World. Halevi delivered a thoughtful, informative presentation making the point, among others, of the irony that Israel was originally conceived by Zionists as a place where to the External world, it would exist like all other nations, but Internally, it would be special and commited to fulfilling the higher purposes of Judaism. As it turns out, Israel is all too Normal internally with its share of corruption, crime and excesses—although it is seen by the rest of the world as Special and judged accordingly.
For a full transcript of the event, you can order a DVD for $18 from info@iljb.org

PEOPLE OF THE BOOK IN THE DIGITAL AGE: the Impact of the New Media on Jews and Israel, co-sponsored with Hadassah Brooklyn Region. The conference featured a panel of prominent journalists: Adam Dickter, Assistant Managing Editor of The Jewish Week; David Firestone,
Editorial Board of The New York Times; Alana Newhouse, Editor-in-Chief of Tablet Magazine; Sam Norich
Publisher of The Forward; and Barbara Spack, Past Vice President, Hadassah National. For a description of the event: summary POB. To purchase the DVD for $18, contact: info@iljb.org

MIDDLE EAST DEVELOPMENTS with Dr. STEPHEN P. COHEN, Dir, Inst. for Middle East Peace & Development. Dr. Cohen discussed the revolutions in Arab countries, addressing their implications for Israel and America. Whether these uprisings will result in better government and a friendlier stance to the West and Israel rests largely on the kind of support and alliance-building that comes from American and Israeli factions. He maintained a generally hopeful attitude, fraught with the real risks involved in missteps by these administrations.
Dr. Cohen's remarks were recorded in full. To purchase the DVD for $18, contact: info@iljb.org

INCLUDAISM: WIDENING THE TENT OF OUR CONGREGATIONS, A basic tenet of our faith is the welcoming of all who consider embracing it, that we should open our community to those who are interested in joining with us in our approach to God. Discussing these concepts were Rabbi Dan Ain of 92Y Tribeca, and Paul Golin, Associate Executive Director of the Jewish Outreach Institute.

2010:
PEACE TO THOSE FAR AND NEAR: Israel and American Jews at a Crossroads, A thought-provoking keynote address by Aaron David Miller, followed by a panel of experts: Ben Cohen, American Jewish Committee; Michael Salberg, Anti-Defamation League; Isaac Luria, JStreet; Rabbi Gordon Tucker, Temple Israel of White Plains. For a description of the event: summary_IAJ

THE STATE OF ISRAEL CONFERENCE: Religious Pluralism in Israel, co-sponsored with Hadassah Brooklyn Region, featured Gershom Gorenberg, noted Israeli author, journalist and blogger (southjerusalem.com); author Dr. Susan Aranoff, Founding Director, Women of the Wall; Rabbi Uri Regev, CEO, Hiddush (hiddush.org) and Rabbi Avi Shafran, Dir. of Public Relations, Agudath Israel. For a complete description of the event, see full summary

JEWISH EDUCATION FAIR, featured a debate among Jewish educational leaders about the challenges of providing progressive, pluralistic Jewish education in Brooklyn. Speakers were: Rachel Abrahams, Program Officer of Avi Chai Fo.; Rabbi Dan Ain, from the New Shul; Rabbi Ellis Bloch, Associate Director, Board of Jewish Education, Yeshiva/Day Schools; and educational advisor Harry Trattner.

Workshop on CAREGIVING FOR A DISABLED SPOUSE, an intelligent and caring discussion led by expert Dr. Richard Zuckerberg

2009:
GOODSTOCK II, a festival of Tikkun Olam, featuring top acts of lovingkindness all-day event; organ donation and bone marrow transplants, disease prevention and early detection, Hazon, Hechsher Tsedek, Jewish World Watch, Jewish World Service, Mazon, Jewish Fo. for the Righteous, Simon Weisenthal Museum of Tolerance, Chevrah Kadisha, Bikur Cholim, and others.

The Settlements: a screening of Adam Hootnick's 2007 documentary "Unsettled", follwed by a reading of Stephen P. Cohen's analysis of the settlement situation, and a discussion between Doni Remba, Exec. Dir., Jewish Alliance for Change, and Stewart Ain, columnist for the Jewish Week.

Workshop on DEALING WITH OUR ADULT CHILDREN: an evening session led by Social Workers Adina Segal and Allan Magill, and Dr. Howard Honigman on the impact of current economic pressures on our kids' independence, inter- and intra-marriage, in-laws, and Advanced Directives like health care proxies, power of attorney, etc.

2008:
THE BELIEVERS NEXT DOOR: How Mainstream Jews Interface with the Muslim, Evangelical, and Haredi Communities co-sponsored with UJA; Rabbi David J. Forman,
Rabbi Craig Miller, and Ethan Felson; moderated by Rabbi Dan Bronstein

Non-Rhetorical Questions: What's So Great About Monotheism? • What's Wrong With Fundamentalism? • How Could We Love the Germans? • Why Me?(on unjust suffering) • Who Needs to be Chosen? 8-week course, Rabbi Alvin Kass, Rabbi Neil
Gillman, Rabbi Heidi Hoover, Rabbi Simkha Weintraub, Rabbi Ellen Lippmann

GOODSTOCK, a festival of Tikkun Olam, featuring top acts of lovingkindness all-day event; Jewish World Watch, Halachic Organ Donor Society, Jewish Foundation for the Righteous, Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life (COEJL), American Jewish World Service, plus workshops on Bikur Cholim and Social Action Committees

2007:
Ethical Dilemmas for the Modern Jew 8-week course; Immigration reform, vegetarianism and kashrut, women's right to choose, and environmental activism

CAN WE TALK ABOUT ISRAEL? co-sponsored with HADASSAH, Brooklyn Region; Dr. Sandra Alfonsi, Diane Balser, Ethan Bronner, Ben Cohen, Ken Jacobson, Gary Rosenblatt, Prof. Mark Rosenblum, Rabbi Gordon Tucker, and Rabbi Melissa Weintraub, moderated by Leonard Lopate and Larry Josephson

The Labor of Love: Working toward a Good Relationship workshop;
Dr. Howard Honigman

2006:
Jewish Views of Sexual Diversity; Rabbis Gordon Tucker, Dov Linzer, Leonard Levy, Sarra Lev, and Ayelet Cohen; moderated by Rabbi Joseph Potasnik

Rabbi Neil Gillman on "The Future of Liberal Judaism"

Praying When You Feel, Feeling When You Pray 8-week course; Rabbis Carter, Kelber, Weider, Slome and Goldstein

2005:
Rabbi David Ellenson on "Does Progressive Judaism Have a Future?"

Movie "Promises" at Congregation Beth Elohim in Park Slope for young singles

JJ Goldberg on "Insider Views of the Middle East"

Modern Day Prophets 8-week course; Rabbis Neil Gillman, Benjamin Kreitman, Alvin Kass,
and Niles Goldstein

There But For a Few Years..., on caregiving for aged loved ones workshop;
Dr. Sondra Brandler

2004:
Our Gala Opening Event featuring an address from Rabbi Michael Chernick