In keeping with the mission of our Center for Learning, Temple Jeremiah hosts various lecture series throughout the year which are open to the community. Temple Jeremiah's Adult Learning Committee, in cooperation with the Dawn Schuman Institute, the American Jewish Committee, Jewish United Fund and other groups, presents guest speakers on an array of topics.

Upcoming Lectures

North Shore Senior Center (NSSC)

"How to Keep Life Interesting: Pursuing New Opportunities" with Award-Winning Broadcaster Bill Kurtis

Wednesday, September 24, 2008
8:00 pm
(Doors Open 7:30 pm - Open Seating)
Temple Jeremiah

Award-winning journalist Bill Kurtis will discuss how to stay young by pursuing new interests and opportunities. He will also address environmental issues and his business venture, Tallgrass Beef. Seating is limited and must be purchased through the North Shore Senior Center. Click above for further details.

"Jews and Power"

Sundays, November 2 & November 9, 2008
10:00 am

This course, offered by Dawn Schuman in collaboration with Indiana University’s Judaic Studies program, will look at the myth of Jews, on the one hand, wielding power world-wide and, on the other hand, feeling completely powerless until the rise of Israel.

Maimonides: The Life & World of One of Civilization's Greatest Minds

Wednesday, November 5, 2008
7:00 pm

University of Chicago Divinity Professor Joel Kramer will discuss his new book on physician, philosopher and law-giver Moses Maimonides.

"The Lotan Story"

Wednesday, November 12, 2008
7:00 pm

Find out about the amazing work being done on behalf of the environment at Kibbutz Lotan in Israel.

Golder Interfaith Lectures

Temple Jeremiah annually hosts the Stanley C. Golder Interfaith Lecture Series.

Past Programs:

The May 3, 2008 Golder Lecture featured Judith Miller, well-known author and Pultizer Prize winning reporter. Ms. Miller addressed "The Rise of Religious Fundamentalism" in Islam. This phenomenon is seen as a powerful force in today's highly charged political arena.

Our April 28, 2007 Golder Lecture featured Cathleen Falsani, religion columnist for the Chicago Sun-Times and author of The God Factor: Inside the Spiritual Lives of Public People. On April 27, 2007, as part of the Goldstein Interfaith Lecture Series, Carmi Gillon, mayor of Mevasseret-Zion, a suburb of Jerusalem, and former head of the Israeli Secret Service, Shabak, spoke on "Jews, Christians and Muslims Partnering for Peace."

Featured speaker for the April 29, 2006 program was Irshad Manji, author of the international bestseller, The Trouble with Islam Today: A Muslim's Call to Reform in her Faith. Ms. Manji spoke on "The Challenge to Islam Today."

On April 30, 2005, John Callaway, moderator of WTTW's Chicago Tonight, led a lively panel discussion on "Evil and Suffering: Where is God to be Found? Our Religions Respond" at the 2005 Stanley C. Golder Interfaith Lecture.

On April 24, 2004, Bruce Feiler, a writer for the New York Times, Washington Post and National Public Radio, spoke on "Can We All Get Along? Building Bridges Among Jews, Christians and Muslims in the 21st Century". Mr. Feiler has authored the bestsellers, Abraham: A Journey to the Heart of Three Faiths and Walking the Bible.

On April 26, 2003, commentator and Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist William Safire spoke on "What's Going to Happen in Washington."

The lecture series has previously hosted such notable speakers as: Mitch Albom, author of Tuesdays with Morrie; popular author and professor Father Andrew M. Greeley; and author, humanitarian and hostage negotiator Terry Waite.

JUF Programs

The Jewish United Fund, in collaboration with Temple Jeremiah, presents a lecture series featuring well-known speakers addressing a variety of contemporary topics.

Past Programs:

Dara Horn, National Jewish Book Award winner, talked on "How To Become a Jewish Novelist Without Really Trying," at Temple Jeremiah on Sunday, November 18, 2007.

Rabbi Naomi Levy, founder and spiritual leader of the groundbreaking Jewish outreach organization Nashuva, spoke Sunday, February 11, 2007 at Temple Jeremiah on "Saving God's Life: Becoming God's Partner in Healing our World."

Joseph Epstein, one of America's preeminent essayists, spoke on his latest book, Fabulous Small Jews, a collection of 18 stories concerning Jewish men all set in Chicago at the Jewish United Fund-sponsored brunch and presentation on Sunday, February 12, 2006. Over 100 people attended the event.

On February 20, 2005, academic historian and museum curator Ellen Smith spoke on "Celebrating 350: Three Hundred and Fifty Years of Jews in America." New York Times culture writer and critic

Julie Salamon spoke on her latest book, "Rambam's Ladder and Why It Is Necessary to Give," on March 21, 2004.

Past presenters have included: Stephen Dubner, author of Turbulent Souls; Jonathan Safran Foer, author of Everything is Illuminated; and Daniel Levitas, author of The Terrorist Next Door.

Dawn Schuman Institute, American Jewish Committee & Other Lectures

Past Programs:

Temple Jeremiah's Adult Education Committee, frequently in cooperation with such organizations as the Dawn Schuman Institute and American Jewish Committee, offers lectures on topics ranging from "Disengagement from the Gaza Strip" to a review of Mel Gibson's controversial film, "The Passion."

Dawn Schuman presented a program on our responsibility to the environment based on Jewish texts at the program, "Ecology and the Torah," on April 15, 2008.

Dawn Schuman aired the award-winning film, "Close to Home," on April 6, 2008. The film looks at two Israeli women soldiers with diametrically opposing views on the Palestinian dilemma and their efforts to resolve their differences in the wake of tragedy

Scholar Avram Stein from the Herzog Center for Jewish Studies spoke on "The Significance of Jewish Historical Memory: What Have We Forgotten?" on December 13, 2007.

Temple Jeremiah, in cooperation with the Dawn Schuman Institute, presented the film, "Live and Become," winner of last year's Israeli Film Festival on November 4, 2007. The film tells the epic story of an Ethiopian boy airlifted from Sudan during Operation Exodus. Dr. Marc Slutsky led a discussion following the film.

Over 1200 people were on hand as America's first woman Secretary of State, Dr. Madeleine Albright, discussed her recently released book, The Mighty and the Almighty: Reflections on America, God and World Affairs, at Temple Jeremiah on May 16, 2006.

In addition, our Shabbat services often feature speakers. Gail Schechter of the Interfaith Housing Council was the guest presenter at Shabbat services at 8:00 pm on Friday, March 5, 2004. Ron Miller, co-founder of Common Ground, spoke about "Today's Agenda for Jewish-Christian Dialogue" at Shabbat services on April 23, 2004. Jay Tcath of the Jewish United Fund addressed Shabbat worshippers on April 25, 2003.

As a member of the Winnetka Interfaith Council, Temple Jeremiah joins with eleven other houses of worship across the North Shore every Thanksgiving to present an interfaith worship service. The 2004 Community Thanksgiving Service at Christ Episcopal Church (Church on the Hill), 784 Sheridan Road in Winnetka featured speaker Robert E. Muzikowski, author of Safe at Home. The keynote speaker for the November 26, 2003 interfaith program was Cardinal Francis George.

See Archive for further details.