What rights do people have to criticize their country? Other countries? When do those criticisms become hateful? And when they become hateful, how should they be combatted? This talk discusses how these questions relate to contemporary anti-Zionism and antisemitism. His discussion draws upon three relevant documents: The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s “Working Definition of Antisemitism” (2016); The Nexus Document: Understanding Antisemitism and its Nexus with Israel and Zionism (2021); and The Jerusalem Declaration on Antisemitism (2021).

Derek Penslar is the William Lee Frost Professor of Jewish History at Harvard University and Director of Harvard’s Center for Jewish Studies. He is also a resident faculty member at the Minda de Gunzburg Center for European Studies (CES) and is affiliated with Harvard’s Center for Middle Eastern Studies.

Penslar takes a comparative and transnational approach to modern Jewish history, which he studies within the contexts of modern nationalism, capitalism, and colonialism. His books have engaged with a variety of approaches and methods, including the history of science and technology (Zionism and Technocracy: The Engineering of the Jewish Settlement in Palestine 1870-1918, 1991), economic history (Shylock’s Children: Economics and Jewish Identity in Modern Europe, 2001), military history (Jews and the Military: A History, 2013), biography (Theodor Herzl: The Charismatic Leader, 2020), and the history of emotions (Zionism: An Emotional State, 2023). In two co-edited volumes, Penslar has brought Jewish studies into conversation with postcolonial studies (Orientalism and the Jews, 2005) and Unacknowledged Kinships: Postcolonial Theory and the Historiography of Zionism, 2023). His current interests lie in international history, and he is writing a book about worldwide reactions to the 1948 Arab-Israeli War.

Sponsored by the Raul Hilberg Distinguished Professorship of Holocaust Studies at the University of Vermont

Vermont Jewish Poets is offering a monthly poetry workshop open to any Vermont poet identifying as Jewish. We will meet the 3rd Monday of each month beginning October 21, 2024, from 6-7:30 on Zoom. Join a welcoming space where we give and receive constructive feedback on poems-in-progress. Register here to receive a link to our workshop meeting.

A fundraiser for humanitarian aid in Israel and Palestine. A partnership between communities, volunteers bake and sell bread in the community kitchens to benefit these medical relief organizations:

United Hatzalah: first responders in Israel
Palestine Children’s Relief Fund: medical care for children in Gaza and West Bank

Participating organizations: Ohavi Zedek and Burlington Friends Meeting

Bread (challah, pita, gluten-free oat) will be baked on January 19th from 1pm – 5:30pm and available for pick-up in the evening or the following day.

Volunteer to Bake and/or Purchase Bread Here!

Are you nervous about sharing your views and beliefs about Israel?
Do you want to be able to safely say to others at Ohavi Zedek how you feel?

…So do we!

YOU ARE INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN AN ONGOING SERIES
OF FACILITATED CONVERSATIONS ABOUT ISRAEL.

REGISTER HERE

 The goal is to engage and learn from each other honestly, respectfully, and with curiosity in order to better understand each other. This is not about changing anyone’s mind or coming to agreement.

We know members of Ohavi Zedek hold diverse views – and we welcome them! Sharing will help us enhance our trust, learning and community here at OZ.

In person at Ohavi Zedek, open to all OZ adult members – you don’t have to be Jewish.

Hosted by Adult Education at Ohavi Zedek

Tot Shabbat is a Shabbat service designed to engage young children and their families. Snacks and social time will follow the service.

Sunday, January 5, 9:30 - 11 am

Young Families Play Group

Temple Sinai Social Hall

Our monthly play group. Bring push toys or ride on toys. Other toys will also be available. Designed for children 0-6 years old and their families, but all are welcome!

Learn More

Ruach HaMaqom and Ohavi Zedek join together in this celebration of Winter’s darkness and the light of hope kindled by the menorah’s flames. We’ll share in the most ancient of Jewish—human!—spiritual technologies: song and story.

BYOM – Bring Your Own Menorah: we will light them together.

Kava tea and sufganiyot/donuts will be served. Bring a story, a song and some snacks!

Join us for the 1st night of Hanukkah to light our Menorahs (bring yours from home) and eat Chinese Food!

Grand Menorah lighting UVM green, corner of S. Prospect & Main

Tot Shabbat is a Shabbat service designed to engage young children and their families. Snacks and social time will follow the service.

Join us to celebrate Hanukkah!

Join us for our annual Chanukah Party!

Including delicious food, fun games, songs, a candle lighting, raffles and crafts.

Click to Register

• Food – latkes, salad, doughnuts

• Music with Brass Balagan / 11:30 – 12:00 pm

• Sing Along and Menorah Lighting with Cantor Silverberg / 12 – 12:30 pm

• Toy/Game Raffle

• Chocolate Fountain

• Photo Booth

• Family Gift Swap

• Crafts

• Dreidel

• Preschool Activities

• Chanukah Gift Shop

Suggested Donation: $18 per family or $5 per individual, $3 per child.

Come join us and learn! On Sunday, December 8, we will consider the topic of Jewish Peoplehood: Concepts, Challenges, Futures. Our keynote by Dr. Claire E. Sufrin will begin at 11:30am followed by a kosher luncheon by Valerie Philmus and two sessions of workshops by local speakers including: Cantor Jessica Silverberg, Rabbi Danielle Stillman, Rabbi Ira Schiffer, Rabbi Eliyahu Junik, Rabbi David Fainsilber and Susan Leff.

Click below to sign up before Dec. 2!

The registration deadline is Monday, December 2 at 5pm. This cannot be extended because this is a catered event.

Register Here

Join us following Havdalah for a Bingo night of fun and prizes!

BYOB with pizza, snacks and soft drinks to be provided.

Open to all adults. Child care (ages 5-12) available upon request at $8 a child.

Click to Register

There will be a short service to say kaddish followed by dinner!

Please bring a brisket or latkes or side dish to share!

Online attendees can view or download most of the pages that we normally use on Friday nights.

Miri Leshem-Pelly will be visiting Temple Sinai to teach children and their families about the amazing beauty and diversity of Israel's flora and fauna. Her new book, A Feather, A Pebble, A Shell follows a girl’s hikes through the diverse nature sites of Israel.

Join us as Miri shares her creative process, reads her new book, and teaches us about the natural wonders of Israel

Community Shabbat!

We invite you to join us for a lively community Shabbat with Oneg led by our Burlington rabbis. All UVM students and community members are welcome to celebrate Shabbat with us.

This event is free, and we're excited to bring the greater-Burlington and UVM Jewish communities together in a joyous Shabbat. Please RSVP here so we can plan accordingly. Thank you!

Questions? Email Michala@uvmhillel.org

On November 14th, 2024 The Lost Mural Project and Ohavi Zedek will host a concert featuring saxophonist Marty Fogel and his quintet, Thread of Blue, including Tom Cleary on piano, Dan Silverman on trombone, Jeremy Hill on bass and Geoff Bernstein on drums. The program, co-sponsored by The Lost Mural Project, will include improvisational jazz music emanating from Jewish sources: liturgical melodies, original pieces inspired by religious text, Eastern European tunes and original arrangements of songs by American Jewish composers Jerry Bock, Leonard Bernstein, George Gershwin and Kurt Weill.

The performance begins at 7:30 pm.  Proceeds benefit The Lost Mural Project and Full Circle Preschool.

We are excited to invite you to our Annual Northern Nosh Jewish Food Festival! 

Northern Nosh Food Festival
Sunday, November 10th at 11:15 AM
At Ohavi Zedek, 188 North Prospect Street, Burlington VT 05401
Traditional Jewish foods, music, kids activities, and more! 

Nosh entry ticket pricing:

• Adults (Age 13+): Entry cost is $10 and includes 3 food vouchers.  (If you wait to buy a ticket onsite, you will only get 2 food tickets per entry.)

• Youth (Age 5 to 12): Entry costs $5 and includes 1 food voucher.

• Age 4 and under: Free entry, no food vouchers included 

Different dishes at the event will cost 1, 2 or 3 food vouchers.  Your tickets will be available at will call.

Grade level shabbats services are attended by Religious School students and their families. During the service students lead prayers they have learned in class. Join us for this special Shabbat and Simchat Torah Service. Dance with the Torah and help us roll it back to the beginning! And then schmooze with Religious School families at the oneg after services. All are welcome!

Join Virtually*

October 7, 2024

An Evening of Remembrance & Hope
The First Anniversary of October 7

6:00 p.m. – Community Service at Ohavi Zedek Synagogue with Cantor Jessica Silverberg, Rabbi David Edleson, Rabbi David Fainsilber, Rabbi Eliyahu Junik, and Rabbi Aaron Philmus
6:45 p.m. – Silent Walk to UVM
7:30 p.m. – Vigil with the UVM Hillel community near the Howe Library

Amid ongoing heartache and loss, we come together to honor, remember, and find hope. We are proud to unite with Shalom Alliance, Hillel, Jewish Community of Greater Stowe (JCOGS), Temple Sinai, Chabad, Ohavi Zedek, and Jewish Communities of Vermont (JCVT) to commemorate the first anniversary of October 7 as one community.

This evening will be a time for reflection and healing. Soulful music will uplift us, and the voices of our speakers will inspire us. We will join in solidarity to mourn, honor survivors and heroes, and fill one another with strength and hope for the future we will build together.

RSVP

Join us for a joyful Rosh Hashanah experience at a new location this year (inside Hula overlooking the beautiful Burlington waterfront)!

Enjoy Jewish stories, skits and songs, hear the shofar sound, dip apples in honey, and more in a warm, joyful setting! This event is co-led by OZ’s clergy, including our new Cantor Jessica Silverberg and  Rabbi Aaron Philmus, as well as a host of talented volunteer community members/story tellers.  (We need your help- interested contact us!)

Jewish? Adjacent? Curious?  Join us for this day of Awe-some! This friendly event is suitable for those ages 0 to 118.  Everyone is welcome! Questions?  Contact us.

All of OZ’s high holiday programs can be seen here.

This event will be followed by an outdoor lakeside Tashlich. We will provide pebbles for an eco-friendly option!

Register Here

Join our 20s & 30s Group for wine, cheese & Rosh Hashanah classics like apples and honey!

Feel free to join us for Erev Rosh Hashanah services following the event!

Register Here

Please join Rabbis Aaron Philmus, Jan Salzman, and Cantor Jessica Silverberg for the first night of Selichot, an evening of learning and music to kick-off the High Holiday season. Composed by the greatest paytanimand medieval poets, these ancient prayers direct our hearts and minds towards the process of teshuvah(repentance).

Whether you are speaking at a town hall meeting, on campus, or shooting a video for social media, you have to know how to grab your audience's attention in the first 30 seconds and then concisely talk about Israel in a way that is engaging and resonates with your audience.

In our workshop on Sunday, we will learn techniques in presentation skills and crafting messages for various audiences in talking about Israel.

We will see some of the top influencers, spokespeople and content creators in the field for sources of information and inspiration.

And, of course, this will be hands on. Some of the participants will try their speaking skills in filmed simulations.

Linda Lovitch is a media consultant in Israel with decades of experience working with Israel's spokespersons and diplomats.

She truly knows how to talk to the toughest of crowds.

Chai Lights: Confronting Antisemitism in Schools

September 22 @ 9:15 am - 10:45 am

Register Now!

This Sunday morning discussion will be led by OZ’s Kulanu workgroup, who will provide details of some recent school incidents and advice for talking to kids about antisemitism.

Led by Scott Silverstein and others in OZ Kulanu group.

Meet informally for bagels and coffee at 9:15 am, with the program starting at 9:30 am