:: Amram Scholar Series

Thought-Provoking Programs for the WHC Community

The Amram Scholar Series offers a dynamic program of free public lectures in which worldrenowned speakers, authors, scholars, political leaders, policy experts, and theologians share their perspectives on timely issues or their research into Jewish culture and history.

In a year that has witnessed dramatic and sweeping change throughout the Middle East, three special Sunday morning lectures this fall will examine the uncertain situation facing Israel. We are proud to launch this series on October 16 at 10:30 am with Martin Indyk, Vice President and Director of the Foreign Policy Program at The Brookings Institution. A former United States Ambassador to Israel — he served from 1995–1997 and 2000–2001 — he will speak on “Israel and the Arab Awakenings.”

Second, on October 23, is Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Amos Yadlin, who served the Israel Defense Forces for 40 years, the last five as head of IDF Defense Intelligence. Currently the Kay Fellow on Israeli National Security at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy, he was a highly-decorated fighter pilot who participated in the 1981 raid that successfully destroyed the Osirak nuclear reactor in Iraq. Formerly Chief of the Air Staff and Deputy Commander of the Israel Air Force, General Yadlin brings extraordinary insight into Israel’s military challenges.

With a journalistic account of the so-called Arab Spring, bestselling author Bruce Feiler returns to the Scholar Series on December 18 to discuss his latest book, Generation Freedom: The Middle East Uprisings and Remaking of the Modern World. Offering a vivid, behind-the-scenes portrait of history in the making, Mr. Feiler analyzes what the Arab Spring and the death of Osama Bin Laden mean for peace, terrorism, and relations among Muslims, Jews and Christians worldwide.

The Amram Scholar Series is delighted to present again two important scholars who previously conducted multi-session study programs: Melvin I. Urofsky of Virginia Commonwealth University and Jacques Berlinerblau of Georgetown University. Professor Urofsky will discuss “Portraits from Three Acts of American Jewish History,” focusing on waves of Jewish immigration to the United States, on Tuesday evenings October 11, 18, and 25 at 7:00 pm. Professor Berlinerblau’s series, "Young Jewish-American Writers," on February 5 at 10:30am, February 15, 29 and March 7 at 7:00 pm.

The WHC Journal, Friday’s Life@WHC e-newsletter and the Temple website will detail many further programs on intellectually stimulating topics throughout the year, and we urge you to join us for Theater J with the DCJCC & WHC.