March 6, 2005
Dr. Herbert Birnbaum and his three children Benjy, Ilanna and Arielle have lovingly established a fund at the Synagogue Council of Massachusetts -- in memory of their devoted wife and mother, Connie -- to enable her commitment to Jewish education and K'lal Yisrael (the unity of the Jewish people) to continue as a living legacy. The Connie Spear Birnbaum Memorial Lecture is an annual event sponsored by the Synagogue Council, for alumni of the acclaimed Unity Mission to NY and members of the broader Jewish community, as a way of addressing issues related to K'lal Yisrael with a speaker of national or international prominence. Connie had worked for the Synagogue Council for seven years, staffing the Unity Mission and other related projects.
The 2nd Annual Connie Spear Birnbaum Memorial Lecture will take place on Sunday evening, March 6, 2005 at Congregation Mishkan Tefila in Chestnut Hill, featuring Richard Joel, President of Yeshiva University and is open to the public. Doors open at 7:00 p.m. and the program begins promptly at 7:30.
Also, this year, will be a special 18th anniversary Symposium for Unity Mission and Shabbaton alumni, students in Kolot and members of the Synagogue Council's Amoodim Society on March 6th. The topic is "Impact of Jewish Education on Religious Life in Greater Boston: Is the Glass Half Empty or Half Full?" The schedule for the day follows:
2:30-3:30 Registration/Refreshments and 18th Anniversary Commemorative Exhibit
3:30-3:45 Welcome
3:45-5:15 Panel discussion with Rabbis Benjamin Samuels, Wes Gardenswartz, Karen Landy and Jay Perlman
5:30-7:00 Dinner and small group discussions at tables
7:30-9:45 Connie Spear Birnbaum Memorial Lecture with Richard Joel, President of Yeshiva University. (Open to the public)
For further information, call (617) 244-6506 or e-mail [email protected]