Kaplan Scholar in Residence

Each year Temple Emanu-El features exciting voices from different areas of Jewish thought who have given presentations about a variety of compelling topics. The program is generously underwritten by the Peck Scholar Fund and temple members Arny and Dee Kaplan. We are especially grateful to temple members who chair this special event.  

Some recent examples include:

• Rabbi Karyn Kedar is an author, inspirational speaker, spiritual counselor and senior rabbi at Congregation B’nai Jehoshua Beth Elohim in Deerfield IL who spoke on finding meaning and purpose in our busy lives and forgiveness.
• Jonathan Brent, Executive Director of YIVO Yiddish Institute spoke on our connection to our Eastern European roots and explained the important work of YIVO, which has the largest collection of Yiddish literature and art, (in the process of being totally digitized) and has revived interest in the Yiddish language through its dozens of classes and programs.
• Deborah Dash Moore, Ph.D., is a professor of History & Judaic Studies at the University of Michigan. Author of the book, “Urban Origins of American Judaism” and dozens of other publications, Dr. Moore spoke with us on, “From Ghetto to the Suburbs, exploring migrations of Jews into and out of cities” and “GI Jews: How World War II Transformed a Generation.”