2010 Schedule of Events
Jewish Alumni Weekend
February 26 -28, 2010
Friday, February 26
Registration open all day – pick up your guide to events at Slifka Center (80 Wall Street)
11:30 -1:30 pm: Lunch with Yale rabbis and Slifka staff
5 – 7 pm: Welcome Shabbat with services and/or happy hour, combined with opening reception for Ophir Agassi ‘00, exhibiting in the Allan and Leah Rabinowitz Gallery.
7 – 9 pm: Shabbat dinner in Heyman Commons, home of the Kosher Kitchen
9 pm: Welcoming session, led by Rabbi James Ponet,’68, Howard M. Holtzmann Jewish Chaplain at Yale and Head of Slifka Center, introducing those assembled to our weekend theme: Spirituality of the Absurd. Dessert and after-dinner libations will be offered.
Saturday, February 27
Shabbat services as listed in registration packet (times vary). Contact Slifka if you are interested in helping lead services or read torah.
12 – 1:30 pm: Lunch in the Kosher Kitchen
1:30 pm – 4:30 pm: Discussion and Learning. A variety of breakout sessions held throughout the Center in two time slots. Join with other alumni (and some current students) to explore text and thoughts on selected topics in Judaism of significance to the world and ourselves. The Absurdity of Job, led by Rabbi James Ponet and Slifka Board President Robert Burt, professor at the Yale Law School; Treyf = Pig: A look at how certain animals have become symbols of forbidden food with Rabbi Lauren Holtzblatt, Associate Rabbi of Slika Center and founder of the SheHaKol Food Fellowship at Yale; Yoga Service with Rabbi Lina Zerbarini (bring appropriate clothes – mats provided); What is Jewish Art? a public discussion with Ophir Agassi ‘00, Ilana Lapid ‘99, and Daniel Gelernter ‘10.
4:30 pm Havdalah and Dinner in the Kosher Kitchen
6:45 pm Purim Services (as listed in registration materials)
8:30 pm: Purim Spiel!!! Members of the Yale student community will perform a fittingly outrageous and madcap pageant. Esther! Mordechai! Haman!…and net neutrality.
late night – Susman Hall will remain open and filled with treats after the Purim Spiel for any alumni who wish to remain. Schmooze with friends old and new, or discuss themes raised by the spiel (of media conglomeration and free speech), or just dance!
Sunday, February 28
Purim Services as listed in registration packet (times vary).
12:00 pm: Alumni Panel Discussion and closing session on Laughter, led by Rabbi James Ponet, ‘68 and featuring Lynn Harris ‘90, Lenore Skenazy ‘81, Deborah Fried P’12, and Nina Beizer ‘12. Accompanied by Bagel Brunch and Hamentaschen.
2:30 pm: Purim Banquet, hosted by Rabbi Jason and Meira Rappoport, Co-Directors of the Seif Jewish Learning Initiative on Campus at Yale. Festive Meat Meal, Live Music from the Yale Klezmer Band, and Prizes for the Best Costumes! If you will be staying for this, please RSVP by sending an email to Meira.Rappoport@yale.edu by Friday Feb 19.
Want to know what happened the year before? Please click here for the 2009 Schedule of Events. A continuing forum for thoughts on topics raised during that weekend can be found here.
