Monthly Speaker Series
2026-2027 Speaker Series
Please join us for a lovely Sunday morning of nosh, community, and learning! Every speaker event this season has an in-person speaker!
Doors open at 9:45 am for bagels, spreads, and cookies. The program begins at 10:15 am and is usually done by 11:45 am.
Registration is required. Sign up for our newsletter for more details as they become available.
October 11, 10:15 am, In-Person Speaker
Disappointment and Forgiveness; Moshé Habia
In this transformative session, Moshé Habia explores why focusing on "healing" the past unintentionally anchors us to the past—and to the very wound we aim to "heal.” Shifting from traditional forgiveness to releasing the necessity to blame affords us tuning to and aligning with our innate frequency of Creation in the Present.
Palm Springs location will be provided with RSVP.
Registration will open ~September 1
November 1, 10:15 am, In-Person Speaker
Christian Nationalism and the Threat to Religious Freedom, Democracy, and Human Rights; Heidi Beirich, Ph.D.
Christian Nationalism is a growing far-right political movement that poses a serious threat to American democracy and civil rights. This theology argues for Christian supremacy and is vehemently opposed to rights for women, immigrants, and LGBTQ+ people. Consisting of about 30 percent of the public, Christian Nationalism is growing and must be countered to protect the American democratic system.
Palm Springs location will be provided with RSVP.
Registration will open ~October 8
Dec 13, 10:15 am, In-Person Speaker
Followed by Annual Membership Meeting
The Divine in Your Words: Reaching Across our Divides; Rabbi Irwin Keller
In these times of division and polarization, it has become difficult for many to stay in relationships with friends and relatives with whom they differ. Join Rabbi Irwin Keller in an exploration of Jewish texts – Torah, Talmud, and Hassidic Masters – on how we might uphold the holiness of each other’s words and beings, even while we might still disagree.
Palm Springs location will be provided with RSVP.
Registration will open ~October 29
Jan 10, 2027, 10:15 am, In-Person Speaker
Comic Relief in the Torah; Pastor Jane Voigts
Is there humor in the Torah? Where? Might it be all over the place? After all, we are “Children of Isaac” (“Children of Laughter”), right? Rev. Jane Voigts, pastor and former professional stand-up comic, has been studying the Bible through a “Comic Lens” and is writing a book on the topic! Come learn … and, hopefully, laugh! … as she shares what she’s discovered!
Palm Springs location will be provided with RSVP.
Registration will open ~December 10
Feb 7, 2027, 10:15 am, In-Person Speaker
Jews in Jail; Rabbis Lawrence and Linda Seidman
Yes, there are Jews in jail. We’ll discuss the experiences of Jews who have been incarcerated as they search to understand themselves and Judaism, and thereby to find repentance and to build the spiritual strength to reenter the world and the Jewish community as healthy, free individuals.
Palm Springs location will be provided with RSVP.
Registration will open ~January 7
March 21, 2027, 10:15 am, In-Person & Live Zoom
Sephardic Life in Seattle: A Tapestry Unfurled and Extended; Lisa Kranseler (in person) and
Stuart Eskenazi (Live Zoom from Spain)
Seattle has the third-largest Sephardic population in the U.S. and leads in preserving and revitalizing Sephardic life around the world. Early-1900s immigrants from Turkey and Rhodes weren’t recognized as Jews by the decades-old Ashkenazi community. Today Seattle has the renowned University of Washington Sephardic Studies Program, leadership in Ladino preservation and Spanish citizenship efforts, and the only Sephardic youth summer camp in the U.S.
Palm Springs location will be provided with RSVP.
Registration will open ~February 4
April 4, 2027, 10:15 am, In-Person Speaker
Jewish National Fund's First 125 Year; Michael Feldman
In 1901, Jewish National Fund began acquiring and greening land in Israel. Today, JNF supports diverse projects benefiting Israelis (hospitals, housing, athletics, employment centers, and schools). Join a virtual journey exploring JNF affiliates in Israel with no religious affiliation or ideology and funded by gifts with little government intervention.
Palm Springs location will be provided with RSVP.
Registration will open ~March 18
May 23, 2027, 10:15 am, In-Person Speaker
Let’s Talk About Death and Dying; Rabbi Heidi Cohen
Death can be a taboo topic. However, our rabbis and tradition have much to say about how we die and what to do afterwards. We’ll discuss end-of-life decisions, making plans so our families don't have to guess what we want, what our funerals can look like, and what legacy we want to leave behind. Bring your questions; every question is a good one.
Palm Springs location will be provided with RSVP.
Registration will open ~April 1