Private Discussion with Alan Dershowitz

Monday, October 3 | 6:30 pm
Before he addresses the entire synagogue and the larger Jewish community of NYC, Professor Dershowitz will meet with our PAS teens to discuss the issues presented in the film that he will be screening for “Step Up for Israel”. 
 
Alan M. Dershowitz is the Felix Frankfurter Professor of Law at Harvard Law School. A Brooklyn native and a graduate of Brooklyn College and Yale Law School, Dershowitz joined the Harvard Law School faculty at age 25 after clerking for Judge David Bazelon and Justice Arthur Goldberg. In addition to numerous law review articles and books about criminal and constitutional law, Professor Dershowitz has published hundreds of articles in national magazines and newspapers. He has written, taught and lectured about history, philosophy, psychology, literature, mathematics, theology, music, sports – and even delicatessens. He has written both non-fiction and fiction, including The Trials of Zion, an action-packed novel which has been called “a thought-provoking page turner.” In 1983, the Anti-Defamation League of the B'nai B'rith presented Dershowitz with the William O. Douglas First Amendment Award for his "compassionate eloquent leadership and persistent advocacy in the struggle for civil and human rights." In presenting the award, Nobel Laureate Elie Wiesel said: "If there had been a few people like Alan Dershowitz during the 1930s and 1940s, the history of European Jewry might have been different."

The Jewish Athlete in America

Wednesday, November 16 | 6:00 – 8:00 pm
Meet with former world champion boxer, Yuri Foreman.  Our event will focus on the interaction between living a Jewish lifestyle and maintaining a passion and enthusiasm for sports.  After dinner, Mr. Foreman will address his own experience as a top-notch athlete who consciously chooses to also live a religious life.
 
Yuri Foreman is a Belarusian-born, Israeli-American professional boxer.  The former WBA super-welterweight champion of the world, Foreman immigrated to Brooklyn to train.  After turning professional in January of 2002, Yuri remained undefeated for 29 fights until June 5, 2010, in which he lost by TKO in the ninth round to Miguel Cotto, the first fight to take place in the new Yankee Stadium.  Yuri is also the only Orthodox Jew to hold a championship title in the modern boxing era.  He studies the Talmud and Jewish mysticism in the morning, trains for boxing in the afternoon, and takes rabbinical classes in the evening.

Outreach Judaism – Judaism’s Response to Christian Missionaries

Wednesday, December 14 | 6:00 – 8:00 pm
Outreach Judaism is an international organization that responds directly to the issues raised by missionaries and cults, by exploring Judaism in contradistinction to fundamentalist Christianity.  Rabbi Tovia Singer will speak to PAS students about the realities of the various missionary movements, focusing on “Jews for Jesus” and how they can respond to acts of proselytizing around the city as well as on college campuses.
 
Rabbi Tovia Singer is well known as the Founder and Director of Outreach Judaism, an international organization dedicated to countering the efforts of fundamentalist Christian groups and cults who specifically target Jews for conversion. As a world renowned public speaker, Rabbi Singer addresses more than 100 audiences a year. Through his stimulating and provocative appearances, Rabbi Singer has been an inspiration to thousands. Lecturing on college campuses and synagogues throughout the country has become an integral part of his work. He is the author of the book Let’s Get Biblical: Why Doesn’t Judaism Accept the Christian Messiah?", and is a frequent guest on Television and radio shows.