Jewish Storytime at the AADL
2026-02-22 10:30 - 12:30 (America/Detroit) | Ann Arbor District Library: Downtown 343 S 5th Ave, Ann Arbor
**Join Carmel & Ori for Jewish Story Time**
There will be both English and Hebrew sessions but we invite families to join
for both!
* **10:30-11:30:** Jewish story time & Activity
* **11:30-12:30:** Hebrew Jewish story time & Activity (Hebrew immersion)
Organized by: Jewish Federation of Greater Ann Arbor
View event on Jlive: https://jlive.app/events/13418

Jewish Journalism in Dark Times
2026-02-24 17:00 - 18:30 | 202 S Thayer St 202 S Thayer St, Ann Arbor
Join us for a roundtable discussion exploring the transformation of Jewish
journalism during the interwar years (1918–1939) and World War II, an era of
profound upheaval. Panelists will analyze how Jewish newspapers and journals
became vital platforms for political, literary, and cultural engagement. The
discussion will highlight dramatic shifts in journalistic practices, including
evolving editorial strategies, reporting methods, and technological
innovations in format and distribution and the transnational and transcultural
elements that come to the fore during that time. Panelists will also examine
the economic pressures and opportunities that shaped the Jewish press, and
consider the influence and role of Jews as journalists within the broader
media landscape.
**Gilad Halpern** , journalist and media historian, draws on recent doctoral
research on The Palestine Post amid imperial decline and rising nationalism,
bridging professional and scholarly perspectives.**Naomi Brenner** explores
entertainment fiction in the Hebrew and Yiddish press, focusing on the
aesthetics and politics of the roman-feuilleton as a transnational literary
form.**Matthew Handelman** investigates the cultural politics of German Jewish
intellectuals and the primacy of culture in political discourse from the
Weimar Republic onward.
Central to the conversation is the role of Jewish periodicals as spaces for
cultural expression, literary experimentation, and political debate. These
publications not only documented Jewish life, but also actively shaped
identities, fostered transnational dialogue, and provided forums for writers,
artists, and intellectuals grappling with questions of survival and belonging.
This roundtable offers timely insights into journalism during a time of
crisis, illuminating enduring questions about Jews and media.
Organized by: U-M Frankel Center for Judaic Studies
View event on Jlive: https://jlive.app/events/13936

Israeli Nifgashim
2026-02-24 19:00 - 20:30 | MI
ישראלים נפגשים
הרצאה קצרה, שיחה וחברים
3 gatherings for Israelis in Hebrew.
On February 24th Aviv Touitou Certified aromatherapist and social worker
speaks about Aromatherapy – The Power of Essential Oils to Support & Heal the
Body & Mind.
On March 24th Ariel Levi, DDS, Orthodontist speaks about the Basics of
Orthodontics.
On May 19th Tomer Stern, PhD, MSc, Assistant Professor at the University of
Michigan School of Dentistry speaks about Advancing Skeletal Pathology
Research Through Computational Biology.
Organized by: Jewish Federation of Greater Ann Arbor
View event on Jlive: https://jlive.app/events/14737

EMU Center for Jewish Studies - Mike Rothschild: “Space Lasers and Conspiracies” (Rescheduled)
2026-03-09 19:00 - 21:00 | Eastern Michigan University 900 Oakwood St, Ypsilanti
Rescheduled: March 9th, 2026
Mike Rothschild talks about his book _Jewish Space Lasers: The Rothschilds and
200 years of Conspiracy Theories_.
You can find the link here: (https://www.amazon.com/Jewish-Space-Lasers-Rothschilds-
Conspiracy/dp/1685890644/ref=sr_1_2?crid=EKS4FNH9TC02&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.XuFwrzaO1PzS34gFI4Hf_X22VIHANv64OmsvdFNoV1V438fPuSpIHUZoi0oRMlAqvsdmf1dhKTShe-
VXfiEn6OqOHq-8wMu0-06Gs3Dpjfyw5wYi66zAtuo37x4q0az1S-DaZDrJaFI3d6DPRBDCTKOKABlrPrWo0Qo6ddsBe5r04730Q1kLSpHhm0mSBg-6hEunlThf_CxzB8Ql1K8NGkNjb2lXOuh9VMlsGV_SV7E.BrVymZnmDnQeXLG_icUSbkppoQQXfup4RxVNDchbLBQ&dib_tag=se&keywords=Mike+Rothschild&qid=1755185711&s=books&sprefix=mike+rothschild%2Cstripbooks%2C76&sr=1-2)
Organized by: EMU Center for Jewish Studies
View event on Jlive: https://jlive.app/events/14524

Jewish Storytime at the AADL
2026-03-22 10:30 - 12:30 | Ann Arbor District Library: Downtown 343 S 5th Ave, Ann Arbor
**Join Carmel & Ori for Jewish Story Time**
There will be both English and Hebrew sessions but we invite families to join
for both!
* **10:30-11:30:** Jewish story time & Activity
* **11:30-12:30:** Hebrew Jewish story time & Activity (Hebrew immersion)
Organized by: Jewish Federation of Greater Ann Arbor
View event on Jlive: https://jlive.app/events/13420

Israeli Nifgashim
2026-03-24 19:00 - 20:30 | Ann Arbor , Ann Arbor
ישראלים נפגשים
הרצאה קצרה, שיחה וחברים
3 gatherings for Israelis in Hebrew.
On February 24th Aviv Touitou Certified aromatherapist and social worker
speaks about Aromatherapy – The Power of Essential Oils to Support & Heal the
Body & Mind.
On March 24th Ariel Levi, DDS, Orthodontist speaks about the Basics of
Orthodontics.
On May 19th Tomer Stern, PhD, MSc, Assistant Professor at the University of
Michigan School of Dentistry speaks about Advancing Skeletal Pathology
Research Through Computational Biology.
Organized by: Jewish Federation of Greater Ann Arbor
View event on Jlive: https://jlive.app/events/14763

Israeli Nifgashim
2026-03-24 19:00 - 20:30 | Ann Arbor , Ann Arbor
ישראלים נפגשים
הרצאה קצרה, שיחה וחברים
3 gatherings for Israelis in Hebrew.
On February 24th Aviv Touitou Certified aromatherapist and social worker
speaks about Aromatherapy – The Power of Essential Oils to Support & Heal the
Body & Mind.
On March 24th Ariel Levi, DDS, Orthodontist speaks about the Basics of
Orthodontics.
On May 19th Tomer Stern, PhD, MSc, Assistant Professor at the University of
Michigan School of Dentistry speaks about Advancing Skeletal Pathology
Research Through Computational Biology.
Organized by: Jewish Federation of Greater Ann Arbor
View event on Jlive: https://jlive.app/events/15189

Jewish Book Series: Lunch & Learn with Ayelet Tsabari
2026-03-26 12:00 - 13:30 | Jewish Community Center of Greater Ann Arbor 2935 Birch Hollow Dr, Ann Arbor
Please join us at the JCC on **Thursday, March 26** from **12:00-1:30 PM** for
an in-person Lunch & Learn and a virtual visit from Ayelet Tsabari, the author
of _Songs for the Brokenhearted: A Novel._ Enjoy a delicious Yemeni lunch
while listening to Ayelet speak about her book over Zoom. **Lunch starts at
noon, author talk begins promptly at 12:30 PM.**
This event is part of the JCC’s ongoing **Book Series** , where visiting
Jewish authors give talks on their work to bring new ideas and literature to
the community. **The cost of this program is $12.50/person.** This program is
sponsored by ORT. Zoom available upon request.
_JCC community events and programs are open to all regardless of faith or
background. All are welcome._
**_Book Blurb_**
1950. Thousands of Yemeni Jews have immigrated to the newly founded Israel in
search of a better life. In an overcrowded immigrant camp in Rosh Ha’ayin,
Yaqub, a shy young man, happens upon Saida, a beautiful girl singing by the
river. In the midst of chaos and uncertainty, they fall in love. But they
weren’t supposed to; Saida is married and has a child, and a married woman has
no place befriending another man.
1995. Thirty-something Zohara, Saida’s daughter, has been living in New York
City—a city that feels much less complicated than Israel, where she grew up
wishing that her skin was lighter, that her illiterate mother’s Yemeni music
was quieter, and that the father who always favored her was alive. She hasn’t
looked back since leaving home, rarely in touch with her mother or sister,
Lizzie, and missing out on her nephew Yoni’s childhood. But when Lizzie calls
to tell her their mother has died, she gets on a plane to Israel with no
return ticket.
Soon Zohara finds herself on an unexpected path that leads to shocking truths
about her family—including dangers that lurk for impressionable young men and
secrets that force her to question everything she thought she knew about her
parents, her heritage, and her own future.
Organized by: JCC of Greater Ann Arbor
View event on Jlive: https://jlive.app/events/14346

U-M Frankel Center Event: 36th Annual David W. Belin Lecture
2026-03-26 17:30 - 20:00 | Michigan Union, 530 S State St, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109
“Orthodox Jewish Wellness Influencers in the Age of Viral Politics” with Ayala Fader (Fordham University)
Thursday, March 26 from 5:30 – 8:00 PM
Michigan Union, Pendleton Room
RSVP: https://myumi.ch/15PN8
The University of Michigan Frankel Center for Judaic Studies is pleased to announce that Professor Ayala Fader of Fordham University will deliver the 36th Annual David W. Belin Lecture, titled “Orthodox Jewish Wellness Influencers in the Age of Viral Politics.” This free, public lecture will take place in the Pendleton Room of the Michigan Union on Thursday, March 26, 2026. Please RSVP at https://myumi.ch/15PN8 to let us know if you plan to attend.
Over the past decade, frum (Orthodox) Jewish women wellness influencers on social media have become a significant presence. Despite attempts by some rabbis to silence them, frum influencers in the United States and Israel continue to share intimate details of their everyday lives online, earning a living through the promotion of products linked to their platforms. Professor Fader’s talk examines the seemingly contradictory worlds these influencers navigate: while claiming new forms of gendered authority, they simultaneously reinforce traditional Jewish family structures and gender roles.
Drawing inspiration from conservative Christian wellness influencers, frum influencers create content that asserts Jewish exceptionalism while fostering unexpected exchanges with conservative Christian women. The lecture will consider whether frum social media influencers are subtly promoting illiberal politics through the gendered language of wellness.
Ayala Fader is Professor of Anthropology and Jewish Studies at Fordham University. She is the author of the award-winning books Mitzvah Girls (2009) and Hidden Heretics (2020). Professor Fader’s research has been generously supported by numerous fellowships and grants, including those from the National Science Foundation and the National Endowment for the Humanities. As the founding director of Fordham’s New York Center for Public Anthropology & Sociology, she leads the Demystifying Language Project, which makes linguistic anthropology a social justice resource for public high schools.
The David W. Belin Lecture in American Jewish Affairs was established in 1991 through a generous gift from the late David W. Belin of Des Moines (IA) and New York to provide an academic forum for the discussion of contemporary Jewish life in the United States. As the founding chair of Reform Judaism’s Outreach Commission and a founding member of the Jewish Foundation for the Righteous, Belin served the American Jewish community in numerous leadership roles. His commitment to the future of American Jewry inspired him to endow this annual lectureship, providing a forum for meaningful discussion of contemporary Jewish life in the United States.

36th Annual David W. Belin Lecture
2026-03-26 17:30 - 20:00 | Michigan Union 530 S State St, Ann Arbor
The 36th Annual David W. Belin Lecture will be delivered by Dr. Ayala Fader on
Thursday, March 26, 2026. Food will be served at the pre-lecture reception,
and Fader will sign books after the lecture. This free, public lecture will
take place in the Pendleton Room of the Michigan Union on Thursday, March 26,
2026. Please RSVP at (https://myumi.ch/15PN8) to let
us know if you plan to attend.
Over the past decade, frum (Orthodox) Jewish women wellness influencers on
social media have become a significant presence. Despite attempts by some
rabbis to silence them, frum influencers in the United States and Israel
continue to share intimate details of their everyday lives online, earning a
living through the promotion of products linked to their platforms. Professor
Fader’s talk examines the seemingly contradictory worlds these influencers
navigate: while claiming new forms of gendered authority, they simultaneously
reinforce traditional Jewish family structures and gender roles.
Drawing inspiration from conservative Christian wellness influencers, frum
influencers create content that asserts Jewish exceptionalism while fostering
unexpected exchanges with conservative Christian women. The lecture will
consider whether frum social media influencers are subtly promoting illiberal
politics through the gendered language of wellness.
**Ayala Fader **is professor of anthropology at Fordham University. She is
the author of the award-winning books, _Mitzvah Girls: Bringing Up the Next
Generation of Hasidic Jews in Brooklyn_ (Princeton University Press, 2009)
and _Hidden Heretics: Jewish Doubt in the Digital Age_ (Princeton University
Press, 2020). Her research has been supported by the National Science
Foundation and the National Endowment for the Humanities. Fader’s current book
project examines the trend of American Orthodox Jews aligning themselves with
a new form of religion on the Christian Right—a public, political, racialized,
and biblical philosophy, redefining postwar Judeo-Christianity in the
contemporary political landscape. As the founding director of Fordham’s Center
for Public Anthropology, Fader is currently collaborating on the Demystifying
Language Project, which makes linguistic anthropology a social justice
resource for public high schools. Fader received her Ph.D. from New York
University
** _About the Belin Lecture_**
Since 1991, the Frankel Center has hosted an accomplished speaker to present
the David W. Belin lecture in American Jewish Affairs. Following the annual
lecture, each speaker provides a text version of their talk. This essay is
then published in print format and is made available
(https://www.fulcrum.org/belin?locale=en)**.** To request a
specific year’s lecture book, please email JudaicStudies@umich.edu.
Organized by: U-M Frankel Center for Judaic Studies
View event on Jlive: https://jlive.app/events/13395

Jewish Book Series: Milena and Margarete with Gwen Strauss
2026-04-07 17:00 - 18:30 | Jewish Community Center of Greater Ann Arbor 2935 Birch Hollow Dr, Ann Arbor
Please join us at the JCC on **Tuesday, April 7** from **5-6:30 PM** for an
in-person visit from Gwen Strauss, author of _Milena and Margarete: A Love
Story in Ravensbrück._
**_Book Blurb_**
From the moment they met in 1940 in Ravensbrück concentration camp, Milena
Jesenska and Margarete Buber-Neumann were inseparable. Czech Milena was
Kafka’s first translator and epistolary lover, and a journalist opposed to
fascism. A non-conformist, bi-sexual feminist, she was way ahead of her time.
With the German occupation of Czechoslovakia, her home became a central
meeting place for Jewish refugees. German Margarete, born to a middle-class
family, married the son of the Jewish philosopher Martin Buber. But soon swept
up in the fervor of the Bolshevik Revolution, she met her second partner, the
Communist Heinz Neumann. Called to Moscow for his “political deviations,” he
fell victim to Stalin’s purges while Margarete was exiled to the hell of the
Soviet gulag. Two years later, traded by Stalin to Hitler, she ended up
outside Berlin in Ravensbrück, the only concentration camp built for women.
Milena and Margarete loved each other at the risk of their lives. But in the
post-war survivors’ accounts, lesbians were stigmatized, and survivors kept
silent. This book explores those silences, and finally celebrates two strong
women who never gave up and continue to inspire. As Margaret wrote: “I was
thankful for having been sent to Ravensbrück, because it was there I met
Milena.”
_JCC community events and programs are open to all regardless of faith or
background. All are welcome._
Organized by: JCC of Greater Ann Arbor
View event on Jlive: https://jlive.app/events/14347

Lag B'Omer
2026-05-05 17:30 - 20:00 | MI
Join the Greater Ann Arbor Jewish Community for a celebration of Lag B’Omer.
Enjoy bonfires, Chabad BBQ, crafts, music, games and bicycle-towed hayrides
with your family and friends as we count day number 33 of the Omer together!
(Free for children 4 and under)
Organized by: Chabad House of Ann Arbor, JCC of Greater Ann Arbor, Hebrew Day
School of Ann Arbor
View event on Jlive: https://jlive.app/events/15450

Chavurat Nashim Fellowship of Women (& Guests) Zekelman Holocaust Center Tour
2026-05-17 10:15 - 13:00 | The Zekelman Holocaust Center 28123 Orchard Lake Rd, Farmington Hills
Women of Chavurat Nashim and our guests are invited to come together for a
meaningful program on Sunday, May 17th at The Zekelman Holocaust Center in
Farmington Hills. Our program includes carpooling from Ann Arbor, a docent
tour, and a survivor or next generation speaker. The cost is $5 per person.
Meet at 9:15 to carpool, Return: 2 pm. Please register through the calendar at
Bethisrael-aa.org and carpool details will follow.
Organized by: Beth Israel Congregation
View event on Jlive: https://jlive.app/events/15475

Israeli Nifgashim
2026-05-19 18:00 - 20:30 | Ann Arbor , Ann Arbor
ישראלים נפגשים
הרצאה קצרה, שיחה וחברים
3 gatherings for Israelis in Hebrew.
On February 24th Aviv Touitou Certified aromatherapist and social worker
speaks about Aromatherapy – The Power of Essential Oils to Support & Heal the
Body & Mind.
On March 24th Ariel Levi, DDS, Orthodontist speaks about the Basics of
Orthodontics.
On May 19th Tomer Stern, PhD, MSc, Assistant Professor at the University of
Michigan School of Dentistry speaks about Advancing Skeletal Pathology
Research Through Computational Biology.
Organized by: Jewish Federation of Greater Ann Arbor
View event on Jlive: https://jlive.app/events/14765

2026 Jewish Federation of Greater Ann Arbor's Annual Meeting
2026-05-27 19:00 - 21:00 | Jewish Community Center of Greater Ann Arbor 2935 Birch Hollow Dr, Ann Arbor
2026 Annual Meeting Program
Wednesday, May 27, 7pm
_Pre-meeting music performed by Brandy Sinco, pianist at the Jewish Cultural
Society_
**D’var Torah**
Rabbi Alter Goldstein, Chabad of Ann Arbor
**Year in Review Slide Show**
**Our Impact **
_PHILANTHROPY_
The 2026 Annual Community Campaign
Community Engagement Fund
Jewish Community Foundation
_ENGAGEMENT_
JCRC (Jewish Community Relations Committee)
_CONVENING_
Security and combating antisemitism
Community Board Training Series
**Reflections**
Marla Linderman Richelew, Outgoing President
**Appreciation of Outgoing Board Members:** Marla Linderman Richelew
Debra Chopp
Wendy Lawrence
Marty Shichtman
**Governance:** Joan Lowenstein, President-Elect, Governance Committee Chair
_Election of new Board Members_
Jim Hayman
Sierra Imwalle
_Installation_ : Marla Linderman Richelew
Installation of Joan Lowenstein as Jewish Federation President
**Appreciation of Outgoing President Marla Linderman Richelew** : Joan
Lowenstein, Incoming President
**Remarks** : Joan Lowenstein
**Closing Remarks** : Eileen Freed, CEO
2026-207 Board of Directors Slate
**Continuing Board Members:**
Larry Adler
Jeremy Bloom
Galit Dunietz
Susan Fisher
David Lauer
Joan Lowenstein
Annie Wolock
**Up for Election for a New 2-Year Term:**
Jack Fuchsman
Julie Grand
Bruce Kutinsky
Marla Linderman Richelew
Jennifer Rosenberg
Alicia Simon
Ed Solomon
**New Board Members:**
Jim Hayman
Sierra Imwalle
**Officers to Be Elected by the Board:**
Joan Lowenstein, President
Jack Fuchsman, Vice President
Ed Solomon, Treasurer
Annie Wolock, Secretary
Learn more about the Board of Directors
(https://www.jewishannarbor.org/2026-2027-board-of-directors-slate-
bios/).
Organized by: Jewish Federation of Greater Ann Arbor
View event on Jlive: https://jlive.app/events/15111

Vegan Wine & Cheese Tasting
2026-05-30 15:00 - 19:00 | 4175 Whitmore Lake Rd 4175 Whitmore Lake Rd, Ann Arbor
Join us for a Shavuot-inspired tasting that brings together artisinal vegan
cheeses, Michigan wines, locally sourced dairy cheeses & accompaniments in a
beautiful farm setting.
Come taste, learn and enjoy – a celebration of food that’s good for us and for
the earth!
Tickets are $18. You can register
(https://aarecon.breezechms.com/form/de19aa) — each person must
register individually.
Organized by: Ann Arbor Reconstructionist Congregation
View event on Jlive: https://jlive.app/events/15653

Eating Well Through Perimenopause and Beyond
2026-06-01 18:00 - 20:00 | MI
Join us for an engaging discussion with Melissa Hauptman (INN Certified),
podcast host, facilitator, soil advocate, speaker, and food systems and health
writer, who will share practical tips and information. As co-host of (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-digestible-
podcast/id1810063254), Melissa covers an interesting array of health topics.
In a world of conflicting nutrition advice, changing bodies, and busy
schedules, it can be hard to know what “healthy eating” really looks like.
This session will explore realistic strategies for nourishing your body in
midlife and beyond – without diets or guilt.
**No walk-ins allowed.**
**Questions?** Please contact Hadassah at 248.683.5030 or
midwest@hadassah.org.
*All attendees will be required to sign a Hadassah Event Participation Release to attend Hadassah events. There will be no exceptions to this policy.
Organized by: Hadassah Midwest
View event on Jlive: https://jlive.app/events/15938

Jewish Book Series: Lunch & Learn with Yishay Ishi Ron
2026-06-09 12:00 - 13:30 | Jewish Community Center of Greater Ann Arbor 2935 Birch Hollow Dr, Ann Arbor
Please join us at the JCC on **Tuesday, June 9** from **12-1:30 PM** for an
in-person Lunch & Learn and a virtual visit from Yishay Ishi Ron, author of
_Dog_. Enjoy a delicious lunch while listening to Yishay speak about his book
over Zoom.
_Dog_ is a raw, unflinching novel, drawing on the author’s own experiences as
a former elite IDF combat officer suffering from PTSD and addiction. The story
follows Geller, a decorated soldier who returns from Gaza to Tel Aviv only to
be haunted by the trauma of combat — including the memory of a soldier killing
a dog in the field. Haunted and estranged from family and comrades, Geller
spirals into heroin addiction, living in the underbelly of Tel Aviv among
misfit junkies.
His life takes a turn when a stray dog enters his world. Initially
indifferent, Geller eventually rescues the dog, forming an unexpected bond.
The narrative alternates between Geller’s fragmented, drug-addled perspective
and brief, often humorous, chapters from the dog’s point of view, as well as
from the perspective of Doris, a lonely apartment cleaner who sees potential
in Geller. These shifts broaden the scope beyond Geller’s self-absorbed
despair, hinting at the possibility of redemption.
This event is part of the JCC’s ongoing **Book Series** , where visiting
authors give public talks on their work to bring new ideas and literature to
the community. **The cost of this program is $12.50/person**.
_JCC community events and programs are open to all regardless of faith or
background. All are welcome._
Organized by: JCC of Greater Ann Arbor
View event on Jlive: https://jlive.app/events/14834

Becoming American: Storytelling & People Who Are Telling Their Stories
2026-10-18 16:00 - 18:00 | First Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Ann Arbor 4001 Ann Arbor-Saline Rd, Ann Arbor
Featuring:
. Amazing stories, all true
. Post-event nosh
Contacts:
. Steve Merritt (stevemerritt2@gmail.com)
. Jeffrey Pickell (kaleidoscopebookscollectibles@gmail.com)
Location: First United Unitarian Congregation, 4001 Ann Arbor-Saline Rd
Sponsor: IFIJ (Interfaith Fund for immigrant Justice)
Raising funds for MIRC (Michigan Immigrant Rights Center)
IFIJ Congregation Partners for this Event: Ann Arbor Reconstructionist Congregation, Beth Israel Congregation, First Unitarian Universalist Congregation, First United Methodist Church-Wesleyan Ministry
