130 Years of Jewish Life at Brown

Registration

10 a.m. to 8 p.m. | Pembroke Field Tent

Attendees should pick up their name badges when they arrive on campus. Name badges will grant access to all events throughout the weekend.
 

Welcome Lunch

noon to 1:45 p.m. | Pembroke Field Tent

Join us for the weekend’s first gathering—an opportunity to meet new friends and reconnect with old ones. A delicious kosher meal will be served, prepared by the Sharpe Refectory Kosher Kitchen.
 

Highlights of Brown Library Collections Related to Jewish Life and History

1 to 4 p.m. | John Carter Brown and John Hay Libraries

The John Carter Brown and John Hay libraries contain superb materials related to Jewish life and history at Brown and in Rhode Island. Join one of four sessions to learn more about these collections, which house some of the best-kept secrets on campus. At the John Carter Brown Library, Director Karin Wulf will speak about the library’s early American collections and how they shed light on Brown’s history and the legacy of religious freedom and tolerance for Jewish life in Rhode Island. At the John Hay Library, University archivist Jennifer Betts will show highlights from the collections of important Jewish alumni like American humorist and screenwriter S.J. Perelman (Class of 1925), material illustrating Jewish life at Brown in the 20th century, and highlights of the library’s Judaica collection, including rare Haggadot.

For scheduled talks between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., sign up for one of four groups (25 person limit per group):

• Group A: 1 p.m. at John Carter Brown Library; 1:30 p.m. at John Hay Library
• Group B: 1 p.m. at John Hay Library and 1:30 p.m. at John Carter Brown Library
• Group C: 2 p.m. at John Carter Brown Library and 2:30 p.m. at John Hay Library
• Group D: 2 p.m. at John Hay Library and 2:30 p.m. at John Carter Brown Library

NOTE: The John Carter Brown and John Hay libraries are stops on a self-guided tour that highlights a number of locations on campus with a connection to Brown Jewish history. In addition to the scheduled talks from 1 to 3 p.m., the libraries will be open for drop-ins from 3 to 4 p.m. on Friday and 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday.
 

How Brown Has Shaped the Field of Judaic Studies

1 to 1:45 p.m. | Alumnae Hall, Auditorium

An important part of the history of Jewish life at Brown has been the University’s Program in Judaic Studies, whose influence has expanded beyond Brown to the scholarly field of Judaic Studies more broadly. This panel includes current scholars of Judaic Studies at Brown, a current Judaic Studies concentrator, and scholars who obtained their doctorates as the discipline was being established at Brown and have had a significant impact on the field outside Brown.

Moderator

• Paul Nahme, Director of the Program in Judaic Studies, Associate Professor of Judaic Studies and Religious Studies

Panelists

• William Scott Green PhD’74, Professor of Religious Studies and Fain Family Endowed Chair in Judaic Studies at the University of Miami
• Zoe Kass ’26, Judaic Studies concentrator
• Saul Olyan ADE’95 hon., Samuel Ungerleider Jr. Professor of Judaic Studies and Professor of Religious Studies
• Alan Avery-Peck PhD’81, Kraft-Hiatt Professor of Judaic Studies at the College of the Holy Cross
   

Challah for Hunger Challah Bake

2 to 4 p.m. | Brown RISD Hillel

Join Brown students and fellow alumni to bake challah for charity. Proceeds from the sale of challot are donated to Mazon, a national charity that advocates against food insecurity, and the Rhode Island Community Food Bank.
 

Faculty Seminar: Happiness

2 to 2:45 p.m. | Alumnae Hall, Crystal Room

What is happiness? How can we find it? How does it relate to the “good life” or a life well lived? To answer these age-old questions, a panel of Brown professors from the humanities and sciences will join Judaic Studies Professor Michael Satlow to discuss religious and philosophical answers alongside insights drawn from literature, philosophy, and psychology. They will reflect on both recent research and their own experiences teaching courses on happiness to Brown students.

Faculty

• Joachim Krueger ADE’98 hon., Professor of Cognitive and Psychological Sciences
• Melinda Rabb ADE’89 hon., P’10, P’11, P’14, Professor of English
• Bernard Reginster ADE’02 hon., Romeo Elton Professor of Natural Theology
• Michael Satlow ADE’03 hon., P’19, P’22, Professor of Judaic Studies and Religious Studies
   

Faculty Seminar: Politics, Political Comedy, and Jews

2 to 2:45 p.m. | Stephen Robert ’62 Campus Center, Kasper Multipurpose Room

At a time when domestic politics have turned deeply partisan, what role can humor play in enhancing political engagement and improving media literacy among different generations? Award-winning politics and communications specialist Amy Bree Becker and acclaimed political science and policy expert Wendy Schiller will have a wide-ranging conversation on politics, political entertainment, and comedians—including Sacha Baron Cohen, Jon Stewart, and Jewish comedians tackling the challenge of communicating about October 7—and how they are redefining our shared mass media experience.

Faculty

• Amy Bree Becker ’00, Professor of Communication, Loyola University Maryland
• Wendy Schiller ADE’02 hon., Alison S. Ressler Professor of Political Science
   

Faculty Seminar: Current Controversies in Public Health

2 to 2:45 p.m. | Stephen Robert ’62 Campus Center, Petteruti Lounge

Public health has been among the most urgent global topics of the 21st century. The field has been buffeted by simultaneous challenges, including cuts to federal programs and reductions in state and local health funding, sharply rising demands on mental health services, challenges to vaccine recommendations, the resurgence of contagious diseases, and issues of data privacy. Join Dean of the School of Public Health Ashish K. Jha and Associate Dean for Education in the School of Public Health Scott Rivkees to learn about the latest developments in emerging public health issues.

Faculty

• Ashish K. Jha, Dean of the School of Public Health, Professor of Health Services, Policy, and Practice
• Scott Rivkees, Associate Dean for Education in the School of Public Health, Director of the Accelerated Master of Public Health Program, Academic Director of Master’s in Healthcare Leadership, Professor of the Practice of Health Services, Policy, and Practice
   

Faculty Seminar: Brown’s Leading Role in Hypertext, AI, and Computer Science—Past and Future

3 to 3:45 p.m. | Alumnae Hall, Crystal Room

In 1967, when Professor Andries van Dam and his team of undergraduate researchers began building Brown’s first hypertext system, fewer than a hundred people in the world had heard of hypertext. Today, the entire web is based on connecting documents through integrated links, and Brown computer science students have had a huge impact on the transformational changes in the field. Michael Littman, Brown’s first associate provost for artificial intelligence, will discuss the applications of machine learning and the implications of artificial intelligence. Together these award-winning, entertaining, and beloved professors will shed light on the history of computer science at Brown and multiple attempts to “computerify” the campus—as well as the past, present, and future of computer science.

Faculty

• Michael Littman PhD’96, P’21, University Professor of Computer Science, Associate Provost for Artificial Intelligence
• Andries van Dam ADE’68 hon., P’86, Thomas J. Watson Jr. University Professor of Technology and Education, Professor of Computer Science
   

Faculty Seminar: Jews Talking About Food

3 to 3:45 p.m. | Stephen Robert ’62 Campus Center, Kasper Multipurpose Room

Food has always been central to Jewish life, from time-honored traditions handed down across the generations to fusion cuisines that take their inspiration from Jewish diasporic communities across the globe. Jeffrey Yoskowitz, co-author of “The Gefilte Manifesto: New Recipes for Old World Jewish Foods” and owner of The Gefilteria, will discuss new Jewish cuisine, his career as a food entrepreneur, and his focus on food as a student at Brown. He will be in conversation with Rachel Herz, neuroscientist and author of “Why You Eat What You Eat: The Science Behind Our Relationship with Food,” which explores how our senses, brain, and psychology govern our perception of food and the experiences and consequences of eating.

Speakers

• Rachel Herz, Adjunct Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Human Behavior
• Jeffrey Yoskowitz ’07, Owner of The Gefilteria
   

Faculty Seminar: Sing-Along / Shira b’Tzibbur

3 to 3:45 p.m. | Stephen Robert ’62 Campus Center, Petteruti Lounge

Celebrate 130 years of Jewish life at Brown with a seminar in song! Award-winning Hebrew professor Ruth Adler Ben-Yehuda will guide participants through the richness of Hebrew music in an interactive sing-along. No prior knowledge of Hebrew is needed—just curiosity and a willingness to join in. Come explore, learn, and experience the beauty of Hebrew together.

Faculty

• Ruth Adler Ben-Yehuda, Teaching Professor of Judaic Studies
   

Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Brown: Through a Jewish Lens

4 to 5 p.m. | Nelson Center for Entrepreneurship, Liz Lange Lecture Hall (2nd floor)

Join us for a discussion about entrepreneurship and innovation at Brown. With its culture of radical experimentation, bold thinking, and collaborative problem solving, Brown breeds a special class of innovators. Driven by a commitment to addressing global challenges, these alumni and faculty have turned visionary ideas into transformative solutions, making a lasting impact on society.

Moderator

• Robert Goodman ’82, P’18, P’24, Managing Partner of Bessemer Venture Partners, Fellow of the Corporation of Brown University 

Host

• Danny Warshay ’87, P’20, P’23.5, Executive Director of the Nelson Center for Entrepreneurship

Panelists

• Liz Lange ’88, P’24, Founder of Liz Lange Maternity
• Christopher Moore, Associate Director of the Carney Institute for Brain Science, Adam and Margaret Korn Professor of Brain Science, Professor of Neuroscience
• Eliza Sternlicht ’22, Founder of MediCircle
• Nancy Zimmerman ’85, P’20, Co-founder and Managing Partner of Bracebridge Capital, Fellow of the Corporation of Brown University
   

Candle Lighting

4:14 p.m. | Brown RISD Hillel

Kindle the Shabbat lights with fellow members of the Brown Jewish community. Join in prayers and songs with alumni rabbis and cantors celebrating our event.
 

Walkthrough of the New Brown RISD Hillel and Chabad Buildings

4:30 to 5 p.m. | Brown RISD Hillel and Chabad of College Hill

Come see how the Brown RISD Hillel (BRH) and Chabad buildings have grown and changed over time at Brown. Rabbis Josh Bolton and Mendel Laufer along with BRH and Chabad staff will offer tours of these vibrant community spaces and share their visions for the future.

While at BRH, explore the newly-installed Jewish Life at Brown Historical Timeline exhibit, which can also be viewed all weekend.
 

Historical Perspective: Key Moments in Brown and Rhode Island Jewish Life

5 to 6 p.m. | Brown RISD Hillel

Jewish life at Brown has changed significantly across the history of the University and the state. Panelists will highlight several key moments from specified time periods that convey something important about Jewish life at Brown. The panelists bring expertise on different time periods: early American and Rhode Island history, when principles of toleration were established, if not always met; the early- and mid-20th century, when Jewish admission to colleges and universities was restricted; and the post-war period and late 20th century, when Jewish life on campus expanded and evolved.

Moderator

• Karin Wulf, Beatrice and Julio Mario Santo Domingo Director and Librarian at the John Carter Brown Library, Professor of History

Panelists

• Rabbi Alan Flam P’05, former head of Brown RISD Hillel
• Dr. George M. Goodwin, former head of the Rhode Island Jewish Historical Association and editor of its journal, “Rhode Island Jewish Historical Notes”
• Amy Sohn ’95, New York Times-bestselling author and author of an article in The Forward about Jewish quotas at Brown in the 1920s to 1940s
• Hannah Stoch ’26, Brown University History Fellow and author of the article “Jewish Life at Brown University in the late 20th Century”

Brown RISD Hillel Social Reception

5 to 6 p.m. | Brown RISD Hillel

Reconnect, relax, and enjoy delicious Shabbos bites and drinks at a casual, celebratory gathering as you toast your shared memories and meet new friends.
 

Shabbat Services

6:15 to 7:15 p.m. | Brown RISD Hillel and Alumnae Hall, Auditorium and Crystal Room

Join the Brown Jewish community for Friday evening services celebrated with alumni rabbis and cantors. Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform minyanim are available. All are welcome.

Orthodox: Brown RISD Hillel 
Reform: Alumnae Hall, Auditorium 
Conservative: Alumnae Hall, Crystal Room
 

Reception

6:15 to 7:15 p.m. | Pembroke Field Tent

Join fellow attendees for a festive social gathering under the tent while Shabbat services are taking place. This informal reception offers an opportunity to connect with old friends and make new ones at the start of the weekend. Enjoy a selection of hors d’oeuvres and drinks in a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere.  
 

Shabbat Under the Stars: Dinner & Dessert

7:30 to 9:30 p.m. | Pembroke Field Tent

Celebrate Shabbat with a festive, family-style dinner catered by Brown’s Kosher Kitchen. A warm and joyful evening awaits, including a special guest panel moderated by Brown President Christina H. Paxson and featuring CEO of The Kraft Group Robert Kraft and Brown Chancellor Brian Moynihan.

Moderator

• Brown President Christina H. Paxson

Panelists

• Robert Kraft, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of The Kraft Group; founder of the Foundation to Combat Antisemitism
• Brian Moynihan ’81, P’14, P’19, Chair of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Bank of America and Chancellor of the Corporation of Brown University
   

Young Alumni Social

9:30 to 11:30 p.m. | Graduate Center Bar

Recent grads (Classes of 2015 through 2025) are invited to meet up with friends, reminisce, and reconnect.
 

Film Screening: “The Sophisticated Silliness of S.J. Perelman”

9:30 to 11:30 p.m. | Granoff Center, Martinos Auditorium

One of America’s preeminent humorists (and arguably Brown’s funniest alum), S.J. Perelman—a member of Brown’s Class of 1925—wrote hilarious essays for The New Yorker, comedies for the Marx Brothers, short story collections, Broadway plays, and an Oscar-winning film. This documentary, by illustrator Sean Kelly ’84, shows how Perelman’s college work launched his career in New York and Hollywood. The film also traces Perelman’s influence on today’s top comedy writers—including many Brown alums—and reveals his creative process through rare documents from the John Hay Library.

The screening will be preceded by a discussion with Sean Kelly ’84, illustrator and creator of the film, who will share insights from his research on S.J. Perelman’s life and work.

Registration

7 a.m. to 8 p.m. | Pembroke Field Tent

Attendees should pick up their name badges when they arrive on campus. Name badges will grant access to all events throughout the weekend.
 

The Morning Spread: A Bagel and Lox Breakfast

8 to 10 a.m. | Pembroke Field Tent

Start your day with a breakfast catered by Brown’s Kosher Kitchen.
 

Shabbat Services

9:30 a.m. to noon | Brown RISD Hillel and Alumnae Hall, Auditorium and Crystal Room

Join Brown students and faculty to celebrate Shabbat and reflect on this week’s Torah portion alongside alumni rabbis and cantors. Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform minyanim are available.

Orthodox: Brown RISD Hillel 
Reform: Alumnae Hall, Auditorium 
Conservative: Alumnae Hall, Crystal Room
 

Highlights of Brown Library Collections Related to Jewish Life and History

10 a.m. to noon | drop-in hours at John Carter Brown and John Hay Libraries

The John Carter Brown and John Hay libraries contain superb materials related to Jewish life and history at Brown and in Rhode Island. Join one of four sessions to learn more about these collections, which house some of the best-kept secrets on campus. Drop in and visit these libraries, some of the best kept secrets on campus. At the John Carter Brown Library, view highlights from the early American collections and learn how they shed light on Brown’s history, as well as the legacy of religious freedom and tolerance for Jewish life in Rhode Island. At the John Hay Library, see highlights from the collections of important Jewish alumni like American humorist and screenwriter S.J. Perelman (1925), material illustrating Jewish life at Brown in the 20th century, and highlights of the library’s Judaica collection, including rare Haggadot.

NOTE: The John Carter Brown and John Hay libraries are stops on a self-guided tour that highlights a number of locations on campus with a connection to Brown Jewish history; attendees can take the self-guided tour of campus at their leisure at any time during the weekend, although the libraries will be open only at limited times.
 

Faculty Seminar: Why Nothing Works 

10 to 10:45 a.m. | Metcalf Research Building, Friedman Auditorium

The United States was once a country that built big things: the world’s greatest rail network, a vast electrical grid, interstate highways, abundant housing, the Social Security system, the Tennessee Valley Authority, and more. Now, amid a host of pressing challenges—a housing shortage, a climate crisis, a dilapidated infrastructure—the country feels stuck. Based on his new bestselling book, “Why Nothing Works: Who Killed Progress–and How to Bring it Back,” Marc Dunkelman will explain how progressives have historically swung back and forth between two opposing impulses: the desire to achieve progress by empowering government and institutions to tackle big problems at the direction of strong leaders and informed experts, and the desire to prevent unaccountable centralized authorities from abusing ordinary citizens by empowering them to fight back. In this talk, he will discuss what progressives must do to break through today’s frustrations and paralysis—and to restore faith in democracy.

Faculty

• Marc J. Dunkelman, Fellow at the Thomas J. Watson Jr. School of International and Public Affairs
• Pamela Reeves ’87, P’22, international development and policy strategist, Vice Chancellor of the Corporation of Brown University
   

Faculty Seminar: Western Civilization and the Birth Rate

10 to 10:45 a.m. | Stephen Robert ’62 Campus Center, Kasper Multipurpose Room

In 1906, some of the most prominent economists and sociologists in the country met at Faunce House to discuss a perplexing phenomenon: American women, particularly educated women, were having fewer babies than they used to. The scholars discussed the drivers of this new phenomenon as well as its implications. Had the emancipation of women gone too far? Were excessive individualism and the decline in religion to blame? Did growing up in a small family stunt a child’s development? Should the government be subsidizing births? Participants celebrated the new vistas of professional accomplishment and upward mobility now open to women, but at the time worried about “race suicide,” a term that one of them had coined a few years earlier. David Weil discusses the 1906 conference in relation to the often problematic intellectual currents of that time as well as the current round of popular worry regarding low fertility in the United States and many other countries. Some modern concerns, such as how low fertility affects the financing of the Social Security system, were completely absent 12 decades ago. But many elements, including the denunciation of excessive individualism, worry about immigration, and uneasiness about women’s changing role in society and the economy, have persisted largely intact.

Faculty

• David Weil ’82, P’21, P’24, James and Merryl Tisch Professor of Economics
   

Faculty Seminar: The Cost of Conviction 

10 to 10:45 a.m. | MacMillan Hall, Room 117

How do we make decisions? Do we consider the best outcomes or prioritize our deepest values when considering what action to take? Drawing on cognitive and decision sciences, philosophy, and other fields, Steven Sloman argues that we base many of our decisions too much on sacred values, strongly-held convictions that are not necessarily religious, and react with disgust when others violate those values. This leads to political polarization. Sloman will shed light on the many conscious and unconscious principles that guide our choices—and how absolute principles can lead us astray and cause us to neglect the consequences of our decisions.

Faculty

• Steven Sloman ADE’99 hon., Professor of Cognitive and Psychological Sciences
   

Panel: From Generation to Generation

11 to 11:45 a.m. | Metcalf Research Building, Friedman Auditorium

What was it like to be a Jewish student at Brown in the mid-20th century? This panel will explore the unique experience of Jewish men and women at Brown and Pembroke College in the 1950s and early 1960s. During this time, chapel attendance was mandatory, fraternities were segregated, and kosher food wouldn’t be available for decades. This panel will delve into questions such as whether or not there was a policy about Jews living with other Jews in freshman dorms. Discussion will then fast-forward to the early 1970s and examine how the on-campus Jewish experience changed just a half-generation later. How did this compare to the 1980s and 1990s, when Jewish students seemed ubiquitous on campus? And, what’s the Jewish on-campus experience like in the 2020s?

Join our panelists, who lived through each of these eras—including members of multi-generational Brown families—for an informal conversation about Jewish life on campus, then and now.

Moderator 

• James Hirschfeld ’91, P’25

Panelists

• Neil Hirschfeld ’59, P’84, P’85, P’91, GP’25
• Ellen Shaffer Meyer ’61, P’94
• Stuart Himmelfarb ’74
• Abram Kirschenbaum ’82, P’18, P’19
• Elizabeth Hirschfeld ’25
• Aidan R. Berman ’25
   

Faculty Seminar: Women of Valor – How Early Modern Jewish Women Transformed Jewish Society 

11 to 11:45 a.m. | Stephen Robert ’62 Campus Center, Kasper Multipurpose Room

Join historian Adam Teller for a fascinating exploration of Jewish women’s lives in the early modern era—one of the most dynamic and creative periods in Jewish history. Discover how women became central figures in the marketplace, how their changing roles influenced the very structure of the synagogue, and how their spiritual needs inspired a new wave of Jewish literature. Through powerful short texts in women’s own voices, Professor Teller will bring to life the vibrant world they created for themselves.

Faculty

• Adam Teller, Professor of History, Professor of Judaic Studies
   

Midday Reflections: A Shabbat Community Lunch

noon to 1:30 p.m. | Pembroke Field Tent

Enjoy lunch prepared by Brown’s Kosher Kitchen and featuring special guests.
 

Panel: Jewish Alumni and Their Careers – Public Service

1:30 to 2:30 p.m. | Metcalf Research Building, Friedman Auditorium

This distinguished panel of Jewish alumni will reflect on their current work in the public service arena as well as the career paths that brought them to their current positions. Panelists will comment on the role Jewish values played in their career choices and how both religion and their Brown educations shaped the people they are today. Learn about how they leveraged their Brown experiences to build successful careers in the public sector and about the challenges and triumphs they encountered along the way.

Moderator 

• Brett Smiley, Mayor of the City of Providence

Panelists

• David N. Cicilline ’83, President and CEO of the Rhode Island Foundation, Former U.S. Representative from Rhode Island
• Ambassador Norman Eisen (ret.) ’85, Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution
• Tara Isa Koslov ’91, P’24, Deputy Director of the Bureau of Competition, Federal Trade Commission (ret.)
• Tara Levine ’92, Chief Partnership Officer at the Foundation to Combat Antisemitism
• Matthew Meyer ’94, Governor of the State of Delaware
   

Panel: Jewish Alumni and Their Careers – Journalism

1:30 to 2:30 p.m. | Stephen Robert ’62 Campus Center, Kasper Multipurpose Room

Brown has been a launchpad for many prominent journalists who have made their mark in local and international media. In this lively panel, alumni and parents will explore how Jewish life, politics, and storytelling intersected during their time at Brown and shaped their careers beyond College Hill. Get the inside scoop on their journeys from the Brown Daily Herald to Vanity Fair, the Jewish Press, and even the halls of Congress. 

Moderator 

• Jill Zuckman ’87, Partner at SKDKnickerbocker

Panelists

• M. Charles Bakst ’66, Providence Journal political columnist
• Philissa Cramer ’05, Editor-in-Chief of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency
• Amiram Eden ’95, P’24, CEO and Executive Editor of 70 Faces Media
• Marie Brenner P’04, Writer-at-Large, Vanity Fair
   

Panel: Jewish Alumni and Their Careers – Theater

1:30 to 2:30 p.m. | MacMillan Hall, Room 117

Join us for a thoughtful conversation with notable Brown alumni who have made their mark across the theater world as writers, directors, actors, producers, and educators. Panelists will share how they turned their creative passions into lives in the theater and reflect on how their time at Brown helped to shape their evolution as storytellers.

Moderator 

• TBD

Panelists

• Sarah Brown ‘’87, international playwright and site-specific theatre director
• Jill Furman ’90, Tony-winning producer
• Isaac Hurwitz ’00, producer and co-founder of the New York Musical Theatre Festival
• Steven Levenson ’06, playwright and book writer of “Dear Evan Hansen”
• Ben Steinfeld ’01 MFA’05, Co-Founder and Co-Artistic Director of Fiasco Theater
   

Panel: Jewish Alumni and Their Careers – Lights, Camera, Action! Spotlight on Film, Television, and Entertainment

2:45 to 3:45 p.m. | Metcalf Research Building, Friedman Auditorium

Over the years, Brown has produced many of the film, television, and entertainment industry’s most prolific and influential names. Join us for a candid conversation with a group of alumni filmmakers as they reflect on their time at Brown and its lasting impact on their careers. Panelists will share their earliest inspirations, discuss career-defining moments, and address the current state of the industry.

Moderator 

• TBD

Panelists

• Liz Garbus ’92, P’29, director, producer, and documentary filmmaker (“The Farm: Angola, USA,” “What Happened, Miss Simone?”)
• John Hamburg ’92, writer and director (“Meet the Parents,” “Zoolander”)
• Michael Showalter ’92, comedian, writer, producer, director (“The Big Sick,” “The Eyes of Tammy Faye”)
   

Jewish Alumni and Their Careers – Philanthropy & Jewish Professionals

2:45 to 3:45 p.m. | Stephen Robert ’62 Campus Center, Kasper Multipurpose Room

What is it about the Brown experience that leads many Jewish students and graduates to explore and make deep commitments to social justice, philanthropy, public service, Jewish values, and strengthening Jewish life? This session will explore the impact of the Brown experience on the paths alumni have taken since their time on College Hill. This session features two panels—one composed of philanthropists and managers of philanthropic initiatives, and the other composed of professionals who have led Jewish organizations, religious institutions, or community initiatives.

Moderator 

• Stuart Himmelfarb ’74, CEO of B3/The Jewish Boomer Platform

Philanthropy panelists

• Margaret Munzer Loeb ’94, P’28, Trustee of the Corporation of Brown University and Director of the Margaret and Daniel Loeb Foundation
• More panelists to be added

Jewish organization panelists 

• David Altshuler ’71 AM’71, P’06, P’09, founding director of the Museum of Jewish Heritage – A Living Memorial to the Holocaust in New York City, former President of The Trust for Jewish Philanthropy
• Benjamin Freeman ’13, member of the ritual team at LabShu
• Gavriel Rosenfeld ’89, P’19, President of the Center for Jewish History, Professor of History at Fairfield University
   

Alumni Panel: How Brown Women Broke through the Jewish Stained-Glass Ceiling

4 to 5 p.m. | Salomon Center, De Ciccio Family Auditorium

Remember when rabbis and cantors were men and the only public religious leadership roles for women were in synagogue Sisterhood groups? Well, that era is over—in large part because of visionary Brown women who, as Brown students tend to do, said, “No way.” This panel explores how these Brown alumnae began breaking the stained-glass ceiling while still undergraduates and why they made history.

Moderator

• Judith Rosenbaum AM’98 PhD’04, CEO of the Jewish Women’s Archive

Panelists

• Rabbi Ayelet Cohen ’96, Pearl Resnick Dean of The Rabbinical School and Dean of the Division of Religious Leadership at The Jewish Theological Seminary
• Rabbi Laura Geller ’71, P’03, P’10, Rabbi Emerita of Temple Emanuel of Beverly Hills
• Naomi Janowitz ’77, Professor of Religious Studies at the University of California, Davis
• Rabbi Jane Kanarek ’92, Associate Professor of Rabbinics and Dean of the Faculty at the Hebrew College Rabbinical School
• Rabbi Sienna Lotenberg ’18, Assistant Rabbi at the Anshe Emeth Memorial Temple
• Rabbi Julie Roth ’95, Rabbi at Shomrei Emunah
• Cantor Laureate Sarah Sager ’70, Cantor at Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple
   

Building Connections: Alumni and Student Networking Event

4 to 5:30 p.m. | Sayles Hall

This networking program will connect current students with alumni from a wide range of professional fields to build meaningful connections and recognize the role of relationships in career exploration and professional development. Students and alumni will have an opportunity to connect and expand their professional and community networks. Alumni of all generations are encouraged to take part.

Hosted by the Center for Career Exploration.
 

Film Screening: “My Italian Secret” 

4 to 6 p.m. | Granoff Center, Martinos Auditorium

This film follows four characters whose personal stories reflect the larger, untold saga of Italians who courageously saved Jews and other refugees fleeing the Nazis in World War II. It focuses on Gino Bartali, the charismatic Italian cycling star and Tour de France champion, whose role in this history was never revealed during his lifetime. The film’s living characters were children in Italy under fascism; each survived World War II thanks to Italians, like Bartali, willing to make the ultimate sacrifice to save a stranger. 

The screening will be followed by a conversation with the director, Oscar nominee Oren Jacoby ’77, P’17 (“Sister Rose’s Passion,” “Constantine’s Sword,” “Shadowman,” “On Broadway,” “This Is Not a Drill”).  

Panelist

• Suzanne Stewart-Steinberg, John P. Birkelund Distinguished Professor of European History, Professor of Comparative Literature and Italian Studies, Chair of Italian Studie
   

Havdalah

5:15 to 6 p.m. | Brown RISD Hillel

Bid farewell to this joyful Shabbat with a traditional Havdalah service.
 

Hillel and Chabad Reunions and Open Houses

6 to 7 p.m. | Brown RISD Hillel and Chabad of College Hill

Hillel and Chabad have been meaningful parts of many students’ experiences at Brown. Join fellow alumni who spent time in these communities attending services, creating programming, studying, and socializing. Over drinks and live music, see old friends, meet the current staff, and explore how these integral spaces have grown and developed over time.

While at Hillel, please join us in the meeting room for a slide presentation of artworks by current students Joe Katzenellenbogen ’27 and Eitan Boiarsky ’19 (RISD MFA’26).
 

Curtain Raiser: Gala Celebration

7 to 10:30 p.m. | The Lindemann Performing Arts Center

The Lindemann Performing Arts Center will come alive for a gala celebrating Jewish Brown alumni and students in the arts. Start the evening with a one-hour reception featuring heavy passed hors d’oeuvres, beer, wine and soft drinks from the Sharpe Refectory Kosher Kitchen. Then enjoy a tribute to Tony-, Oscar-, and Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Alfred Uhry ’58, author of “Driving Miss Daisy,” “The Last Night of Ballyhoo,” and the book for “Parade.” The tribute will include the performance of a scene from one of Mr. Uhry’s works and an interview with Mr. Uhry by Steven Levenson ’06, the Tony-winning playwright of the book for “Dear Evan Hansen.” The evening will conclude with a cabaret featuring our talented alumni and students. Keep an eye out for some special guests!

Please note: The Gala Celebration is a separately ticketed event with a fee of $75 per person.
 

Funk Nite

10 p.m. to midnight | Alumnae Hall, Auditorium

Groove to the best music of the ’70s through today at this revival of an old Brown tradition with a multicultural twist.

The Morning Spread: A Bagel and Lox Breakfast

8:30 to 10 a.m. | Pembroke Field Tent

Fuel up with a kosher breakfast before your final day of events.
 

Student Panel: Constructive Conversations Among Community — Disagreeing on Divisive Topics Without Being Disagreeable

9:30 to 10:30 a.m. | Stephen Robert ’62 Campus Center, Kasper Multipurpose Room

Brown students will discuss how they have engaged in conversations across different perspectives and share valuable lessons on how to approach tough topics with respect and understanding. Among other ideas, students will discuss why it is important to them that there be an environment on campus that encourages constructive and respectful discussions on difficult issues, and offer suggestions on how to foster that type of environment at Brown.

Moderator

• David Skarbek, Michael Targoff Professor of Political Economy, Warren and Allison Kanders Director of the Center for Philosophy, Politics, and Economics
   

Faculty Seminar: Persuasive Communication

9:30 to 10:30 a.m. | Alumnae Hall, Crystal Room

Learning effective, audience-centered communication and developing an authentic style of conveying messages is critical to creating a powerful professional presence. Throughout her career, Barbara Tannenbaum has trained generations of Brown students—as well as judges, museum professionals, rabbis, Fortune 500 company employees, and professors—to learn practical public speaking techniques, achieve their goals, and gain confidence in front of audiences. Her inspirational talk will help attendees be more persuasive in both in-person and virtual settings.

Faculty

• Barbara Tannenbaum P’10, Teaching Professor of Theatre Arts and Performance Studies, Adjunct Senior Lecturer in Engineering
   

Student Panel: Jewish Life on Campus – Current & Future

10:45 to 11:45 a.m. | Stephen Robert ’62 Campus Center, Kasper Multipurpose Room

According to a recent Inside Higher Ed article, Brown has the highest percentage of Jewish students among the Ivies. Why is that? Is Brown Jewish life different from Jewish life at other schools? And, if so, is it due to the unique culture of Brown or because of the many campus resources available to Jewish students? Current Jewish students discuss these questions as well as key features of Jewish life on campus now and in recent years that go beyond the headlines, including the kosher kitchen, the expansion of the Providence Eruv, the close relationship of Hillel and Chabad, the increase in the number of observant students, and University programming in Jewish arts and other areas. The panelists will also discuss their hopes and suggestions for the future of Jewish life on campus.

Moderator

• Maud S. Mandel ADE’06 hon. LHD’21 hon., P’22, President of Williams College, former Dean of the College and Professor of History and Judaic Studies at Brown University
   

Closing Remarks and Prayer by Alumni Clergy Members

11:45 a.m. to noon | Stephen Robert ’62 Campus Center, Kasper Multipurpose Room

As we wind down our celebratory weekend, join us in bidding farewell to friends both old and new with a few moments of reflection and gratitude.
 

One Last Bite: Lunch at the Ratty Kosher Kitchen

noon to 1 p.m. | Sharpe Refectory Kosher Kitchen

Wrap up the weekend with a kosher lunch from the Sharpe Refectory Kosher Kitchen. Enjoy your meal on site or take it to go. Don’t miss your last chance to savor a delicious bite before heading home.