Welcome to Hazak!
HAZAK CALENDAR
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Hazak Monday: Monday, May 6 (9:30am-2pm). Too Long, Too Foreign…Too Jewish: Antisemitism and Name Changing in New York City, 1917-1946 with Kirsten Femaglich (Professor of history and Jewish studies at Michigan State University. Baseball and Opera with Steve Kohn (Community Educator, Los Angeles Opera) In person and on VBS YouTube Channel. Lunch and Choice of: Hazak Torah Study or Great Decisions Study Group.
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Monday, May 13 - 10:00am - 2:00pm: DROP IN GAME DAY. RSVP Online at VBS.ORG/GAMEDAY. More information below.
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Sunday, May 19 at 10:00am: VBS Hazak Sunday Mindfulness Walk with Cantor Phil Baron. RSVP HERE.
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Hazak End of Year Celebration: Monday, May 20 (11:30am-2:00pm). RSVP HERE.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES AT HAZAK
- Hazak Newsletter -- Are you interested in contributing as a writer, columnist, editor, photographer for our new Hazak newsletter? Write to us at vbshazak@vbs.org and we will contact you.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
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Contribute to the VBS Security Fund to cover increased expenses for security on site. Go to: https://www.vbs.org/vbs-
security-fund .
Hazak Monday: May 6 - In Person and on YouTube
10:00am: Too Long, Too Foreign…Too Jewish: Antisemitism and Name Changing in New York City, 1917-1946
Kirsten Femaglich
Professor of history and Jewish studies at Michigan State University
Our thinking about Jewish name changing tends to focus on clichés: ambitious movie stars who adopted glamorous new names or insensitive Ellis Island officials who changed immigrants’ names for them. Kirsten Fermaglich will elegantly describe the real story is much more profound. She has explored name change petitions that upend the clichés, revealing that in twentieth-century New York City, Jewish name changing was actually a broad-based and voluntary behavior: thousands of ordinary Jewish men, women, and children legally changed their names in order to respond to an upsurge of antisemitism. Yet, rather than trying to escape their heritage or “pass” as non-Jewish, most name-changers remained active members of the Jewish community. While name changing allowed Jewish families to avoid antisemitism and achieve white middle-class status, the practice also created pain within families and became a stigmatized, forgotten aspect of American Jewish culture.
11:15am: Baseball and Opera
Steve Kohn
Community Educator, Los Angeles Opera
There are many aspects of Baseball and Opera that are similar. Both attract large audiences.
Both have a language all their own. Both are international. And, you will learn that they have
many other connections. Join us and "Play Ball!"
Lunch Break to Nosh and Schmooze
Choice of:
Hazak Torah Study with VBS Clergy
Or
Great Decisions 2024 Discussion Group with Gerry Davis (see below)
Today’s topic: High Seas Treaty.
Upcoming Events
VBS Hazak (for 60+)
Over 22 years ago, Rabbi Harold Schulweis (z”l) challenged a group of senior VBS members to design a program for seniors that would establish a setting at VBS for learning, socializing, and fellowship.
That pioneering group of volunteers developed the basic structure for the program that continues and grows today.
Recent Programming
MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION:
Hazak Annual Membership Fee
$36 for VBS Members
$50 for Non Members
