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DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260311T120000
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SUMMARY:Israel Dialogues
DESCRIPTION:Israel Dialogues\nWinter 2026 sessions\, 12:00 pm \nThe Israel Dialogues returns for our Winter Semester. This series of expert discussions provides a nuanced window into the state’s critical challenges and evolving successes. Presented by a respected cross-section of academics\, former diplomats\, and policy experts\, the program offers participants an opportunity to engage with the fundamental issues facing Israel\, its people\, and the Jewish diaspora today. \nThe January-April 2026 season moves beyond surface-level headlines to explore the regional\, international\, and domestic factors shaping Israel’s future. From the strategic role of Gulf states like Qatar to the internal pressures of Iranian politics and the impact of media algorithms on power\, this series aims to bridge the gap between scholarly research and the public consciousness. \nRegister here \nWith thanks to our Israel Dialogues Organizing Committee and our expert panellists. \n  \nJanuary 15: “Israel’s Moment of Truth”\nwith Prof. Dan Ben-David\, Professor of Economics\nTAU\, Founder & President\, Shoresh Institute \nProf. Dan Ben-David has served as the president and founder of Shoresh Institution for Socioeconomic Research\, from its founding in 2015 until today. He received his PhD from The University of Chicago and is a specialist in Macroeconomics\, Economic Growth and Development\, International Trade and the Israeli Economy. Named ‘Person of the Year’ by Calcalist newspaper and included 3 times in the Haaretz newspaper’s annual list of Israel’s 100 most influential people. His academic research placed him among the ten most cited economists in Israel during the years 1990-2000. \nJanuary 27: “Captured Screens: How Media Oligarchs and Algorithms Lock in Power”\nwith Prof. Guy Rolnik\, Strategic Management\nBooth School of Business\, U of Chicago \nProf. Guy Rolnik is an expert in the intersection of business\, finance\, regulation\, politics\, and the media. He is an internationally acclaimed economic strategist and the creator and director of multiple documentary films on business\, economics\, and politics focusing on the power and influence of big tech and social media.  Rolnik is the 2013 recipient of the Sokolov Prize for lifetime achievement\, Israel’s most prestigious journalism honor. He is an active lecturer at the University of Chicago in the Booth School of Business. \nFebruary 6: “US-Israeli Relations & the Changing ME Arena: A Conversation”\nwith Dr. Aaron David Miller\, Carnegie Endowment & Prof. Emeritus Asher Susser\, TAU/ Dayan Centre \nDr. Aaron David Miller is a Middle East analyst\, author\, and negotiator. He is a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace\, focusing on U.S. foreign policy. He previously was vice president for new initiatives at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars\, and has been an advisor to both Republican and Democratic secretaries of state. He is a Global Affairs Analyst for CNN. \nDr. Susser is Professor Emeritus of Middle Eastern History at Tel Aviv University (TAU). He was the Director of the Moshe Dayan Center for Middle Eastern Studies at TAU for twelve years and taught for over thirty-five years in TAU’s Department of Middle Eastern History.  Dr. Susser’s most recent book is Jordan\, Palestine\, and the Politics of Collective Identity – A History. (Boulder & London:  Lynne Reiner\, 2024) \nFebruary 19: “The Other Side of the Moon: MEOs as a Prelude to Peace – Lessons for Israel”. [MEOs = Mutually Enhancing Opportunities]\nwith Dr. Amira Schiff\, Sr.Lec. & Director\, Conflict Management\, Negotiation\, and Resolution Graduate Program\, Bar-Ilan University \nDr. Amira Schiff is director of the Conflict Resolution\, Management\, and Negotiations Program at Bar-Ilan University in Israel. Her research includes conflict management and peace processes in intra- and interstate conflict\, pre-negotiation processes\, and international negotiation. She is the author of Negotiating Intractable Conflicts: Readiness Theory Revisited (2019). \nFebruary 26: “Israel’s Changing Political Culture & Implications for Liberal Democracy” *\nwith Dr. Mark A. Heller\, Senior Researcher (Emeritus)\nInstitute for National Security Studies & Non-Resident Scholar at the Middle East Institute\, Washington\, D.C. \nDr. Mark A. Heller is a senior researcher (Emeritus) at the Institute for National Security Studies and Non-Resident Scholar at the Middle East Institute\, Washington\, DC.  Dr. Heller received his B.A. in Political Science and Economics at the University of Toronto and did his graduate studies at Harvard University\, where he earned an M.A. in Middle Eastern Studies and a Ph.D. in Political Science. Since 1979\, he has been affiliated with the Jaffee Center for Strategic Studies (formerly\, the Center for Strategic Studies)\, now incorporated into the Institute for National Security Studies\, and he has taught Middle Eastern politics and international relations at Tel Aviv University and at several American universities\, including the University of California at San Diego\, Cornell University\, and Harvard University. Dr. Heller has written extensively on Middle Eastern political and strategic issues. \nMarch 4th: “Iran: Managing Internal Challenges and External Pressures” *\nwith Prof. Meir Litvak\, Chair\nDepartment of Middle Eastern and African History & former Director\, Alliance Center for Iranian Studies\, Tel-Aviv University \nProf. Meir Litvak is a Professor at the Department of Middle Eastern History and a senior research associate at the Alliance Center for Iranian Studies at Tel Aviv University. His research focuses on Modern Iranian and Shi’i history\, modern Islamic movements\, and Arab anti-Semitism. \nMarch 11: “Qatar: Micro-state but Macro-role”\nwith Dr. Ariel Admoni\, Bar-Ilan University & Research Fellow\, Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security (JISS – specialist on Gulf States) \nDr. Ariel Admoni is a researcher specializing in Qatari policy\, and lectures in academic\, media\, governmental\, and security forums on issues related to Qatar. He received his PhD from Bar-Ilan University. Before his current role at the JISS (Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security) he was a speaker at Cambridge University from 2022-2024. \nMarch 19: “Civil Society & Democracy: the Intersection of Faith\, Politics and Social Justice” *\nwith Mikhael Manekin\, Inaugural Van Leer Fellow\nVan Leer Foundation\, Jerusalem. Director of the Alliance Fellowship Network \nMikhael is an Israeli activist\, writer\, and community organiser working at the intersection of faith\, politics\, and social justice. He engages with issues of occupation\, equality\, and democracy. He previously served as the director of Breaking the Silence\, an organization that gathers testimonies from Israeli soldiers about their experiences in the occupied territories\, and the progressive think tank Molad. He is also one of the leaders of the Faithful Left movement. \nMarch 26th: “Israel and Somaliland: A New Horizon in the Red Sea Arena”\nwith Maxwell Webb\, Independent analyst of the Horn of Africa and the Middle East\nCoordinator of Leadership\, Israel Policy Forum Atid Program \nMaxwell Webb is an independent Horn of Africa and Middle East analyst who currently serves as the coordinator of leadership initiatives at the Israel Policy Forum’s IPF Atid program. Max has spent significant time in the Horn of Africa conducting research on Somaliland foreign policy\, and is a 4-time guest and panelist at the Hargeysa International Book Fair speaking on regional geopolitics and great power competition. This May\, Max received a certificate in Horn of Africa studies from the Rift Valley Institute in Nairobi\, Kenya. His work can be seen with the Atlantic Council\, International Policy Digest\, and Israel Policy Exchange. \nApril 16: “Religious Dimensions of the Middle East Conflict: Actors and Opportunities”\nwith Rabbi Dr. Daniel Roth\, Director of Mosaica\nGraduate Program for Conflict Management\, Resolution\, and Negotiation\, Bar-Ilan University \nRabbi Dr. Daniel Roth is the director of Mosaica\, an Israeli NGO advancing community mediation and dialogue in Israel. Roth’s work focuses on the network of insider religious mediators who help prevent\, mitigate\, and mediate crisis situations throughout Israel\, the Middle East\, and beyond. Roth also works to connect religious leaders to the national network of community mediation and dialogue centers throughout Israel including in the Arab sector and in mixed Jewish-Arab cities and areas\, which Mosaica professionally supports through a tender of the Ministry of Welfare and Social Affairs. \nFormerly\, Roth was the founder and director of the Pardes Center for Judaism and Conflict Resolution; the Mahloket Matters Projects; and the 9Adar: Jewish Week of Constructive Conflict. \nRoth holds a Ph.D. from Bar-Ilan University’s Graduate Program for Conflict Management\, Resolution\, and Negotiation; an MA in Talmud from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem; a B.Ed in Jewish Philosophy from Herzog Teachers’ College; and studied for eight years at Yeshivat Har Etzion during which time he received Orthodox rabbinic ordination. \nApril 30: “The Inverted Funnel of Information and the Creation of a False Consensus: The Case of the ‘Genocide’ Allegations in Gaza.”\nwith Dr. Danny Orbach \nDr. Danny Orbach is an  Associate Professor of History and Asian Studies at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He specializes in military history\, political assassinations and coups\, military adventurism\, illegal orders\, dynamics of military atrocities and the history of intelligence and espionage. His books were translated to numerous languages\, including Thai\, Japanese\, Hebrew\, French\, Hungarian\, Italian and Spanish. Orbach is currently writing a history of Jus in Bello (the rules of armed conflict) in the Imperial Japanese Army. Dr. Orbach will lecture on one of the most oft repeated libels of the last few years\, that Israel committed a genocide.
URL:https://holyblossom.org/event/israel-dialogues/2026-03-11/
CATEGORIES:HBT Programs & Events
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260311T190000
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SUMMARY:Heresy and Revolutions with Rabbi Samuel Kaye
DESCRIPTION:Heresy and Revolutions with Rabbi Samuel Kaye\nWednesdays\, 7:00 pm (in-person and online) \nJoin Rabbi Kaye for an adult education program on some of the lesser-known stories in our Jewish history. \nTogether\, we will take a deep dive into three major ideas and figures from our Jewish texts and history that have been viewed as heretical or revolutionary. From the story of Alesha ben Abuya\, Rabbinic Judaism’s first ‘heretic’\, to the chutzpadick Jews of the late 19th century who overturned the ‘Three Oaths’ and created modern Zionism. Along the way\, we’ll also stop in the 1600’s to meet the man who claimed to be Moshiach\, the one and only Shabbatai Tzvi. \nRegister here
URL:https://holyblossom.org/event/heresy-and-revolutions-with-rabbi-samuel-kaye/2026-03-11/
CATEGORIES:HBT Programs & Events
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260311T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260311T210000
DTSTAMP:20260414T153032
CREATED:20260203T202052Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260204T172606Z
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SUMMARY:“Why Can’t I Sleep\, Even When I’m Exhausted?”
DESCRIPTION:The Luke Sklar Mental Health Initiative Presents:\n“Why Can’t I Sleep\, Even When I’m Exhausted?”\nWhat your brain\, body\, and nervous system are trying to tell you. \n With Guest Speaker Dr. Jaan Reitav  \nClinical and Health Psychologist\, CPsych\, CBSM \nWednesday\, March 11\, 2026\, 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm\, in the Mishkan \nDoes the following internal monologue sound familiar?\n“Tonight\, I will definitely get a good sleep. It’ll be easy. I’ll just lie down\, relax\, close my eyes\, and drift off.”  \nBut then\, the mind races. We frequently wake up at 3 a.m. Getting to or back to sleep seems elusive. And trying harder only makes it worse. \nJoin Dr. Jaan Reitav for a science-informed and very practical session that will help us better understand how to get the sleep we crave. He’ll talk about: \n\nWhy sleep isn’t controlled by willpower\nWhy waking at night is often normal – not a failure\nThe hidden “loops” that keep people awake\nThe 4 most common enemies of sleep\nWhy popular sleep tips work for some and not others\nHow to gently calm the nervous system so sleep can return naturally\n\nPlease join us in the Mishkan and feel the warmth of community as we learn together\, share together\, and enjoy refreshments after the program. \nFor anyone who can’t make it in person\, this event will also be livestreamed. The link to the livestream will be provided upon registration. \nPlease register here (whether attending in person or online) to join us. \nMore about Dr. Reitav: \n\nDr. Jaan Reitav is a Clinical and Health Psychologist with over forty years of experience in helping those with serious problems with sleep\, pain\, anxiety\, depression\, trauma\, and chronic health conditions. He has written chapters on clinical management of sleep problems\, pain problems\, and contributed to current Canadian Guidelines for managing the risks from sleep problems for heart conditions. His book\, Putting Trauma to Sleep\, underlined the critical role of sleep for both mental and physical health\, and provided trauma therapists with a step-by-step plan to integrate sleep repair into their clinical work. \nIf you have a question you’d like addressed by Dr. Reitav during the program\, in confidence\, please send it to: theLSMHI@gmail.com \n 
URL:https://holyblossom.org/event/why-cant-i-sleep-even-when-im-exhausted/
CATEGORIES:HBT Programs & Events
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