Invite a Kulanu Speaker to Your Community
Does your congregation, organization, class or campus want to learn about Jewish communities around the world, and the work Kulanu is doing to support and connect them? Help educate your community about “all of us” by hosting a Kulanu speaker in your town! See descriptions of the presentation topics below, then email us about your interest.
About Kulanu
This presentation will highlight Kulanu‘s work with Jewish communities around the world. Located in Africa, Asia, Latin America, Europe, and the Southwestern United States, these communities have been, for the most part, isolated from world Jewry. The one-hour presentation, accompanied by a slideshow of on-site photographs, documents Kulanu’s inspiring efforts to help communities and individuals connect or re-connect with their Jewish roots.
Take a peek at our slideshow here.
Harriet Bograd and Barbara Vinick are our Northeast presenters; their bios are available on our website.
Contribution: $500 honorarium plus travel
Rabbanit Bonita Sussman and Rabbi Gerald Sussman
Bonita Nathan Sussman, Vice President of Kulanu, is available to make presentations on Kulanu’s vision to change the Jewish world-wide Jewish community, her travels and what she has gained through her encounters with emerging, returning and isolated Jewish communities world-wide. Her writing, photographs and YouTube channel document these communities for the historical record. Her husband, Rabbi Gerald Sussman who often serves as the “mara d’aytra” spiritual guide and rabbi of these communities is also available to speak on their rabbinic questionings. Their travels include Nicaragua, Madagascar, Papua New Guinea, Gabon, Cote d’Ivoire, Cameroon and India.
Contribution: $500 honorarium plus travel
Remy Ilona
Remy Iona, currently a student in religious studies at Florida International University in Miami, is a lawyer from Abuja, the capital of Nigeria. For many years he has been an emissary and spokesperson for the Jews of Nigeria, native-born Igbo people whose customs and traditions, as understood throughout Nigeria, are rooted in ancient Israel. Author of The Igbo: Jews in Africa? (2004) and The Igbo and Israel: An Inter-Cultural Study of the Largest Jewish Diaspora (2012), Remy looks to the past and future of the 30 million Igbo of Nigeria – who they were, who they are, and who they are destined to be. His presentation is fascinating and sure to inspire lively discussion. See Sam Kestenbaum’s article, “Meet the Igbo, Nigeria’s Lost Jewish Tribe,” in the Forward, Jan 24, 2016.
Contribution: $500 honorarium plus travel
Miriam and Mordecai Feinberg
Miriam and Mordecai Feinberg are available to make presentations on Kulanu’s vision to change the world-wide Jewish community, their travels and what they have gained through their encounters with emerging, returning and isolated Jewish communities around the world. They have volunteered, under the auspices of Kulanu, as Judaic teachers for communities in Uganda, Zimbabwe and Poland and are available to share those experiences through speaking and visual presentations.
Contribution: $500 honorarium plus travel
Anousim
The Anousim are the descendants of Jews who were expelled from Spain and Portugal during the Inquisition in the 15th century (as well as many who went into hiding). Today, many Anousim, also known as Crypto-Jews, are discovering their roots and choosing to return to Judaism. Sonya Loya, an Anousi, is a well-known glass artisan and founder-director of the Bat-Tzyion Hebrew Learning Center in New Mexico. Sonya travels the country to share her own fascinating story of return, as well as her beautiful Crypto art work. Invite her to visit your congregation or other group and learn not just Sonya’s story, but also the trials and triumphs of the Anousim from the Inquisition to today.
Read Sonya Loya’s biography by clicking here.
Get a glimpse of Sonya’s Jewish-themed glass art in this video on YouTube.
Contribution: $500 honorarium plus travel
Please contact us with any questions. Thank you!
Thank You for your interest in getting involved with Kulanu’s work supporting isolated, emerging, and returning Jewish communities around the world!