Early Zionist Thinkers: Reclaiming our Ideals and History

Four Thursday Mornings
9:30-11:00 AM
December 7, 14, 21; January 4
Location: Hybrid
In-person at B’nai Israel Congregation, 6301 Montrose Rd, Rockville, MD 20852

Revisit the thinking that motivated the early Zionist leaders of the 19th and 20th Centuries.

In part one of this class, we will review the writings of the early thinkers: Ben-Yehuda, Pinkser, Zunz, Herzl, Nordau, and Ginsburg (Ehad Ha’Am). What events were they responding to? What did nationalism and self-determination look like after 2000 years of exilic existence?

Join us to discover if their thoughts can help us understand today’s events.

Instructor: Steve Kerbel
Registration: $65

Please register to join us in person at B’nai Israel Congregation in Rockville, Maryland, or online via Zoom classroom.

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Steve Kerbel is the principal of Steven Kerbel Educational Consulting in Rockville, Maryland. In this capacity, Steve trains teachers and writes curricula for congregations, day schools, and Federations throughout the US. Before this, he served as Director of Education for Congregation B’nai Tzedek and Ohr Kodesh Congregation for a combined 14 years. Prior to that, Steve was the inaugural Retreat Director of Capital Camps & Retreat Center. Steve has also been a full-time faculty member at the Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School in Rockville and an educational consultant to the Seaboard Region of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism.

In what seems like a different lifetime, Steve earned a law degree and was in the private practice of law for eight years. Steve is an alum of the University of Maryland, College Park, where he met his wife, Judy, and they have two daughters. Among Steve’s consulting activities, he facilitates wine tastings featuring Israeli wines and teaches about the geography of diversity of Israel through its wines and wine makers.