Events

The Layers of the Moroccan Jewish Experience: Session 4 – The Jews of Morocco: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow

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The Layers of the Moroccan Jewish Experience

Session 4: The Jews of Morocco: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow

Sunday August 31, 2025 – 10:00am on Zoom

In 1948, the creation of the state of Israel, motivated many Jews to leave Morocco – a land they had inhabited for many centuries – and move to Israel. By 1964, more than 97,000 Jews had left Morocco, mainly to Israel where they presently number around 1,000,000 Jews of Moroccan descent.  Today there are about 2500 Jews living in Morocco, mostly in Casablanca. The community has good relations with the current ruler, King Mohamed VI who encourages religious tolerance and who strives to uphold the legacy of tolerance demonstrated by King Mohammed V during the Holocaust.

We will ask and attempt to answer the oft-repeated question: If the Jews had it so good, why did they ever leave Morocco?

Click here to register!

This lecture series is for members only.

 

About the Series

We are excited to be able to share this lecture series, The Layers of the Moroccan Jewish Experience, with our entire congregation. The series will be presented by Dr. David Mendelsohn. We are thrilled that Dr. Mendelsohn will also be joining us on our congregational trip to Morocco in the fall, in addition to our local guide, to bring added depth to our learning as we travel the country together.

Dr. Mendelsohn’s areas of expertise include Islamic Studies, History and Culture of Arabs with Israeli Citizenship, Bedouin Law and the relationship between language and culture in Arabic and Hebrew. Mendelsohn also lectures on the history and relationship between Middle East countries and militant organizations. Dr. Mendelsohn holds advanced degrees in diverse fields: a Ph.D. in Classics/Linguistics and an M.A. in Archaeology/Linguistics from Concordia University in Montreal. Dr. Mendelsohn is the recipient of one of Canada’s highest academic honors: the Trudeau Prize. From 2005-2012 he was the Israel Academic Director of Givat Haviva, the national education center of the Kibbutz Federation. He has working fluency in 5 languages and working knowledge of two others plus Middle Egyptian (Hieroglyphics). He lives in Jerusalem with his wife Ronny and their 3 children.

Short Story Discussion Group

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Short Story Discussion Group

First Monday of each month

7:30-8:30pm, on Zoom

Join us for a fourth year of monthly lay-led discussions of Jewish short stories. Four
NVHC members have selected the stories and will take turns leading the discussions.
Each session will stand on its own – you can attend whenever you have the time and
interest. We’ll meet on the first Monday of the month on Zoom at 7:30pm for 45 minutes
to an hour. Participants will receive the story and meeting links in advance. To sign up
for this year’s discussion group, email shortstories@nvhcreston.org. Even if you
participated last year, we’d like you to sign up again so that we can gauge interest in the
program and ensure that we have the correct email address for you.

Short Story Discussion Group

in

Short Story Discussion Group

First Monday of each month

7:30-8:30pm, on Zoom

Join us for a fourth year of monthly lay-led discussions of Jewish short stories. Four
NVHC members have selected the stories and will take turns leading the discussions.
Each session will stand on its own – you can attend whenever you have the time and
interest. We’ll meet on the first Monday of the month on Zoom at 7:30pm for 45 minutes
to an hour. Participants will receive the story and meeting links in advance. To sign up
for this year’s discussion group, email shortstories@nvhcreston.org. Even if you
participated last year, we’d like you to sign up again so that we can gauge interest in the
program and ensure that we have the correct email address for you.

Summer Book Study: The Lemon Tree

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Tuesday, July 29, 7:00pm, in person only

Join Rabbi Barrett for a discussion of The Lemon Tree, a powerful story that traces the intertwined lives of a Palestinian man and a Jewish woman connected by a single house in Ramla, Israel. Through their personal journeys, the book opens up deep questions about home, identity, and what it means to belong. As we explore early Israeli history, the pain of war, and the enduring human cost of conflict, we’ll reflect on our own understandings of memory, hope, and the possibility of dialogue across deep divides. This conversation invites us to engage with complexity, compassion, and the shared longing for peace.

Click here to register!

Drinkin & Drashin

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Thursday, July 24, August 14, 6:30pm
In person only at Aslin Brewing (767 Elden St, Herndon)

Join Rabbi Barrett for good conversation and a little bit of learning over drinks at Aslin Brewing! Together we’ll dive into some of Judaism’s most fun and weird stories. You won’t want to miss these light-hearted evenings of learning, relationship building, and libations. Check out our new theme this summer, Midrash: Torah into Imagination.

Click here to register!

Drinkin & Drashin

in

Thursday, July 24, August 14, 6:30pm
In person only at Aslin Brewing (767 Elden St, Herndon)

Join Rabbi Barrett for good conversation and a little bit of learning over drinks at Aslin Brewing! Together we’ll dive into some of Judaism’s most fun and weird stories. You won’t want to miss these light-hearted evenings of learning, relationship building, and libations. Check out our new theme this summer, Midrash: Torah into Imagination.

Click here to register!

Short Story Discussion Group

in

Short Story Discussion Group

First Monday of each month

7:30-8:30pm, on Zoom

Join us for a fourth year of monthly lay-led discussions of Jewish short stories. Four
NVHC members have selected the stories and will take turns leading the discussions.
Each session will stand on its own – you can attend whenever you have the time and
interest. We’ll meet on the first Monday of the month on Zoom at 7:30pm for 45 minutes
to an hour. Participants will receive the story and meeting links in advance. To sign up
for this year’s discussion group, email shortstories@nvhcreston.org. Even if you
participated last year, we’d like you to sign up again so that we can gauge interest in the
program and ensure that we have the correct email address for you.

Adult Hebrew Learning Marathon

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Adult B’nai Mitzvah Hebrew Class

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We are excited for a new Adult B’nai Mitzvah class! This is an opportunity for adult members of our congregation, with a group of peers, to engage with our millennia-old tradition and community ritual of affirming one’s place in the Jewish community.

There will be a Hebrew learning component as well as a content study with Cantor Caro, Rabbi Holzman, and Rabbi Barrett. The culmination of this journey is set for Shabbat morning, May 23, 2026.

The Adult B’nai Mitzvah Hebrew class will be divided into two sections from April through August, to address varying levels of Hebrew. Starting in September, we will all come together into one Hebrew class. The calendar includes the dates and times for both sections of the Adult B’nai Mitzvah Hebrew classes.

All classes will be in person.

Short Story Discussion Group

in

Short Story Discussion Group

First Monday of each month

7:30-8:30pm, on Zoom

Join us for a fourth year of monthly lay-led discussions of Jewish short stories. Four
NVHC members have selected the stories and will take turns leading the discussions.
Each session will stand on its own – you can attend whenever you have the time and
interest. We’ll meet on the first Monday of the month on Zoom at 7:30pm for 45 minutes
to an hour. Participants will receive the story and meeting links in advance. To sign up
for this year’s discussion group, email shortstories@nvhcreston.org. Even if you
participated last year, we’d like you to sign up again so that we can gauge interest in the
program and ensure that we have the correct email address for you.