School districts throughout the US are introducing curriculum changes and adding graduation
requirements such as Ethnic Studies. Using California as a case study, learn what is under
consideration, its implications for our Jewish students and the Jewish community,
and what you can do.
Special (recorded) introduction by human rights icon Natan Sharansky
and commentary by one of America’s top Jewish leaders, Rabbi David Wolpe.
Join our livestream at:
Natan Sharansky has dedicated his life to the Jewish People and to human rights. As a dissident in the Soviet Union, Natan fought for the freedom of Jews to leave the country and spent 9 years in Soviet prisons as a result. Upon his release from the Soviet Union, due in part to the hard work of the worldwide Jewish community, Natan made aliyah (emigrated) to Israel. In addition to serving in four Israeli governments, Natan served as Chairman of the Jewish Agency in 2009-2018. Natan is the fourth non-American ever to receive both the Congressional Medal of Honor and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Elina Kaplan is President and Co-Founder of Alliance for Ethnic Studies (ACES). Elina has led nonprofit organizations for over 15 years, including at MidPen Housing, one of California's largest affordable housing nonprofits. She has served as Chief Program Officer at the Oshman Family Jewish Community Center and has served on over 20 Jewish boards and committees. Prior to the nonprofit world, Elina worked in the high-tech industry. While at Jerusalem's Accent Software, she established the first-ever Israeli-Palestinian software partnership.
Rabbi David Wolpe, named the "Most Influential Rabbi in America” by Newsweek, one of the ”50 Most Influential Jews in the World” by The Jerusalem Post, and one of the ”500 Most Influential People” in Los Angeles, is the Max Webb Senior Rabbi of Sinai Temple in Los Angeles. David has taught at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America, American Jewish University, Hunter College, and UCLA. Rabbi Wolpe has been published and profiled in The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, Time, and The Atlantic.
Dr. Brandy Shufutinsky is a social worker, writer, researcher, and advocate. Brandy has worked towards advancing the rights of victims and survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. She sits on the advisory board of Progressive Zionists of California and the board of Jewish Institute for Liberal Values. Brandy was a 2021 Scholar-in-Residence at the Institute for the Study of Global Antisemitism & Policy Oxford Summer Institute. Currently, she is working towards developing intercultural and academic opportunities to enhance liberal democratic ideals.