A gift to our Jewish community
ISRAEL EDUCATOR MARK LAZAR NOVEMBER 12 — DECEMBER 14, 2015
Mark Lazar is a Jewish educator, based in Jerusalem, who specializes in informal education. He
engages with people of all ages exploring Jewish Identity and History, Modern and Ancient Israel,
and the Holocaust. Through both formal presentations and lively, group activities,
Mark brings new excitement and joy to Jewish learning and living.
MARK'S PROGRAMS IN THE MERRIMACK VALLEY
PJ LIBRARY AND FAMILY PARTY
November 22, 2015 2:00 PM Lawrence, MA RSVP 978-688-0466
MOUNTING ISSUES: THE TEMPLE, JERUSALEM AND ISRAEL
December 2, 2015 MVJF Board of Directors
JEWISH VALUES AUCTION
December 3, 2015 7:30 PM Congregation Beth Israel, Andover
JEWISH TIME TRAVEL THROUGH STORIES
December 7, 2015 7:00 PM Congregation Shalom, North Chelmsford
TORAH STUDY
December 10, 2015 10:30 AM Temple Emanuel, Andover
A NOTE FROM MARK LAZAR
TO THE MERRIMACK VALLEY JEWISH COMMUNITY
What does it mean to reevaluate one’s community’s needs by prioritizing its values? How does our historical past connect to our Jewish present? Can the Torah speak to us today through contemporary catharsis and poetry? And who invented the term “Thanksgivikah”?
On my recent visit to several synagogues and institutions in the Merrimack Valley I was able to indulge in an attempt to answer some these questions. Sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Merrimack Valley I was invited to address Congregation Shalom in Chelmsford, Congregation Beth Israel in Andover, Temple Emanuel also in Andover, the MVJF Board of Directors and PJ Library families.
Okay, so Thanksgiving and Hanukkah did overlap a few years back, but the name of the event was so catchy it remained. The Sunday before Thanksgiving, PJ Library and families with young children gathered in celebration. There were art projects, word puzzles, cookies and we all engaged in creative drama related to Hanukkah. It also enabled me to share Rebbe Nachman of Bratzlav’s story of “The Prince Who Thought He Was A Turkey!”
Congregation Shalom in Chelmsford invited me to combine two of my passions, Jewish History and Storytelling. From Abraham and Sarah to the Kings to the destruction of the Temples to the times of Rabbinic Literature to the Golden Age of Spain and then to shetl life towards the Shoa and the Creation of the State of Israel, we covered a lot of historical ground with snippets of humor and I hope a little insight.
At Temple Emanuel in Andover Rabbi Goldstein, whom I had met in Israel at an archaeological site when his congregation had visited the prior year, allowed me the privilege of teaching his Torah study group. It provided me an opportunity to share some of my personal midrashic poetry and discuss the meanings on a variety of levels.
Again in Andover, Congregation Beth Israel selected from my menu of options a Community Values Auction. With monopoly money in hand, small groups bid on what was most important to them as a congregation. Values such as education, spirituality, interfaith relations, serving the community and outreach were just some of the options we addressed.
I spent this period of time overlapping with the miraculous 8 day week of Hannukah, but the real miracle for me was the opportunity to study and teach with all of you. I want to sincerely thank the Board of the Jewish Federation of Merrimack Valley, the Executive Director Laurie Tishler Mindlin and her staff and all the Rabbis and lay leaders that worked so diligently to make this miracle occur. Thank you!
See you in Israel!
Mark
Program Offerings a to z
Assimilation and the struggle for Jewish identity
Bible stories, heroes and ethics
Communication training
Dramatic techniques and original plays
Experiential Education
Family Programming
Games, gaming and game theory
History of the Jewish People
Israel...history, society, politics
Judaism as a Religion as well as a People, History and Civilization
Kings, Prophets and Judges…Leaders from Past
Leadership Training for youth and community leaders
Management Styles
News updates and current events in Israel
On-site educational guiding in Israel and Poland
Program Planning techniques and methodologies
Quizzes, fun competitions and other evening programming
Religious Thought in the Modern World
Storytelling
Teamwork and group dynamics
Useful tools for teaching in formal and non-formal settings
Values Clarification Exercise and Activities
Women in Jewish History
Xenophobia and Anti-Semitism…historical and modern day
Year round programming for the Jewish Holidays
Zionism…from its origins to the founders to contemporary options
Mark Lazar has more than forty years of experience leading seminars and workshops in the U.S., Canada, Israel, Australia, England, Hungary, Bulgaria, Lithuania, Latvia, Germany, Spain, France, Serbia, Poland, Slovakia, Austria and Holland. He is a talented lecturer and discussion leader and has unique expertise in informal education methodology and techniques.
Mark frequently visits the U.S. as a specialist in Israel Engagement. He has worked with the Federations and BJE’s in Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Baltimore and Montreal and has trained staff and madrichim for Israel summer programs and as well as for youth camps throughout the country.
Mark has led over fifty journeys to Poland and provides site education in Israel. He has been an educator a wide variety of organizations including The Jewish Agency for Israel, Birthright Israel, JCCs, Hillels, Melitz, American Joint Distribution Committee (JDC), World Zionist Organization, Archeological Seminars, Young Judaea, Limmud, United Synagogue and B’nai Brith.