Past Israel Committee Events – Society Hill Synagogue

Our Israel Committee helps nurture our connection to Israel by fostering education and promoting meaningful engagement with the Jewish homeland through programs, activities, and fundraising.

If you have a question about Israel and our congregation, or if you’re interested in getting involved in the committee, please reach out to israel(at)societyhillsynagogue.org.

Check out our Israel Committee’s past events below:

February 5 Artist Talk & Exhibition with Igal Fedida

Thursday, February 5 @ 6:00-7:30 pm
Open to the Public
Registration required of all attendees — click here to register

Join us for an evening of art and conversation with Israeli artist Igal Fedida, whose abstract and mixed-media work explores themes of creation, spirituality, and Jewish tradition through color, material, and form.

Fedida’s work incorporates raw structural materials — wood, metal, and unconventional construction paints — alongside brush and canvas, reflecting a deep engagement with process, building, and design. His Genesis Series draws inspiration from biblical narratives and Jewish textual traditions, using texture and movement to explore questions of creation and transformation.

The evening will begin with an open-house style gallery viewing, followed by an artist talk and Q&A. Guests are invited to browse selections of Igal’s work, hear directly from the artist about his creative process, and engage in conversation together.

Coffee, Israeli wine, and Middle Eastern hors d’oeuvres will be served. Artwork will be available to purchase, and a portion of the proceeds from all art sold that evening will be donated to the synagogue.

Schedule of the Evening

6:00-6:15 pm – Gallery viewing
6:15-6:45 pm – Artist talk
6:45-7:00 pm – Q&A with the Artist
7:00-7:30 pm – Reception and art viewing

About the Artist

Igal Fedida is an Israeli-born artist whose creative journey has been shaped by his Jewish-Moroccan heritage and lifelong engagement with questions of spiritual meaning and artistic expression. From an early age he demonstrated a deep affinity for visual art, which later evolved through photography, mixed media, and painting. Fedida’s work incorporates unconventional materials, bold color, and symbolic elements inspired by Biblical, Talmudic, and Kabbalistic sources, particularly themes of creation and spiritual truth. His pieces have been exhibited internationally, and he maintains studios in Miami and Tzfat, Israel.

Learn more at www.igalfedida.com

November 16: Israeli Dancing with Instructor Tanya Buchman

Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025 at 5:00 pm

Free with registration required here

Join us for a joyful evening of Israeli dancing at Society Hill Synagogue. Our Israel Connections Subcommittee is delighted to welcome Israeli dancing instructor Tanya Buchman to lead us in an engaging and spirited program for all ages.

Whether you are an experienced dancer or stepping onto the floor for the first time, this is a fantastic opportunity to connect with tradition, celebrate culture, get a light workout, and enjoy the warmth of community.

All are welcome — no prior dance experience required!

Wednesday, October 29: An Evening with Members of the Israel Symphony Orchestra, Rishon LeZion

Tickets: $18 for Members | $36 General Public

On October 29 at 7:00 pm, experience a stirring repertoire weaving together beloved Israeli and Jewish songs with European chamber music masterpieces. We are honored to welcome musicians from the Israel Symphony Orchestra, Rishon LeZion (ISO) for an evening of music that bridges Israeli, Jewish, and European classical traditions.

Founded in 1988 in Rishon LeZion, Israel’s fourth largest city, the ISO is also the resident orchestra of the Israeli Opera in Tel Aviv. It has performed at festivals across Israel, toured internationally, and earned acclaim for its wide-ranging repertoire, from Schubert to beloved Israeli music.

Program Highlights Include:

Ludwig van Beethoven – String Trio Op. 9 No. 1 in G Major – 1st. Mov. (Adagio-Allegro Con Brio)
Sergei Taneyev – String Trio in D Major Op. 21 – 2nd Mov. (Molto Vivace)
Gideon Klein – String Trio (1. Allegro – 2. Variations on a Moravian Folk Song: Lento – 3. Molto Vivace)
Zoltan Kodály – Intermezzo for String Trio
Naomi Shemer – Jerusalem of Gold
David Broza – It Will Be Good
Traditional Israeli favorites

Musicians:

Yana Mering – Violin
Doron Alperin – Viola
Eyal Heiman – Cello

Sunday, October 19: Parents Circle – Families Forum Guest Speakers

Free and Open to the Community, with Registration Required

The Parents Circle – Families Forum is a joint Israeli-Palestinian organization made up of more than 800 bereaved families. Their common bond is that they have lost a close family member to the conflict.

Through their educational activities, these bereaved relatives have joined together to take tens of thousands of Palestinians and Israelis on journeys of reconciliation.

Join Robi Damelin, a bereaved Israeli mother, and Mohamed Abu Jafar, a bereaved Palestinian brother, as they share their personal stories of loss, resilience, and hope. This conversation will highlight the shared value of the sanctity of human life and model the possibility of connection even in the darkest times.

This event will take place at Society Hill Synagogue (418 Spruce Street, Philadelphia). It is free and open to the public, but advance registration is required.

Lunch ‘n’ Learn: The Road to Recovery Film & Talk with Udi Ben Seadia

Come join us on July 26 for a Lunch n’ Learn special screening of The Road to Recovery and talk by Udi Ben Seadia. He is a writer and theatre director who has been volunteering along with other Israelis to drive Palestinian patients from border checkpoints to hospitals in Israel, through the non-profit organization Road to Recovery.

This personal volunteerism reflects his commitment to bridging healthcare access gaps. Udi has assisted NGOs and grassroots medical/aid organizations operating in conflict zones. His contributions reportedly span logistical support, cultural bridging, and leveraging social networks to facilitate aid delivery.

The film is not just about the journeys he facilitates, but the more profound questions they raise. Rather than finding answers, he encounters only complexities — questions of whether actual dialogue and reconciliation between Israelis and Palestinians are still possible, especially in the wake of the horrific events of October 7, 2023.

Udi studied stage direction at Tel Aviv University. His plays were staged at the Acco Theatre Festival, Tmuna Theatre, Hsimta, and Ztvavta Theatre in Tel Aviv. Moreover, he is a friend of Society Hill Synagogue, as he was here back in January 2018.

Fran Gallun, of the Israel Connections Subcommittee, and a friend of Udi, will moderate the discussion.

This program is made possible by the Israel Connections Subcommittee.

Israel Dialogue and Engagement Subcommittee Listening Circles

June 8 (4-6 pm) or June 9 (7:30-9:30 pm) or 10 (7-9 pm) pending respondents’ availability

Our Israel Dialogue and Engagement Subcommittee (IDEC) invites you to participate in a Listening Circle — a small-group gathering designed to foster respectful, compassionate dialogue about how recent events in Israel and Gaza have impacted our lives. These circles are not debates or lectures; they are spaces for deep listening and reflection.

Sessions will take place on June 8, 9, or 10, depending on respondents’ availability. Trained congregant facilitators will guide each group in creating a safe, caring space for sharing.

You can review the Code of Conduct for the listening circles and a Summary of our Israel Survey Results, which shaped this program.

Yom Hazikaron and Yom Ha’atzma’ut

Wednesday, April 30

We came together to observe Yom Hazikaron, Remembrance Day for Israel’s Fallen Soldiers and Victims of Terrorism, and to celebrate Yom Ha’atzma’ut, Israel’s Independence Day.

Different from how most Americans experience Memorial Day and Independence Day, in Israel, Yom Hazikaron immediately precedes Yom Ha’atzma’ut — a profound, emotional acknowledgement that freedom isn’t free. The somber nature of Yom Hazikaron is juxtaposed with the joy and exhilaration of Yom Ha’atzma’ut.

As the State of Israel marks its 77th year of independence, we will sought to channel this unique blend of emotions with a 25-minute Yom Hazikaron ceremony, including letters, songs, and prayers in memory of the fallen, which concluded with the siren heard throughout Israel on Yom Hazikaron, as everything stops, and people stand at attention.

We then celebrated Yom Ha’atzma’ut with an Israeli dinner, backgammon, Israel bingo, and a giant Israel map puzzle, soundtracked by Israeli pop music. Am Yisrael Hai!

Shabbat Lunch ‘n’ Learn — Making a Difference: My Volunteer Experience in Israel

Saturday, Jan. 25

It was wonderful to be together with so many congregants and friends at our recent Shabbat Kiddush Lunch ‘n’ Learn, sponsored by the Israel Connections Subcommittee!

David Levine moderated an inspiring and moving conversation with panelists Holden and Felise Nagelberg, Val and Mike Yasner, Rob Einhorn, and Rafi Licht (pictured), who shared their experiences volunteering with various organizations in Israel before and since October 7, 2023.

Here are links to some of the organizations and volunteering portals discussed at the Lunch ‘n’ Learn: