Jewish organizations are invited to submit their upcoming events to the our What’s Happening section. Events are placed on the Ledger website on Tuesday afternoons. Deadline for submission of calendar items is the previous Tuesday. Send items to: judiej@ jewishledger.com.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 27

A Descending Spiral: Exposing the Death Penalty in 12 Essays
United Jewish Federation of Stamford’s Cardozo Law Society presents “A Descending Spiral: Exposing the Death Penalty in 12 Essays” with Marc Bookman, veteran capital defense lawyer and seven-time Best American Essays “notable., on Oct. 27 at 7 p.m. Venue to be announced. Bookman is executive director of the Atlantic Center for Capi-tal Representation, a nonprofit that provides services for those facing possible execu-tion.(Dinner individually packaged per person). For more information email Sharon Franklin sharon@ujf.org. $25

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 28

Chabad honors Hartford HealthCare CEO Jeffrey Flaks
“On the Front Lines: Mind, Body and Soul” is the theme of the 2021 Chabad Gala hon-oring Hartford healthCare CEO Jeffrey Flaks on Oct. 28, 5:30 p.m., at Emanuel Syna-gogue, 160 Mohegan Drive in West Hartford. Flaks will be recognized for his crucial work during the pandemic. The event will be held according to CDC guidelines in place at the time of the Gala. For information: Miriamgopin@yahoo.com, (860) 232-1116.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 30

Rabbi Ethan Tucker to speak in New Haven
Rabbi Ethan Tucker will discuss “Navigating Relationships in a World of Difference: How do we proceed when aspects of our Jewish observance create discomfort with family members and friends?” at Congregation Beth El – Keser Israel, 85 Harrison St., at the corner of Whalley Ave. on Oct. 30 at 1 p.m., following Shabbat services and kid-dush lunch. Rabbi Tucker is president and Rosh Yeshiva at Hadar, an observant, egalitarian yeshiva. Sabbath rules will be observed. Masks are required

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 1

Outsmarting Antisemitism: A 4-session course
A four-session course from the Rohr Jewish Learning Institute (JLI), titled Outsmarting Antisemitism. Using history, Talmudic sources, Jewish mysticism, and contemporary expert analysis, the course addresses: Why does antisemitism persist? How can we make hate go away? How can we counter Israel-focused antisemitism and prevent our own youth from unwittingly lending their voices to antisemitic agendas? A 4-session course held on Mondays at 7:30 p.m. and led by Rabbi Shaya Gopin of the Chabad House of Greater Hartford The four-week course begins Monday, November 1, 2021, at 7:30 p.m. The course will be offered in-person for a limited audience as well as on Zoom. Sign-in information will be provided upon enrollment For more information or to register, visit chabadhartford.com, email: rabbishaya@chabadhartford.com or call (860) 232-8556.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 3

Prof. Corinne Blackmer discusses new book
Professor Corinne Blackmer, a professor of English and Judaic Studies at Southern Connecticut State University, will discuss her new book, Poisoning the Wells: Anti-semitism in Contemporary America” via Zoom, sponsored by Congregation Beth El – Keser Israel, 85 Harrison St., New Haven. To request the Zoom link: office@beki.org or (203) 389-2108 x114

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 4

Love & Knishes luncheon with entertainment by Airborne Trio, on Nov. 4 at 1 p.m. at the Jewish Federation of Western CT, 444 Main St. North, Southbury. For reservations, email cconti@jfed.net. Admission: $10.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 7

Stamford Federation hosts Super Sunday
Volunteers are needed to make calls on the Jewish Federation of Greater Stamford’s Super Sunday on Nov. 7. Available shifts: 10 am-12 pm; 4 – 6 pm; 6 – 8 pm.; The day will also include UJF Family Fun Day with all sorts of activities for kids, including Pet-ting Zoo, Stars of Hope Mitzvah Craft, a hat, glove and sock driver for refugees. Kids who bring their coins will get a prize. Volunteers are also needed for Family Fun Day. To volunteer or for more information, contact Sharon Franklin at sharon@ujf.org.

Talk show host and author Larry Rifkin in Southbury
Former CT Public Television executive and former WATR radio talk show host Larry Rifkin will discuss his soon-to-be-published book, No Dead Air, on Nov. 7 at 2 p.m. at the Jewish Federation of Western CT, 444 Main Street North in Southbury. Under his leadership, CPTV amassed more than 50 Emmy Awards in the Boston/New England competition. He now hosts the podcast, americatrendspodcast.com, where he looks at changes in our society and our politics. For information and reservation, email cconti@jfed.net.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 9

From the ICC Command Center: Anti-BDS Emergency Ops
Have a child in high school or college? Go behind the curtain with Jacob Baime and Megan Nathan, leading strategists in the war on today’s shifting forces of antisemitism at this Zoom talk hosted by UJA-JCC Greenwich on Nov. 9, 7:30 – 9 p.m.

Jacob Baime, executive director of Israel on Campus Coalition, is a public affairs professional and campus organizer, and an expert on pro-Israel campus affairs. As former national field director with AIPAC, he oversaw strategic campus initiatives, and managed AIPAC’s national training plat-forms for college and high school students. He most recently served as area director in AIPAC’s New England Region.

 Megan Nathan is managing director of the Israel on Campus Coalition (ICC) where she provides pro-Israel students across the country with the tools and the resources to support Israel and fight BDS on campus. She worked at the US Global Leadership Coalition (USGLC) where she built coalitions of leaders from top NGOs, Fortune 500 companies, and the U.S. military to educate Americans about the importance of global devel-opment. Most recently, she worked at a crisis PR firm creating campaigns for companies, non-profits, and issue advocacy organizations.

“Black Voters Matter” free webinar
LaTosha Brown, co-Founder and executive director of Black Voters Matter Social activ-ist, political strategist, and jazz singer, will discuss “Black Voters Matter: Our Obligation to Democracy and Equality,” in collaboration with Open Visions Forum. The webinar is free, but registration is required. Sponsored by the Bennett Center for Judaic Studies of Fairfield University. For more information, contact Jennifer Haynos at ben-nettcenter@fairfield.edu or (203) 254-4000, ext. 2066.

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 10

Christian Kabbalists of 17th Century Europe
Max DuBoff, a PhD student in Classics and Philosophy at Yale University, will explain how some European Christians became interested in Kabbalah to address puzzles about the nature of God and creation; via Zoom, sponsored by Congregation Beth El – Keser Israel (BEKI), 85 Harrison St., New Haven. To request the Zoom link: of-fice@beki.org or (203) 389.2108 x114

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 11

Author Elyssa Friedland to speak at Virtual Book Club
Author Elyssa Friedland will discuss her new book Last Summer at the Golden Hotel, in conversation with Rebecca Anikstein, at the next Virtual Book Club meeting, hosted by UJA-JC Greenwich on Nov. 11 at 7:30 p.m. on Zoom. Friedland is the author of four novels. She attended Yale University and Columbia Law School, and worked as an attorney until turning to writing full time. She currently teaches creative writing at Yale. Attendance is FREE. To register or for more information: ujajcc.org. 

10th Annual Saul Cohen-Schoke JFS (Virtual) Lecture
Rabbi Steve Z. Leder will discuss “If You Have to Go Through Hell, Don’t Come Out Empty-Handed” as keynote speaker of the 10th Annual Saul Cohen-Schoke JFS Lec-ture, presented by Schoke Jewish Family Service of Fairfield County. Co-sponsored this year by the Stamford JCC, the virtual lecture will take place on Nov. 11 at 7:30 p.m. Rabbi Leder will discuss finding meaning in all sorts of painful losses: How can indi-viduals transform loss into more than just loss? How can suffering be more than just painful? What do the sages teach about transcending pain and loss? 

Currently senior rabbi of the Wilshire Boulevard Temple in Los Angeles, Rabbi Leder is the author of four books including The Beauty of What Remains; How Our Greatest Fear Becomes Our Greatest Gift and More Beautiful Than Before; How Suffering Transforms Us. Newsweek Magazine twice named him one of the ten most influential rabbis in America. For more information or to register, visit: https://www.ctjfs.org/saul-cohen-jfs-lecture/