The Dorothee and Louis Ryterband Lectures Series, sponsored by the Temple Israel Brotherhood, occurs on most Sunday mornings during the Religious School year. This series features enganging speakers and a wide range of topics about Jewish culture, history, life and the world around us.

Admission is $10 for a session, or a subscription to all Temple Israel brunch events may be purchased for $85. There is no charge for new members of Temple Israel, post-confirmation students or Religious School parents. All fees include the talk and a brunch of bagels, coffee and other delicacies. The brunch begings at 9:45 a.m. and the talk begins at 10:15 a.m. The brunch concludes no later than 11:45 a.m. Talks include an extensive question and answer session. Non-members and non-Jews are welcome. No prior knowledge is required or expected.

This Sunday:

October 25, 2026 | A Taste of Talmud: Do Not Bad-Mouth Your Fellow!
Rabbi Richard Sarason, Director, Pines School of Graduate Studies; The Deutsch Family Professor of Rabbinics and Liturgy

How does the Babylonian Talmud work? What does the Talmud say about bad-mouthing and publicly shaming your fellow? (Obviously, it doesn’t approve.) We will work through a section of Talmud that deals with this topic—an appropriate one following the High Holidays.

November 1, 2026 | The 1919 Ethnic Map of New York City: Antisemitism and Plans to Suppress a Judeo-Bolshevik Uprising during the First Red Scare
Fred Krome, Professor of History, University of Cincinnati Clermont College

In 1919, a map of New York City was published in which a color code identified the various ethnic clusters of immigrants that made up Gotham inhabitants. Unknown to many at the time, and long since forgotten by anyone but antiquarians and the occasional historian, was the context behind the creation of the map, which was completed under the auspices of current and former members of the Military Intelligence Division of the U.S. Army. Indeed, the map was part of a proposal entitled “Plan for the Protection of New York in the Case of Local Disturbances.” In effect, this was a War Plan to deploy National Guard along with Federal Troops to put down an anticipated domestic uprising led by a cabal of Jewish communists. This talk will examine the historical context of the map, and the war plan, which were an integral part of the first “Red Scare” (1919-21) in U.S. history. It was in this period that the linkage between Jews and Bolsheviks was first asserted (the common term was Judo-Bolshevism) that would cause so much misery in the years to come.

November 8, 2026 at Beth Abraham | The Plight of Veterans
Retired Col. Dr. Kathy Platoni, Clinical Psychologist, COL (RET), US Army

The plight of veterans involves more than the psychological effects of combat. It often reflects the difficult transition from a highly structured military environment to civilian life, where veterans may struggle to find the same sense of purpose, belonging, identity, and responsibility they experienced in service. Some live with post-traumatic stress symptoms such as intrusive memories, nightmares, hypervigilance, emotional numbness, irritability, or avoidance. Others may experience depression, anxiety, substance use, traumatic brain injury, chronic pain, sleep disturbances, or suicidal thoughts.

This lecture is not included in the Series pass. Ticketing is managed by Beth Abraham.

November 15, 2026 | Saving Abigail: The True Story of the Abduction and Rescue of a Three-Year-Old Hostage
Liz Hirsh Naftali, Great-Aunt of Abigail Mor Edan

The plight of veterans involves more than the psychological effects of combat. It often reflects the difficult transition from a highly structured military environment to civilian life, where veterans may struggle to find the same sense of purpose, belonging, identity, and responsibility they experienced in service. Some live with post-traumatic stress symptoms such as intrusive memories, nightmares, hypervigilance, emotional numbness, irritability, or avoidance. Others may experience depression, anxiety, substance use, traumatic brain injury, chronic pain, sleep disturbances, or suicidal thoughts.

This talk is brought to you in partnership with the JCC Cultural Arts and Book Series.

November 22, 2026 | The Values of Jewish Games
Rabbi Jeffrey and Mindy Glickman, Game Inventors

Rabbi Jeff and Mindy Glickman see Jewish values and translate them into activities and games. All 31 of their licensed games role model Jewish values. Their games have been called “flowers that continue to blossom” and are fascinating for adults yet simple enough for children. Starting with an ancient Jewish game found in the Talmud, Rabbi Glickman’s presentation will have opportunities for play and for learning. It will conclude with the beauty of seeing life through the eyes of gaming.

January 10, 2027 | Heritable Diseases Common in the Ashkenazi Population
Paul Levy DO FACOS, Chief Medical Officer Kettering Health Dayton and Troy

Ashkenazi populations are prone to certain heritable diseases due to medieval and premodern genetic bottlenecking, geographic isolation, and consanguinous marriage practice. Learn about those conditions as well as the reasons for the elevated risk in the Ashkenazi populations which are not seen in the more genetically diverse Sephardic and Mizrahi lineages.

January 24, 2027 | Kibbutz Lotan Virtual Tour
Mike Caplin, Education Coordinator, Kibbutz Lotan

The Ryterband Lecture Series is partnering with the Adut Education Committee to bring you a virtual tour of Kibbitz Lotan, an Eco-Jewish intentional, collective community with a deep commitment to environmental protection. Situated in the stunning Arava desert, in the south of Israel, they strive for cooperation and a sense of belonging. Kibbutz Lotan is a fascinating example of how Jewish values and environmentalism can intersect in one of the most challenging climates on Earth. Established in 1983, it has become a global leader in Permaculture and sustainable living.

January 31, 2027 | Diagnosis, Causes, Classification, and Prevention of Chronic Kidney Disease
Dr. Mark Oxman, Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, Fellow of the American College of Osteopathic Internists

Learn the causes of chronic kidney disease and how these diseases are classified allowing for better understanding of what these diagnoses mean when going to the doctor. Understand how progressive chronic disease can be slowed through lifestyle changes, avoidance of medications and habits that can accelerate kidney loss and newer strategies and medications that can help prevent progressive disease. Ascertain questions to ask your primary care provider and when a referral to a kidney doctor should be considered.

February 7, 2027 | After October 7: Trauma, Israel, and Jewish Identity
Rabbi Haim Rechnitzer, Professor of Jewish Thought, Board of Editorial Directors, HUC Press, Hebrew Union College – JIR

A reflection on how October 7 and its aftermath have affected Jewish identity in the Diaspora, in relation to Israel, and within Israeli society itself.

February 21, 2027 | Holy Killjoys: The Women of the Hebrew Bible and the Art of Sacred Dissent
Esther Brownsmith, Assistant Professor of Hebrew Bible, University of Dayton

Too often, we treat the women of the Bible as either flawless exemplars or wicked temptresses. In reality, many of them were closer to what Sara Ahmed calls “feminist killjoys”: women who spoke up fearlessly to name the wrongs around them, even when it meant criticizing men, religious institutions, or the purported divine plan. In this first-ever preview of her forthcoming book, Dr. Brownsmith will discuss several examples of biblical killjoys, from Miriam to Michal to the wife of Job. The dissent of these women is more than just a record of minoritized voices from the past; it can also inspire us today as we wrestle with scripture, exploring the spaces of friction between our core beliefs and our sacred texts.

February 28, 2027 | Treasures of the American Jewish Archives
Dana Herman, Associate Director, The Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish Archives, HUC

The AJA began in 1947 with a small number of congregational archives. Today, it is one of two preeminent national repositories that preserves the history of American Jewry. Established by the notable historian, Jacob Rader Marcus, the AJA has continued to actively collect and grow its collection over the last seventy-five years and is committed to documenting the full scope and range of Jewish life as it has developed in the larger fabric of the American community. Dana Herman will offer a history of the AJA and its remarkable holdings through an examination of select documents from its collection.

March 7, 2027 | The Golden Age for Jewry in Spain: How Golden was it?
Rabbi Reuven Firestone, Regenstein Professor in Medieval Judaism and Islam at HUC-JIR in Los Angeles

One can find two nearly polar perspectives on the so-called “Golden Age” of Jewish life in Spain. One describes it as a beautiful existence for Jews, under which they lived with respect and produced some of their greatest works of science, religion, and literature. Another considers it a period in which Jews suffered humiliation, oppressive taxation, and forced conversion. This conversation is a deep dive into the complex situation of Jewish life in Spain from early Christian rule through the period of the Muslim rule to the Expulsion of 1492.

April 4, 2027 | What Holds Us Together?
Rabbi Tina Sobo, Rabbi & Educator, Temple Israel

In 1921, Franz Rosenzweig posited his “Star of Redemption” as a philosophical and structural model for Jewish theology – one that is still often used as a basis for framing Jewish thought today. As Reform Jews just over one hundred years later, I will offer an updated version of this framework that has emerged from my thinking and teaching over the past decade at Temple Israel. Come explore the dimensions of our Jewish identity, practice, relationships, and meaning – both collectively and individually. We’ll consider how these dimensions connect, play with a new twist on an old structure, and hopefully make ‘big’ ideas more accessible and inviting to explore in the process. No prior knowledge required; curiosity encouraged!

April 11, 2027 | From My Side of the Bimah
Rabbi Karen Bodney-Halasz, Senior Rabbi, Temple Israel

Rabbi Karen Bodney-Halasz will share her personal perspective on a timely topic of interest to our congregation and the broader Jewish community. Drawing on Jewish teachings, traditions, values, and her own experiences, she will reflect on issues that touch our lives today. Topics may range from current events and challenges facing the Jewish community to questions of faith, family, community, ethics, and everyday Jewish living. The goal is to encourage thought, conversation, and connection while helping us consider contemporary issues through a Jewish lens.

April 18, 2027 | Jews and Dayton’s Booze Trade
Marshall Weiss, Editor and Publisher, The Dayton Jewish Observer; Project Director, Miami Valley Jewish Genealogy & History

Did you know that two members of Temple Israel started Dayton’s first wholesale liquor business? Ever hear of the “sacramental wine scandals” of the 1920s? Which local rabbi insisted his congregants drink grape juice instead of wine for Kiddush? Which Dayton Jewish bootlegger murdered two mobsters in cold blood and got away with it? A look back at how we navigated Prohibition here in the Gem City.

Previous Lectures This Season:
October 11, 2026 | Dispatches from David: An Insider’s Look at Life in Israel
Rabbi David Sofian, Rabbi Emeritus, Temple Israel

Rabbi Sofian returns to kick off our Ryterband Lecture Series with a firsthand account of the situation in Israel. He will focus on the upcoming elections and other pressing current events. Please join us for this thought-provoking discussion, which will include a Q&A session for you to ask David your specific questions about daily life in Israel today.

October 18, 2026 at Beth Abraham | Community Programming and Involvement
Brian Kerstine, Executive Director, Jewish Family Services

Brian Kerstine is the new executive director of Jewish Family Services of Greater Dayton. He will be discussing some of the new programs and opportunities for support to our community being offered by Jewish Family Services, such as counseling, food and financial support, and many others that people may not be aware of.

This lecture is not included in the Series pass. Ticketing is managed by Beth Abraham.

The Dorothee and Louis Ryterband Lecture Series

2026-2027 Season