Almost immediately after learning that the unique Jewish adult education center HaMaqom would be closing, Rachel and David Biale Jewish educators with links to the Berkeley institution since its founding in the 1970s knew they had to do something.
“Lehrhaus has been what I would call the crown jewel of the Bay Area Jewish community for 47 years,” David Biale said, referring to the center’s former name for 45 of those years (it was changed to HaMaqom | The Place in 2019). “It fulfills a very important need in the community. To see it disappear feels just wrong.”
Founded as Lehrhaus Judaica in 1974, HaMaqom announced in a June 17 press release that it would be permanently shutting its doors at the end of the summer. Board president Lisa Douglass said at the time that the decision to dissolve the nonprofit had been “extraordinarily difficult,” adding that she believed it was “not the end [but] a new beginning for our programs, staff, and extraordinary educators.”
To male Jewish leaders …
I also have four concrete suggestions for men in leadership who want to make things better:
1. The next time a woman complains about harassment, even obliquely, listen to her. Take a deep breath, and listen some more. Do not immediately shut down the story or defend the other person. Take her seriously.
2. When you are invited to speak on a panel, ask: Are there women on that panel as well? If not, hold out for a woman to be included before you agree to participate.
3. Make a list of outstanding women in your field and recommend them for speaking engagements and panels.
May 13 @ 7:00 pm - 7:30 pm Free
Rabbi Ruth Adar talks about the transmission of the Torah and Shavuot in HaMaqom | The Place’s yearlong “Jewish Holidays & Traditions 101” series. Free, with registration.Event Website
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