IAUJC brought Jews of all stripes together to learn about what is happening on the ground in Israel and express our support and hopes for peace and the end of the conflict. Present in the social hall of Temple Beth El were representatives of the temple's membership, of Cornell Chabad and Ithaca College Chabad, of Congregation Tikkun v'Or, the Center for Jewish Living at Cornell, and the general public.
Our guest speaker, zooming in from Israel, was C.J. Glass, an Official Art Ambassador on behalf of The State of Israel. C.J. Glass was born and raised by Sharon and Rabbi Scott Glass in Ithaca, New York. C.J. served as Temple Beth-El, Ithaca's High Holiday hazzan alongside his father for eleven consecutive years, making them the temple's longest-serving rabbi and longest-serving hazzan, respectively. C.J. is a proud alumnus of Ithaca College and Queens College, where he was active in Jewish life and graduated with degrees in jazz studies.
C.J. made Aliyah on October 17, 2013. During his first ten years in Israel, he appeared on The Voice: Israel, Season 3, performed and taught all around Israel and the U.S., and headlined the Sea Jazz Festival in Ashdod with bassist Avishai Cohen. Ashdod was his home for roughly ten years. He has recently moved with his wife, Shoshana, and their son, Benaiah, to Ramla - a mixed community of Jews, Muslims and Christians in Israel's center. In addition to frequent performances, C.J. currently teaches music theory at the Music Center of Raanana and Rigler High School in Netanya.
C.J. discussed his experiences when the attack by Hamas occurred and what has been happening since then. He answered questions from the audience as well.
Our event also included a presentation by Noemi Kraut concerning the Givat Haviva International School for secondary education, in Israel, as well as prayers and reflections by spiritual leaders and lay leaders.
IAUJC thanks Temple Beth El for use of the space and for its technical assistance in providing the means to Zoom with C.J.
To view this interview click here.
Those who would like to send humanitarian aid to Israel are encouraged to do so on this link
