Plans advance for virtual Day and Evening of Learning

Sponsored by JCRC

By Jeff Margolis

Dr. Ron Duncan Hart has been selected as one of three key presenters for the Annual Jewish Day of Learning, sponsored by the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) of the Jewish Federation of Greater Naples (JFGN). This engaging, two-day virtual event will take place on Sunday, March 7, at 2 p.m. and Wednesday, March 10, at 7 p.m. The theme for this year’s program, presented via Zoom, is “It’s Chai Time to Visit Jewish Neighbors.”

Dr. Hart is a cultural anthropologist from Indiana University and completed postdoctoral work in Jewish Studies at Oxford University. He is the former president of the Jewish Federation of New Mexico and, for many years, served as the program director of the New Mexico Jewish Historical Society. Dr. Hart is a former university Vice President and Dean of Academic Affairs and has worked in South America for 20 years with UNICEF, the Ford Foundation and several other international agencies.

He is the author of several books on Jewish life and cultural history. Some of his recent publications include, “Crypto-Jews: The Long Journey,” “Jews and the Arab World: Intertwined Legacies,” “Judaism,” and “Sephardic Jews: History, Religion and People.” He is Dr. Ron Hart co-author/editor of the award-winning book, “Fractured Faiths: Spanish Judaism, the Inquisition and New World Identities.”

Dr Ron Hart

Dr. Hart is the recipient of numerous awards, including the National Endowment for the Humanities, the New Mexico Jewish Historical Society, the National Science Foundation and the Ford Foundation. He has been invited to lecture at academic institutions throughout the United States and China.

In last month’s issue of the Federation Star, readers were introduced to Dr. Steven Derfler who will be giving a presentation on the Jews of China. Next month, the third speaker, Naples’ own Cantor Donna Azu of Temple Shalom, will be featured. She will give a presentation with music on the Jews of Persia.

As has been previously mentioned, this year’s Day of Learning will be a two-day event, with the second event, the JCRC Evening of Learning, taking place on Wednesday, March 10, at 7 p.m. This program will feature a clergy panel, which will discuss “Keeping the Faith and So Much More During the Pandemic.” The panel is comprised of Reverend Edward Gleason, from Trinity-by-the-Cove Naples; Fr. Hugh McGuigan, representing Our Lady of Light Catholic Community in Estero; Rabbi Adam Miller, from Temple Shalom in Naples; Paster Lonnie Mills, from Macedonia Baptist Church in Naples; and Reverend Dr. Dawson Taylor, representing the Naples United Church of Christ.

The JCRC has announced that there will be no charge for this year’s event. Please join in this community event. Registration information will be in next month’s Federation Star.